Cross Lee House is a small children’s home providing high quality residential care in a therapeutic environment, for up to five young people who display varying degrees of emotional and behavioural difficulty. This is often as a result of abuse and trauma experienced in their lives. Cross Lee House is located in the market town of Todmorden, West Yorkshire and is registered with Ofsted.
Set in its own grounds, close to community facilities and resources, Cross Lee House was established in 2002 for the purpose of providing a safe, stable and homely environment for young people struggling to manage in more traditional placements. All placements within the main group are planned and young people are encouraged to personalise both their environment and the holistic package of care designed to meet their assessed needs, address developmental issues and support continued social, behavioural and emotional development.
Alongside the main group living at Cross Lee House, we are able to offer tailored packages of assessment, crisis intervention and emergency placements. In order to ensure that we can maintain our high standards in planned placements for young people, these are likely to be carried out away from Cross Lee House itself. Young people may then either join the main group at Cross Lee House or move on to another appropriate placement.
It is our belief that young people do better in mainstream educational provision, but we recognise the difficulties associated with such, for some of the young people who live with us. As a centre accredited to deliver ASDAN programmes, experience of The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and a number of qualified outdoor activity instructors, we help young people to develop the self esteem and social skills which enable them to develop their full potential, in accordance with individual circumstance and need.
Cross Lee House itself is a detached, stone built house of considerable size, spread out over three floors. The ground floor is largely communal space, although the study, with administrative facilities, is also located there. The young people have access to a TV lounge, games room and kitchen diner. Also on the ground floor is a room which can be used for formal meetings and reviews, as well as family contact where it needs to be supervised and where it can take place at Cross Lee House. The first floor contains the bedrooms designated for both young people and one of the rooms available for members of the care team. The family bathroom is also located on the first floor, although two bedrooms have ensuite facilities. The second floor houses the laundry, an area we call safe space and a dual purpose learning room/second sleep in bedroom, for use as and when required in accordance with individual and group needs. The grounds are large and well maintained, offering opportunities for leisure and work experience for all our young people
The care team work hard to ensure a respectful, comfortable and inviting atmosphere, which is inclusive of and welcoming for, the young people who share Cross Lee House with us. At the heart of our work is the belief that whilst residential care is a preferred option for some young people, institutional living is never so. Cross Lee House is based upon the best principles of a family home. The young people personalise their rooms and are encouraged to be fully involved in all aspects of Cross Lee House’s development. The impact upon the young people who share Cross Lee House is significant and they generally develop a sense of pride and ownership in their home. The young people are involved in decision making about Cross Lee House through the regular house meetings and group time, which are designed to encourage participation and positive contribution.