Looking Behind Behaviour: Curiosity Over Control

Behaviour is communication. For children in care, 'challenging' or what we understand as ‘distress behaviours’ often reflect unmet needs, fear, or shame. Responding with control alone misses the opportunity to understand and connect.

Formulation, a key idea in the Level 4 Award, helps carers and staff make sense of behaviour by considering key contextual factors and hidden needs that are part of that young person’s story. Coupled with the PACE principle of curiosity, this approach turns potential confrontation into exploration: 'I wonder what this behaviour is telling us?’

Therapeutic parenting helps carers respond with both nurture and boundaries, creating safety while minimizing the escalation of behaviours of distress. Leaders are encouraged to embed this mindset across services, ensuring staff teams work with curiosity rather than judgement.

By looking behind behaviour, carers and staff can support children in ways that foster healing, not harm.