Nu Start provides calm, structured and purposeful residential care for children and young people at times of heightened risk, instability and transition, with a clear focus on giving young people a genuine new start and the opportunity to build a safer, more positive future.

Our approach is rooted in practice and shaped by over 50 years’ combined experience in children’s residential care across frontline, management and leadership roles since 1995. This depth of experience informs a therapeutic, de-institutionalised model of care that prioritises relationships, emotional safety and everyday experiences that feel normal, predictable and containing for children.

We work closely with Local Authorities and social workers to stabilise situations, reduce escalation and support meaningful progress. Care is needs-led, flexible and outcome-focused, recognising that children’s risks and circumstances can change quickly and require confident, proportionate responses.

Our practice is informed by ongoing learning and research, alongside reflective supervision and planning. This ensures decisions are thoughtful, evidence-aware and centred on the child’s lived experience, supporting safeguarding, participation and sustainable outcomes.

A therapeutic, research-informed approach focused on helping young people achieve a genuine new start and a safer future.

Our support objectives cover (*but not limited to);

  • Promoting positive emotional, mental and physical wellbeing through a therapeutic and relational approach
  • Developing age-appropriate daily living and self-care skills
  • Supporting emotional regulation, resilience and positive coping strategies
  • Encouraging independence in line with age, stage and individual care planning
  • Supporting practical life skills such as cooking, cleaning and shopping
  • Building and maintaining positive, healthy relationships with peers, family and professionals
  • Encouraging hobbies, interests and positive use of time
  • Supporting communication skills and managing correspondence where appropriate
  • Supporting engagement in education, training or employment, in line with individual plans
  • Promoting personal safety, health and security
  • Signposting to and working alongside other services as part of a multi-agency approach
  • Planning and supporting a positive, safe and sustainable move-on when the time is right

Types of Services

Group Living Care

Our Group Living Care provision supports children and young people who are able to live alongside peers within a calm, structured and well-supervised residential environment. Group living provides opportunities to develop positive relationships, social skills and emotional regulation, while benefiting from consistent routines, clear boundaries and strong safeguarding. Care is delivered through a therapeutic, de-institutionalised approach that promotes emotional safety and everyday experiences that feel predictable and containing. Support is tailored to each young person and reviewed regularly in line with their care plan, ensuring responses remain proportionate, outcome-focused and responsive to changing needs and risks.

  • Structured group living with consistent staffing, routines and clear expectations

  • Young people have their own bedroom which they can personalise, supporting privacy, safety and a sense of belonging

  • Shared living arrangements supported by agreed house expectations that promote respect, safety and positive relationships

  • Clear safeguarding arrangements and multi-agency working to ensure care planning remains responsive and proportionate

Solo Enhanced

Our Solo Enhanced provision supports children and young people who require a higher level of individualised care and supervision, or who may find group living environments challenging at certain points in time. This approach provides increased structure, consistency and emotional containment, delivered through a therapeutic, de-institutionalised model of care. The focus is on stabilisation, emotional safety and relationship-building, enabling young people to feel secure while risks are reduced and regulation is supported. Care is carefully planned, reviewed and adapted in line with the child’s care plan, ensuring responses remain proportionate, outcome-focused and responsive to changes in presentation, need and risk.

  • Enhanced levels of individualised care and supervision within a residential setting

  • Clear structure, consistent staffing and predictable routines to support emotional safety and regulation

  • Increased support during periods of heightened risk, instability or transition

  • Close multi-agency working and regular review to ensure care planning remains responsive and proportionate

Preparation for Independence

Preparation for independence is approached as a gradual, planned and age-appropriate process that reflects each young person’s readiness, needs and circumstances. We support children and young people to develop practical skills, confidence and emotional resilience while ensuring safeguarding, stability and relationships remain central. Independence is encouraged in line with individual care planning and is never rushed or imposed. This approach supports young people to build the skills and understanding they need for future transitions, while maintaining a strong focus on safety, support and sustainable outcomes.

  • Supporting age-appropriate independence in line with individual care and pathway planning

  • Developing practical life skills such as cooking, budgeting and managing daily routines

  • Building confidence, emotional resilience and problem-solving skills

  • Encouraging positive decision-making and understanding of personal responsibility

  • Supporting engagement with education, training or employment in preparation for adulthood

  • Planning and reviewing transitions carefully to ensure they are safe, timely and sustainable

Remand/Complex Support

Our Complex & Remand provision supports children and young people whose needs present significant levels of risk, complexity or instability, including those at risk of custody or subject to remand. This provision focuses on safety, containment and stabilisation, delivered through a highly structured, therapeutic and de-institutionalised approach. Clear boundaries, consistent staffing and purposeful routines are used to reduce escalation and support emotional regulation during periods of heightened risk. We work closely with Local Authorities, Youth Justice Services and partner agencies to support informed decision-making, manage risk effectively and contribute to clear, proportionate planning that prioritises safeguarding and the child’s welfare.

  • Structured and highly supervised care arrangements to support safety and containment

  • Clear boundaries, consistent routines and relationship-based practice to reduce escalation

  • Enhanced risk management and safeguarding during periods of heightened vulnerability

  • Close partnership working with Youth Justice Services, Local Authorities and relevant professionals

  • Regular review and reflective planning to ensure responses remain proportionate and outcome-focused

Learning Disabilities & Autism

Our provision for children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism offers structured, consistent and responsive care that is tailored to individual communication, sensory and emotional needs. We provide a calm, predictable and nurturing residential environment that supports emotional safety, regulation and positive relationships. Care is delivered through a therapeutic, de-institutionalised approach that prioritises understanding, routine and meaningful engagement. Support is planned and reviewed in line with each child’s care plan, working closely with professionals to ensure approaches remain appropriate, inclusive and outcome-focused.

  • Structured and predictable routines that support emotional regulation and reduce anxiety

  • Individualised approaches to communication, learning and engagement based on each child’s needs and strengths

  • Adapted environments and daily routines to support sensory needs and emotional wellbeing

  • Relationship-based care that promotes trust, consistency and positive connections with staff and peers

  • Close partnership working with education, health and specialist services to support coordinated care planning

  • Regular review and reflective practice to ensure support remains responsive, inclusive and safeguarding-focused

Fostering Step-Down & Transitions

Our Fostering Step-Down and Transitions provision supports planned, carefully managed transitions for children and young people moving from foster care or other placements. This provision focuses on stabilisation, continuity and preparation, recognising that transitions can be a vulnerable time for children and require clear planning, consistency and strong multi-agency collaboration. The aim is to reduce the risk of placement breakdown and support young people to settle and progress. We work closely with Local Authorities, foster carers and professionals to ensure transitions are informed, gradual and responsive to each child’s needs, experiences and emotional readiness.

  • Planned and structured transition arrangements that prioritise emotional safety and stability

  • Close collaboration with foster carers, Local Authorities and professionals to support continuity of care

  • Careful preparation and information-sharing to reduce anxiety and uncertainty for children

  • Support to help young people settle, build relationships and feel safe within a new environment

  • Ongoing review and reflective planning to reduce the risk of placement breakdown

  • A child-centred approach that recognises individual history, attachments and readiness for change

Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children

Our provision for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) supports young people who may have experienced significant trauma, loss and displacement and who require safety, stability and consistent care. We provide a calm, structured and nurturing residential environment that prioritises emotional safety, relationship-building and a sense of belonging. Support is culturally sensitive, trauma-informed and responsive to each young person’s background, experiences and needs. We work closely with Local Authorities and partner agencies to support young people to settle, feel safe and engage with education, health services and wider support networks, while care planning remains responsive, proportionate and safeguarding-focused.

  • Providing a safe, stable and nurturing residential environment that supports recovery from trauma and displacement

  • Culturally sensitive care that recognises identity, language, religion and individual lived experience

  • Trauma-informed support focused on emotional safety, trust-building and stabilisation

  • Support to access education, health services and community resources in line with individual care plans

  • Close partnership working with Local Authorities, legal representatives and specialist agencies where appropriate

  • Clear safeguarding arrangements and regular review to ensure care remains responsive, proportionate and child-centred

Our Other Services

Nu Start One Support Service

Crisis Intervention