Eastnor House, a Marlowe Home
Eastnor is a four-bedded home for boys and girls, age 10 - 16 years (on admission). It provides a therapeutic placement option for children and young people, primarily on a medium to long-term basis. In particular Eastnor has had most success in working with children and young people with severe attachment disorders, most of whom display disturbed and disturbing behaviour. Many of the children and young people Eastnor has cared for have also had multiple placement disruptions.
Using an understanding of Attachment Theory, and Marlowe Child & Family Services philosophy, Eastnor has developed a therapeutic approach that begins to address some of the effects seen in the Attachment Disordered child or young person. As such they are often fearful and distrustful of adults generally, and caregivers in particular.
At times, the behaviour of the children and young people can be aggressive, their self-esteem low, and their view of themselves both distorted and disturbed. Through a carefully constructed milieu and specific individual therapeutic input, the children and young people at Eastnor gradually begin learn to trust others, as well as trust their own, innate value. As such they can mature successfully and effectively, displaying and experiencing less hostility.
Ian Knight NVQ 5 (Care & Care Management) has managed Eastnor since it opened. Ian and his team have a clear understanding of the importance of helping each individual child/young person experience success in all their lives - in peer relationships, relationships with adults (including carers and, where possible, family), in social situations and in their education. There is an emphasis on utilising the group-living experience as a positive influence in which children and young people can learn to explore the benefits of mutually supportive relationships with peers, with a carefully managed therapeutic milieu.
Eastnor is located in a village a couple of miles from the market town of Newent in Gloucestershire. It is a 15-minute drive both to the M50 motorway and the Marlowe School at Hartpury. Eastnor is a large detached family home with a substantial and a well-equipped garden. It is decorated and furnished in a way as to enhance the non-institutional environment of the home.
The children and young people are involved in the running of the home, contributing to the decisions that affect their day-to-day lives. This helps them feel valued and worthwhile, directly challenging many of the negative feelings they sometimes have about themselves. They have also contributed significantly to the physical development of the Eastnor; helping them value the environment and giving them a feeling of genuine empowerment. Further, the staffing ratios are high (usually 3 staff to 4 young people minimum) to allow both high levels of supervision and individual interventions.
Eastnor are also happy to consider referral enquiries for children and young people who may have experienced mental health problems including depression and psychiatric disorders. Eastnor staff are experienced in working closely with psychiatric professionals, helping the child or young person cope with and manage difficult symptomology and, where necessary, administering psychotropic medication. Consultant Psychotherapist Peter Kelly and Psychologist Fiona Tait provide essential input into advising and training the team, as well as engaging in individual work.
A detailed psychological assessment is undertaken by Psychologist Fiona Tait. This includes formalised psychometric testing on Self-Esteem/Self-Concept, Locus of Control, Personality/Conduct (SKID), Mental Health (KONORS & CH PAS-ADD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Interview, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (measure of functional ability and cognitive profile) Autism (Sensory Profile, Empathy Checklist, CARS) Aspergers (OASIS) and a Psycho-sexual Assessment (Child Sexual Behaviour Inventory) provide a firm foundation upon which care and therapeutic interventions are planned and implemented.
Comprehensive written reports detailing the assessments, Behaviour Management Programmes and Reactive Plans and written updates on individual therapy are provided to the placing authority on a regular basis; as well as general monthly updates, incident reports etc.
The Eastnor team are committed to a strong central ethos; to providing each child or young person with individualised and genuinely therapeutic care to meet their often complex needs and to ensuring positive outcomes especially in the area highlighted by ‘Every Child Matters’. - Positive outcomes include helping some children and young people successfully return to family life, or moving on to independence.
Marlowe Child & Family Services has been particularly successful in the past in helping many educationally disadvantaged and disenchanted young people successfully return to full-time education. Many children and young people admitted to Eastnor have missed out on the benefits of stability in their school lives. Providing stability and support at home is the first stage of re-engaging young people in school or college. Children and young people at Eastnor can benefit from attending the Marlowe School. Alternatively some may also go to mainstream school or one of the local colleges. The objective is to help them achieve genuine and measurable success, including (for older young people) success in examinations such as GCSEs, as well as in vocational subjects.
In its most recent Ofsted report (2010) Eastnor achieved OUTSTANDING in one category, with GOOD in all other categories.
Eastnor House - Image gallery
