Developing intelligent compassion: a case study of a specialist eating disorders service for children and young people

Purpose The paper aims to focus on the mechanisms in place at team and service level, that help to maintain a compassionate and person-centred model of care to meet the complex nature of each young people’s needs. The paper outlines how to foster psychological and emotional safeness for the team, which in turn creates conditions for young people to recover. Design/methodology/approach Using a case study approach, the paper demonstrates how a new model of care implemented an intelligently kind and compassion focused approach to support the recovery of young people in a specialist eating disorders service for young people aged between 10–18 years old. The service is part of the National Health Service (NHS) Tier 4 Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHs) specialist pathways, and all young people are treated under the powers of the Mental Health Act (1983). Findings The paper identifies important processes that help to maintain safeness and resilience in team members. The distinction between safeness and safety are explored and the term “Intelligent Compassion” rather than Intelligent Kindness’ is proposed to distinguish between the psychological motivation behind compassion, which is to relieve distress and suffering in others, and kindness, which is make another person happy. The creation of regular safe space for teams to meet, reflect together and build cohesion and community is central to this approach. Research limitations/implications The paper draws on qualitative research principles using individual and collective team narratives to identify meaning and sense making of their subjective experiences. As it is not primary research it cannot be said to be generalisable to all services, however, the paper draws on conceptual and theoretical principles which support main arguments presented. Practical implications Finding time for individual and team development in busy and chaotic clinical settings can be tricky and easily neglected. The paper provides an overview of a new model of care “The STEP Model” and characteristics and attributes of clinical leaders to deliver an integrated trauma informed approach. Social implications It is well known that young people placed in hospital settings far away from home experience the effects of social exclusion and loss of relations and the service model described in this paper supports the young person to maintain links with their friends and social networks wherever possible. Originality/value The paper introduces an original model of care for young people with complex needs and eating disorder called The STEP Model. The STEP (Stop Things Escalating Please) model is an integrative relationally based approach that frames the whole care experience of young people with complex needs. It has three distinct elements: 1. How we understand you 2. How we provide care for you; 3. How you will experience us. These elements capture the use of young person friendly language and the use of engaging and evidence informed assessment process that comply with evidence-based guidelines (NICE, 2025).