Established in 1997, One to One is a small, independent provider of warm, nurturing homes for children and young people living in residential care.
For almost 30 years, we have provided individualised, relationship-based care, creating homes where children feel safe, valued and supported to thrive.
About One to One
We provide small, nurturing homes for children and young people aged 7 to 18, offering both single and dual occupancy homes. Each of our homes is registered with Ofsted and is designed to feel just that: a home.
Our approach is highly individualised. We recognise that every child comes to us with their own experiences, strengths, needs and hopes for the future, and we build our care around them. Through consistent, trusting relationships, clear and predictable boundaries and a trauma-informed approach, we support children to feel safe, develop confidence and make meaningful progress.
We believe that some of the most important therapeutic work happens through everyday relationships and experiences. This might be a conversation in the car, cooking together, getting outdoors, celebrating an achievement or having an adult alongside them when things feel difficult. Our adults take time to understand the meaning behind behaviour and respond with curiosity, empathy and compassion.
Where a child would benefit from additional specialist or therapeutic support, this is carefully considered as part of their individual plan. We work with a range of experienced professionals and specialist services, enabling us to put the right support around each child rather than expecting children to fit within a predetermined package.
Above all, we want our homes to be places where children experience warmth, stability and a genuine sense of belonging, with adults who know them well, care about what matters to them and believe in what they can achieve.
Our Approach
At One to One, relationships are at the heart of everything we do.
Our approach is trauma-informed and guided by the principles of PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy). We understand that children’s experiences can shape the way they see the world, build relationships and respond when things feel difficult. Our role is to look beyond the behaviour and understand the child.
We believe children make progress when they feel safe, understood and genuinely cared for. Our adults build trusting relationships through consistency, warmth and patience, taking the time to get to know each child and understand what they need from us.
PACE is woven naturally into everyday life in our homes. It means responding with curiosity rather than judgement, showing empathy when things are difficult, accepting the feelings behind a child’s behaviour and bringing warmth and playfulness into relationships.
This sits alongside clear, consistent boundaries and adults who provide the reassurance, predictability and stability children need. We don’t expect every child to respond in the same way; our approach adapts to the individual while our values remain consistent.
Ultimately, we want children to experience something very simple: a home where they feel safe, cared about and understood, and where the adults around them remain alongside them through both the difficult days and the good ones.
Small by Choice
We have always chosen to remain a small, independent organisation because it allows us to keep relationships at the heart of what we do.
We know the children who live in our homes; their personalities, their stories, what matters to them and the progress they are making. In the same way, we know the adults who work with us, recognising the individual strengths, experience and personality that each person brings to our homes.
Our senior leaders remain closely connected to everyday life across One to One. They know our children and our teams, are visible within our homes and are accessible when they are needed. This means decisions can be made thoughtfully and responsively, with a real understanding of the people they affect.
Nearly 30 years after One to One was established, we are proud to have retained that personal approach. As we grow, remaining connected to our children, our adults and our homes will always be important to us.
Ready for what comes next
Our ambition for every child is that their time with One to One helps them build the foundations for a positive future, whatever their next step may be.
Preparing for the future is about far more than learning practical life skills. We want children to develop a sense of belonging within their local community, build positive relationships and support networks, and establish routines and connections that can remain important to them beyond their time living with us.
From joining a local sports club, finding a favourite café or becoming confident using public transport, to developing friendships, accessing education or employment and knowing where to turn when they need support – these everyday connections can be just as important as learning to cook, budget or manage a home.
As children grow, we gradually support them to take greater responsibility for their lives, make decisions, manage practical tasks and develop confidence in their own abilities. This happens at a pace that reflects the individual child, with adults alongside them to guide, encourage and step back when they are ready.
When the time comes to move on, we want children to take with them more than practical skills. We want them to leave with confidence, meaningful connections, established routines and a sense of belonging – foundations that can continue to support them long after their time with One to One.
Come work for us
The adults who work in our homes are central to the care we provide, and we take just as much care in finding the right people as we do in supporting them once they join us.
Experience and qualifications are valuable, but so are warmth, resilience, curiosity and the ability to build genuine relationships with children. We look for people who are dependable, open to learning and able to bring their own personality and strengths to the role.
In return, we invest in our adults. Our teams receive high-quality training, regular support and opportunities to develop their knowledge, skills and careers. As a small organisation, we get to know the people who work with us and recognise the individual contribution they make.
If you share our values and think you could make a positive difference to the lives of the children we care for, we would love to hear from you.