Established for many years, the TCTC Children’s network is a professional practice and service support group. There are individual and organisational members from a wide range of settings working therapeutically with children – fostering, residential care in different models, education and supported living. We provide a regular programme of reflective discussion, themed presentations from external guests, good practice presentations shared between the members and a space to reflect on and respond to wider issues across the sector – practice, commissioning, staff support, service development etc. The network meets between 4 – 6 times each year and links into TCTC training and conference events including the Therapeutic Child Care Conference that TCTC has run in partnership with Wrexham University.
The Children’s Network will meet on the following dates during 2025:
Meeting details and Focus of the meeting
TCTC Children’s Network Meeting
20th January 2025 10.30-16.00
In Person at the Priory Rooms, Birmingham B4 6AF
TCTC Children’s Network Meeting
19th March 2025 9.30-12.00
Online via Zoom
Glyndwr / TCTC Therapeutic Childcare Conference
2nd May 2025
In Person
Annual Therapeutic Child Care Conference
TCTC Children’s Network Meeting
8th July 2025 9.30-12.00
Online
TCTC Children’s Network Meeting
26th October 2025 10.30-16.00
In Person at the Priory Rooms, Birmingham B4 6AF
Deborah has enjoyed a varied career working as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Family and Systemic Psychotherapist. Deborah has a passion for service development and innovation and has been involved in forming and shaping youth services both in the NHS and in 3 rd -sector organisations. Her medical career, spanning 25 years within the NHS, included 14 years as a Consultant in Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) with expertise in addictions and the development of trauma-informed services for young people with substance use problems in Southwest England. In a change of direction in 2014, Deborah was one of the founding Directors of Birribi, a therapeutic residential care organisation in West Wales. As Therapeutic Programme Lead for Birribi, she focusses on the development of therapeutic residential care practice for young people with complex developmental trauma. Recently retiring from clinical psychiatric practice, Deborah is actively developing systemic practice in various settings and moving away from a medical model of youth mental health and wellbeing. Surprisingly, a love of horses has facilitated this shift away from traditional frameworks of mental health treatment. Over the years Deborah has connected her passion for horses with therapeutic work since starting training in 2005 in Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning. This environment in the company of horses now informs and develops her therapeutic practice at Birribi – with children, young people and families, in team development and reflective practice, and in professional development and leadership training.
Marie is therapy manager at Amberleigh Care which has two TCs for young males. She has a background of over 25 years in therapeutic childcare and residential care management positions.
Marie oversees all therapeutic community processes across Amberleigh. Her role includes facilitating group dynamics, providing clinical supervision, and works with care, therapy, and education staff. By actively engaging with young people in group work, Marie plays a pivotal role in bringing together the holistic components necessary for the TCs to grow and develop.
Marie’s qualifications in leadership and management, childcare, DDP therapy, AIM3 assessment, counselling, clinical supervision. She is a team Teach tutor and holds a Diploma in group work. Marie has involvement in external events and research projects representing the accredited TCs and contributing to the broader understanding of therapeutic interventions. She is a member of the IGA and holds Groupwork Practitioner Status.
Dr Kevin Gallagher is a qualified social worker who has worked in and around residential child care and education for over 25 years – starting as a front line practitioner and working through into middle and senior management roles at regional and national levels. In the course of this journey, Kevin has further qualified as a Psychodynamic Organisational Consultant (Tavistock D10 programme) and operates a small private consultancy practice focussing on therapeutic child care and education sectors, service design, restructuring, HR and Personnel, team development and role consultation. Starting initially in the state sector, most of Kevin’s career has been in the independent sector in both operational and strategic roles and he has completed an MBA to underpin this work. Kevin’s interest in TCs grew out of increasing specialism in therapeutic child care and his organisation was part of the Community of Community pilot of the Therapeutic Service Standards for Children – he has been involved in this quality improvement cycle ever since and is part of the Advisory Group. A former Chair of The Charterhouse Group (a charity representing TCs for children), Kevin was actively involved in the merger with ATC and the formation of TCTC, acting as vice-Chair for the initial year and then taking on the role of Chair until 2018. Kevin is involved in a wide range of sector groups and practice networks and enjoys the cross fertilisation of ideas. Kevin completed his PhD in 2023 and his thesis developed a theory of change for therapeutic residential settings. This qualitative study looked in particular at the role of relationships in the change process. Kevin is Managing Director and co-owner of Amberleigh Care which operates two Accredited TCs for teenage boys with sexually harmful behaviour.
Joy graduated from Reading University in 2000, with a Psychology BA Hons. Joy completed a foundation level in Counselling at Westminster Pastoral Foundation, a Post Graduate diploma in Infant Observation at The Tavistock and Portman trust and also a Foundation Degree in Therapeutic work with young people and children.
Joy has worked with young offenders and supporting families with the Charity, Homestart and was a Nanny for two children. Joy has worked at The Mulberry Bush for 20 years. Joy is a House Manager in one of the residential homes, leading a multidisciplinary team around the children . She oversees the food provision, enjoys the reading group and has taught on the induction course and Foundation Degree course. Joy has attended the Children’s Network Group for many years and has recently taken on the role of Co- Chair with Marie and Deborah.
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