Bryn-y-Mor, a St. David's Home
Bryn-y-Mor is a four bedded home providing therapeutic Care for boys. The age range is 8-18 (with a maximum of 4 years age difference). Primarily, it offers a medium to longer-term placement option to boys who have emotional and behavioural difficulties, and/or Pervasive Developmental Disorders (such as Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome), and/or Mild to Moderate Learning Disabilities. Bryn-y-Mor also offers specific intervention programmes address offending behaviour and to prevent recidivism.
Bryn-y-Mor is managed by Sue Williams B.A.(Hons) (Social Work). Sue is an experienced manager with particular skills and interests in young people with a variety of behavioural difficulties, including those with very high dependency needs.
Bryn-y-Mor is located not far from the town of Haverfordwest. It is a two-storey house set in extensive grounds. It is very well equipped with facilities to interest most boys, including a variety of sports and outdoor activity equipment. Young people are encouraged to expand and develop a wide variety of positive social interests.
The interior is furnished and decorated to ensure a homely, warm and non-institutionalised environment. This is an essential part of the therapeutic milieu, allowing the boys to experience the benefit of a nurturing experience. All the boys have a spacious bedroom of their own, and have access to several large communal rooms. Sue also places great emphasis meeting the health needs of the boys with a good, home-cooked, balanced meals, plentiful exercise and sleep all being crucial terms of the physical development of growing children and teenagers. Further, Bryn-y-Mor endeavours to give the boys the necessary structure and socialisation opportunities they need. Sue and her team provide the boys with access to, and encouragement to engage in positive social activities in and outside Bryn-y-Mor. Engagement in productive social activities provides a network of positive peer influences, healthy diversions from negative activities and a beneficial effect of self-esteem.
At Bryn-y-Mor there is a high level of expectation in terms of behaviour, framed within a level of understanding and tolerance that troubled young people make mistakes and can be challenging. Successful placements are born out of consistency and a commitment to the young person as an individual. Like all Marlowe Child & Family Services Homes, historically Bryn-y-Mor has an extremely low level of placement breakdowns.
Bryn-y-Mor also places very high value on supporting young people to educational success. Sue and her team are actively involved in supporting the young person's P.E.P, whether they attend St David's Education Unit, a local comprehensive school or college.
Sue and her team also work very closely with Marlowe (St. David’s) Assistant Psychologist Christine May to ensure the completion of a comprehensive assessment and the development of behaviour support plans for each and every young person. A high priority is also placed on ensuring effective communication with the placing agency, including regular written reports and evidence of positive outcomes.
The philosophy of Bryn-y-Mor is rooted in a Humanistic approach, as well as drawing upon eclectic elements of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and psychotherapeutic ideas. A similar philosophical approach informs Behaviour Management Programmes and Reactive Plans, along with a comprehensive assessment and regularly evaluated formal psychological testing. This work is undertaken by Assistant Psychologist Christine May and includes psychometric assessments covering Self-Esteem/Self-Concept, Locus of Control, Beck Youth Inventories for Self-Concept, Anxiety, Depression, Anger and Dsiruptive Behaviour, Secure Base and a brief PTSD screen. Further assessments including Personality/Conduct (SCID), Mental Health (Conners & 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) and an assessment re: sexual offending (QASCO) can be undertaken dependant on the individual needs of the child.
Over a number of years Bryn-y-Mor has achieved significant positive outcomes in terms of young people successfully moving on whether this is back to their family of origin, a foster family or on to independence. These successes have been noted by Placing Agencies, parents and the young people themselves.
Bryn-y-Mor - Image gallery
