Choice, Equality & Independence
At Budwood, we value teamwork and ensuring that everyone’s voices are heard, especially those of the young people in our care.
We greatly appreciate children’s input and opinions and encourage them to get involved in decision-making about daily life at Budwood. We are always checking in with children directly to see how we can improve their experiences.
Championing Choice
We strive to offer our young people choices and provide them with the information they need to make informed decisions about their daily lives. We champion choice in many ways, including:
- Through regular key worker sessions where children can share their thoughts, experiences and recommendations of how we can improve their time with us at Budwood.
- Keeping a ‘You said, We did’ document, where children can record their requests and suggestions which will then be implemented in their home.
- We incorporate children’s favourite foods and meal ideas into our weekly menu.
- We add children’s requests into our weekly activity planner, with plenty of fun things to do both inside and outside the home.
- We provide children with an information pack when they first arrive, filled with all the information they need, including our complaints procedures and a Children’s Guide to life at Budwood.
- We’ve made a QR code accessible at any time, where children can leave feedback about their experiences.
Fostering Independence
As well as encouraging our young people to make choices about their day to day lives, we encourage autonomy for older children by helping them to prepare for independent living and young adulthood.
- Promoting health. At Budwood we take a holistic approach to promoting good health in all areas of life, including through taking care of our physical bodies through exercise and healthy eating, looking after our mental health by developing healthy coping strategies and learning self-regulation and positive behaviour management skills.
- Financial independence. Young people at Budwood receive pocket money and a personal allowance designed for essentials such as travel, toiletries, and their mobile phone contract or credit. They’ll be able to take part in a Personal Finance course and will receive support and guidance from staff on how to budget, giving them skills they’ll need to manage their finances as adults.
- Household management. Older children will also receive a food allowance and will be encouraged to be independent in buying and making nutritious meals. Courses such as FoodWise and our Budwood Independence Skills Builder programme will help young people to prepare for the responsibility and challenges of independent living.
- Preparing to succeed. Children will be given the opportunity to engage in 1-1 sessions with an Education and Life Skills worker who will help them to explore their future opportunities for education or employment and take the right steps towards a bright future.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Budwood we celebrate diversity in all of its beautiful forms, and we promote fairness, respect, dignity and autonomy in everything we do. Our Equality and Diversity policy outlines the ways in which we challenge discrimination against people on the basis of the nine protected characteristics recognised by UK law. All of our staff understand these principles and implement them into daily life at Budwood.
Our Equality and Diversity policy goes above and beyond what is currently designated by UK law, also highlighting the efforts we make to acknowledge and challenge class prejudice. We also have a strong Anti-Bullying Policy to help prevent and manage any unfortunate incidents.
Our policy also acknowledges the prejudice which care experienced people may face, and ensures that we promote favourable attitudes around care by challenging negative stereotypes and talking about care experience in a positive, affirming way.
Accommodation
"Explore our welcoming homes, providing a secure and caring environment tailored to each child’s needs."
Education & Employment
Uncover the educational and employment pathways we offer to help children reach their full potential.
Health & Leisure
Learn how we support children’s physical and mental well-being through a balance of health-focused care and leisure activities.
Our Staff Team
Learn about the qualifications, comprehensive training, and ongoing development our staff undergo to ensure high-quality care for children in our homes.
Our Therapeutic Model
Discover how our therapeutic model helps children heal from past trauma and supports their personal growth.
Relationships, Behaviour & Risk Management
Discover our trauma-informed approach to building positive relationships, managing challenging behaviour, and ensuring safety.