For Parents, Guardians and Carers
Page updated on: 06/03/2025
We take pride in providing exceptional care for your children.
About Hafan
Hafan aims to provide ‘Safer Accommodation’ to children and young people aged 11-18 years old from the West Wales region (Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire & Ceredigion) who are currently presenting in crisis and/or waiting to access a bed in other settingss. Hafan is a short-term residential offer where children and young people can maintain placements for up to 26 weeks.
Hafan’s model of care will be ‘Trauma Informed Practice’ and the ‘Trauma Recovery Model’ will underpin the ways in which staff in Hafan work. The idea of the short term offer in Hafan is that we can support and stabilise children and young people in crisis so that we can build relationships with the children and young people, support them in their time of need, assess their needs and build on their confidence, self-worth and reassure them they are cared for, loved and belong.
Hafan will operate under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) 2014 Act and ensure children can maintain connections with their families while meeting their health, educational, and social needs.
Hafan also uses ‘Team Teach’ as its behaviour management strategy. This strategy was adopted as its values, ethos and language used is similar to that used in Trauma Informed Practice. Any Team Teach physical intervention techniques used are recorded and reported in line with the safeguarding policy and procedures.
About Garreglwyd
Garreglwyd is a partnership established between Hywel Dda University Health Board, Carmarthenshire County Council Education and Children’s Services Departments. The service is for children/young people who’re no longer able to live at home and require care and support. When your child/young person comes to stay in Garreglwyd they will be considered Looked after under 76 of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) 2014 Act.
The service at Garreglwyd will ensure children/ young people can continue to live close to home, keep contact with their families and have their health, educational and social needs met within Carmarthenshire.
Hafan is operated by Carmarthenshire County Council but also has stakeholders from Pembrokeshire County Council and Ceredigion County Council. Hafan has monthly Quality Assurance visits undertaken by CCC’s Registered Individual, Tanya Breeze.
The quality assurance and governance of Garreglwyd is overseen by multi agency steering group body. The Responsible Individual is the Residential Services manager, Carmarthenshire County Council – Louise Quatermass. She will visit regularly to speak to the children and staff and ensure the effective management and quality of service.
Both Hafan and Garreglwyd are inspected by Care Inspectorate Wales and operate to the regulations and standards set out by them You can see their inspection reports on line and if you wanted to you could raise a concern about the service: 0300 7900 126
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Hafan is short term residential provision, will allow a period of observation and assessment for up to a maximum of four children who are newly presenting to care with complex behaviours or presenting with escalating complex SEBD behaviours; it would also facilitate the development of bespoke therapeutic intervention plans for children and parents, supporting their transition into adulthood.
Garreglwyd can have up to five children/young people aged between 11-19, the service is for those with complex needs as a results of Autism/ Severe Learning Disabilities.
We create personalised profiles for each Young Person called “All About Me”, focusing on their individual needs and preferences. Our staff provide consistent care and opportunities for personal development.
All staff are committed to ensuring the highest standard of care and well-being. We will provide warm and consistent care and provide your child/young person opportunities to develop their interests and ensure a high standard of physical care, including a healthy, balanced and appropriate diet.
Hafan itself is on the site of Carmarthenshire Secondary Teaching and Learning Centre and will provide a period of intensive support of up to 26 weeks to children and families using a range of Trauma Informed Practices, Restorative Parenting, implementing the Trauma Recovery Model and relational play models that value the child’s unique experiences and offers a relational and restorative model.
We understand that disabled children/ young people are particularly vulnerable. The Responsible Individual and Garreglwyd Steering Group will ensure there are relevant policies in place to ensure that the welfare of disabled children is safeguarded and promoted.
As a ‘Safer Accomodation’ Children’s Home, Hafan has the ability to lock its doors and windows. Hafan also has a 2m fence all around its boundary with locked gates. This is not to lock people in, but, to ensure everyone’s safety at all times.
Any concerns, including allegations about the welfare of your child/young person will be addressed in line with All Wales Child Protection Procedures.
We understand that the children/young people who come to live in Garreglwyd will have different communication needs.
Garreglwyd has a number of Welsh speaking staff. If your child/young person prefers to speak Welsh that isn’t a problem.
Your child/young person will have a one page profile, this will record the best method of communication so each member of staff knows how best to support.
Staff at Garreqlwyd are experienced and trained working with young people with sensory and communication needs. Staff are trained in using a variety of communication methods to help communicate, including;
- Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS)
- Signalong
- Objects of reference
- Social Stories
Garreglwyd also utilises the new technology as a tool for aiding communication e.g apps such as “Widgit Go” and “Proloquo2Go” through hand held devises alongside older methods.
We encourage regular contact between children/young people and their families, facilitating visits and communication through multiple channels.
We believe it is very important when appropriate to have contact with your child/young person. Wherever possible children/young people will visit their home and have contact with parents at least one night a week.
If you live locally, or have friends and family who would like to visit, this is welcomed, all we ask is this arranged first, so we are able to inform, through social stories, your child/young person of the expected visit.
Your child/young person will be supported in line with Carmarthenshire County Councils Medication Policy. We will make sure that all prescribed medication has an appropriate label with the dosage recorded. Staff will make sure a record is kept and will have the correct training to administer the medication.
If your child/young person needs any other form of medical assistance, this will be dealt with promptly and appropriately by members of staff in consultation with child/young person/family/ carers and Children’s Community Nursing Team/ Continuing Care Team.
If you have concerns about the service and support your child is receiving, you can make a complaint following Carmarthenshire County Council’s complaints policy, with support from our staff and management.
In the first instance you should contact the Manager or Responsible Individual.
The complaint will be recorded and will be dealt with in accordance to our complaints policy.
