Woodlands Children’s Home

Woodlands provide 52 week care for up fourteen young people between the ages of 8 and 19 years and can accommodate both boys and girls. All the young people have learning difficulties and require specialist residential education and care.

The home is run as two separate units which accommodate up to seven young people. Young people are placed in these units according to their age and compatibility. The age gap between the young people in each unit is not greater than four years.

Woodlands has two self contained first floor residential areas, with ground floor conservatory rooms and laundry rooms. The conservatories open directly onto lawned, fenced and private garden areas. Each unit has seven single bedrooms, a shower room, bathroom, two toilets, a lounge/diner, kitchen, ground floor conservatory/living room and a laundry. Young people are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms to their own tastes.

The home is staffed by a registered Manager, Andrea Walkman (see profile) and her Deputy. In addition each unit has its own team of support staff.  The staff group consists of both day and night waking staff, all of whom have been CRB checked and have successfully completed a three week induction period. The staff are encouraged to build positive relationships with the young people in order to provide trust and understanding around personal care and daily living opportunities. The staff also support the young people in the education environment when additional levels of support are required.

Woodlands is situated on the site of Bladon House School. All the young people resident at Woodlands are educated at the School. Some young people may take part in courses or educational activities at local colleges, or with other appropriate providers. A separate entrance provides access to the classrooms and therapy rooms. These are used during the education day.

Bladon House School Education and Therapy staff work closely with Woodlands staff to ensure the young people’s education, care and health and behaviour management programmes are individualised and consistent in all environments and contexts. The young people also contribute to all of their reviews.

Woodlands staff promote education in its broadest sense by ensuring that all young people have opportunities to develop communication, social and independence skills and functional life skills. Their programmes include sport or leisure activities which they are interested in. The safety of our young people is paramount and all staff follow our high standard of care and child protection. Risk assessments are carried out for all young people when preparing for trips out into the community.

Each week the young people have a support session with their Key Worker. The Key Worker provides a link between School, home and other services and also advocates on behalf of the young person. We encourage family contact and all young people are able to make unlimited telephone calls using either their mobile phone or a pay phone. They are also encouraged to write letters, send drawings or to email. Young people with communication difficulties are supported by staff through three way phones or other augmentative methods. Although there are no residential facilities on site for visitors staff are happy to help find nearby accommodation. We are able to provide private areas for visitors and young people to meet during the day. We are also happy to provide support during home visits, including the sharing of successful behaviour strategies.

For more information or to make a referral to Woodlands Children's Home click here