Lisa Cherry

Lead the way in creating a trauma-sensitive school environment where students feel safe, supported and able to thrive. This essential guide equips newly qualified Senior Mental Health Leads (SMHLs) with the knowledge and tools to get to grips with the broad remit of the role. Covering responsibilities from safeguarding and policy development to collaboration with teachers, parents and professionals, this book outlines practical strategies for embedding a whole school approach to trauma-informed working. With reflective exercises, training needs assessments and action plans, this book will give you the confidence to devise and implement effective trauma-informed practices. Alongside student-focused content, this book offers methods to reduce staff workload, prevent burnout when working with traumatized students and promote mental health and resilience.

In this essential book, international trainer and consultant Dr Lisa Cherry engages professionals from education, social work, healthcare, and criminal justice in insightful conversations on a range of vital topics that will make a positive difference for practitioners and their workplaces today. With integrity and authenticity at its heart, the book explores what compassionate, inclusive leadership really looks like and how to get there. Each discussion brings a new perspective, exploring topics from nurturing belonging and anti-racist practices, to growing from adversity and supportive supervision. Placing an emphasis on learning from lived experience, collaboration, and caring deeply about others, these rich conversations share a range of trauma-informed practices and approaches which work, along with opportunities for the reader to reflect on themselves and their wider community. Children, young people and their families deserve the best version that adults can be, and each discussion helps all practitioners to understand that the work starts with us. This practical book is designed for action, for change, and to create something better than we have experienced before. Settings, services and systems must view themselves as connected communities that have to be well if there is any hope of supporting the people they serve. This book will inspire and encourage leadership teams across sectors to enact a change in culture which makes a difference for all.

In this essential book, international trainer and consultant Dr Lisa Cherry engages professionals from education, social work, healthcare, and criminal justice in insightful conversations on a range of vital topics that will make a positive difference for practitioners and their workplaces today. With integrity and authenticity at its heart, the book explores what compassionate, inclusive leadership really looks like and how to get there. Each discussion brings a new perspective, exploring topics from nurturing belonging and anti-racist practices, to growing from adversity and supportive supervision. Placing an emphasis on learning from lived experience, collaboration, and caring deeply about others, these rich conversations share a range of trauma-informed practices and approaches which work, along with opportunities for the reader to reflect on themselves and their wider community. Children, young people and their families deserve the best version that adults can be, and each discussion helps all practitioners to understand that the work starts with us. This practical book is designed for action, for change, and to create something better than we have experienced before. Settings, services and systems must view themselves as connected communities that have to be well if there is any hope of supporting the people they serve. This book will inspire and encourage leadership teams across sectors to enact a change in culture which makes a difference for all.

The need to belong is a fundamental and human motivation yet many children and young people’s experiences of belonging are ruptured across many domains. This essential book explores the different spaces in which children and young people belong and shows how we can cultivate a sense of belonging within our services, schools and communities and within children themselves. Chapters break down key research and introduce practices which will inspire change, develop a trauma-informed culture and show how a relational web of belonging can be built for life. Drawing from the lived experiences of those who have spent time in care, the book highlights everything you need to deepen your understanding of the impact of trauma, inequity and marginalisation in children’s services and education. Advocating for the power of language, leadership and collective care, a working conceptual model for cultivating belonging is shared, which considers the FACES, SPACES and PLACES that can make a lasting difference. Reflections and practical takeaways are woven throughout to offer an accessible, informative and thoughtful read, with the child at the centre. Bringing together professional practice, the ‘science’ behind it and powerful lived experiences, Weaving a Web of Belonging offers a true insight into cultivating belonging as an antidote to trauma. It is an essential read for all those who are supporting children and young people, especially those who are the most vulnerable, including education practitioners, leaders, social workers, Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and families.

The need to belong is a fundamental and human motivation yet many children and young people’s experiences of belonging are ruptured across many domains. This essential book explores the different spaces in which children and young people belong and shows how we can cultivate a sense of belonging within our services, schools and communities and within children themselves. Chapters break down key research and introduce practices which will inspire change, develop a trauma-informed culture and show how a relational web of belonging can be built for life. Drawing from the lived experiences of those who have spent time in care, the book highlights everything you need to deepen your understanding of the impact of trauma, inequity and marginalisation in children’s services and education. Advocating for the power of language, leadership and collective care, a working conceptual model for cultivating belonging is shared, which considers the FACES, SPACES and PLACES that can make a lasting difference. Reflections and practical takeaways are woven throughout to offer an accessible, informative and thoughtful read, with the child at the centre. Bringing together professional practice, the ‘science’ behind it and powerful lived experiences, Weaving a Web of Belonging offers a true insight into cultivating belonging as an antidote to trauma. It is an essential read for all those who are supporting children and young people, especially those who are the most vulnerable, including education practitioners, leaders, social workers, Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and families.

*Highly commended in the CPD category for the Teach Awards 2024* The impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences lie behind many of the most common and bewildering classroom challenges today. Understanding the why behind students' behaviour can be transformative in shifting school behaviour, as well as the welfare of your students. This book is grounded in the lived experiences of educators who overcame challenges in early life. It combines their insights with easy to implement tools, worksheets and resources drawing on proven Restorative Practice, Transactional Analysis, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approaches. It will provide you with a fresh perspective - to see what is really going on in your classroom - and will give you the confidence to provide the support your students really need in order to thrive. Whether you are a school leader, teacher or classroom assistant; primary or secondary; in mainstream, SEND or alternative provision, this book will help you to create positive change.

In this poignant book, Lisa Cherry brings together a collection of candid and personal reflections on the care system in the UK, offering alternative ways of thinking about the care experience, supporting better ways of working, and providing justification for a trauma-informed lens to be applied to all forms of work with those in care. Through personal insights and reflections, the book brings often-unheard stories vividly to life, beginning with the author’s own. These are stories about love and pain; hurt and isolation; the depth of lived experience that makes up a life; how we live our lives through our relationships with others and where we feel we fit in. In this thoughtfully compiled third edition, original contributors look back on their own reflections from the lives that they live now, new stories bring new perspectives, and discussion points provide the opportunity to consider the realities of the care experience as well as life beyond. Whilst each story is unique, shared themes reveal the truth of the care system and, coming at a time where there is a real opportunity for change, the narratives in this book are ultimately stories of hope and connection. This is crucial reading for policy makers, those working in social work, education and adoption, as well as care experienced adults.

In this poignant book, Lisa Cherry brings together a collection of candid and personal reflections on the care system in the UK, offering alternative ways of thinking about the care experience, supporting better ways of working, and providing justification for a trauma-informed lens to be applied to all forms of work with those in care. Through personal insights and reflections, the book brings often-unheard stories vividly to life, beginning with the author’s own. These are stories about love and pain; hurt and isolation; the depth of lived experience that makes up a life; how we live our lives through our relationships with others and where we feel we fit in. In this thoughtfully compiled third edition, original contributors look back on their own reflections from the lives that they live now, new stories bring new perspectives, and discussion points provide the opportunity to consider the realities of the care experience as well as life beyond. Whilst each story is unique, shared themes reveal the truth of the care system and, coming at a time where there is a real opportunity for change, the narratives in this book are ultimately stories of hope and connection. This is crucial reading for policy makers, those working in social work, education and adoption, as well as care experienced adults.

· What is collective trauma?· How can it impact children and communities?· What can we do about it? Providing accessible answers to these complex questions and more, this guide explores the key characteristics of collective trauma and provides practical advice on how to help children, young people and communities to heal. Collective trauma affects communities, families and individuals. This book highlights its impacts and with examples such as grief and loss, outlines how it can manifest. With guidance on building individual, communal and cultural resilience, this book is an invaluable resource to better understand and support children and young people dealing with collective trauma.

In this unique book, international trainer and consultant Lisa Cherry invites professionals from education, social work and healthcare to engage in conversations on a range of pertinent topics and issues affecting children and young people today. Divided into three main parts, which introduce attachment, adversity and trauma, each discussion places an emphasis on emotion and the understanding that we have as humans for compassion, empathy and connection. By encouraging collaboration between sectors and exploring a range of intersecting themes, the conversations take the reader on a winding journey to broaden their depth of thinking, reflect on their practice and to consider the central message: that we can bring about social change, one interaction at a time. This book is a call to action and an opportunity to look around and decide what kind of service we want to provide, what kind of community we want to live in and what sort of legacy we want to leave. At a time of ever-present social and political challenges, this book will stimulate conversations on current practice and professional development for the future and is a must-read for everyone working with children and young people.

In this unique book, international trainer and consultant Lisa Cherry invites professionals from education, social work and healthcare to engage in conversations on a range of pertinent topics and issues affecting children and young people today. Divided into three main parts, which introduce attachment, adversity and trauma, each discussion places an emphasis on emotion and the understanding that we have as humans for compassion, empathy and connection. By encouraging collaboration between sectors and exploring a range of intersecting themes, the conversations take the reader on a winding journey to broaden their depth of thinking, reflect on their practice and to consider the central message: that we can bring about social change, one interaction at a time. This book is a call to action and an opportunity to look around and decide what kind of service we want to provide, what kind of community we want to live in and what sort of legacy we want to leave. At a time of ever-present social and political challenges, this book will stimulate conversations on current practice and professional development for the future and is a must-read for everyone working with children and young people.

This powerful critique of youth justice based on lived experience, theory and practice looks at the topic through a refreshing new lens, suggesting that some existing ways of dealing with children and young people may do more harm than good. After making readers aware of Risk Relation Paradox, the author shows that positive outcomes cannot be imposed or directed but that they can stem from ‘presence, attunement, connection and trust’ (PACT). Then priority should be given to buffering the impact of familiar but questionable relationships in a youngster’s own ‘village’ that may have led to toxic stress, complex trauma, criminal or anti-authority attitudes and other adverse childhood experiences. In arguing for change, Andi Brierley brings his extensive experience on both sides of the justice fence as prisoner and professional to bear — and whilst he champions the engagement skills of others who have travelled a similar journey, he also explains how the approach can be used by anyone.

In America today an estimated 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused by the age of 18.* A family's chance of encountering a sexual molester exceeds the risk of most diseases we inoculate our kids to prevent. We spend time, energy, and money protecting our homes from intruders. Locks on windows and doors, alarm systems wired into the police station, motion detectors in our hallways, and neighborhood watch groups in our communities. But what alarms, locks, and strategies do we have in place to protect our most valuable resource, our children? Are we leaving them unprotected? Through Unmask the Predators: Home Security System we will help you, step by step, to keep your children safe from the dangerous predators. This is a companion workbook for the best-selling book, UnMask The Predators, The Battle to Protect Your Child. It is called a Home Security System because its purpose is to help you protect your children from physical and spiritual predators. Based on scripture, this workbook can be used along with the book by a single parent, family, small or large group. It will help you put into place those spiritual and physical strategies you need to protect your most valuable possession...your children. The enemy has a plan. Do you?