Residental Care

Applied Care and Development is a quality residential child care service to local authorities for young people aged 8 to 18yrs with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, complex needs such as autistic spectrum disorder, learning difficulties and problematic sexualised behaviour.

We also have capacity for a transitional stage of 18 to 24yrs to assist young people in steps towards independence. Our services are designed to meet the individual needs of each young person by providing a safe, nurturing environment where we facilitate growth and personal development through dedicated programmes of support. Our positive links with partner agencies and the local community ensure a stable environment for young people to flourish. Our homes are based in beautiful rural locations within Dumfries and Galloway and the Highlands. The needs of each young person determines the type of service applied. In providing consistency in our therapeutic approach to the health and wellbeing of young people, we practice a minimum of 1:1 staffing support. ACAD draws on the expertise of our independent consultant psychologist, therapist and specialists in providing the best quality care and support to young people. Using tools such as the wellbeing indicators of SHANARRI, My World Triangle and the Resilience Matrix in our planning and assessment, our practice follows the GIRFEC agenda of multi-agency and interdisciplinary working through one cohesive Child’s Plan.

Education

ACAD Education is a registered school and is HMIe inspected. An SQA approved centre, we embrace the Curriculum for Excellence aims in the promotion of young people becoming Successful Learners, Confident Individuals, Effective Contributors and Responsible Citizens.

Our pupils are involved in the design, direction and development of their learning, working through SQA National Qualifications and other programmes of learning. We expand on young people’s areas of interest and help them to achieve the necessary entry qualifications to pursue their interests in further training or for the work environment. Through this pupil centred approach to education our aim is to increase confidence, self-belief and personal success. Young people who reach their senior phase at ACAD are introduced to skills for work and careers advice. We utilise our links with local services such as the 16+ programme and our local services for young people in developing skills for work. We have an independent living programme where young people are equipped with the necessary tools to help enable them to become independent and make positive choices about their lives. We organise work experience through placements through our links with partners in the community. Young people are encouraged to continue in education and to further their studies through college or other place of further learning. We make introductions to places of learning and provide information on the opportunities on offer to them. We fully support work in collaboration with other agencies to promote successful transition whether into steps to work or further training.

Find out more about our education service, Netherlea School, click here.