Blue Elephant Childcare, a family-run residential childcare organisation based in Chivenor, North Devon, has marked an important new chapter in its journey with the official opening of its new Head Office and Education Engagement Hub, formally opened last week by local MP, Ian Roome.
Founded in 2017 by Keith and Chris Burley, Blue Elephant Childcare has grown significantly over the past nine years, evolving from a small family-run provider into a thriving organisation supporting children across North Devon and Somerset. Today, it operates 10 children’s homes, with a further two homes currently in development.
Keith Burley, Managing Director, explains, “The opening of the new Head Office and Education Engagement Hub reflects not just the physical growth of Blue Elephant Childcare, but our commitment to building sustainable, child-centred services deeply rooted within the local community.
“Blue Elephant Childcare was built on a clear ethos,’ continues Keith, ‘To provide safe, therapeutic and relationship-led care that places children at the heart of everything the organisation does. The team works tirelessly to support the safety, aspirations and personal growth of the young people in our care, many of whom have experienced trauma and disruption earlier in life. The growth of the organisation means we can support more children locally, allowing them to remain closer to their communities, schools, families and support networks, wherever possible.”
The new premises include expanded office space alongside an additional training room to support staff learning and development. An employee hangout and wellbeing area has also been created to encourage reflection, connection and support alongside improved meeting and collaboration facilities.
Alongside the Head Office, Blue Elephant unveiled its new Education Engagement Hub, which has been created to support children who may struggle within traditional education settings. Operations Director, Abi Milton adds, “The Hub offers a calm, welcoming and low-stimulation environment, recognising the impact trauma can have on learning, emotional regulation, and relationships. It provides a range of alternative and therapeutic education opportunities, including one-to-one and small group learning, outdoor education and life skills, emotional wellbeing and regulation support and creative, practical, and vocational activities. The Hub is designed to help children rebuild confidence, re-engage with learning, and, where appropriate, gradually return to mainstream education.”
As Blue Elephant Childcare continues to grow, so too does its workforce, which includes residential care staff, managers, education professionals, operational leaders and support teams working collaboratively to deliver trauma-informed, child-centred care. Ongoing investment in staff training, wellbeing initiatives and professional development remains central to the organisation’s commitment to providing stable homes and positive, long-term outcomes for children.
For more information on Blue Elephant and its current vacancies, please visit bluelephant.org.uk or email recruitment@bluelephant.org.uk
