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Lansdowne Unit

Lansdowne Secure Childrens Home is based in Hailsham, East Sussex. It provides a regional resource for young people who are at significant risk of harming themselves or others and who cannot be cared for in open conditions.

The core concept of practice on the unit is based upon clear planning, appropriate interventions, evaluations and positive outcomes. All young people admitted to the unit have their needs and risks assessed and are participants within this process, which provides the foundation for individual care planning at all stages of their period of accommodation.

The health of a young person is considered of paramount importance and to support this, the services of a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Clinical Nurse Specialist and local health centre are available to the unit to support staff, young people and their families and contribute to effective and cohesive teamwork.

The educational achievement of young people is a high priority. We are fully aware that a young person's ability to benefit from the high quality education available at Lansdowne is strongly influenced by their emotional, mental and physical health. We ensure joint working and delivery of a child's individual education plan. We are committed to promoting and supporting the educational attainment of young people throughout the time they spend with us and in preparation to move on. We follow a full GCSE curriculum which is accredited through AQA modules.

We believe that young people's learning is not confined to the classroom and encourage full participation in a range of out of school activities which contribute to a young person's personal and social development. We encourage and give opportunities to participate in a wide range of leisure activities and interests which taken into account their interests, abilities, race culture, language and religion.

We are fully committed to listening to the views and concerns of young people and their families. The young people in our care participate actively in a climate that encourages their involvement and participation in the running of the home and their individual placement plan.

Within the safety and security of the home, priority is given to the protection and promotion of young people's rights. The young people are encouraged to make appropriate representations and access is readily available to East Sussex Social Services Department complaint procedure and to independent representatives from NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service). Independent reviewers play a further part in ensuring young people's rights are upheld, as do the activities of the Children's Guardian (where appointed).

Lansdowne Secure Childrens Home recognises that it is primarily a children's home and, therefore, aims to provide as normal living surroundings as possible, whilst maintaining high levels of safety and security. Special attention is paid to furniture, soft furnishings, equipment and fittings, which are aimed to create a warm relaxed atmosphere of non-institutional appearance.
A points system is operated throughout the day, by which a young person's performance is monitored. This is linked to a tiered level system with increasing privileges rewarding improvement in a young person's commitment to change and the constructive use of their time. Such privileges include supervised and unsupervised outings, with the aim being to gradually re-integrate a young person back into the community.

Young people often experience a sense of rejection, isolation and powerlessness when admitted to secure accommodation. Outside contact is, therefore, extremely important in helping them to overcome these feelings and start to make sense of their admission. To help in this process their social worker is expected to visit the unit once weekly.

Family contact and contact by other persons identified by the young person as important is encouraged through visits to the unit, by correspondence or by telephone.