The Haven, a Marlowe Unit
‘The Haven’ is a four-bedded home providing care and therapy for girls, 11-18 years with Psychological, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, as well as girls with Mild Learning Disabilities and and/or Pervasive Developmental Disorders such as Autism. ‘The Haven’ will also work with girls with Mental Health Problems, including deliberate self-injury.
‘The Haven’ is managed by Tanya Colella B.Sc (Psych.) NVQ IV (Care & Care Management). Tanya has worked with young people since 2001. She completed her Registered Manager Award in 2006.
‘The Haven’ focuses on helping vulnerable young women. Most have had difficult early childhoods, often compounded by other issues, such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Mental Health Problems and Learning Disabilities. Many also have significant Attachment Disorders and display disturbed and disturbing behaviour.
The staffing ratios are high (usually 3 staff to 4 young people minimum) to allow both high levels of supervision and individual interventions. Historically, young people have displayed high levels of sexual vulnerability. Some have dealt with significant anxiety difficulties by absconding and/or self-harm.
‘The Haven’ provides a homely, nurturing environment. The Unit provides some of the elements of privacy and safety associated with a rural location, without being totally isolated. It is less than 15 minutes from the M50 Motorway on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire border.
Tanya and her staff focus on ensuring each individual young person is offered, first and foremost, an environment in which they can experience feelings of safety and a sense of belongingness. The young people are encouraged to participate in the running of ‘The Haven’ helping in decision making around the furnishings, activities and the day to day running of the home. Each young person is helped to feel important, whatever their level of ability and functioning. The ‘Valuing’ process is the basis of a therapeutic relationship that is the foundation of the work undertaken at ‘The Haven’.
The Philosophy of this approach is rooted in a Humanistic approach. However, therapeutically interventions from the staff on a day to day basis, and in individual therapy sessions are eclectic elements of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Neuro Linguistic Programming and Transactional Analysis inform Behaviour Management Programmes.
Much emphasis at ‘The Haven’ is given to providing structure to the lives of the young people. Many come from chaotic homes and have had chaotic, abusive early experiences. Their insecurity and low-self esteem is exacerbated if there is not predictability and a sense that their safety is ‘The Haven's’ highest priority. This is especially true of young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
‘The Haven’ is a single sex unit, catering for girls only. It is our experience that for such vulnerable adolescents, negotiating their way through puberty is difficult enough. The added complexity of boys, to whom they are not related, living in their home is too difficult emotionally for them to manage. In addition to a safe structure, ‘The Haven’ sets great stall by the importance of good basic care. The environment needs to be clean, tidy, warm and well maintained for the young people to feel valued. There is also great emphasis on providing a healthy and balanced diet and structured bedtimes to ensure they have adequate sleep.
‘The Haven’ has excellent outcomes with some of the most disturbed and disturbing young people. In particular they have proven success in reducing negative and risk taking behaviours such as self-harm, absconding and aggressive outbursts. They have also made significant improvements in communication skills, relationships skills, self-help skills (especially in the area of self-care and personal hygiene) and in school attendance and attainment.
Staff Training focuses on the essential elements of working with young people, as well as learning disabilities developmental disorders, Mental Health problems and self-injury. 100% of ‘The Haven’ staff in the post for more than six months are undertaking or have completed NVQ Level III. They are also committed to ensuring equality and diversity.
‘The Haven’ has regularly been regarded as achieving or exceeding standards in the five areas highlighted by ‘Every Child Matters’ - ‘Staying Safe’, ‘Being Healthy’, ‘Enjoying and Achieving’, ‘Achieving Economic Well-Being’ and ‘Making a Positive Contribution’. In 2009 ‘The Haven’ obtained ‘Outstanding’ in 4 out of 5 areas in its OfSTED report.
The Haven - Image gallery
