Stepping Stones Care

Stepping Stones Care Providing a safe, nurturing and aspirational environment for our Young People to lead happy, independent lives.

A career can change your perspective. A career in care can change someone else’s too.There are many different ways to ma...
05/10/2026

A career can change your perspective. A career in care can change someone else’s too.

There are many different ways to make a difference in children’s care.

Sometimes it’s through the relationships you build.
Sometimes it’s through the decisions you make.
Sometimes it’s by supporting the people who are there every day.

That’s what makes progression in care so meaningful.

As people grow in their roles, their influence can grow with them - from supporting a child directly to supporting the teams, homes and decisions that shape their care.

Lorna’s story is one example of that journey.

Because behind every strong team is someone helping it grow.
And behind every decision we make is a child who deserves the very best from the adults around them.

There is always more to learn. More to contribute. And more difference to make.

“Coffee has become not just a beverage, but a mirror of identity.” (Schwarz, 2025).We spend a lot of time talking about ...
01/10/2026

“Coffee has become not just a beverage, but a mirror of identity.” (Schwarz, 2025).

We spend a lot of time talking about what we do. Today, we wanted to share a little more about who we are. ☕️

At Stepping Stones, our people are at the heart of what makes our homes what they are. Behind every role is a person with their own personality, interests, routines, sense of humour and, apparently, very strong opinions about what belongs in a cup.

We believe getting to know the people behind a company matters.

It creates familiarity.
It builds connection.
And it gives the people who follow us - whether you’re part of our team, a family, a professional or simply interested in what we do - a chance to see the people behind the name.

Because people connect with people, not just organisations.

So, this International Coffee Day, we’re putting the spotlight on a few of the people who make up Stepping Stones - starting with something simple: what they like to drink.

A small glimpse into the people behind the work. 💛

Thanks to our team for letting us into their cups.

Happy International Coffee Day from all of us at Stepping Stones!

What if your next job meant more?At Stepping Stones Care, we’re always interested in hearing from people who want to mak...
30/09/2026

What if your next job meant more?

At Stepping Stones Care, we’re always interested in hearing from people who want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and young people.

Whether you’re already working in care, looking to develop your experience or considering a completely new direction, we have a range of opportunities across our homes.

Our current vacancies are now available on Indeed, so if you’re thinking about your next move, take a look and see if there’s a role that feels right for you.

🔎 Explore our current vacancies on Indeed.

https://uk.indeed.com/cmp/Stepping-Stones-Care-5/jobs?clearPrefilter=1 -skip-header-desktop

What if behaviour is telling us something?Look at the image. What do you see? An iceberg. But look again. Can you see th...
24/09/2026

What if behaviour is telling us something?

Look at the image. What do you see?

An iceberg. But look again. Can you see the child beneath the surface?

What we see in a child’s behaviour is only the visible part. Anger, withdrawal, silence, frustration or behaviour that challenges may be what reaches the surface - but they don’t necessarily tell us what is happening underneath.

Our DDP training encourages us to look beyond the behaviour and consider the child’s wider experience: their emotions, relationships, development, physical needs and environment.

At Stepping Stones Care, being child-centred means not stopping at what we can see.

It means asking what the behaviour might be communicating, what need might sit behind it, and what has happened to bring the child to this point.

When we begin to understand the relationship between unmet needs and behaviour, we can respond to the child rather than simply react to the behaviour.

Because the behaviour is visible.

The child’s experience is the part we need to look closer at - to understand what sits beneath the behaviour.

Because behaviour is communication. And understanding what it’s telling us is where meaningful care begins.

A home is never just finished.At Stepping Stones, we keep looking at our homes through the eyes of the children who live...
22/09/2026

A home is never just finished.

At Stepping Stones, we keep looking at our homes through the eyes of the children who live in them. How are the spaces being used? What works well? Is there anything that could work better?

Garnet House is a great example of this. What started as one home has grown into two houses being brought together, creating more space and greater possibilities for the children who live there.

As our homes evolve, so do the ways we think about them. We look at how each space is being used, what the children need from it and how we can make the environment work even better for them.

Because creating the right home isn’t something we do once and leave behind. We keep looking, adapting and making thoughtful changes to ensure our homes continue to work for the children living in them.

Garnet didn’t stay the same. And that was the point.

You don’t have to be a parent to have a place in a child’s life.For some people, being childless was never the life they...
18/09/2026

You don’t have to be a parent to have a place in a child’s life.

For some people, being childless was never the life they imagined.

There can be grief in that.
A future that looked different.
A family that never came to be.
A loss that isn’t always seen or spoken about.

World Childless Week is about making space for those stories. At Stepping Stones Care, we believe there is no single definition of what it means to care for a child.

You don’t have to be a parent to nurture.
You don’t have to have children of your own to make a difference.
You don’t have to share a family name to become someone a child trusts.

Sometimes, you simply become a safe person in their world, and that relationship can matter more than you’ll ever know.

Childless doesn’t mean without purpose.
It doesn’t mean without love to give.
And it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t change a child’s life.

Some statistics are difficult to read. But they’re important to understand - especially when they relate to the ages of ...
14/09/2026

Some statistics are difficult to read. But they’re important to understand - especially when they relate to the ages of the young people we support.

Research has found that around 1 in 4 (26%) 17-year-olds with experience of foster or residential care had attempted to end their own life, compared with 7% of those who had never been in care. (Thomas, T. (2026), The Guardian.)

For us, this isn’t just a statistic.

We care for young people within this age range, which makes understanding the challenges they may face even more important. Every child and young person deserves to have people around them who notice when something isn’t right, listen without judgement and make it easier to ask for help.

At Stepping Stones Care, we believe support shouldn’t only be there when a child is struggling. It should be part of everyday care - helping children feel understood, valued and safe enough to be themselves.

Sometimes, support starts with noticing.
Sometimes, it starts with listening.
And sometimes, it starts with reminding a young person that they don’t have to face difficult feelings alone.

This Su***de Prevention Month, let’s keep listening, keep talking and keep creating environments where young people feel able to speak, ask for help and know they will be heard.

Every person’s mental health matters, no matter their age.

***dePreventionMonth

We are incredibly proud to celebrate a truly outstanding professional achievement for Liam Barrett-Hawkins, our Counsell...
10/09/2026

We are incredibly proud to celebrate a truly outstanding professional achievement for Liam Barrett-Hawkins, our Counselling Therapist at Stepping Stones Care.

Liam has successfully achieved his APT Accreditation, Level 2 in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) - a significant milestone that reflects his commitment to developing specialist knowledge and expertise in supporting young people.

This is a fantastic accomplishment, and one that deserves to be recognised and celebrated. Liam’s dedication to his professional development demonstrates the high standards he sets for himself and the passion he brings to his role every day.

At Stepping Stones, we believe our people are our greatest strength. We’re incredibly proud to support our team as they continue to develop, achieve and reach new heights in their careers.

Liam, congratulations on this exceptional achievement. We are incredibly proud of you!

Here’s to the next milestone! 🌟

What happens when you’re given the opportunity to grow?Almost three years ago, Kerrie joined Stepping Stones Care as par...
09/09/2026

What happens when you’re given the opportunity to grow?

Almost three years ago, Kerrie joined Stepping Stones Care as part of the team at Onyx House.

Since then, she’s grown in confidence, developed her skills and taken on new challenges and responsibilities along the way.

But progression isn’t just about a new job title.

It’s about having people around you who support you, opportunities to learn, and the encouragement to step outside your comfort zone and take on something new.

Through training, hands-on experience and opportunities to develop, Kerrie has continued to grow - both personally and professionally.

As Kerrie puts it:

“Stepping Stones encourages career progression, investing in staff development and providing opportunities to take on new challenges and grow within the organisation.”

That’s the kind of journey we want to create for our people.

Not just a place to work.

A place where you’re supported to learn, develop and see how far you can go.

07/09/2026

She had never worked with children before. Now, 10 months later, she’s looking forward to what comes next.

When Sonia joined Stepping Stones Care in October, residential childcare was completely new to her.

After her three-week induction, she quickly discovered how much she enjoyed working with children and began to understand what life in residential care was really about.

She joined our team at Onyx House and, not long into her journey, found herself facing a difficult and unexpected period that meant she needed some time away from work.

Coming back wasn’t easy, but Sonia says the support she received from the whole Stepping Stones team made such a difference.

Her colleagues and management gave her the understanding, encouragement and time she needed, supporting her at her own pace and in the way that worked best for her.

Now, 10 months in, Sonia says she can’t wait for the future and only wishes she had started this journey sooner.

We’re incredibly proud of Sonia and the journey she has taken since joining us.

Good luck with your diploma, Sonia! We’re so excited to celebrate this achievement with you and see where the next chapter takes you.

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Camomile House
Birmingham
B151TP

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