Walton Lodge, a St. David's Home
Walton Lodge is a four-bedded therapeutic home for primarily girls, 11 - 18 years, most of whom display risk taking and vulnerable behaviour. Many of the residents have experienced periods of abuse and exploitation in their lives, some within the sex industry. Many have also experienced extreme family difficulties, absconding, placement breakdown, behavioural difficulties and substance abuse. Many display behavioural patterns, mood and social relationship styles consistent with Attachment Disorders. Most also have had a highly disrupted educational history. Over the years Walton Lodge has developed a level of sensitivity and expertise in helping girls and young women (as well as some boys) overcome their past difficulties and move forward positively in their lives. Most placements at Walton Lodge are of medium to longer-term. Assessment and preparation for family placements are also offered; with significant success in this area being achieved in the past. Similarly Walton Lodge has worked very successfully with young people making the transition Secure Accommodation.
Walton Lodge is managed by Shane Morrissey - a highly skilled practitioner with a genuinely nurturing approach to the type of clients Walton Lodge works with. This approach has been engendered into the whole team who share the same commitment as Shane to providing a therapeutic milieu and appropriate direct intervention to help the children and young people develop and grow positively.
Walton Lodge is located very near to the Pembrokeshire coast, not far from the town of Haverfordwest. It offers privacy, without being isolated. It is just a short walk to a seaside village and the beach. The local area offers plenty of opportunities for children and young people to benefit from the surroundings engage in positive activities and develop new and successful relationships with others.
The house offers a warm, comfortable environment that the young women living there can call their home. They all have their own spacious bedrooms, as well as having access to ample communal facilities. Walton Lodge has its own large garden. The team at Walton Lodge work closely with Marlowe (St. David’s) Assistant Psychologist Christine May to ensure placement plans reflect an agreed therapeutic approach to recovery. The day-to-day interventions at Walton Lodge are enhanced by regular individual therapy and counselling. Specific interventions include working with severe attachment disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders and preventing the development of Borderline Personality Disorders. This includes ensuring the staff are trained to implement behaviour support programmes based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Walton Lodge has had very good outcomes with young women with histories of self-injury and offending behaviour, as well as though who are sexually vulnerable.
Walton Lodge are also happy to consider referral enquiries for children and young people who may have experienced mental health problems including depression and psychiatric disorders. Walton Lodge 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. Assistant Psychologist Christine May provides essential input into advising and training the team, as well as engaging in individual work.
Educational success is an important priority for Walton Lodge. The routine of school has an essential normalising effect on young people who have been leading disrupted and chaotic lives. Further, genuine educational achievement has a very positive effect on improving, damaged self-esteem. For older teenagers there are very good links to local colleges; as well as the staff being ‘geared-up’ to help young people move successfully towards young adulthood and maximum independence.
Similarly, Walton Lodge views an emphasis on good basic care, access to health care and health education as invaluable to regulating the young women's lives and improving their self worth.
Staff Training at Walton Lodge focuses on the essential elements of working with young people, as well as Attachment Disorders and Mental Health problems. A well-trained and highly motivated staff team is essential to achieve the ambitions of the home and the objectives laid out in the Statement of Purpose and Function. 100% of Walton Lodge's staff in the post for more than six months are undertaking or have completed NVQ Level III.
Walton Lodge - Image gallery
