NHS psychologist sets up children’s home in Chadwell Heath

Dr Sonal Kaur, clinical psychologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, decided to set up Serenity Children’s Home in Chadwell Heath after being “completely disheartened” by the amount of government funding towards young people who need therapeutic interventions and trauma-informed care.

Dr Sonal Kaur privately funded the children's home and hopes to open more centres in the coming months (Image: Serenity Psychology)

The centre is intended to house children who cannot access foster care and traditional children’s home facilities due to their additional needs.

The idea, a spokesperson for the centre claimed, is to open more such facilities to “try and ease the burden on the NHS” but also to provide “care, safety and support for marginalised children".

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While the privately funded facility will be run by Dr Kaur, they said, she will also have a 24-hour team including a former PE teacher trained to work with children with diverse needs.

The two-bedroom facility also features a music studio (Image: Serenity Psychology)

Dr Kaur specialises in treating people with epilepsy, complex PTSD and neurodiversity through her private practice in Essex.

She is herself said to be neurodiverse with a diagnosis of ADHD and is a single mother who has overcome her own battles with trauma.

She said that the children’s home will prioritise the “physical, emotional, and educational development of each child” and the facility will make use of “play and wilderness therapy”.

She added: “This home can accommodate up to two children, ensuring they have ample space to relax, study, and engage in recreational activities.

“We have created an environment that fosters a sense of belonging, security, and personal growth.”

The kitchen at the children's home (Image: Serenity Psychology)

Children at the facility will be encouraged to participate in football games, Dr Kaur said, to “promote physical health” and “instil values like teamwork and self-discipline”.

The place is also equipped with a music studio where “children can explore their creative talents”, she added, so they can “find solace in the healing power of music.”

Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, Councillor Donna Lumsden was present at the inauguration ceremony (Image: Serenity Psychology)

Serenity Children’s Home was inaugurated on August 10 in a ceremony that was attended by Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, Councillor Donna Lumsden.