For Professionals
If you're considering Sussex Children's Care for a child, you'll probably need to know more than what our website tells you elsewhere.
You'll want to understand who we can support, how we approach matching, how our homes are staffed, how we think about risk and safeguarding, and what you can expect from us as the adults around a child.
This is the practical bit. But the relationships still matter.
We take matching seriously.
A vacancy doesn't automatically mean we have a place for a child.
Before agreeing to any move, we want to understand the child as fully as we can: their story, relationships, strengths, needs, risks, wishes and the things that matter to them.
We also think carefully about the children already living in the home.
Sometimes that means asking more questions. Sometimes it means taking more time. And sometimes it means saying no.
A successful referral isn't a filled bed. It's a move that has a genuine chance of working for everyone.
Our Approach
Our practice is relational, trauma-informed and Love-Led.
We expect adults to be curious about what sits underneath behaviour, but also about what children's behaviour evokes in them. We place significant emphasis on reflective practice, supervision, consistency and repair.
Love-Led Practice doesn't replace safeguarding, boundaries or professional judgement. It shapes how we hold them.
Read about Love-Led Practice →
Information you might need
What you can expect from us
Honesty.
If we don't think we're the right home for a child, we'll say so. And if we're worried about something, we'll tell you.
Curiosity.
We'll keep trying to understand what sits underneath what we see, rather than reducing a child to their behaviour.
Communication.
We want professionals around a child to feel part of the team. We won't save important conversations for the next review meeting.
Challenge.
We'll advocate for children. Sometimes that means asking difficult questions or respectfully disagreeing with other professionals.
Relationship.
However complicated things become, we'll keep the child, not the placement, incident, risk or paperwork, at the centre of the conversation.
Talk to us about a child
We know a referral document can only tell us part of a child's story.
If you're considering Sussex Children's Care for a child, we'd rather have a conversation early. Tell us about them, not just the incidents, risks or reasons a new place is needed, but who they are, what matters to them, the people they love, what makes them laugh and what the people who know them well would want us to understand.
We'll ask questions. We'll be honest about what we think we can offer. And we'll take the time to think carefully about whether one of our homes could be the right place for that particular child.
Because a vacancy doesn't necessarily mean we're the right match.