Young Adults
Services for young adults
Young people come to Bryn Melyn Group services with a range of complex emotional and behavioural problems, usually stemming from trauma within the family setting. Most will progress to being able to manage a degree of independence when they are ready to leave care.
Outreach support for care leavers
We provide a range of support packages to meet the needs of care leavers as they move through the transition from a highly supported residential environment to managing all aspects of their own life. Our approach provides for the young care leaver to receive a flexible level of support at key times during the day or night, and to be able to increase or decrease support levels as significant milestones are achieved or new obstacles faced.
Practical support and preparation begins well before the young person leaves care, however the tasks of juggling budgets, cooking healthy and cheap meals and structuring one’s own time are only part of the problem. The process of leaving care can be an emotional roller coaster and young people are often just as much in need of a friendly face to talk to as they face the isolation of living alone for the first time as they are in need of practical help.
There may also be a need to continue with a particular piece of therapeutic work if is this is not ‘resolved’ at a convenient time during the long-standing relationship with a therapist. This can also continue as part of our outreach packages.
18 – 25 services
For some young people who have additional complex needs associated with cognitive disability or mental health issues, independence may be a long way out of reach when they become eighteen. We currently have two homes registered for young adults age 18 – 25 with complex needs, where a safe and secure residential environment is combined with an emphasis on developing increased autonomy as far as this is possible within the young adult’s individual capabilities and preferences.
Young adult services are complemented by close inter-agency working with relevant local providers and liaison and support for college placements where appropriate.
Our outreach and young adult programmes are available primarily to meet the ongoing needs of young people who have been in our care as children, however we will consider enquiries relating to young people who are already 17 or 18 on referral.