Every child and young person around the world deserve to be loved by adults that allow them to thrive. This, however, is unfortunately not the case, and many are left without the opportunity to develop their skills and confidence. Based in Staffordshire, Orchard Children Homes is combatting this integral issue – a group devoted to nurturing and supporting young people so that they can flourish to their full potential. We heard more below from Keren Iqbal, Regional Manager and Responsible Individual at Orchard. Most Dedicated EBD Care Home Group 2025 – Staffordshire “We want to show children what real care and kindness feels like.” Orchard Children Homes was founded in 2017, with the aim of providing special homes where children who have had a tough start in life can feel listened to, cared for, and truly safe. Its first home, Appletree, was established in 2017 and has since seen its first inhabitant turn 18, who is now living independently in his own home. Now, Orchard operates four children’s homes – with two of these homes rated as Outstanding by Ofsted! Appletree serves as a therapeutic EBD home that can cater to four young people with complex and additional needs, such as ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Global Developmental Delay, and processing difficulties. Birchtree was opened in 2021 and caters for three young people of mixed genders and significantly varied ages – allowing them to focus on their own development. The Birchtree team specialises in caring for young people at risk of sexual and criminal exploitation, as well as younger age groups who have suffered with severe neglect. Awaiting Ofsted registration, Cherrytree is a dual placement that can cater to an individual young person requiring extensive support and risk management. Finally, Dewberry is a therapeutic EBD home – similarly awaiting Ofsted registration – that offers a large living space for four young people to live with their own spaces and separate communal areas. “We strive to give every child a home where they feel loved, accepted, and can start to heal from difficult times,” said Keren. “We want to show children what real care and kindness feels like.” Across the homes, each child is provided with their own special adult who is always there to listen and help. Orchard work with a team of exceptional therapists who help the group to utilise PACE with the children: being Playful, Accepting, Curious, and Empathetic. The team recognises that feelings can be complex to navigate and works to ensure that the children are surrounded by caring adults who understand their feelings and will never give up on them – even when it feels hard. Whether it’s a kind word, a brave moment, or trying something new, each little victory at Orchard is noticed and celebrated. When it comes to expanding the team, Orchard is not wholly focused on experience and qualifications. Whilst these qualities certainly are important, the group has also found the right characteristics and personality traits to be more effective than ticking the ‘qualified’ box. Many of its employees have been individuals looking to change their career and do something more meaningful, and Orchard is proud to state that the majority of its Senior Support Workers were once people who had newly entered this world. Once onboard, each member of the team is encouraged to support one another in order to better care for the children. Staff retention and longevity are rare qualities in this industry, and so Orchard ensures that its managers pay extra attention to employee wellbeing. Through one-to-one coaching sessions, staff are empowered with the confidence to rapport with the children and the motivation to strive for the best care outcomes possible. Being based in the Midlands has meant that Orchard’s children are provided access to abundant resources, as well as health and education provisions. Moving forward, the group aims to expand its offerings even further, branching out with more homes and exploring the idea of specialist residential provisions. It is evident that Orchard excels in providing opportunities to young people requiring a long-term therapeutic EBD home and the group hopes to expand this capability – firmly cementing its position as Staffordshire’s Most Dedicated EBD Care Home Group 2025. “At Orchard, we are so proud to have won the award for Most Dedicated EBD Care Home Group 2025! This award means a lot, because it shows how much we care about every single child who lives with us,” Keren shared. “Winning this award is exciting, but what matters most to us is making sure that every child who comes to Orchard feels safe, loved, and accepted – because everyone deserves a home where they can heal and grow.” Contact: Keren Iqbal Company: Orchard Children Homes Ltd Web Address: www.orchardch.co.uk
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