- RELATIONSLIPS

Context

For the nearly 84,000 children and young adults currently navigating the UK social care system (2024), quality, trusting relationships are golden threads, supporting the navigation of both past emotional trauma and the multi-layered, turbulent transition to adult independence. Yet, professional practitioners are now faced with rapidly increasing demand, insufficient time & inadequate investment resulting in the critical relationship between social care practitioners and children transitioning out of care becoming ever more fragile.  In today's age of austerity, front-line social work practitioners must ‘do more with less.’

In the context of transitional care, quality relationships are both an essential conduit to a broader network of support and a therapeutic end in themselves. Yet these relational experiences are also frequently evolving within wider organisational cultures that are still process & paperwork-centric leading to multiple hurdles in professional development, service delivery & caring practice. Thus, the importance of having not just relationally adept, reflectively attuned and confident professional practitioners but also relationally developed organisations is vital.

Service Concept - 'Karena'

Karena provides a clarifying, constructive & strategic environment where practitioners can build reflective capabilities, identify systemic constraints & consider professional development within relational practice to ultimately better support young adults leaving care. Through an adaptable pathway of organisational development and practice enhancement, Karena offers a modular, 12-month in-house training and support program that can be adapted to individuals, teams or senior strategic settings. Embedded within systemic reflective supervision structures, Karena offers a nuanced, adaptable service that interlinks a principles-based relationship prompt set, a multi-layered reflective tool and an interactive post-session strategy. This innovative combination provides a valuable platform for professionals to explore individual practice, increase confidence in navigating complex relationship influences and reduce work stress. 

VISION

Ultimately, with a long-term view towards systemic organisational change, Karena’s approach aims to ensure every young person transitioning out of statutory care has a trusted, compassionate and professional relationship at hand whenever they may need it most.