Clover Childcare Services
Who we are .…..
Clover Childcare Services is an independent organisation founded in 2007, specialising in therapeutic re-parenting, assessment, and therapy for children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, including trauma, loss, neglect, and abuse.
We create a safe, nurturing environment where children can begin to heal, rebuild trust, and develop emotional resilience through consistent, relationship-focused care.
At the heart of our approach are the principles of Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) and the PACE attitude—Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy. These values guide every interaction and help children feel seen, heard, and understood. We are proud to be a DDP Certified Organisation since 2023, reflecting our commitment to trauma-informed, attachment-focused care across all areas of our work.
Our dedicated and creative team includes qualified social workers, teachers, therapists, and specialist consultants, who work collaboratively to provide a high-quality, child-centred service.
With over 50 years of combined experience across both local authority and independent sectors, our Directors have built a service that is both comprehensive and deeply rooted in therapeutic practice, offering lasting support to children and their families

Kath Laidlaw – Director
Kath has been a Director of Clover Childcare Services since its establishment in October 2007. During this time, she has also served as the Registered Manager for both Clover Lodge and The Old Rectory, leading with dedication and compassion.
With a career in residential childcare dating back to 1990, Kath has worked extensively with children facing a wide range of challenges, including learning difficulties, emotional and behavioural needs, and the lasting effects of abuse, neglect, and emotional harm.
Her previous roles within Norfolk’s Local Authority Children’s Services gave her a strong foundation in:
-
Managing and supervising staff teams
-
Conducting core assessments
-
Handling complaints
-
Writing policies and delivering training
-
Staff recruitment and development
Kath’s decades of hands-on experience and deep commitment to therapeutic care continue to shape the values and quality of service at Clover Childcare Services

Dan Knight – Director
Dan has led Clover Childcare Services as Director since its founding in October 2007. He brings a wealth of experience from across the children’s social care sector, with a particular focus on supporting children in crisis.
Dan has managed both low-occupancy crisis intervention units and larger group homes, and has worked in areas including 16+ support, fostering, training, and consultancy focused on direct work with children. His most recent work has centred on therapeutic residential care, where he continues to play a hands-on role in shaping high-quality, relationship-based services.
Previously, within Norfolk’s Local Authority Children’s Services, Dan gained extensive experience in:
-
Managing staff teams and providing supervision
-
Conducting core assessments and managing complaints
-
Writing policies and delivering training
-
Strategic planning and developing tailored care management programmes for children with complex needs
Dan’s commitment to creating safe, nurturing environments for vulnerable children is at the heart of Clover Childcare Services.
What we do?
Integrated Care, Education & Therapy
At Clover Childcare Services, we provide placements that seamlessly integrate care, education, and therapy. This triadic approach is at the heart of the progress and positive outcomes our children experience.
Grounded in DDP & Therapeutic Re-Parenting
Our homes and school are built on the principles of Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP). We use therapeutic re-parenting, guided by the PACE attitude—Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy—to create safe, trusting relationships that help children reflect, regulate, and heal.
We are actively working towards organisational DDP accreditation—a process that has led us to evaluate and strengthen both our policies and daily practices. Viewing our work through a “DDP lens” has allowed us to align every part of our service around meaningful, relationship-focused care.
Curious what our staff think about DDP? [See their reflections here.]
Transparent, All-Inclusive Fees
Our wraparound service is fully inclusive, with no hidden or incremental costs. Everything we provide is covered in one clear fee structure.
📩 Get in touch
For details about placements or fees, please email us at:
enquiries@cloverchildcareservices.co.uk
.
Health
Understanding the Children We Support
The children referred to us have often faced early trauma, including separation, loss, neglect, abuse, and instability. These experiences can shape a child’s view of the world, making it difficult for them to trust adults or form secure relationships.
Many of the children we care for have experienced:
-
Attachment difficulties
-
Multiple placement breakdowns
-
Challenging or entrenched behaviours
-
Developmental trauma
At Clover Childcare Services, we understand the deep impact of these experiences—and we work to rebuild trust, safety, and connection through consistent, therapeutic care.
Education
Education That Builds Resilience
At Clover Childcare Services, we see education as a key foundation for building resilience in children and young people. It brings structure, purpose, and a sense of achievement to their daily lives.
We believe that every young person has potential, and with the right support and environment, they can succeed and thrive in their learning.
We celebrate progress at every level—recognising and rewarding even the smallest achievements. This helps to build confidence, boost self-esteem, and reignite a love of learning in children who may have struggled in traditional educational settings
Recruitment
The Right People Make the Difference
At Clover Childcare Services, we believe that having the right team is essential to delivering high-quality therapeutic re-parenting for the children in our care.
That’s why we use a comprehensive, three-stage recruitment process designed to ensure we select compassionate, skilled, and committed individuals. This includes:
-
An informal meeting to get to know the candidate
-
A safe care interview to assess safeguarding awareness
-
A formal interview to explore experience and values
We’re committed to building a team that truly reflects our values—and one that can make a lasting, positive impact on children’s lives.
👉 Interested in joining us? View our current vacancies here.
Our Recruitment Process – Finding the Right People for Our Children
At Clover Childcare Services, we take great care in selecting the right people to support the children in our homes. Our three-step, two-day interview process is designed to ensure that every candidate not only has the right skills, but also the right mindset and emotional readiness for the work.
Step One: Setting the Emotional Tone
The first day is about more than just interviews—it’s about setting the tone. We introduce applicants to the relational culture of our organisation, focusing on the emotional quality of the relationships we build with children and the professional responsibility that comes with it.
This initial stage is about honesty and clarity. Residential childcare is not for everyone, and that’s okay. Our children deserve consistent, emotionally available adults who are committed to their wellbeing. This process helps us—and the applicants—determine whether the role is the right fit.
Those who feel aligned with our values and approach are invited to continue to day two.
Step Two: Understanding the Person Behind the Professional
On the second day, we go deeper. Because we ask our staff to be attachment figures, it’s important that we understand their own stories. We invite applicants to share their childhood experiences and reflect on how these might shape their relationships with the children they’ll support.
This part of the process is inspired by the principles of the Adult Attachment Interview, helping us identify adults who are capable of forming the secure, nurturing relationships our children need to heal and grow.
Step 3 — Professional Interview
We’re not just hiring for a role—we’re carefully matching the right adults with the right children. Our children rely on us to get it right
The Triad for Stability
