A stable and consistent environment at our Dovedale House in Buxton has given James** a fresh start which has opened the door to a future of opportunities and successes.

James was placed at the home age 12, suffering with anxiety and Oppositional Defiant Disorder which affected his behaviour. He had been known to use inappropriate language which was often racist, sexist and ageist. James was confrontational at times as he found it hard to articulate his feelings and he was often violent/aggressive when angry.  Inconsistent school attendance and regular exclusions also led to him becoming very socially jealous and he struggled to share the attention with other children.

Thanks to the experienced team, coupled with a stable and consistent environment at Dovedale House, his situation quickly changed for the better.

Dovedale House in Derbyshire is part of Kedleston Group and supports children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties. In their most recent visit, inspectors from the regulator found staff support at Dovedale was ‘excellent and impactful’ and that children are happy living in its ‘safe and homely’ environment where they receive ‘exceptional’ care.

The staff at Dovedale House recently completed training in PACE to complement their ethos on building strong nurturing relationships with young people. This approach fits well with their core values, to always hold in mind the meaning and cause behind behaviour. PACE offers a way to think and respond differently to young people who struggle with relationships, trust, and overwhelming emotions, which has been ideal for supporting James.

The stable cohort of children around him at home has allowed for the development of crucial social and communication skills, teaching him how to make and maintain friendships. He benefitted from a structure and routine including transport to and from school which led to increased school attendance with improved behaviours.

Consistent and fair boundaries, fully explained to James has helped cause less aggressive outbursts and anxiety due to his clear understanding of the situation. He now presents as polite, caring, understanding of others’ feelings, and responds well to praise.

He has forged positive friendships in the local community and plays for a local Junior Football Team. He loves home group activities, and he is able to enjoy the time with peers with no displays of jealousy.

We are incredibly proud of James and his achievements, and we look forward to reporting back with further news of his successful journey.

Read more from the team.