Reading List

These official sources underpin the course content and are useful for supervision, policy review, refresher learning and service development. The list combines NICE and children's homes material with separate signposting for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland so staff can link relationship-based practice to local frameworks.

England core guidance

• NICE NG205: Looked-after children and young people
  Guidance on supporting looked-after children and young people, covering relationships, wellbeing, transitions and residential care.
• NICE NG205 recommendations
  Detailed recommendations on positive relationships, trauma awareness, support for carers and multi-agency working.
• NICE NG26: Children's attachment
  Guidance on attachment difficulties for children in care, adopted from care or at risk of entering care, including relevance to residential settings.
• NICE NG26 recommendations
  Exact recommendations on principles of care, supporting attachment difficulties and working with children in residential care.
• Children's homes regulations, including quality standards: guide
  Official guide to the Children's Homes Regulations 2015, explaining expectations for meeting children's needs with consistency and appropriate safeguards.

Wales signposting

• National practice guidance for therapeutic support for care experienced children and young people
  Welsh guidance on trauma-informed therapeutic support, the role of trusted adults, and partnership working around care-experienced children and young people.

Scotland signposting

• Trauma-informed workforce and services
  Scottish Government guidance on developing a trauma-informed workforce and services.
• NHS inform: Supporting children and young people after a traumatic event
  Practical Scotland-focused advice on common trauma responses and supportive actions for adults.

Northern Ireland signposting

• Northern Ireland Framework for Integrated Therapeutic Care for Care Experienced Children and Young People
  Framework on trauma, attachment, therapeutic care and a whole-system approach for care-experienced children and young people.
• A Life Deserved - A Strategy for Looked After Children
  Strategy document on improving care, wellbeing and support for care-experienced children and young people.

For daily practice, start with the child's live plan and how the home feels to them, then consult these official sources when you need wider guidance.