Chasewater House, a Marlowe Unit
Chasewater House is a new three bedded home for both boys and girls, age 8 - 14 years (on admission). It is located on the Worcestershire/Gloucestershire border and provides a therapeutic placement option for children and young people, primarily on a medium to long-term basis. It opened in the early summer of 2009.
In particular Chasewater focuses on 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 Chasewater care for have also had multiple placement disruptions.
Using an understanding of Attachment Theory, and Marlowe Child & Family Services Philosophy, Chasewater’s therapeutic approach 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. Their behaviour 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 Chasewater can 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.
Kerry-Jayne Badham is the Registered Manager of Chasewater House. Kerry and her 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.
Chasewater House is located in a village 5 minutes from the M50 motorway, on the Worcestershire/Gloucestershire border. It is 15 minutes drive from the Marlowe Education Unit at Hartpury.
Chasewater House is a large detached family home with a mature, 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 encouraged to involved in the running of the unit, 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 also can contributed significantly to the physical development of Chasewater; helping them value the environment and giving them a feeling of genuine empowerment.
Chasewater House is also happy to consider referral enquiries for children and young people who may have experienced mental health problems including depression and psychiatric disorders. Chasewater 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.
The Chasewater 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 areas of ‘Staying Safe’, ‘Being Healthy’, ‘Enjoying and Achieving’, ‘Making a Positive Contribution’, and ‘Achieving Economic Well-Being’.
Chasewater House - Image gallery
