About Moore House

Mission Statement

Moore House School was set up in1988 to provide a better quality of residential care for vulnerable young people than was available in other residential schools. Achieving and maintaining that aim remains our mission. We provide opportunities for young people to enable them to reach their full potential. We work to make a genuine difference to them and their families, and to their chances of having lives that are not blighted by poverty, instability and dependence.

How can we make this happen? First and foremost is the way we treat young people. Teaching and caring for young people with behaviour difficulties are among the toughest professions around. We engage adults who genuinely like young people, who can communicate positive regard, who can listen to young people and who respect them for what they are, accepting that their difficulties and challenges are their inheritance, not their fault. Our staff are prepared to go the extra mile with young people, even at some cost to themselves.

Our staff think critically about young people, assess their needs and describe them in a way which is helpful to them and to others involved in their care and education. They plan and review programmes of care and education, record progress and report to other parties. As professionals, our staff reflect critically on their own practice, and to show commitment to their own continuing professional development.

We work as part of a team, and other members of the team include young people themselves, their parents and families, colleagues, carers, social workers, psychologists, reporters and panel members. Looking after young people safely involves staff teams working towards a common goal which is for the benefit of young people. There can only be real safety when teams work well together. Our teams meet regularly, share information about young people, enjoy mutual trust and feedback, and creatively discuss new developments and ways of working.

We provide a level of physical care that reflects the value we place on young people. They live in warm, comfortable, clean environments, with adults who help them to feel a sense of ownership and belonging. Staff encourage young people to care about their surroundings, to personalise their bedrooms, to look after their belongings and those of their unit, school, and local community. Where young people struggle to meet these standards, we expect staff to do something about it; to help in buying posters; to replace damaged items; to encourage them in their personal hygiene and appearance.

Finally, we provide young people with positive experiences they will always remember. We celebrate success daily and at assemblies and prizegivings. We mark birthdays, festivals and anniversaries. We provide a range of interesting and stimulating experiences for young people, to stretch them, build their self-esteem, and help them to have fun and experience the reward of achievement.