Mead House
Mead House is a very homely 4 bedroom unit with a good sized enclosed garden. It has a large lounge and separate dinning area as well as a spacious kitchen. The bedrooms are all of a good size and are individually decorated and personalised to the wishes of each young person.
Situated on the outskirts of Sudbury, Suffolk, Mead House is just a few moments’ walk from a large area of parkland with football pitches available. It is a brief drive to the centre of town and sports centre, which has an indoor swimming pool, and in close proximity to a ten pin bowling alley which is much enjoyed by the young people at Mead House.
Registered Manager
Sharon
Sharon has worked for the Ryes for 6 years in which time she has worked in a variety of different roles. She has a ILM level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management, and is currently completing a Degree course in Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisations
Deputy Manager
Keith
Keith has worked for the Ryes for just over 4 years starting as a care worker before becoming a deputy manager. He is currently completing ILM Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management as well as having NVQ Level 3 and having a BA in History
The Care Team
The team at Mead House are a well-established and highly experienced group of carers with a range of diverse skills and qualifications. All staff either hold or are working towards Level 3 Diplomas in CYP. They employ a child-based ethos, and consider the goals of running Mead House to be about providing the young people with a feeling of ‘homeliness’ in a smoothly managed unit. The children at the unit are encouraged to participate in many varied activities to give them a well-balanced home life.
What the young people living at Mead House say
“Life at Mead is good. The staff look after me well, I have enough pocket money and there is nothing else I want.”
— Chimerem, student at The Ryes
“I like you, you’re firm but fair”
“I like playing my music”
“I like my dinners”
What Ofsted say about Mead House
“Young people said they can talk to staff about any concerns. They said that they get help with school or college work. Staff promote young people’s education and actively support them, for example, by working with further education colleges to develop interests and involve them in family type activities such as crabbing at the seaside.”
“Young people are encouraged to develop socially acceptable behaviour. There are rewards systems in place to recognise positive behaviour”
“There is a robust system for checking the safety of the home, including fire safety. This helps to ensure that young people can live in a physically safe environment.”
“Young people receive individual support in line with their needs. One young person said that “staff are good at supporting you and looking out for you”. Some good examples were found of staff helping young people to develop their individual identity. The home is actively looking at developing their practice in promoting equality and diversity”
“Young people said that they can talk to staff about any concerns. They also said that they get help with school or college work”
“Staff help young people to develop interests and involve them in family type activities, young people get a lot of excitement from this and it allows them to experience normal childhood experiences”
“Young people are involved in the preparation of their placement plans, so they know the content and can contribute to them”
“Young people are encouraged and supported to make decisions about their lives and to influence the way the home is run. They said they are involved in meetings about their future and are able to make their views known about this about life in the home. This helps to empower young people”
