We promote healing and recovery through understanding and addressing the causes of criminal behaviour
Individuals who are involved in the criminal justice system are some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. They are more likely to have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) as well as unemployment, insecure housing, poor mental and physical health, poverty and relationship breakdown as they move into adulthood.
Practitioners working with these vulnerable individuals are often working in incredibly demanding and challenging roles, regularly witnessing trauma first hand and supporting those who have experienced trauma.
KCA works with a range of agencies from across the criminal justice sector including probation, youth offending services, community safety, police and prison-based staff.
We look to support changes in both systems and practice, contributing to the development of trauma informed services that support resilience-building amongst practitioners and those they support.
Our models of practice
Five to Thrive
Brains grow when we do 5 simple things. Five to Thrive describes a sequence of relational activities that builds healthy brains.
Mending Hurts
Mending Hurts is the KCA model for promoting recovery from trauma by enabling people to notice what they, or other people, do in their most effective interactions with vulnerable and traumatised people.
Creating Connections
We know that healing and recovery happen best when we're part of a community - when we come together and build resilience. Creating connections focuses on trauma prevention and recovery, building capacity for self-healing communities.
Leadership Revolution
Leadership has always been complex, but more so now than ever. The context in which you lead is in constant flux and you are increasingly being required to navigate change and uncertainty. The Leadership Revolution helps you better understand recovery leadership and address stress arising from uncertainty
It was excellent training, really informative, learnt so many things- information on how the brain develops and effect of trauma. Susan was an excellent trainer- so knowledgeable and "human"- I liked her sharing of personal experiences.
Participant, 25 Mar 2022
Susan was extremely engaging and clearly an expert. She gave easy to understand and real life examples to bring to life the science.
Participant, 24 Mar 2022
Great training again - Thank you
Participant, 17 Mar 2022
The sessions have opened my mind to think and approach situations differently with young adults within the prison setting. And has helped me assess how I carry out assessments and improve this when I encounter a young person.
Participant, 23 Mar 2021
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Understanding that young people acting out is not necessarily a bad thing for attention or 'just because' but a reaction to ACE's which has developed over time. Learning to understand this and change the way I view this and react to this verbally and non verbally will help moving forward.
Police staff, 11 Feb 2021
This was the best course that i have attended in a long time
Police staff, 26 Jan 2021
The course was a mix of watching videos, interactive sessions, speaking demos, it was a good mix of every type of learning. we were also able to ask questions via the chat system at any time which was really helpful
Police staff, 26 Jan 2021
It will help me to more easily identify trauma & stress in people I converse with and help me to empathise more with them in difficult situations.
Police staff, 20 Jan 2021