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  • I have achieved so much since i've been at Acorns.
    I have been supported so much and when i have had problems at school, the staff have come in and supported me. Everything you need will always get done.

School attendance: 96%

Consistently rated 'good' with 'outstanding' features

Unauthorised absences 100%

Acorns

Acorns children’s home offers high quality, therapeutically informed care, with linked education nearby if required, for up to 3 children and young people of either gender between the ages of 7 to 17.

Located on the outskirts of Telford, Acorns provides a homely and safe environment to young people; a vital component when delivering therapeutically informed care. The home is a detached cottage situated in a quiet and scenic residential area, close to local amenities.

Why choose Acorns?
  • High quality children’s home with track record for successfully transitioning young people into independence
  • High levels of educational attainment in both mainstream and specialist schools
  • Access to our SEN school, Access School, nearby 
  • Specialists working with attachment disorders
  • Highly qualified and experienced staff team
  • Therapeutic team support the home on a monthly basis
  • Acorns gives young people the confidence, ability and opportunities to become involved in community related activities
Location
Summary
  • Beds: 3
  • Location: Telford
  • Linked Education: Yes
  • Ofsted Ratings (5 years): Good x 5
Features
  • Specialists working with attachment disorders and mental health needs
  • Highly qualified and experienced staff team
  • Therapeutic Team
  • Consultant Psychologist support
  • CAMHS Service support
Benefits
  • Preparation for foster care or independent living
  • Therapeutic approach stabilises and provides a platform for young people to grow
  • Consistently good outcomes
Case Study

Gemma came to Acorns aged fourteen. Gemma’s family history included neglect, physical and psychological abuse with a suspicion of sexual abuse yet unconfirmed.

Gemma came into care aged nine, accessing both foster care and children’s home provision. Following a safeguarding issue within her current placement, Gemma was placed at Acorns with a view to accessing our therapeutic support.

Gemma had ADHD and regularly demonstrated risk taking behaviours. Gemma came to Acorns with criminal convictions for shop lifting, destruction of property and drug and alcohol misuse in the community. Gemma had not been in full time education for some time and was known to abscond from both previous homes and schools. Our placement focussed on providing support with engagement in education and regular therapeutic support to reduce the risk taking behaviour, drug and alcohol issues and missing from care incidents.

Gemma had attachment problems due to her early life experiences. Gemma presented with an anxious/avoidant attachment style.

Gemma initially had some contact with family members but due to the complex nature of these relationships, contact was often sporadic.

Gemma took time to settle at Acorns and was very mistrusting of all adults. Gemma had low self-esteem and due to her ADHD she often exhibited poor impulse control. Gemma could be both verbally and physically aggressive. Gemma initially struggled with attending school and would be disruptive whilst there to avoid the learning process. Gemma initially refused to attend therapy aimed at building her emotional resilience.

Despite initial difficulties, Gemma did settle with time. She allowed staff to support her to engage in school.

The home helped Gemma to limit her risk taking behaviour by encouraging her to develop more appropriate activities and by setting clear expectations and boundaries with her. Unconditional positive regard, a nurturing environment and consistent care aided Gemma with her low self-esteem and emotional difficulties. Gemma agreed to access therapy with the support of staff, who attended alongside her in particular sessions. This also supported in the development of self-worth, identity and emotional resilience.

Staff supported Gemma with an independence programme to help her to develop and understand the responsibilities of living an independent adult life.

Gemma remained at Acorns to complete her GCSE courses and was accepted into a local college. Gemma also developed enough emotional resilience to rebuild a ‘good enough’ relationship with her mother and Gemma ceased her risk taking behaviours. Gemma later successfully transitioned into semi-independent living within the local area, following the completion of her college course. This was Gemma’s choice and her semi-independent living remains successful to date.

Secure Base

The Secure Base Model (Schofield & Beek) provides a positive framework for therapeutic caregiving, which helps young people feel secure and builds their resilience. It focuses on the interactions that occur between caregivers and young people on a minute by minute basis. It also considers how those relationships can enable the child to develop competence in the outside world of school, peer group and community.

Therapeutic Input at Acorns

For quality and consistency Family Care employs its own therapeutic team. The team are all qualified therapists, registered with HCPC. Our therapist meets with the team twice a month through a ‘consultation model.’ Research shows that consultation is the most effective model of delivering therapeutic interventions, through a staff team, in a systemic way. This creates the ideal conditions for direct work where this is deemed appropriate.

Therapeutic governance enhances risk management and provides a further layer of safeguarding not only the young people in our care but also for the teams caring for them.

At Family Care we believe that integrating therapeutic support into residential practice strengthens and empowers existing staff’s knowledge and skills. This improves team resilience, job satisfaction, helps to reduce turnover and contributes to consistently positive outcomes for the children and young people in our care.

I have achieved so much since I have been here. I have been supported so much and when I have had problems at school, the staff have come in and supported me. Everything you need will always get done.
Young Person - November 2015

My team and I get such huge satisfaction from seeing young people progress at Acorns. The team strive to support our young people to improve their emotional resilience, build self esteem and develop the confidence to enable them to overcome their challenges and achieve their full potential. By using Family Care’s secure base therapeutically informed approach, the team are able to help young people to access education, develop life skills and prepare for independence. Acorns has a great track record of effective multi-agency working, helping our young people to achieve successful outcomes, permanency and a bright future.

Andrea Turner - Manager

Relationships between young people and staff are positive. Young people make remarkable progress from their starting points. They have a strong identity with the home and are proud to be associated with it. Staff ensure young people have a broad range of experiences that enhance and respect their spiritual, social and emotional development. Young people feel safe as a consequence of the care and support they receive from staff. Self-evaluation is rigorous. It is utilised effectively by the registered manager to drive forward ongoing improvements in the quality of care. Staff morale is high and professionals remark positively about the immense efforts made to meet young people’s diverse and complex needs.

Ofsted 2015
To find out more about Acorns and the other services we provide across the UK please contact:
Tel: 01772 647500