YMCA Children’s Residential Care
YMCA’s care services provide children who are not able to live with their own families with a chance to grow and thrive in a safe home environment.
‘Outstanding’ provider
As an ‘Outstanding’ Registered care provider, our YMCA opened its first Settled Care home in 2011, becoming one of the few charities to home and look after children in the community.
The team recognises there is a real need for safe and nurturing homes for vulnerable children. Our compassionate and trained staff are always compelled to step in where possible to help improve the lives of at-risk children.
What we do
Our YMCA provides a range of residential services to look after children who may have suffered severe neglect, emotional or physical harm. We operate small and medium sized residential homes across Nottingham, Newark & Sherwood and East Riding of Yorkshire, therapeutic services and plans to introduce supported accommodation.
By promoting a ‘family unit’ model in the community, the children’s residential care programme delivers 24-hour care and nourishment to young people aged 5-17 to ensure at-risk children are awarded the same opportunity of a loving, home environment as their peers to give them the best chance of a brighter future.
Our safe residential home 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. Every child is unique and has a different story to tell with an individual set of basic human needs that must be met for them to develop and feel nurtured as a young person.
The charity’s 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. Please note that in rare instances there are times when we cannot meet a young person’s needs through their referral.
Our homes
We operate a number of highly specialised services.
Cornerstone 2011
Designed to re-integrate young people into small group homes whilst focusing on the individual needs of the young person, this is a two-bed Registered Children’s home. Rated ‘Outstanding’ in all areas.
Maythorne 2018
This three-bed Registered Children’s home is our first therapeutic service. Therapeutic care plans for young people in our care, 1-1 clinical support for both young people and staff teams. Clinical assessments are available. Rated ‘Outstanding’ in all areas.
Brooklands 2020
Our first new four-bed service, which became operational in June 2020, includes a semi independent accommodation to empower young people to belong, contribute and thrive. Rated ‘Good’ in all areas.
White City 2021
Our first four-bed Yorkshire home incorporates a full therapeutic trauma informed model of intervention and assessment for looked after children requiring a specialist level of support. Rated ‘Good’ in all areas.
The Poppies 2022
Our second full therapeutic home offering a trauma informed model of intervention and assessment for looked after children requiring a specialist level of support rated ‘Good’ overall.
The Queens 2022
Our most recent therapeutic home offering a trauma informed model of intervention and assessment for looked after children requiring a specialist level of support rated ‘Good’ overall.
Who do we support?
The ‘Settled Care’ provision creates safe residential home environments for children aged between 8-17 who originate from anywhere in the UK.
At YMCA, we know that there is not one type of child in care. Every child is unique, has a different story to tell with an individual set of basic human needs that must be met for them to develop and feel nurtured as a young person.
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.
Services we offer
With the population of children in care increasing to the point where more than 1,400 children in Nottinghamshire find themselves in care, the need to address this growing problem has never been so important.
Our response to the concerns of people in our community was to design a new type of programme based around the family. 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.
Furthermore, we realised the traditional larger ‘children’s homes’ model presents challenges that can prevent children from growing and developing into productive and positive members of their community. YMCA has considerable expertise in providing day camps, sports, family programmes, childcare and youth programmes in addition to youth health and fitness. Please note that in rare instances there are times when we cannot meet a young person’s needs through their referral.
Take our Virtual Tour
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.”
Refer a Child
To refer a child for residential care support through our ‘Settled Care’ provision or for further information, contact rescarereferrals@nottsymca.org
Wider opportunities with YMCA
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.
YMCA offers a variety of services in locations across the region, ranging from our Camp Williams programme to YMCA Outdoor and Adventure activities
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 residential 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?
Each home has their own staff team of four full-time workers and one part-time worker in addition to casual staff. Children will therefore always have a consistent team who provide 24-hour care and with whom we hope our young people can build positive relationships.
Related Resources
Virtual Tour: Children’s Residential Care in White City
Watch our new Virtual Tour of an Ofsted Registered YMCA Children’s Residential Care home in White City, North Yorkshire.
Virtual Tour: Inside a YMCA Children’s Residential Care home
Take our brand new Virtual Tour to explore one of our YMCA Ofsted registered Children’s Residential Care home in Nottinghamshire.
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