Embedding PACE: Building Strong Relationships through Therapeutic Care

At Oakfield, our commitment to therapeutic, trauma-informed care continues to grow through specialist training led by our Clinical Lead, Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr Rosey.

Recently, our staff teams came together for an inspiring PACE training day, where they explored how Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy form the foundation of meaningful, healing relationships with young people.

The PACE model is central to our therapeutic approach within our homes. It helps staff to connect with young people who have experienced complex trauma, offering not just support but genuine understanding and trust.

By embedding PACE into daily practice, our staff are better equipped to:

  • Approach challenging behaviour with curiosity and compassion

  • Create safe, nurturing environments where young people feel accepted for who they are

  • Use playfulness and humour to build trust and positive connection

  • Respond with empathy to help young people feel truly heard and understood

What made this training especially powerful was the involvement of our young people themselves.

They worked alongside staff to explore the PACE model and even created their own PACE poster to share what Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy mean to them in their daily lives.

Their voices highlighted how much it matters when staff show acceptance, take time to be curious, and use playfulness and empathy in everyday interactions.

One young person wrote: “It’s okay to feel quiet and not want to talk” under Acceptance, while another noted under Curiosity: “I like being with you even when I am having a low day.”

These powerful insights show just how meaningful PACE is in practice, not just as a training model but as a lived experience for the children and young people in our care.

The day was filled with learning, reflection, and collaboration. Staff left with renewed confidence and practical tools to strengthen therapeutic care across our homes.

At Oakfield, PACE is more than a model — it’s our culture. By embedding Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy into everything we do, we continue to build safe, supportive environments where young people can heal, grow, and thrive.

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