The Bartons
Hillcrest The Bartons is an Outstanding rated Ofsted registered children's home offering 52-week care and education. It is located in a large village surrounded by countryside 15 miles north of Oxford.
To view a short film about The Bartons please click on the video below
“Young people enjoy living in the home and thrive as a result of the consistent support from the highly effective and enthusiastic staff team.“ Latest Ofsted Report
Philosophy of care
The Bartons offers an holistic model of care and education for boys aged 11- 16, which is designed to stabilise extreme patterns of behaviour and provide positive, enriching life experiences. Our aim is to help young people achieve their full potential and prepare them for future independence.
We do this by the provision of firm, consistent boundaries, with high expectations of behaviour and by facilitating many learning and development opportunities. The home has extensive success in working with boys who exhibit a tendency to abscond or who display challenging behaviours and have, as a result, experienced multiple placement break downs. We are also very successful in helping facilitate a return home, or a move to a foster placement.
Therapeutic provision
Any therapeutic intervention is only undertaken after careful assessment by suitably qualified practitioners in consultation with all relevant professionals.
Therapeutic provision at The Bartons can include Counselling, Equine Assisted Therapy, Art Therapy, Play Therapy and Music Interaction, all of which reinforce the Hillcrest philosophy of providing a more therapeutic approach to child care.
Education
Education is provided at nearby Park School. Hillcrest's own fully OFSTED registered school which caters for both boys and girls from 8-16 yrs old. The school is currently rated by OFSTED as 'Good'.
Park School offers differentiated individual learning programmes covering the full National Curriculum and is a Registered Exam Centre. The school has successfully reintegrated many young people back into mainstream schooling, and assisted with external vocational college placements where appropriate.
Activities
The Bartons is AALA (Adventure Activity Licensing Authority) certificated and is a Duke of Edinburgh Award Centre. The extensive activity programme is designed to foster a high level of independence, rebuild low self esteem and restore positive self image.
The Bartons has its own river cruiser, moored on the beautiful River Thames, which is used on a regular basis, for holidays, and short breaks. All staff hold their Inland Waterways Helmsman’s award.
Other activities include: sailing, canoeing, mountain biking, orienteering, fishing, army cadets, scouting, swimming, football and rugby.
We are associate members of Oxford Sailing Club and have our own touring caravan which we regularly use for family-style trips to the seaside.
Admissions
Whilst we try to avoid emergency placements we do take account of urgent situations and will respond accordingly. Great efforts are made during the referral process to encourage a young person to fully engage with the placement and to enjoy all that there is on offer at The Bartons.
Independence Work
Hillcrest The Bartons has an on-site purpose built, fully self contained flat, used to comprehensively prepare all of our young people for independent living when they leave care. This process starts as soon as they arrive with us, regardless of age.
Hillcrest The Bartons is an Outstanding Ofsted registered children's home offering 52-week care and education placements to boys aged 11-16 yrs. It is located in a large village 15 miles north of Oxford and is surrounded by countryside. To make a referral please call: 08458 727477 Email: head.office@hillcrestcare.co.uk
