New Projects
Accredited Training & Justice Partnerships
ISM as an SQA Approved Centre
ISM Psychological Services is progressing toward becoming an SQA Approved Centre, enabling us to deliver nationally recognised qualifications aligned with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).
This development strengthens our commitment to quality assurance, workforce development and structured, evidence-based interventions across residential childcare, fostering, adoption and justice services.
Our vision is to work in partnership with local authorities, residential providers, community justice services and courts to deliver accredited, psychologically informed programmes that improve outcomes for children and young people.
Therapeutic Parenting in Residential Childcare (TPRCC)
Our TPRCC framework will be delivered as an accredited award, embedding trauma-informed, attachment-focused and regulation-based practice into everyday care.
The programme integrates:
- PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy)
- The Three RRRs (Regulate, Relate, Reason)
- Psychological formulation skills
- Structured intervention planning
- Reflective and accountable practice
Accreditation ensures:
- Clearly defined learning outcomes
- Competency-based assessment
- Internal and external verification
- Alignment with national training standards
This provides partner organisations with confidence that therapeutic parenting is not only embedded in culture — but formally recognised and quality assured.
Offending Behaviour & Community Justice Interventions
ISM also delivers structured, psychologically informed interventions addressing:
- General offending behaviour
- Violence and aggression
- Harmful sexual behaviour
- Risk-taking and anti-social behaviour
- Vulnerability to exploitation (including CSE and CCE)
Through SQA accreditation, these programmes will offer:
- Quality-assured curriculum and assessment
- Clear progression pathways
- Measurable outcomes
- Alignment with safeguarding and risk management frameworks
Partnership with Local Authorities & Courts
We are keen to work collaboratively with:
- Local authority criminal justice services
- Youth justice teams
- Community justice partnerships
- Sheriff Courts and Children’s Hearings
- Social work and safeguarding teams
Our accredited interventions can support:
- Community-based court disposals
- Diversion from prosecution
- Early and effective intervention pathways
- Structured components of Community Payback Orders
- Preventative programmes for young people at risk of further offending
Our aim is to provide credible, structured and psychologically robust alternatives that promote accountability, victim awareness and behavioural change while reducing reliance on custodial responses.
Quality Assurance & Governance
Becoming an SQA Approved Centre demonstrates:
- Commitment to national quality standards
- Robust internal verification processes
- Transparent governance and assessment practice
- Alignment with professional regulatory standards
By combining forensic and clinical psychological expertise with accredited training pathways, ISM aims to strengthen workforce capability, enhance safeguarding and embed trauma-informed, risk-aware practice across systems.
Our Commitment to Partnership
We welcome discussions with:
- Local authorities
- Residential childcare providers
- Community justice partnerships
- Education services
- Third sector organisations
Together, we can develop structured, accredited and psychologically informed pathways that support safer communities and better life outcomes for children and young people.
