Our Principles & Values

Children and young people enter care for many different reasons. Many have experienced trauma that can lead to dysregulated or challenging behaviour. Staff hold power through age, role and legal responsibility – so we work with young people — rather than doing things to or for them — to reduce that imbalance and to create safety, trust, and positive outcomes.

Restorative Social Care Services use a value‑based, evidence‑informed model of care that prioritises respectful, supportive relationships. Staff listen carefully, show empathy, work in collaboration and encourage young people to express their feelings, needs, and perspectives. This approach helps young people participate in decisions that affect their lives and supports them to develop the skills needed for a fulfilling future.

By modelling emotionally healthy relationships and pro‑social behaviour, we create environments where difficulties are addressed constructively, harm is repaired, and everyone feels safe, valued, and respected.

The RSCS model is guided by the 5 R’s of restorative practice:

Relationships

We build trust through consistency, empathy, clear boundaries, and compassionate communication.

Respect

We recognise each person’s feelings, needs, and dignity — and act in ways that protect them.

Responsibility

We understand the impact of our actions and make thoughtful, reliable choices.

Repair

We address harm respectfully, understand its impact, and work together to put things right.

Reintegration

We restore connection and trust after conflict, helping young people return safely to the community.

Together, these principles shape a culture where young people can grow, reconnect, and achieve their goals through supportive, relational practice.

Relationship
Relationship refers to the ways staff and young people are connected — how they feel about one another, how they communicate, and how they behave together in everyday interactions.

For many young people in care, past experiences of strained, abusive, or exploitative relationships can make it difficult to trust adults. These experiences can undermine their sense of safety and security, which means staff must be especially consistent, patient, and attuned in how they build and maintain relationships.

Demonstrate a healthy relationship by:

Being respectful in all interactions

Being trustworthy, reliable, capable, honest, and dependable

Being caring, supportive, and compassionate

Keeping young people at the centre of decisions

Maintaining professional boundaries and sharing only minimal, purposeful personal information

Recognising the distinct role and responsibilities of your employment

Upholding the organisation’s values and ethos

Following policies, procedures, and the staff code of conduct

Communicating respectfully and maintaining boundaries online
Respect
Respect means being mindful of how your words and actions affect others, and adjusting your behaviour when needed to avoid causing harm. It involves recognising the feelings, needs, and perspectives of the people around you, and choosing to act in ways that support their dignity and wellbeing.

When respect is shown, it is often reflected back — you feel positively about others because of how they treat you and those around you.

Show respect by:

Considering the needs and feelings of others

Listening fully when someone is speaking

Using kind and polite language, even during difficult moments

Being aware of how your words and actions impact others

Accepting differences in appearance, beliefs, and behaviour

Caring for shared spaces, belongings, and the environment

Challenging or disagreeing without offending or belittling others

Using a calm voice and behaviour in public spaces

Remaining measured during emotionally charged situations

Being fair and sharing equally

Making thoughtful, considerate choices

Treating others as you would like to be treated
Responsibility
Responsibility means being aware of your own behaviour and taking care to act in a reliable, respectful, and thoughtful manner. It involves recognising when you have control or authority over something or someone, and understanding that your actions contribute to the outcomes that follow.

Being responsible also means acknowledging the power that comes with your role and using it fairly, safely, and appropriately. It requires good judgement, the ability to make sound decisions, and the willingness to act in ways that uphold trust, dignity, and the wellbeing of others.

Show responsibility by:

Practising self‑discipline and thinking long‑term

Making good decisions based on what is right

Completing expected tasks safely, courteously, and reliably

Accepting the outcomes of your actions

Being trustworthy, reliable, capable, honest, and dependable

Learning from mistakes and using them to improve

Showing respect for others through consistent behaviour
Repair
Repair is the process of addressing harm in a respectful and constructive way. It creates opportunities for people to take responsibility for their actions, understand the impact of what has happened, and work together to put things right. Repair focuses on agreeing a way forward that restores trust, strengthens relationships, and allows everyone involved to move on positively.

Repair takes place when:

Wrongdoing is addressed respectfully and supportively

People are listened to and different perspectives are understood

Feelings, motivations, and needs are explored

Opportunities are created to make amends — e.g., apologising or putting things right

Opinions are sought and options are considered

Individuals take responsibility for their behaviour

Learning occurs and positive changes are made for everyone involved
Reintegration
Reintegration is the process of rebuilding or re‑establishing a relationship after it has been interrupted, strained, or damaged. It involves bringing people back together in a safe, supported way so trust, connection, and understanding can be restored. Reintegration is about carefully putting things back in place — emotionally and relationally — so that everyone can move forward with a renewed sense of safety, stability, and belonging.

Reintegration is supported when:

Power differences are acknowledged and addressed

Both parties have the skills needed to participate

Young people are supported to engage and avoid escalation

Emotional and social needs are recognised and confidence is rebuilt

The issue that challenged the relationship is addressed directly

Both parties are willing to make amends and work together