Melbourne House is a short breaks residential home for children and young people with additional needs, learning difficulties and autism aged ten to eighteen years of age. 

Every person has a right to a life which respects the independence of the individual, safeguards privacy, offering real choices and the opportunity to enjoy and contribute to society, in which their personal, social and cultural needs are met. 

We believe in a user led service where all are seen as individuals, acknowledging and respecting other’s merits and skills and valuing diversity. The service evolves around partnerships between staff, children and young people, carers and the wider professional team.

We believe children and young people should be encouraged to make their own choices in order to enjoy their life to its full potential in an open, safe, living and working environment. Children’s rights are actively promoted.

Aims

• To provide planned short breaks for children and young people attending the home who have additional needs, learning disabilities and autism. 

• To assist the children and young people with support to develop optimum independence and positive self-esteem in a safe, supportive and stimulating and nurturing environment, including access to social and leisure opportunities. 

• To provide opportunities for children and young people to socialise with their peers, ensuring that their needs at any one time are compatible. 

• To meet the assessed needs and regularly review the needs of the children and young people and their careers and family members. 

• To promote an understanding of children and young people’s rights and advocacy services, assisting them to make choices and communicate their needs. 

• To maintain a holistic approach, we work within the multi-agency model to ensure the needs of children and young people are met, we aim to deliver a consistent approach to all aspects of their care plan including behaviour management.

• To work in partnership with families and other agencies to meet the needs of children and young people. Offering stays which enable the family to continue to function effectively. 

• To create a warm, safe, welcoming and nurturing environment ensuring that children and young people have access to their own space where they can keep their personal possessions safe. 

• To provide an environment that is free from discrimination, and which respects the child or young person’s rights and individuality. 

• To ensure that all the staff team offer a positive and caring attitude, and that they are appropriately qualified and trained in all areas as necessary to the needs of the service and, its children and young people.