Therapy-Led Residential Care at Willow Family

At Chestnut Lodge Worthing, we are dedicated to providing a safe haven for compassionate connection and personalised growth, making it an ideal choice for a children's care home in West Sussex. Our focus on residential care for children ensures that each child receives the support they need to thrive, reinforcing our commitment as a leading children's care home in Worthing.

About Us

Therapy-Led Residential Care at Willow Family

About Us

Our Ethos

Connection

At Willow Family Care, located near Chestnut Lodge Worthing, we prioritize warm, trusting relationships as the foundation of healing. Healthy connections regulate, protect, and empower individuals in our children's care home in West Sussex. We foster a sense of belonging for both children and staff, ensuring that every individual feels heard and valued within our residential care for children.

Nurture

At Chestnut Lodge Worthing, we create safe, responsive environments where the emotional needs of children in our care are met with compassion and care. Safeguarding the children within our residential care for children in West Sussex is our utmost priority. Through Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy (PACE), we offer attuned support that allows children to feel safe enough to regulate, express, and explore.

Growth

At Chestnut Lodge Worthing, we believe that every child can heal, learn, and flourish when provided with the right environment and support network around them. Grounded in neurodevelopmental principles, we tailor our approach to each individual’s journey at their own pace, focusing on their specific goals. As a leading children's care home in West Sussex, we celebrate progress, foster resilience and integrity, and champion their unique potential in our residential care for children.

Our Homes

Chestnut Lodge

Home 3 (in the pipeline)

Elm Lodge (coming soon)

Chestnut Lodge in Worthing is our first Ofsted-registered residential care home for children, providing a safe and nurturing environment for up to two children aged 13-18 years old who face behavioural and/or emotional difficulties. As a leading children's care home in West Sussex, we offer therapy-led care within a typical residential setting. We take pride in delivering premium stability services for children, making Chestnut Lodge a trusted choice for residential care for children.

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Elm Lodge (coming soon)

Home 3 (in the pipeline)

Elm Lodge (coming soon)

Elm Lodge, a beautifully renovated large 1930s home, serves as a spacious therapy-led residential care for children, accommodating up to four children aged 13-18 years old. Located near the seafront and parks, it features a generous outdoor space for both children and staff to enjoy. Currently in the start-up and preparation phase, it is not yet open as a children's care home in West Sussex, but it promises to be a valuable addition to the community, similar to Chestnut Lodge in Worthing.

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Home 3 (in the pipeline)

Building on the success of our first two homes, including our Chestnut Lodge Worthing, we plan to expand our services across the West Sussex region. We are actively seeking a third suitable property to enhance our provision of residential care for children, allowing us to better serve the community with our children’s care home in Worthing.

Our Community

Home 3 (in the pipeline)

At Chestnut Lodge Worthing, we welcome staff and children from all backgrounds, working to enable them to participate, contribute, and succeed. As a leading children's care home in West Sussex, we believe in honest, open communication, building resilience, and having integrity. Our mission at this children's care home in Worthing is to tr

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Our Background

Two young women smiling and studying together on a bed.

Our Story

At Willow Family Care, we recognized through our experience in education and NHS healthcare that there was a significant need for safe, nurturing residential care for children. We aimed to create homes, like Chestnut Lodge Worthing, that not only provide therapy-led care but also give children the chance to grow, thrive, build relationships, discover themselves, and develop their skills and confidence. Our focus is to ensure they feel secure in a welcoming and nurturing environment, where they truly matter. We were disheartened by the prevalence of children's care homes in West Sussex run by individuals lacking the necessary skills or experience, prioritizing business over the needs of the child. This understanding led to the establishment of Willow Family Care.

Smiling young woman studying and writing in a bright classroom.

Our Goal

Our mission at Chestnut Lodge Worthing is to provide a compassionate and nurturing haven for children who have endured trauma or neglect. As a leading children's care home in West Sussex, we are dedicated to empowering these resilient young people, enabling them to embrace the joys of childhood while equipping them with the tools and opportunities essential for realizing their fullest potential. Our goal is to ensure that every child under our care, including those in our children's care home in Worthing, has access to the finest education, diverse work experiences, and unwavering support, mirroring the life chances and aspirations of any child, regardless of their circumstances. We aim to instill in them the belief that their past does not dictate their future and that they can dream, achieve, and excel in all facets of life through our specialized residential care for children.

Diverse group of people raising their hands together in unity outdoors.

Our Journey

The journey to establishing Willow Family Care and our first home, Chestnut Lodge in Worthing, has been quite challenging. The three directors of Willow Family Care are all busy professionals, each with families and children of their own. Unlike large children's home corporations, we operated on a limited budget and time constraints, working diligently to create Willow Family Care alongside our day jobs. It took us 18 months to navigate the process of finding and renting suitable and secure properties, obtaining planning consents, developing policies and documents, and securing staff for our children's care home in West Sussex. Despite the unforeseen challenges and hurdles, we never gave up. Our hard work culminated in the opening of our fully-staffed home in October 2025, and we proudly became Ofsted registered. We hope that the resilience and determination that brought us here, along with the positive attitudes instilled in our team, will continue to inspire the children we care for and our staff at Chestnut Lodge in Worthing as we move forward.

What we do

Therapy-led Residential Care

Community-Focused Collaborative Connection

Personalised Support for Growth

At Chestnut Lodge Worthing, we offer specialist residential care for children aged 13-18 years who have experienced trauma, neglect, abuse, or face emotional or mental health difficulties. Our approach is grounded in attachment theory and the PACE model (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy), creating a warm and understanding environment where children feel safe, valued, and supported. With a dedicated team of professionals, we provide care that promotes emotional healing, stability, and personal growth. As a leading children's care home in West Sussex, our homes are thoughtfully designed to feel like a family setting, helping children rebuild trust, develop healthy attachments, and regain a sense of security and identity.

Get Involved

Personalised Support for Growth

Community-Focused Collaborative Connection

Personalised Support for Growth

At Willow Family Care, located near Chestnut Lodge Worthing, we understand that no two children are the same. This is why every child in our children's care home in West Sussex receives an individualized plan tailored to their unique needs, background, and goals. Our support spans emotional and behavioral development, mental health care, special educational needs, and structured preparation for adulthood. We provide access to education, mentoring, life skills coaching, and daily routines that help build resilience, responsibility, and confidence. Children learn practical skills, from managing emotions and maintaining healthy routines to financial literacy, digital safety, and job readiness, empowering them to thrive now and into the future. All of this is done with the child at the forefront in our children's care home in Worthing.

Get Involved

Community-Focused Collaborative Connection

At Chestnut Lodge Worthing, we believe that meaningful progress happens through connection. We work closely with families, local authorities, education providers, and health professionals to ensure a joined-up, child-focused approach in our children's care home in West Sussex. This partnership model allows us to provide holistic care and seamless support, from the moment a child arrives at our children's care home in Worthing through to their eventual transition to independence. Our team prioritizes open communication, regular reviews, and proactive planning to ensure every child's evolving needs are met. Through these partnerships, we also create opportunities for community engagement and vocational experiences, helping children build a sense of belonging, identity, and hope for the future in our residential care for children.

Get Involved

If you are interested in working with Chestnut Lodge Worthing, have any questions about our children's care home in West Sussex, or would like to make a general enquiry about our residential care for children, feel free to contact us. We usually respond within 48 hours during weekdays.

Willow Family

Worthing, UK

07791 962163 annie@willlowfamily.co.uk jamie@willowfamily.co.uk david@willowfamily.co.uk

Office Hours

Open today

09:00 – 17:00

Therapy-Led Residential Care at Willow Family

Therapy-Led Residential Care at Willow Family

Our Mission

Working at Willow Family Care