Moving Forward Therapeutic Care
"Nurturing Hearts, Shaping Futures"
Our Mission
At Moving Forward Therapeutic Care, our mission is to provide a safe, nurturing, and empowering environment for each child in our care. We are committed to fostering a sense of family, belonging, and opportunity, ensuring that every child receives the love, education, and support needed to thrive. By partnering with our community, we aim to inspire hope, encourage dreams, and create a foundation for a brighter future for all our children. Together, we strive to empower each child to reach their full potential, overcoming challenges with resilience and celebrating their unique strengths and talents.
A safe and nurturing home for every child
At Moving Forward Therapeutic Care, we are dedicated to creating a compassionate and inclusive environment specifically designed to support children and young people with learning disabilities. Our home provide more than just accommodation — they offer a safe, respectful, and empowering community where each child’s unique needs are understood and valued. We strive to cultivate a nurturing space that promotes wellbeing, personal growth, and confidence, enabling every child to thrive and achieve their fullest potential. Our commitment is to enhance quality of life by delivering consistent care, tailored support, and meaningful opportunities for development and healing.
Our Ethos
Our ethos is to offer a holistic model of care based on a consistent approach to good parenting, proactive and innovative care, ensuring that all our children have positive childhood memories filled with warmth, care, and fulfilment – all in a nurturing residential setting.
To achieve this, we aim to:
- Provide a safe, calm and nurturing environment that the children can call home.
- Establish, build and maintain safe, trusting and positive relationships with the children – identifying areas of need and allocating keyworkers to maintain a wraparound of support.
- Listen to and empower our children, encouraging them to have a voice in all aspects of their care. This includes being strong advocates for children to ensure their voices are heard, more so if a child may have communication difficulties.
- Focus on our children s strengths and use these as a basis to create achievable targets that can support each child to overcome certain difficulties.
- Safeguard our children and take a proportionate approach to risk that minimises the risk of harm but also allows them to experience positive growth and development.
- Provide an open and honest environment for children, and staff allied to promoting and encouraging respect for one another.
- Individually tailor care programmes to ensure that the collaborative practices between all staff provide the children with consistency to value each child for being themselves.
- Support children to develop understanding of the meaning and potential significance of any challenges they face, thereby opening up the possibility of positive change.
- To provide realistic, consistent and curious approaches to behaviours, using a Positive Behaviour Support framework to understand and empathise with behaviours presented from each child.
Our Approach to Care
At Moving Forward Therapeutic Care, we are committed to delivering a therapeutic, trauma-informed approach that recognises and responds to the individual experiences of each child. Our dedicated team understands that no two children are the same, and we tailor our care to meet their unique needs, histories, and strengths.
- Trauma-Informed Practice: We understand the profound impact trauma can have on a child’s development, behaviour, and emotional wellbeing. Our staff are trained to create safe, supportive environments that promote trust, emotional security, and healing.
- Positive Behaviour Support: We believe that meaningful behaviour support begins with truly knowing the child. Our team takes time to build trusting relationships and become attuned to each child’s communication style, emotional needs, and triggers. Through this understanding, we develop bespoke behaviour support plans that reflect the child’s individual experiences and preferences. We focus on encouragement, consistency, and clear boundaries to help children develop self-esteem, emotional regulation, and positive coping strategies. Challenging behaviours are approached with empathy and curiosity, not punishment or shame, supporting long-term growth and resilience.
- Holistic Development: We support every aspect of a child’s growth — emotional, educational, physical, and social. We work closely with the wider professional network around each child, including education providers, placing authorities, speech and language therapists (SALT), occupational therapists (OT), mental health professionals, and other relevant services. This collaborative, multidisciplinary approach ensures that our care is well-coordinated, comprehensive, and responsive to the child’s evolving needs. Together, we create a strong foundation for the child to develop confidence, skills, and a sense of belonging as they move toward a positive future.
Our Team
At Moving Forward Therapeutic Care, our dedicated team of residential care professionals are committed to delivering the highest standards of support for every child in our care. Each member of the team brings passion, experience, and a deep understanding of trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, and child development.
Our team structure is designed to ensure consistent leadership, guidance, and availability:
- The Registered Manager is available and on-site Monday to Friday during standard working hours, providing overall leadership and ensuring the home runs effectively in line with regulatory requirements and the needs of the children.
- In the Registered Manager’s absence, the Deputy Manager takes responsibility for overseeing the home and maintaining continuity of care.
- Team Leaders provide shift-based leadership, supporting staff in delivering safe, nurturing, and responsive care at all times.
- Residential Support Workers are central to daily life in the home, offering direct care, emotional support, and meaningful relationships to help children feel secure and valued.
- A Waking Night Support Worker is present each night to ensure children’s safety, meet any overnight needs, and offer emotional reassurance.
- Additionally, a Sleep-in Member of Staff is available each night to offer further support if required.
We are proud to have a skilled, diverse, and compassionate team who are here to listen, advocate, and work alongside each child—building trust, promoting resilience, and helping them move forward with confidence.
At Moving Forward Therapeutic Care, our dedicated team of residential care professionals are committed to delivering the highest standards of support for every child in our care. Each member of the team brings passion, experience, and a deep understanding of trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, and child development.
Our team structure is designed to ensure consistent leadership, guidance, and availability:
Team Members
Lisa
Homes Manager
I am a dedicated and experienced residential childcare professional with over 14 years in the sector, including 12 years in leadership and management roles across both private and local authority settings. My career has spanned a wide range of provisions, from solo placements to 8-bed children's homes, supporting children and young people with diverse and complex needs, including Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD) and Learning Disabilities (LD).
I have held the role of Registered Manager for the past 3 years, during which I have led teams to deliver safe, nurturing, and high-quality care. I have a proven ability to build and maintain positive multi-agency partnerships, uphold regulatory compliance, and drive continuous improvement across service delivery.
My passion lies in enhancing the lives of children in care—ensuring their voices are heard, their individuality is respected, and that they are supported to progress and thrive emotionally, socially, and educationally. I am deeply committed to creating child-centred environments where every young person can feel safe, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential.
Sherice
Operational Director
Hi, I’m Sherice.
I’m passionate about improving the lives of vulnerable children and young people, with over a decade of experience across education and social care, both in the UK and internationally. As Operational Director at MF Therapeutic Care Ltd, I lead with a strong foundation in trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, and positive behaviour support.
I am a qualified PRICE Train-the-Trainer (Positive Approaches to Challenging Behaviour) and deliver high-impact training in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Physical Intervention/De-escalation. I focus on equipping staff to feel confident, competent, and child-centred in their practice. In addition, I hold a Level 3 Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools and a First-Class Honours Degree in Health and Social Care.
My career spans mainstream primary and secondary schools, SEN settings, and therapeutic children’s residential homes, including provisions for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD). I have also had the privilege of working internationally — supporting children in under-resourced schools and residential care settings in India, and collaborating with Indigenous communities in Australia to support children in care. These opportunities gave me a deep appreciation for cultural awareness and reinforced my belief in tailoring support to each child’s unique identity and lived experience.
I am especially passionate about shaping the future of children’s residential care, ensuring it evolves into a sector that not only provides safety and stability but also champions healing, opportunity, and lifelong resilience.
All of these experiences have shaped me into a practitioner who leads with empathy, respect, and consistency. My work is dedicated to creating safe, nurturing environments where children and young people are empowered to grow, heal, and thrive.
Jennifer
Director
My name is Jennifer O’Callaghan, and I am a Director of Moving Forward Therapeutic Care.
With over 20 years of experience in education and social care, my focus is on ensuring that children and young people experience the highest standards of support in a safe, structured, and nurturing environment.
I am committed to leading a team that is well trained, well supported, and dedicated to providing professional and compassionate guidance. Together, we work to create a home where children and young people can feel secure, develop their strengths, and build positive futures.
Maria
Responsible Individual
Our Responsible Individual (RI) has over 30 years experience of working with vulnerable children, young people & adults in various settings. She is a highly experienced Qualified Social Worker & worked in Local Authority Children’s Social Care for over 10 years specialising in working with high risk adolescents in care with complex & high support needs. Maria has worked with children and young people in care in a wide range of placements including secure placements, residential children’s homes & supported accommodation. She has also worked with a diverse range of children & young people with complex needs including SEND/learning disabilities (Autism & ADHD), substance misuse, mental health & significant emotional, behavioural & social difficulties. She is a very passionate & strong advocate for vulnerable children & young people & she has significant experience working with children in care (LAC) and safeguarding, child protection, and multi-agency work.
Dawn
SENDCO
I am a qualified teacher with 25 years’ experience, specialising in supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
As a SENDCO, I work closely with teachers, parents, and external professionals to ensure each child’s individual needs are understood and supported. I am also committed to mentoring staff and helping them develop the skills needed to provide the best possible guidance, so that together we can create a positive, nurturing environment where children with SEND can flourish academically, socially, and emotionally.
Liam
CAHMS Consultant Therapist
Liam has worked in children and young people’s mental health services for over 15 years, across both NHS CAMHS and the voluntary sector. His experience includes direct therapeutic work with young people facing trauma, abuse, and in mental health crisis, as well as leadership roles in service delivery and commissioning. He has managed CAMHS teams and neurodevelopmental pathways and led on service improvement and safeguarding in complex systems.
Liam’s work is shaped by real-world practice and a commitment to ensuring children, young people and families have timely access to support that will meet their needs. He brings depth, clarity, and reflective insight to his work with teams, empowering and upskilling them to ensure they have the confidence and skills to provide high-quality care.
About Me/Meet Liam (First Person)
Hi, I’m Liam. I’ve dedicated my career to supporting children and families, working in mental health and trauma services. This experience has given me deep insight into how best to support children and young people affected by complex and difficult experiences.
I’ve also led services in CAMHS and children’s mental health commissioning, holding management and Head of Service roles across the NHS and voluntary sector. At the heart of it all, I’m passionate about ensuring children, young people and families have timely access to support that will meet their needs. I'm committed to helping staff feel skilled, confident, and able to make a difference in the lives of the children, young people and families they are supporting.
Personalised Care Plan
At Moving Forward Therapeutic Care, we recognise that every child is unique—with their own story, strengths, challenges, and aspirations. That’s why each child receives a bespoke and highly individualised package of care and support, carefully tailored to meet their needs and promote their overall well-being, safety, and personal growth.
As part of this approach, we develop and maintain a comprehensive set of plans and assessments for every child, which typically includes:
Personalised Care Plan
A Personalised Care Plan that outlines daily care arrangements, long-term goals, emotional needs, and how best to support the child in all areas of life.
Behaviour Support Plan
A Behaviour Support Plan focuses on understanding the child’s experiences and emotional triggers, providing clear, supportive strategies to help them feel safe, regulated, and empowered.
Risk Assessment
• A Risk Assessment that identifies and mitigates potential risks while promoting the child’s independence and positive engagement in daily life.
Communication Profile
Communication Profile that helps staff understand how the child expresses themselves—particularly important for children with speech, language or communication needs—ensuring they are always heard, understood, and respected.
Health Plan
A Health Plan to ensure physical and mental health needs are met consistently, including medical care, routine appointments, and health promotion activities.
By putting bespoke planning at the heart of our practice, we aim to provide truly child-centred care that values the individuality of every child and supports them to thrive.
Family and Community Engagement:
At Moving Forward Therapeutic Care, we recognise the vital role that family and community play in a child’s sense of identity, belonging, and emotional well-being. Wherever appropriate and in line with the child’s care plan, we actively support and help nurture positive relationships with parents, siblings, and extended family members. We facilitate family time in accordance with the placing authority’s agreed arrangements, ensuring these interactions are meaningful, safe, and supported as needed.
We also work closely with families to build trusting relationships, offering guidance, emotional support, and consistent communication to ensure continuity of care and, where possible, to support successful reunification or transition into foster care.
Promoting community inclusion is central to our ethos, especially for children with learning disabilities. We are committed to helping each child access and participate in local community life—whether that’s through attending clubs, visiting local amenities, engaging in leisure activities, or developing social connections. We adapt our approach to suit each child’s pace, communication style, and comfort level, ensuring they are included, valued, and empowered to be part of their wider world.
Through these efforts, we strive to reduce isolation, build confidence, and support children in developing a strong, positive sense of self within both their family and community.
