posted 12th May 2025
A Journey to Independence: How Dovedale House Helped Rhys Thrive
The outstanding support he received from the team at Dovedale House has seen Rhys* positively prepared to take his next steps as he transitions from children’s services towards adulthood.
The young person arrived in an emergency back in 2021, with a safe place needed for him to live urgently.
Manager at the ‘outstanding’ rated home, Danny Blood, said: “He needed somewhere fast and we just knew that we could give him what he needed. He just needed some love really. He just settled in straight away and the rest is history.”
The main issue for Rhys was that he had been neglected and had not been shown how to do anything. “Some of the children who become care experienced have often had to do things for themselves. They know how to do things at a very young age. Rhys was not like that. He was a teenager, but cognitively was more like a nine or 10 year old. So we just gave him a loving, stable home and taught him what he needed to know – and loved him.
“We let him settle in and were doing things for him because he hadn’t ever had people do things for him. Then we started to show him how to do things, then we did them with him, and then progressed to him doing things on his own. We developed reward charts which were tailored round him. It had to be gradual.
“He really responded well to that nurturing and feeling of safety. He had full attendance at school, he was happy to get up and get out and about. And while he went to college, academia was not for him. He’s a very practical person and struggles with processing and retaining of information, so we helped him look for work and opportunities to get a job as apprenticeships and college courses were not going to work for him.”
As he approached 18, and with careful thought and consultation with him into where he wanted to live, he has chosen to settle in a semi-independent service close to his family. He has his own flat, with staff support available 24 hours a day should he need it.
Danny said: “The transition was gently planned out and included a well- documented plan. We also did a massive food shop for him and kitted his flat out – we just want him to have what he needs to thrive, to go out and live. He keeps in touch to tell us he is doing well. He’s looking for work.
“Rhys was probably the easiest child we’ve ever cared for. He really just needed someone to believe in him and show faith. He thrived having that love and nurture. He came as a really young boy and when he left he was a young man.”
