LifeworksChildrens Charity

ROBINS RESPITE & LIFE SKILLS CENTRE

Robins is a purpose built centre providing respite and residential care, life skills training, recreational opportunities and support for young people up to the age of 20 years old with learning disabilities. The Centre was created by a group of parents and teachers in 1999 to offer families a break from caring and children with special needs a safe and enjoyable place to stay. Children can stay for a night, a weekend or longer and are looked after by a professional team of highly skilled and caring staff.

Robins is situated in the middle of the picturesque village of Dartington, near Totnes in South Devon, surrounded by beautiful countryside and the Dartington Hall Estate.
Robins is a warm and welcoming home which combines quality and style with safety and accessibility. There is a large lounge, separate activities space and a new interactive sensory room. As well as a modern kitchen that prepares healthy and delicious meals, there is also a training kitchen where children can be helped to develop their cooking skills by making their own snacks and drinks.


Each bedroom is individually decorated and furnished to suit the children's needs and bathrooms are equipped to cater for differing abilities. To support individual children's physical needs, there is a lift and stairs to the first floor and a complete range of lifting and moving aids.


Outside the children can use a purpose built garden and play area and they also have access to a large well equipped playground, hydrotherapy pool, sports field and nature walks. Robins has its own transport that will accomodate wheelchair users.

Robins is regularly inspected by Ofsted and always achieves good reports in
standards of care.

Within Robins there is also a separate two bedroomed apartment for young people to live if they cannot live at home anymore. Young people aged up to 20 years old can stay full time on a medium or long term basis whilst continuing to attend their school or college.

Whether staying for a night or a week you will receive a warm, friendly welcome when you arrive. Prior to your stay we will have assessed your needs and visited you at school or at home. you and your family will visit Robins for tea so that we can find out what you like and don't like and how we can support you. You will have one member of staff who is your keyworker and who will know you the best.

You will have your own bedroom and always someone there to help you, if you need them, as well as assisting you to develop your own independence.

Besides building up your living and social skills there will be lots ofactivities and fun on offer and you will make many new friends. You will be able to play games in the activity room, try out the sensory room, enjoy working on computers, play or relax in the garden and use any of the toys and games we have. You can join in with activities such as outings and visits, arts and crafts, just chilling out or choose something else you really like to do.

You will have a very enjoyable time at Robins, and as we make it as much like home as we can, you will feel cared for and safe.

If you are a parent or carer of a child with learning disabilities and you need a break from caring, whether to recharge your batteries, have time with the rest of your family or to give your child some time away, then you are probably eligible to receive funding for carers' breaks. Funding is available through a number of ways but is dependant on a needs assessment by your care manager or social worker.

Your social worker will guide you through this process although your school may be able to help you too. For more information do not hesitate to contact us. An ideal time to express your needs and concerns is at your childs annual review. It may be that you do not feel you need respite support at the present time but may need it in the future. It is best to plan your future needs now, or it may be that we can help you with another form of support that is more suitable.

To help you make up your mind, please come and visit Robins or telephone us on 01803 840744. We are here to help! Robins was set up to keep families together and continues to work towards that goal.