Sycamore House

Location: Erdington, Birmingham

Sycamore House is a large newly-refurbished three-storey semi-detached house.  The top storey is devoted to office space and staff-sleeping in rooms.  The middle floor comprises of three bedrooms for the children, and a bathroom.  The ground floor comprises of a lounge, equipped with sofas, TV, and music facilities; a kitchen; a dining room, where staff and children spend time eating and congregating around the table; a utility area; and a bathroom/shower room for staff and visitors.  The house is also equipped with an internal lift and can provide full access to individuals with physical disabilities. There is a garden to the rear of the home equipped with garden table and chairs. The home has internet access and cable TV.  The house is nicely decorated and well-maintained.  All children have their own bedroom and can personalise it to suit their needs, including taking an active role in choosing the décor and colour scheme.  Children’s meetings and reviews are usually held in the front lounge.

Sycamore House provides residential care to vulnerable children and young people with complex emotional, behavioural, developmental, and mental health difficulties.  The home can accommodate a maximum of three children and young people aged from 9 up to the age of 18 years, both male and female.  Young people can remain beyond the age of 18 years, but not beyond their 19th birthday, on the condition that there is a Pathway Plan detailing their transition which has been agreed with the relevant Local Authority and that the home complies with the ‘wholly or mainly’ guidelines issued by OFSTED . The low number of residents ensures that each child receives a high level of staff supervision and support to meet individual need.