About Mandela House
Located in Birmingham, Mandela House Therapeutic Unit was created to be a beacon of hope to young people – offering a specialised therapeutic care experience to service users aged between 16 and 31. Our mission is to provide a tailored approach that supports the unique needs of our service users as they transition into adulthood, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead independent lives.
At Mandela House, we are committed to providing an exceptional level of therapeutic care. Our dedicated team of practitioners are available 24/7, are equipped to deal with a range of complex and challenging behaviours, including autism, mental health issues, personality disorders, ADHD, and learning disabilities.
Our Therapeutic Service
Our service is delivered by a multidisciplinary team led by our Clinical Director, Dr Olyedemi, an experienced professional with an extensive background working with children, adolescents, and adults. Dr Olyedemi oversees the service, meticulously reviewing and assessing every referral we receive.The day-to-day care is delivered by our team of therapeutic practitioners led by Tracylin Legall, our registered home manager.
All our practitioners at Mandela House have a minimum of a Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care and have undergone therapeutic care training, further cementing our commitment to providing high-quality therapeutic care. Our practitioners are trained in Trauma Informed Practice, enabling us to support our service users’ emotional development, helping them heal from past traumas and build a resilient foundation for emotional and social growth. We see our role not just as caregivers but as pivotal figures in shaping the developmental progress of the service users we care for.
Our Therapeutic Approach
Our approach to care is person-centred and begins with an in-depth review of each young person’s case file, from which a Therapeutic Care Support Plan is created. At the heart of our service is the Independent Life Skills Development Program, a tailored program designed to cover practical and theoretical life skills essential to our service users, helping them live life to the fullest within the community.
Our approach to therapeutic care is deeply influenced by the work of John Bowlby & Donald Winnicott, particularly their insights on attachment theory & psychodynamic therapy. We apply Bowlby’s attachment theory by ensuring that all our service users experience a nurturing environment where they can form secure, positive attachments with compassionate caregivers.
Psychodynamic therapy is a critical part of our therapeutic approach, as it emphasises understanding the deep-seated feelings and past experiences that influence current behaviour. Winnicott believed that a nurturing environment is essential for healthy development, and for this reason, Mandela House has been purposely designed to feel as homely as possible.
Mandela House Therapeutic Unit is an inclusive environment, and we are passionate about making a real change in the lives of our young people. We believe every young person has the right to experience happiness. We have gained a reputation for not giving up on even the most challenging cases. If you have a young person with a history of placement breakdowns, Mandela House Therapeutic Unit could be the right place for them.
What do our stakeholders think of us?
We’ve worked hard to make a difference in the lives of our service users, and below are some testimonials from some of our stakeholders. Our home manager, Tracylin Legall, encapsulates our ethos perfectly: “Our aim at Mandela house is to provide and deliver an effective outcome-based service within a therapeutic and caring environment.”
One of our service users shared their transformative experience: “Mandela house did not just give me a roof over my head; they gave me a new beginning. Their continual support and belief in me transformed my life and I will be grateful for that forever.”
The mother of a service user praised our team: “The staff at Mandela house have gone above and beyond for my son… We have been very lucky he got a place here, I have been given peace of mind that he was receiving the best care in a safe environment and can’t thank them enough.”
A social worker of a service user commended our commitment: “I was immensely impressed with the impact their care and support has had on the lives of young individuals… They facilitated the development of essential life skills empowering the young person to initiate positive change.”
Finally, a representative from the local authority acknowledged our contribution: “Our children can be difficult to place due to their complex needs and behaviours… Most children placed in the services managed by Independence Development Limited have thrived and have gone on to achieve independence in their local communities.”
At Mandela House, we are not just a therapeutic unit; we are a home, a sanctuary, and a stepping stone towards a brighter future. Contact us today if you are looking for a place for your young person, in addition to Mandela House, Independence Development Ltd. have 4 other therapeutic care homes located in Kent. For more information give us a call on 0207 091 0851.