Curo Salus, a specialist provider of support for emotionally traumatised children, has been named Scottish Residential School of the Year at the Corporate LiveWire Prestige Awards in 2021.
The Prestige Awards were launched to recognise businesses and individuals that consistently offer excellent products and services on a more local level, after Corporate LiveWire felt that small, independent businesses and organisations were too often overlooked by international award programmes.
Awards are allocated after all shortlisted candidates are carefully considered by the judging panel, with factors such as service excellence, quality of the product or service provided, innovative practices, value, ethical or sustainable methods of working, as well as consistency in performance taken into account.
Sally Dolan, director of Curo Salus, believes that the award is due recognition for her organisation’s work in providing safe, therapeutic, caring environments for children who have attachment problems because of adverse circumstances and emotional trauma in their early years. Its services are provided through six care homes and a specialist school.
Curo Salus' specialist approach is founded on attachment and trauma theory and is informed by current research findings in developmental psychology and neuroscience.
Dolan said: “We are delighted that we have been chosen as Scottish Residential School of the Year by the Scotland Prestige Awards. We truly believe that our therapeutic atmosphere creates opportunities for growth and development thanks to the predictable nature of the environment we provide, the highly structured day, the programmes we offer and the expertise and competence of our staff. Our daily living environment is also structured to facilitate close, meaningful relationships.”
Much of Curo Salus’ success in Dolan’s view is not only down to its robust programmes, but also the work of its dedicated staff team. Combined, all of these qualities help make Curo Salus an organisation that is working to help traumatised youngsters realise their potential and ensure they leave the world of care ready to lead rich and fulfilling lives.
“Throughout both day and night, we have high numbers of staff on duty. This is necessary if we are to protect the children from dysregulating effects of their behaviours. We help them to overcome everyday challenges, to build up resilience and develop better coping skills; our daily programme provides children with both a predictable flow of activities and the flexibility to cope with individual needs as they arise.
“Our staff are trained in both attachment and trauma models as well as safe crisis management. They are supported to deal with both the behaviours presented and to handle the feelings and emotions which underpin these behaviours.
“We hope that the work that our young people have undertaken with us, their achievements and successes, the trust and strong relationships they have forged with their care, education and therapeutic teams will have broken the cycle of abuse and neglect. Beyond that, they will then be appropriately equipped to realise their full potential and lead fulfilling lives beyond the world of care.”
Photo provided by Curo Salus
