Service for children with complex health and educational needs – Gloucester House

Puppets made by children from Gloucester

Who this service is for

Formerly known as The Tavistock Mulberry Bush Day Unit, Gloucester House is a specialist unit, which provides treatment and education for up to 16 primary and early secondary aged children.

Gloucester House is unique in providing a joined up health and education service within a single setting in line with government initiatives to bring together different services for troubled children.

Children who attend Gloucester House have complex and long-standing health and educational needs that cannot be met by their local community services. In addition to difficulties with their education (they may have been out of school for long periods of time, been receiving only part-time education, or have attended a local learning support or pupil referral unit) they may also be carrying other specific vulnerabilities. In many cases local child and adolescent mental health services or social services are also involved.

Kinds of treatment offered

Staff include child psychiatrists, teachers, teaching assistants, child psychotherapists, a social worker and an educational psychologist. Gloucester House is led by a director, who is a consultant psychiatrist, together with a head teacher and a small group of senior staff.

The children have a package which includes full-time school together with clinical treatment, which may include group and/or individual psychotherapy, other therapeutic groups and activities, parent work, family work including family therapy and psychiatric supervision. Gloucester House has a therapeutic ethos and approach to its work. This work also includes joint work, liaison and consulting to the wider professional network surrounding the child and family.