A pioneering new children’s home, Ridgeway House, has officially opened on the east side of Southampton, offering specialist crisis support for children and young people aged 13–17 from across Hampshire.

A first of its kind for Southampton and developed in partnership between Southampton City Council and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (HIOWHFT), Ridgeway House has been purpose-built to provide a safe, nurturing, and therapeutic environment for young people experiencing significant mental health, emotional, or behavioural crisis – including those with neurodivergence and complex needs.

The home offers up to four short-term placements (up to 28 days), with the aim of stabilising young people at the point of crisis and preventing unnecessary hospital admissions or escalation to long-term care.

Ridgeway House is a partnership between Southampton City Council and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (HIOWHFT), reflecting a joined-up approach to supporting some of the most vulnerable young people in the community.

Key features of Ridgeway House include:

• Four self-contained bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, including accessible options for young people with physical disabilities.
• A multi-disciplinary team combining social care and NHS mental health expertise, delivering holistic, evidence-based support.
• Staff trained in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) principles, providing therapeutic interventions to help young people manage difficult emotions and develop coping strategies.
• A strong focus on personalised, child-centred care, with individualised plans co-produced with each young person and their support network.
• Communal spaces, a sensory room, quiet outdoor reflection areas, and private family rooms, all designed with anti-ligature and self-harm minimisation principles.

Councillor Amanda Barnes-Andrews Cabinet Member for Children and Learning at Southampton City Council, said: “Ridgeway House represents a significant step forward for Southampton and Hampshire in how we support young people in crisis. By working in partnership with our colleagues in health, we are able to provide a safe, therapeutic environment that offers real hope and practical support to young people and their families when they need it most.”

The team at Ridgeway House, added:

“We are proud to open Ridgeway House as a place where young people can feel safe, heard, and supported. We are committed to providing personalised care that respects each individual’s needs and identity, helping them to recover, stabilise, and move forward positively.”

James Lowell, Chief Delivery Officer for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB said: “We are delighted that Ridgeway House is now open for local children and their families. This home from home combines education, health and care services in the same setting and will help children avoid spending longer than needed in hospital. Having this service locally also means children won’t need to be away from family and loved ones in other parts of the country to receive the support they need. Ridgeway House has the potential to make a lasting difference to the lives of young people and their families in Southampton and across Hampshire. This achievement reflects the strong working relationship between the local NHS and our colleagues at Southampton City Council, and we remain committed to strengthening our health and care partnership approach. This will enable us to continue innovating and delivering better outcomes for children and families.”

Referrals are welcomed from health and social care professionals across Hampshire, following multi-agency decision-making.