The SPIRAL Model of Care
SPIRAL is a fully comprehensive, holistic, therapeutic model for children and adolescents in residential care settings. SPIRAL is consistent with all relevant guidance including OFSTED, NICE and the Royal College of Psychiatry.
SPIRAL is trauma informed, attachment focused and competency based. The approach is compatible with, or actively complements other approaches including PACE and TCI.
Safety
Children who come into care do so because safe alternatives are not available. These are young people whose sense of safety and security has already been severely damaged via neglect, abuse, exploitation, chaos, instability or family tragedy. Above all, young people in care need to be and feel safe.
All children SEEK safety which includes:
- Safety via Risk Management
- Environmental Safety
- Emotional Safety
- Knowledge
Positive Relationships
SPIRAL is a relational model and much of what can be achieved with young people is done so through the relationships with those around them.
We achieve positive relationships with staff via CRAVE:
- Containment
- Respect
- Availability
- Validation
- Empathy
and always offering a WAY back from any conflict.
Independence
A key role for care homes is equipping young people for successful adult lives. This requires far more than the basic living skills needed, though these are also important.
We develop increasing independence using ENRICH:
- Expectations
- Natural Consequences
- Regulation Skills
- Independent Living Skills
- Communication
- Healthy Choices
Resilience
We build resilience through CORE:
- Coping with Triggers
- Overcoming Past Adversity
- Relentless Problem Solving
- Emotional Regulation
Aspirations
We represent this using the acronym I CAN:
- Instil Self-efficacy
- Create Opportunities
- Aim High
- Never Give Up
We accept that the young people in our care have significant problems, but they also have resources, resilience and strengths. We are ambitious for them and believe in their limitless potential. We aim to unlock that potential by providing a rich array of opportunities for young people while addressing the barriers to accessing these opportunities.
Life Skills
SPIRAL is a Life-Skills Deficit Model. We believe that chaotic, risky behaviour arises because children are SAD not because they are BAD or MAD:
Their behaviour stems from Skills-deficit And Distress not Behaviour problems And Deviance or Mental Illness and we need to teach them more effective and skilful ways of managing their distress.
The SPIRAL Manual
Aspire Therapy Services is delighted to introduce the guide to SPIRAL book. A fully comprehensive, holistic, therapeutic model for children and adolescents in residential care settings. SPIRAL is consistent with all relevant guidance, including OFTSED, NICE and the Royal College of Psychiatry.
Written in a clear and accessible way, this manual is suitable for care home staff, foster carers, social workers and others working with vulnerable young people.
SPIRAL Training
Research has shown that children's outcomes and staff performance and morale are considerably enhanced when homes embed a therapeutic model.
We offer training in SPIRAL with introductory days to help care settings consider how SPIRAL could work for them, through to full implementation and ongoing support in embedding the model within each unique setting.
Talk to the experts
To find out more about the SPIRAL Model of Care, to discuss it's use for your setting, to purchase the Manual or to book a training course, please get in touch with our expert team.