Working at Willow Family Care
Our Homes
Chestnut Lodge
Home 3 (in the pipeline)
Elm Lodge (coming soon)
Chestnut Lodge is our first residential home and provides a safe, nurturing environment for up to three children aged 13-18 years old, with behavioural and/or emotional difficulties. We provide therepy-led care in a normal residential setting.
Elm Lodge (coming soon)
Home 3 (in the pipeline)
Elm Lodge (coming soon)
Elm Lodge is a large 1930s home beautifully renovated to create a spacious therapy-led residential home for up to four children aged 13-18 years old. It is close to the seafront and parks and has a large outside space for children and staff to enjoy!
Home 3 (in the pipeline)
Home 3 (in the pipeline)
Home 3 (in the pipeline)
Building on the success of our first two homes, we plan to expand our services across the West Sussex region and seek a third suitable property, enabling us to offer a greater provision of care to a wider community.
Our Community
Home 3 (in the pipeline)
Home 3 (in the pipeline)
We welcome staff and children from all backgrounds, working to enable them to participate, contribute, and succeed. We believe in honest, open communication, building resilience, and having integrity. We strive to truly understand and value each indivual child and staff member.
Our Background
Our Story
At Willow Family Care, through our experience in both education and NHS healthcare, we realised there was a massive need for safe, nurturing residential home placements. Homes that went above and beyond to provide therapy-led care, and give children the opportunity to grow, thrive, form relationships, get to know themselves and develop their skills and confidence, safe in the knowledge they have a safe, welcoming and nurturing home, where they matter. We were tired of seeing children's homes run by those without the relevant skills or experience, focusing on the business, rather than putting the child front and centre. This was where Willow Family Care was born.
Our Goal
Our mission is to provide a compassionate and nurturing haven for children who have endured trauma or neglect. We are dedicated to empowering these resilient young people, enabling them to embrace the joys of childhood while equipping them with the tools and opportunities essential for realising their fullest potential. Our goal is to ensure that every child under our care has access to the finest education, diverse work experiences, and unwavering support, mirroring the life chances and aspirations of any child, regardless of their circumstances. We aim to instil in them the belief that their past does not dictate their future and that they can dream, achieve, and excel in all facets of life.
Our Journey
The road to setting up Willow Family Care and our first home, Chestnut Lodge, has not been easy. The three directors of Willow Family Care are all busy professionals, with families and children of their own. Unlike massive children's home corporations, we had a limited budget and limited time, working to create Willow Family Care alongside our day jobs. It has taken 18 months; navigating finding and renting properties that are suitable and secure, gaining planning consents, creating policies and documents and securing staff. We never gave up, despite the unforeseen challenges and hurdles that faced us. We hope this resilience will inspire our team, and also the children in our care, as we move forward. We are excited to launch in Autumn 2025.