#30 - John Turberville: How The Mulberry Bush Helps Children Relearn Trust Through Relationships

Send us Fan MailIn this in-depth conversation with John Turberville, CEO of The Mulberry Bush, we explore how therapeutic residential care transforms the lives of children who have experienced trauma, relational ruptures, & multiple placement breakdowns. John reflects on the organisation’s 75-year legacy, the central role of relationships, family work, trust, innovation, & reflective practice, & why high-quality residential care must be seen as a placement of choice—not a last resort—in child protection & out-of-home care.John traces his path from a surveyor in London to therapeutic childcare in The Cotswold, & how mentors & a reflective, psychodynamic culture shaped his leadership. We unpack the Mulberry Bush’s evolution from a renowned residential school into a broader charity that integrates education, therapy, family work, outreach, consulting & accredited training. The through-line is consistent: relationships first. That means working with birth, adoptive & foster families, offering peer groups & residential family weekends, & creating real step-down pathways to stable home life when safe & possible.We dig into why group care matters. When problems surface in groups—families, classrooms, communities—the work belongs in groups too. For some children, especially those overwhelmed by family placements, small therapeutic homes provide the containment & relational density needed to relearn trust. Alumni testimonies cut through policy noise: decades later they credit love, structure & belonging with giving them the “boundaries of life” & the confidence to parent well. John also speaks candidly about staff resilience, supervision & the need to authorise creativity. He argues for regulation that secures safety without smothering innovation, so practitioners can respond flexibly to children who don’t fit a standard mould.Subscribe, share with a colleague, & leave a review telling us: what would you change to set creativity free while keeping children safe?John's Bio:John is the Chief Executive Officer of The Mulberry Bush, a national charity dedicated to transforming the lives of people affected by trauma in their childhood. He leads the development & delivery of an integrated range of specialist therapeutic & educational services, with a focus on expanding the charity’s range & reach & ensuring the highest standards across all services — guided by its three core values: Collaborative Working, a Psychodynamic Approach, & a Reflective Culture.Formerly the School Director & Chief Operating Officer, John became CEO to further develop the charity’s ability to link teaching, research, & practice, aiming to deliver the highest quality services & excellent outcomes.John is Chair of the Community of Communities Advisory Group at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, supporting quality assurance & accreditation for Therapeutic Communities & Therapeutic Child Care settings in the UK & internationally, * is a Therapeutic Communities (TC) specialist, auditing TC prisons.Instagram: @mulberrybushcharity Facebook: The Mulberry Bush Charity LinkedIn: The Mulberry Bush YouTube: @mulberrybushschool Links: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheSecureStartPodcastDisclaimer: Information reported by guests of this podcast is assumed to be accurate as stated. Podcast owner Colby Pearce is not responsible for any error of facts presented by podcast guests. In addition, unless otherwise specified, opinions expressed by guests of this podcast may not reflect those of the podcast owner, Colby Pearce.Support the show