Business Details
23 Years
experience
Expert Residential Child Care & Education Services
At Pebbles Care, we specialise in nurturing children and young people with traumatic pasts through specialist residential care and education. Founded in 2003, our organisation has grown to operate over 50 loving residential homes and innovative independent schools across Scotland and England. Our dedicated team delivers a unique therapeutic parenting model and bespoke educational approaches, supporting young people aged 8-18 with social, emotional, and behavioural difficulties. We invest heavily in our staff and in-house forensic psychology team to ensure we meet the complex needs of those we serve, including individuals affected by attachment disorders, ADHD, autism, self-harm, trauma, and child sexual exploitation.With a 24-hour curriculum integrating therapeutic care, academic learning, and vocational training, we help young people overcome adversity, rebuild trust, and achieve their full potential in safe, family-led environments. Our Adapt Learning model and therapeutic interventions are grounded in psychological research, ensuring every child receives individualised support tailored to their developmental needs.
Services
Residential Child Care
Therapeutic Parenting
Adapt Learning Model
Forensic Psychology Services
Vocational Training
Attachment Disorder Support
Trauma Recovery
24-Hour Curriculum
Educational Assessments
Referral Coordination
Details
- Year established: 2003
Highlights and features
- 20+ years of experience in residential child care since 2003
- In-house team of forensic psychologists assigned to each home
- Adapt Learning model tailored to individual developmental needs
- 24/7 therapeutic care environment with family-led homes
- Specialist support for attachment disorders and trauma recovery
What people say
Excellent communication
Compassionate team
Significant personal growth
Second to none care
Outstanding placement
Services
Residential Child Care
Specialist residential care for children aged 8-18 with traumatic backgrounds across Scotland and England. Our family-led homes provide safe environments where young people receive 24/7 therapeutic support to overcome attachment disorders, trauma, and behavioural challenges. Each home combines structured routines with individualised care plans to promote emotional regulation and personal development through consistent, nurturing relationships.
Adapt Learning Model
Individualised educational framework designed for severely traumatised young people unable to engage with mainstream schooling. The model integrates academic instruction, vocational training, and therapeutic interventions within small-class settings. Tailored curricula address developmental needs through SQA qualifications, GCSEs, and practical skills programmes in construction, catering, and motor mechanics, ensuring each pupil achieves meaningful educational outcomes aligned with their capabilities.
Forensic Psychology Services
In-house psychological services providing specialist assessments and interventions for children with complex mental health needs. Our forensic psychologists conduct SEDAL assessments and develop targeted therapeutic strategies to address trauma, attachment issues, and behavioural risks. The team works directly within residential settings to implement evidence-based interventions that promote emotional regulation, resilience, and long-term recovery from early adversities.
People
Karen Blanchard Ellis
Head of Commissioning
With over 15 years' experience in child care commissioning, Karen leads our referral partnerships and placement strategy. She ensures seamless integration of therapeutic care and education services across local authorities.
Lauren Wilkinson
Referrals Coordinator
Lauren manages care referrals with a focus on matching young people to appropriate residential placements. Her expertise in trauma-informed care supports effective placement decision-making and family integration.
Questions
What age range do you support?
We provide care and education for children and young people aged 8-18 with traumatic backgrounds and complex needs.
How do you handle therapeutic interventions?
Our in-house forensic psychologists conduct specialist assessments and develop individualised therapeutic plans integrated into daily care and education programmes.
What educational qualifications can young people achieve?
Students can work towards SQA qualifications, GCSEs, ASDAN awards, and vocational certifications in construction, catering, and motor mechanics through our Adapt Learning model.
How do you involve families in care plans?
We maintain regular communication with placing authorities and families, providing progress updates and collaborative care planning through our dedicated referral coordinators.
What therapeutic approaches do you use?
Our Therapeutic Parenting model combines PACE principles (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) with forensic psychology interventions to address attachment disorders and trauma recovery.
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Reviews (2)
Anna Evans Smith
Oct 29, 2018
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Better to work for a fish monger than this organisation
poorly run place, the management is beyond shoddy, with an extremely negative lead culture
management prefer to gossip and retain below mediocre staff , whilst losing better staff to competitors.
HResource team don't seem to be existent, there is one person running the show and this is a car crash waiting to happen. I will not be recommending this business to anyone
any decent and experienced carers and other employees with any skill will not last here
poorly run place, the management is beyond shoddy, with an extremely negative lead culture
management prefer to gossip and retain below mediocre staff , whilst losing better staff to competitors.
HResource team don't seem to be existent, there is one person running the show and this is a car crash waiting to happen. I will not be recommending this business to anyone
any decent and experienced carers and other employees with any skill will not last here
Lee Shore
Jul 28, 2018
Report
Worst place ever! No support, not listened too, poorly managed, staff dont follow guidelines, kids do what they want and poor pay. Soul sukcing company....
