COTM Homes rated 'Good' by Ofsted

Children of the Mangrove provide residential care with our two care homes; Maroon House and Selma House, to young people aged 11 – 17 years old. We can accommodate both girls and boys with a variety of complex emotional, behavioural and social difficulties and we are able to work with and support young people who have a history of disrupted relationships and placements, and whose behaviour has been difficult to manage in other settings.

We offer a trauma-informed model of care, support and accommodation over fifty-two weeks of the year. We believe that we can offer the best care to children and young people here, within a backdrop and mindset that is nurturing and therapeutic, and that will facilitate the greatest positive change when young people are placed with us for the medium to long term. We expect that many of the children will present with a variety of behavioural and psychological challenges and Maroon House will offer a safe and emotionally containing environment in which they can begin or continue to safely explore what they have experienced with the aim of restorative resolution. The support here will include high quality accommodation, safety, therapeutic model of care, educational support and opportunities for social integration. ?We set high expectations for ourselves and for the young people and provide genuine care and commitment to achieve the best outcomes.

Children of the Mangrove aim to provide outstanding care to every child and young person we are given responsibility for. We will endeavour to treat each child and young person as an individual, empowering each one with a strong sense of self belief and uphold their dignity during their most vulnerable times. We provide a genuine, caring, nurturing, safe, secure, and therapeutic environment, with a committed and passionate staff team equipped with the necessary qualities, skills, and experience, so that each child and young person can begin to form and develop more secure attachments and relationships, perhaps for the first time in their lives.

We will be working with children and adolescents who are likely to be searching for meaning, relevance and context in their lives, having had hugely disruptive situations and experiences that challenge their sense of trust and security. We will maintain a person-centred approach

in all aspects of our work and provide the social, emotional, recreational, and academic support the young people need to fulfil their potential. COTM aims to provide each young person with positive role models, boundaries, and support, and expose them to the concept of community and responsibility with the aim of preparing each individual to become active and outstanding members of society in the future. We will be relentless in our commitment to act in the best interests of each child and young person here, ensuring we provide each individual every opportunity to lead as happy and fulfilling a life as possible.

Given the preference for looked-after children to be placed in families wherever possible, most of the young people referred to COTM will have already struggled in other settings. To choose a residential childcare setting such as this, it is likely that there will have been , perhaps numerous foster and residential home breakdowns. It is also likely that the young people will be struggling in educational settings, and already be known to multiple agencies or professionals. Many might already have had unsuccessful residential placements, and some may have had referrals to secure units, in-patient services or sentencing to young offender institutions. Some may be suffering with severe behavioural and emotional difficulties.?

These young people need first and foremost to engage with thinking, caring and available adults. Their experiences and perceptions will probably mean that they do not view many adults as understanding, helpful or kind so they are likely to approach all new relationships with an unconscious expectation that the new adults will be much the same as the old. Many of their behaviours will act as defences which protect them from being hurt or disappointed again. We aim to establish and then nurture ongoing relationships based on trust, respect, safety, authenticity, acceptance and empathy. We understand this will take time.