Ashcroft House: Cardiff
Residential rehabilitation home for mothers with drug or alcohol dependencies, with their children.
About us:
What is special about Ashcroft?
Ashcroft House is an established residential home providing rehabilitation for mothers with drug or alcohol dependencies, with their children. Ashcroft House was set up in 1996 as a specialist rehabilitation unit in response to expressed needs for suitable residential rehabilitation facilities where mothers can continue to care for their children.
How are prospective residents assessed?
Ashcroft House staff carry out individual assessments of suitability for our programme. This normally involves a day assessment visit to the Centre where prospective new residents meet staff and current residents. Some applicants may be offered a period of day attendance for more detailed assessment and to test their commitment. This will give them the opportunity to find out what is involved and expected during the rehabilitation programme.
Residents are given help and support to enable them to become more fulfilled people and parents, through improved levels of personal understanding and achievement so that they can become fully functioning citizens.
Who looks after the children?
Mothers are responsible for looking after their children at Ashcroft House. Children up to 8 years old will normally be accepted. Mothers with older children may be considered. Children of compulsory school age go to school.
What help is provided for children with particular needs?
Placing/funding local authorities are required to provide an individual care plan for each child before admission to Ashcroft House and to contribute to reviews of each child’s progress while living at Ashcroft House. We use trained nursery nurses, a play therapist and engage other children’s workers with appropriate professional skills as required, to work with children who have particular assessed needs.
Why is it residential rehabilitation?
For many mothers, being accepted for residential rehabilitation at Ashcroft House may be the only alternative to their children being looked after by the Social Services Department, with little prospect of the family being reunited.
We work on the basis that mothers with young children need to be free from the personal pressures and influences leading to their substance dependency and to have the opportunity to make a fresh start by learning to live alcohol and drug free lives.
Where do I go after Ashcroft?
Forward to independence – we hope that all of our residents will build on their abilities and learn and develop new coping skills whilst at Ashcroft House. Our aim is that they will be able to progress to living an independent life with their children, free of substance dependency and better equipped as parents.
What does the rehabilitation programme involve?
The rehabilitation programme includes education about the use and misuse of drugs and alcohol, personal and child health, nutrition, home and family management, parenting and child care, personal finances and budgeting, social skills, coping with stress and opportunities for further/higher education courses and employment.
What is Ashcroft House like?
The Rehabilitation Centre is a large, detached, Victorian property, situated near to Cardiff City Centre, with substantial accommodation on two floors. It has an enclosed private rear garden and play area. Family rooms can accommodate mothers with two or three children and rooms are available also for mothers with one child.
What will I do?
You will have the chance through group work and individual counselling to learn and practice the personal skills necessary to lead a stable, healthy, independent life free of dependency on drugs or alcohol, by the time you leave Ashcroft House.
“I don\’t want my children to be with addicts…”
Use of drugs and alcohol is not permitted whilst living at the Centre, apart from prescribed medication. Other rules and controls are kept to the minimum necessary to maintain the rehabilitation environment. Mothers help to determine their own day-to-day domestic and social arrangements under supervision and with guidance from the care staff. Residents are expected to take responsibility for themselves and for their behaviour and to collaborate with other mothers and the staff in the day to day management of the Centre.
What staff are there?
The staff team is led by the Centre Manager with Counsellors, Support Workers, the Nursery Manager and Nursery Nurses who all contribute to the rehabilitation treatment programmes. At evening and weekends, Support Workers supervise and assist residents and children. Mothers assist with planning menus, shopping, catering and cleaning duties on a rota basis as part of the rehabilitation programme
External Consultants and specialist skills are available to the project to complement the skills of the Centre staff. Ashcroft House is committed to the Investor in People National Standard. The goals of treatment are:-
# achieving drug and alcohol free living.
# remedying the harms resulting from drug and alcohol dependency.
# improving social, parental, vocational and recreational skills and abilities.
# giving fresh hope for a better future and developing the skills to maintain it.
Contact Details:
Ashcroft House
147-149 Newport Road
Roath
Cardiff
CF24 1AG
Telephone: 029 2041 5400