Specialist Family Group Homes

Barnardos manages a number of specialist Group Homes for boys aged between 10 and 17 years.

The homes provide a safe, secure and stable environment for boys who are in need of care and protection; have engaged in inappropriate behaviour and who are receiving therapy for this. The boys work with the staff during their stay to identify and improve their knowledge skills and confidence, in a planned and therapeutic way. They usually stay at one of the houses for between 6 to 24 months.

The boys usually attend local schools or training courses during this time. Their return home is well planned, with the family and all agencies involved. When a return home cannot happen, alternative arrangements are made.

These group homes are operated by Barnardos as a service to Child Youth and Family. All referrals for group homes are made by Child, Youth and Family. 

Te Poutama Ārahi Rangatahi

Te Poutama is the national residential programme providing the treatment, supervision, care and education of high-risk young people with harmful sexual behaviours under the custody/guardianship of the Director General of Child, Youth and Family Services (CYF) in New Zealand. Opened in 1999, the therapeutic programme is delivered to assist young people to stop, or reduce in frequency and/or severity, their harmful sexual behaviour.

Te Poutama is based in Christchurch with a capacity of 12 beds. The length of stay will differ depending on the individual needs of each young person but will usually be between 12-24 months. Although the residence is owned by CYF it is run by Barnardos, under contract to CYF.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, Te Poutama represents the investment and focusing of resources to arrest the highly damaging behaviours of these high risk young people. Such young people:

• are deemed unsafe to be treated in the community;
• have treatment needs that require intensive, comprehensive and integrative interventions; and
• have commonly refused, disrupted or failed previous community treatment attempts and/or absconded from CYFS custody.

Further links:

• Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR)
• Social Workers in Schools (SWIS)
• Home Interaction Programme for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY)
• Roots of Empathy
• Hubs