Welcome to the Embrace Care Therapeutic Team blog, where each month we aim to provide an update on the work we’ve been doing. May’s blog focuses on our presentation at the BILD Conference.
Background
Ashlea, our wonderful Therapeutic Lead, completed the BILD PBS CAPBS Program last December. As part of her project, she focused on developing a Quality of Life Tool. However, during her research, she found that many existing audit tools such as the Guernsey Community Participation and Leisure Assessment and the Capable Environments Audit tended to focus primarily on behavioural outcomes. For example, they measured whether someone engaged in activities, but not whether those activities made the person feel safe, connected, or fulfilled.
As a Psychotherapist, Ashlea wanted to go deeper, creating a Quality of Life Tool that not only assessed what people are doing, but whether their lives are truly meaningful and flourishing. From this vision, she developed the Embrace Care: Trauma-Informed Quality of Life Tool. At the end of the course, she was invited to present the tool at the BILD Conference in May 2025.
PBS
Embrace Care already had a PBS framework in place, with CAPBS Coaches embedded throughout the Senior Leadership Team driven in large part by Katherine’s (Operations Director) passion for the positive impact of PBS. However, the organisation lacked a PBS Specialist to help embed high-quality PBS more fully and that’s where I came in.
As a UK Certified Behaviour Analyst, I’ve gained experience applying PBS in a range of contexts. During my initial interview, I was asked if I’d be willing to present at the BILD Conference and wanting to make a good impression, I agreed.
Together, Ashlea and I developed a presentation that not only explored our Trauma-Informed Quality of Life Tool, but also shared our broader Therapeutic Model and the incredible work happening across Embrace Care.
Conference
On Monday, May 12th, 2025, our team travelled to Newcastle. Attending were myself, Katherine Evans (Operations Director), Ashlea Rowson (Therapeutic Lead), Kate Boughey (Mental Health and Wellbeing Specialist), Toni Howe (CQC Registered Manager), and Sally Hallwood (Ofsted Responsible Individual). While Katherine and Toni already had a good understanding of PBS, the conference provided an excellent opportunity for Kate and Sally, who are newer to the field, to learn more about the value and impact of PBS.
The conference was held at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Hotel in Newcastle and featured a fantastic range of speakers from across the world of PBS, including Dr. Nick Gore, Rachel Freeman, Gill Chaplin, Dr. Mark Murphy, and many more. Sessions covered topics such as Trauma-Informed Care and PBS, BSP CAT, Capable Environments, and Functional Assessments. There were even mindful walking and yoga sessions, though admittedly, the yoga was a bit too early for me!
While the rest of the team enjoyed the various sessions, Ashlea and I set up our presentation room and had one last run-through. With nerves settled and everything in place, we welcomed the attendees and broke the ice with a light-hearted joke:
So… what happens when a psychotherapist meets a behaviour analyst?
…They both start of with asking “how does that make you feel?” However, whilst the psychotherapist is hoping to unearth some deep and meaningful insight, the behaviour analyst just wants to track it on a graph! (Cue raucous laughter!)
Of course, that’s not really the case! What does happen however, is the creation of Embrace Care’s Therapeutic Model!
We introduced the attendees to our Trauma-Informed Quality of Life Tool. Our tool is built around nine key domains that we believe truly define a flourishing life:
- Physical Safety and Environment
- Emotional Safety and Regulation
- Trust and Relational Security
- Autonomy and Empowerment
- Connection and Belonging
- Identity and Self-Worth
- Emotional and Physical Health
- Predictability and Stability
- Purpose and Meaning
Each domain is rated from 1 to 5. In addition, trauma-sensitive recommendations and relational reflections are included for each area, helping teams to go beyond observation and think deeply about how to build safety, trust, and empowerment.
These nine domains align with one or more of the five PERMA elements, ensuring that our assessment, planning, and practice tools work together not only to reduce distress, but to actively build lives full of happiness, security, and meaning.
Once completed, the tool provides an overall score out of 45, along with three reflective sections focused on strengths, priority areas for growth, and a targeted action plan. The rating scale is simple:
- 10–19: Significant issues across multiple areas; immediate support required
- 40–45: Optimal range—this score indicates the person is thriving and enjoying a high quality of life
We concluded our presentation by sharing practical strategies to help organisations develop and sustain trauma-sensitive practices, such as therapeutic formulation, staff supervisions, and wellbeing initiatives.
In the evening, we attended a wonderful evening reception, enjoyed sharing quality time with each other and connected with other professionals in the field.
Conference Feedback
“Having time out to pause and reflect has been thought-provoking, and there’s lots of inspiration and ideas for further improving our overall offer.”
– Katherine Evans
“It was a valuable experience for me, being new to PBS. It reinforced the importance of trauma-informed, person-centred care. It’s encouraged me to want to learn more and explore how I can implement it into practice.”
– Kate Boughey
Author: Robbie Ogden-Pyle, UK BA (Cert), BCBA, MSc