Providing therapeutic environments where the voices of children who have experienced trauma are acknowledged, supported to recover and thrive.
Our Approach
Our Children and Young People’s Residential Therapeutic Service includes five purposely designed, Ofsted-registered homes.
All our homes adopt a psychologically informed approach to caring for children with traumatic experiences within a home environment and the community.
Our approach has been designed in collaboration with Consultant Psychologists (both Forensic and Clinical), therapists, art psychotherapists, residential care specialists and wider delivery teams, to provide a unique step-down and prevention service from Tier 4 CAMHS and below; Psychiatric Intense Care Units; secure children’s homes; those awaiting therapeutic placements post hospital admissions for a mental health assessment; and those who are stepped up from generic children’s homes to prevent hospital admission.
We have expertise and experience of gaining positive outcomes working with children from 5 years of age to 17 years of age.
Craig Berens, Group CEO“Our belief is that all children deserve to be nurtured and supported to become rounded individuals – not just by their carers but also by the greater community.”
A safe and nurturing environment
Children and young people who stay with us are provided with space, time and support to heal from developmental and relational trauma. We create opportunities for individuals to discover who they are, develop the strengths and abilities to shape their own lives, and learn to engage with and contribute to the world around them.
We adopt a staged approach to care, where trauma-informed practice and a range of evidence-based theories have been successfully embedded to promote a young person’s assets, reduce barriers and prevent harm and or re-traumatisation.
The staged approach includes:-
- Ensuring I am safe and stable
- Exploring how I became me through my lived experiences and how this makes me think, feel and behave
- Recognising what I want to change, what I want to learn and what I want to prevent happening again
- Learning skills to make the changes to support me to reach my goals
- Moving on (transitioning stage)
Refer a Child
Our safe environments are available for children who originate from anywhere in the UK. At YMCA, we know that there is not one type of child in care. Our comprehensive placement and matching criteria ensure we only accept children where we believe we can truly support their individual needs and can make a substantial difference in their lives. This explicitly takes into account the child’s history, behaviour and community background through concept mapping. Please note that in rare instances there are times when we cannot meet a young person’s needs through their referral.
To refer a child for support or for further information, contact placements@ymcarhg.org
Why we are needed
Over 80,000 children are in care in England alone, and with the population of children in care increasing, the need to respond has never been so important.
Our response to this challenge is to deliver a Children’s Residential programme that ensures the children and their specific needs are at the centre with trauma-informed practice and a range of evidence-based theories in place by clinical and therapeutic experts.
Our small scale ‘family unit’ model has at its very heart the same aspirations for children in care that the majority of parents have for their own sons and daughters.
We are not-for-profit organisation and believe in fairness and opportunity for all. Our homes strive to provide the critical foundations for a fresh, strong start for children and young people.
Access to YMCA opportunities
We believe that it is important for young people to have access to a range of different life opportunities along their journey of personal development towards adulthood Children in our care have access to YMCA day camps, sports & fitness activities, and youth programmes to support their growth.
Join us in changing a child’s life, today.
FAQs
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I am a child in need of urgent support?
If you are a child and feel you are in danger or at risk of any form of harm, call Childline now on 0800 1111
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Who can refer a child for therapeutic care support?
We welcome referral applications from local authorities and social workers.
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How long can a child be housed under the provision?
We have a fantastic track-record of stable, long-term placements. A child can stay with us until the age of 17, at which time more appropriate living arrangements will need to be made.
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Do you only accept local children?
Not at all – we welcome referrals from anywhere in the UK and consider a child’s need on an individual basis.
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How many children to a property?
This varies with each home but at present our homes cater for 2-4 young people at any one time.
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How does the rotation of carers work with YMCA staff?
We typically have ratio of 1-2-1 carer/adult to child, with a mixed team of full time, part time, and casual staff. All staff who attend our homes are required to pass our therapeutic model of care training.