Our very first Royal College of Psychiatrists CofC peer review at Marula House

We’re so proud to share some reflections from our very first Royal College of Psychiatrists CofC peer review at Marula House.

From the moment reviewers stepped through the door, they felt the warmth, openness and genuine care that defines the team and that set the tone for the whole day.

They highlighted:

✨ Staff who were welcoming, honest and deeply engaged

✨ Children who were comfortable, expressive and clearly at ease

✨ Warm, natural relationships 

✨ A home shaped thoughtfully around each young person’s needs

✨ Strong leadership presence, from the manager right through to SLT

✨ The growing impact of our Social Pedagogy model

✨ A place where playfulness, creativity and spontaneity thrive

✨ Supportive, reflective practice embedded into everyday team life

✨ A safe, non‑punitive, relationship‑centred approach

✨ The range of support available individual and group supervision, in‑house therapy, reflective team spaces

✨ The emphasis on celebrating success through positive rewards

One of the most powerful pieces of feedback was how comfortable and confident the children were as they interacted with staff, openly sharing feelings, asking questions, and expressing themselves without hesitation. Reviewers could see, immediately, that these relationships are real, secure and built on trust.

They recognised how well staff know each young person and how intentionally the environment has been shaped around individual needs. This shows in the small moments: the rhythmic routines, the sensory considerations, the way staff attune to each child’s emotional world.

They also celebrated the remarkable cultural shift the team has achieved in such a short time. Implementing a whole new practice model takes courage, openness and sustained effort and reviewers were clear that this is something to be recognised and celebrated.

Leadership was another key strength. The Senior Leadership Team’s visible, relational presence came through in countless stories from regular visits and shared activities to the simple, touching act of a director personally delivering a teddy they thought the children would love. 

The manager was also highlighted for their playful, nurturing and grounded relationship with the children. Reviewers saw genuine connection, whether through shared play, curious conversation or gentle emotional support. They also noted how other leaders, like the head of service, naturally joined the relational space and were known to the young people.

Staff described a culture where hierarchy feels flat, everyone gets involved, and reflective conversations happen openly with leadership, in supervision, and in team meetings. Young people, too, are given space to question power and shape their care, something the reviewers saw in real time.

We’re incredibly proud of the Marula House team and deeply grateful for the recognition of the culture they’re building.

Here’s to the next chapter for Marula House 🌿