Safe Places for Children’s Journey So Far

Safe Places for Children UK was formed on the 28th April 2016 after a successful “shark tank pitch” (UK Version of Dragon’s Den) that was in regards to bringing Safe Places Australia Integrated Practice Framework (IPF) to the United Kingdom. Safe Places as an organisation want to continue to grow our global services to help in providing a homely, secure and nurturing environment to young people within the residential sector.

Senior Managers that were born in the United Kingdom, but were working in Australia participated and successfully got approval from the Australian board to set up Safe Places for Children UK, this allowed for the opportunity to create a new therapeutic residential model for young people across both England and Northern Ireland,

These managers were able to transfer their skills and knowledge of the Integrated Practice Framework (IPF) model and practices as they returned to England and Northern Ireland, to start the process of “starting up” the therapeutic model of care. As the organisation developed and grew their network within the United Kingdom, this allowed for relationships to be developed between Local Authorities and Health & Social Care Boards.

Safe Places for Children UK where successful in obtaining registration with RQIA (Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority) in Northern Ireland and this resulted in our 1st Children Home opening in May 2019, the first young person was placed into the new home in July 2019. Safe Places for Children UK have since been able to provide medium to long term stable placements and continue to seek new adventures & opportunities within Northern Ireland. Safe Places for Children UK opened their second registered 2 bedded Children Home in May 2023 within Northern Ireland.

Within England, Safe Places for Children UK participated and were successful in being awarded a tender contract with a Local Authority, this resulted in being awarded two Children Homes that provided the chance to further implement the organisation’s model of practice, and allow us to provide more therapeutic homes for more young people.

In January 2020 Safe Places for Children obtained their first registration with OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills). and took in their first young person in England in February 2020. The home has taken an additional young person. In July 2020 Safe Places for Children UK obtained OFSTED Registration for the second Children Home, this has provided more opportunities for young people to be placed into our services. This has seen the organisation starting to establish a relationship and an identity of being a supportive, child focused and trauma informed agency. Safe Places UK are currently working towards opening another Children Homes within England, this will not be a tendered service, rather a private charity operational Children Home.

Overall Safe Places for Children UK, want to continue to increase services and opportunities that can further support more young people across the United Kingdom in the coming months and years ahead. Safe Places for Children UK continue to review, learn and evolve our model of practice as we establish more and more opportunities to provide high quality of care homes to young people across the United Kingdom. If any Local Authority or a Health and Social Care Board would like to have any more information about our services please get in touch within our contact us section of the website.

As an organisation we are continuing to look at getting and securing additional staff members to help with strategic growth and development of the organisation within the United Kingdom that will be planned in line with the organisational business plan. We continue to want to create opportunities for staff members development, as previously we have had a number of team members join as Residential Youth Workers and progress to Deputy Managers.