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The Croft is committed to providing a safe, stable, and therapeutic environment where young people can heal, grow, and thrive.
The Croft is a small, nurturing residential care home located in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, registered to accommodate two young people aged 7-18 with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. It is part of the Headstart Care group and is regulated by Ofsted.
The Croft is committed to providing a safe, stable, and therapeutic environment where young people can heal, grow, and thrive. The home does not view residential care as a last resort but as a positive and proactive choice for children who need it.
The values of the Croft echo the values of Headstart Residential Care, which are:
These values are interwoven into the home’s daily life through our Integrated, therapeutic therapies, and our specialised staff team.
The Croft supports children with:
Each child receives a personalised care plan, with a dedicated key worker and co-key worker to support their development and emotional well-being.
The home is designed to be cosy and homely, with:
Children are encouraged to personalise their rooms and participate in daily routines like meal planning and preparation.
Situated in a quiet residential area, The Croft is close to:
The Croft places strong emphasis on educational achievement. Staff support each child’s EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan), liaise with schools, and provide resources for home learning when needed. The home has close ties with Headstart School, offering GCSEs, BTECs, and outdoor learning.
Children receive comprehensive, therapeutic, health support, including:
Each Headstart home is led by a dedicated management team who bring warmth, experience, and stability to daily life. Our Registered Manager and Deputy Manager work closely with staff to provide a safe, nurturing, and therapeutic environment where young people can feel secure, supported, and encouraged to thrive.
Registered Manager (Croft)
The Croft fosters positive, respectful relationships between staff and children. Behaviour is managed through:
Staff apply the PACE model—Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy—to build trust and support emotional well-being.
PBS techniques help encourage positive choices and reduce challenging behaviours through consistency and reinforcement.
All staff are trained in PRICE methods, using calm de-escalation and safe intervention when necessary.
We use restorative practices and natural consequences to promote reflection, responsibility, and reconciliation.
A clear zero-tolerance stance ensures every child feels safe, respected, and free from harm.
Children are encouraged to maintain family contact and take part in community life to build a sense of belonging.
Led by Registered Manager Antony and Deputy Manager, Ross, the team includes experienced and qualified staff with diverse backgrounds. Staff receive:
All placements are carefully matched and planned. The home prioritises:
At The Croft, our policies are in place to ensure the highest standards of care, safety and accountability. You can find key documents below for reference.
Our Statement of Purpose outlines the aims, objectives, and ethos of each Headstart Residential home, detailing how we provide consistent, high-quality care and support for every young person.
This document is available upon request.
Request a copyOur homes are registered with Ofsted and regularly inspected to ensure we maintain the highest standards of care and safeguarding.
Copies of our most recent Ofsted reports are available upon request.
Request a copy