A New Chapter for The DECC: Strengthening Emotional Wellbeing for Children in Care Across Derbyshire
When a child enters care, their world can shift in ways that feel confusing, frightening, or overwhelming. Here, at the DECC, our purpose is to ensure that no child or young person has to navigate those experiences without understanding, compassion, and consistent therapeutic support.
If you haven't heard about us yet, we're a service rooted in trauma‑informed and attachment‑aware practice, offering a psychologically informed service for children in care and care leavers across Derby City and Derbyshire. Every year, we walk alongside hundreds of young people, carers, and professionals, helping them build safety, connection, and hope.
Last year, we supported 325 children and young people, and worked with 1,282 carers and professionals, strengthening the network around each child. Because healing happens in relationships — and those relationships need support too.
A Major Milestone...
In September 2025, our service proudly secured the contract to continue delivering emotional health and wellbeing support across Derbyshire for a further five years. This is a huge achievement for our team and a powerful recognition of the impact we’re already making.
More importantly, it represents a long‑term commitment to children in care, their families, and the professionals who support them. With this stability, we can deepen our work, expand our reach, and continue building a system where every child feels seen, understood, and emotionally safe.
What Does the New Service Look Like?
Why This Work Matters
Children in care deserve more than stability. They deserve adults who understand their inner world, who can make sense of their behaviour, and who can offer safety even when things feel hard. They deserve therapeutic spaces where their experiences are held with care and their strengths are recognised.
At The DECC, we believe in the power of relationships to heal! We believe in the potential of every child. And with our renewed five‑year contract, we’re excited to continue building a service that truly makes a difference.
Looking Ahead
This blog will be a space where we share insights, reflections, and resources from our work — from trauma‑informed practice to therapeutic parenting, from relational safety to co‑regulation. Whether you’re a carer, educator, social worker, or part of the wider community, we hope you’ll find something here that supports and inspires you.
