Is it okay for just one of the parents/carers to get in touch or do you need to hear from both of us ? Expand We are really happy to speak with and meet both parents/carers. However in many cases we tend to hear from the mother first all. Often it can be the mum if they have become either the primary carer and they may want to bring a friend, their own mum or sister for support when coming in to meet us for the first time. They are very welcome to come along too.
How do I know if my family situation warrants getting in touch ? Expand You might have had your family Social Worker suggest you contact us, found us online, or even your own child might of heard about us through their school and wants to join Cherry Trees. If you’ve come across us and are curious about what we do here and the types of young people we can offer respite to get in touch. Don’t worry if your child is ‘right for us’, pick up the phone and have a chat. Cherry Trees accepts referrals from parents/carers, social workers or other professionals and once referred we will invite you in to visit Cherry Trees in the first instance. Following this visit we ask for an application form to be completed. Once we receive the completed application form, if we assess that we can meet the child's needs we will arrange for the child to come and visit Cherry Trees for some short tea visits so we, the child and their family can decide whether Cherry Trees is the right placement.
How will I know that you can take good care of my child ? Expand It’s really normal to be concerned about how your child will be looked after and if we will be able to handle them. Our parents will describe their behaviours, ‘they kick…. they won’t eat colourful foods… they don’t like noisey rooms….’ And lots of this we have come across before. We know your child is the most important person to you and possibly that you may feel like the only person who can care for them. We can plan the first visits with you to ensure your child can transition and cope with the new environment in a way that is careful and feels right. Handing them over will be okay! In our last parent survey when asked if Cherry Trees met the care needs of their child, the answer was 100% positive.
Okay I make that first phone call and have a chat, what happens next ? Expand We will invite you to come in straight away and meet us for a relaxed chat here at Cherry Trees. It’s informal, non-committal and is a private discussion. You can see what’s here and what we do and can come for half or an hour or even up to two hours if that’s what’s needed to talk things through. It’s a very friendly place to come to, free from clinical and medical formalities. Everyone is on first name terms and not Mr or Mrs. Our respite stays are meant to feel like a home from home environment and that runs through everything we do, you should feel welcome right away! You will then be offered an appointment after your visit with either our Head of Care and one of the Seniors here (Alfie or John).
How long will it take for me to get an appointment ? Is it a long wait for several months ? Expand Not at-all, we tend to have a quick turn around time, (within a fortnight) but we do tend to offer meeting one of our Senior care team in school hours Monday to Friday. We will then give you a tour, and an application form to give us some written details about your child, as well as your wishes and targets that you would like to see your child working towards. The form gives all Cherry Trees staff an idea of who each child is, where they go to school, what they like, foods they eat etc and then we create a folder which will be a reference point.
What will the first visit for my child be like ? Expand We normally offer a tea-time visit, after school which could be 2-3 hours. They will be met and supervised by one of our experienced care team, and introduced to the dining area, playroom and shown where things are. We can respond to any challenges a first visit may present – not wanting to get out of the car and coming inside for the first time, handling new spaces and being prepared with relevant communication aids. Some children settle in really fast, others longer – we had one child who took 18 months to get used to being here, which is absolutely fine.
How do I pay for visits to Cherry Trees ? Expand Most of our children have packages agreed by their social workers. These packages are supported with voluntary income. However we do offer a reduced parental rate for those not supported by a social worker and a bursary fund. We aim to ensure that finance is not a barrier for children accessing our services.
Once they’ve settled in what next ? Expand After a few visits, we will allocate a key worker who will introduce themselves to you, and keep in touch. We run reviews every 3 months looking at how well new joiners are settling in. By this time your child will be introduced to routines and expected behaviours, be working towards their own goal and will be making new friends, enjoying fresh food cooked by our Chef on-site and can join in with activities both on and off site.
How long can my child stay? Expand We offer flexible visits, from 2 hour tea visits to 17 consecutive nights. We do not accept emergency visits, unless the child is known to us so children staying overnight would have attended a range of tea visits and day cares before being ready for an overnight stay.
Is your facility safe? Expand Yes, Cherry Trees is situated in a very quiet area of East Clandon, a quiet and leafy country village. Our garden is enclosed and children are safe when they are in the house. We increase staffing ratio on trips to ensure that children are able to access the community without putting themselves at risk.
What is your staffing ratio? Expand We operate a high staff ratio of 2 children to 1 carer. Some children require a high staff ratio of 1:1 and 2:1, This will be discussed at our first meeting. We will ensure that the appropriate care is catered for overnight too.
What disabilities do you cater for? Expand Cherry Trees is an inclusive service, this means that we accept children with a range of disabilities including learning, sensory and physical. We cater for children with epilepsy, autism, cerebral palsy and many other conditions.
Can my child bring their own toys and bedding? Expand Of course, we want your child to be as happy and comfortable as they can be at Cherry Trees.
Can I contact my child when they are staying with you? Expand Yes, you will be allocated a Keyworker who will be your primary contact and you can discuss the best way to contact your child when they are staying with us, such as phone, skype etc. You can call at anytime but we can't guarantee that they won't be out having fun on a trip with their friends!
Do you cater for food allergies? Expand Many of our children have food allergies and intolerances. We ensure we offer a range of alternatives at every meal so that all children have varied and nutritious meals.