Our children's home

Residential care for children and young people

Chailey Heritage Children’s Home is a residential care service for children and young people aged three to 19 with complex disabilities, who are managing multiple physical, medical and communication needs.

Nestled in the heart of the Sussex countryside, our bungalows are surrounded by plenty of green space - perfect for exploring and getting outdoors in nature.

Our partnership with NHS Chailey Clinical Services, who are located on-site, means that 24/7 nursing support is available to all our children and young people - whenever they need it.  They can also access neurological consultants, nurses, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and rehabilitation engineers - all on one site.

Every child is individual, and no situation is the same. That’s why we offer a range of boarding options to suit your family’s needs. They include weekly, fortnightly, term-time and short breaks to offer respite care.

Access to residential boarding at Chailey can vary depending on funding available. We can be approached by parents directly, through Local Authorities, case managers, or Continuing Health Care. Parents can fund overnight stays, and our day provisions, from personal budgets or privately.

A ‘home from home’

Our residential bungalows are spacious and fully accessible, with in-built hoists, sensory areas, open-plan living spaces and a beautiful garden for children and young people to enjoy. We offer a ‘home from home’, so rooms can be decorated and adapted to personal preferences.

Keeping in contact is so important and is encouraged at Chailey. Whether through FaceTime, WhatsApp or text message, you’ll be able to hear what your child has been up to – whether it’s cooking some tasty treats, playing their favourite video game or something interesting they learned at school that week. Every young person is allocated a key worker whilst living at Chailey, and they will be in regular contact with you.

Family and friends are always welcome to visit. And if you need to stay overnight, we have studio apartments available on site.

Exciting activities and facilities

No week is the same at Chailey! Our weekly timetables of after-school activities and holiday sessions offer something new to try. Most activities take place on site, such as Disney singalongs, puppet shows, or meeting animals at Patchwork Farm – our onsite therapy farm. There is always something fun and engaging taking place after school to keep the children and young people entertained!

As well as being fun, these activities also help build confidence, improve communication skills, and offer the opportunity to make lasting friendships.

Achieving positive outcomes, together

At Chailey, we listen and create life-changing opportunities, together. Learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom; it takes place everywhere. Everyone at Chailey has a personal target that they work towards, that’s unique to them. We call these ‘My Next Steps’.

The residential team works closely with the school link worker and teacher to identify short and long-term goals to help work towards the target goal. These may include communication, physical well-being, and access to assistive technology - helping each child and young person to explore what’s possible and to reach their full potential.

Why choose Chailey?

As a ‘home from home’, we provide a relaxed, fun and welcoming environment tailored to every child and young person’s individual needs.

• Highly skilled team and nurses available 24/7
• Access to fun and educational after-school activities
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities such as a hydrotherapy pool and therapeutic horse riding

Get in touch

Telephone: 01825 724 444

Email: office@chf.org.uk