Buddy Scheme

We specialise in caring for young people who are behaviourally challenging and emotionally vulnerable, who cannot cope in other types of provision. Our aim is to create an environment that meets each young person’s individual needs and care for them in a non-institutional way.

To support this we operate a ‘buddy scheme’ for young people ‘looked after’ in our homes. The scheme provides age appropriate companions and positive role models to engage the young people in constructive activities. The scheme promotes inclusion and aims to improve the life chances of ‘looked after young people’ and enable them to take more advantage of what is happening locally in the company of a ‘buddy’.

Each young person has their own key worker and clinician who work closely with colleagues from the National Teaching and Advisory Service to ensure the implementation of individual care/education plans and to prepare a comprehensive assessment report to inform future planning.

Our homes are presently located throughout Staffordshire and Lancashire. Each has a dedicated manager working under the direction of the Care Director, and a team of residential care workers providing a high level of support and supervision. The staff ratio is usually one to one but this may be increased to accommodate specific short term of longer term needs as necessary. We accept referrals for placements in our two, three or four bedded homes and will consider requests for single occupancy if required.

Daily routines are well structured with individually planned education programmes and weekly activity timetables in place for each young person. Staff assist young people make informed choices and encourage them to be actively involved in the decision making processes and proactive in the running of the home.
In preparation for discharge outreach support services are available to work alongside families or future placements to reduce the risk of disruption during the transition period.