Chrysalis Assessment & Support Centre is a residential programme where families are supported in caring for their children. You’ll work alongside staff, social workers, solicitors, and your Link Worker to create a personalised plan, aimed at ensuring a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment for your family.
We offer a basic assessment package which will involve you remaining at the centre for a period of typically 12 weeks. However, at your review meeting, it may be agreed with you and your Social Worker that this may be extended. If you were found to be breaking centre rules, it may be decided that your assessment be terminated early and you be asked to leave.
You’ll be assigned a Link Worker who supports you daily, but all staff are available to help. The managing director, centre manager, deputy manager and various family support staff (with qualifications in social work, early years, mental health etc.) make up our well-qualified and experienced team.
Phase 1 (Weeks 0–2): You’ll settle in, and staff observe daily care routines, including wellbeing, safety, hygiene, play, food, sleep and communication.
Phase 2 (Weeks 2–10): You’ll participate in feedback meetings (Interim at week 2, Midpoint at week 6), receive guidance and start the Positive Steps to Parenting sessions.
Phase 3 (Weeks 10–12): Final assessment phase, reviewing what you’ve learned; a transition meeting with your social worker to help plan the next steps.
There will be an Interim, Mid-Point and Transitional Meeting throughout the 12 weeks of your stay which you will be involved in, along with weekly Linkwork Sessions through weeks 3-10 with you and your Link Worker.
You and your family have the right to safety and health, respect and dignity (regardless of identity) and personal privacy - your room is private and people must knock before entering. You also have the right to be heard and involved in the assessment process.
To help you feel settled and comfortable during your time at Chrysalis, we recommend bringing a few essentials from home. Pack enough clothes and shoes for yourself to last at least two weeks. Don’t forget that the East Yorkshire coast can be cold, windy and wet (especially in the winter) so warm, weather-appropriate clothing is important.
Please bring at least two weeks’ worth of toiletries for yourself. Once you’re settled, you’ll be able to purchase more locally as needed. There’s no need to worry about bulky baby gear as we will provides essentials, including a Moses basket, cot, baby monitor, baby bath and changing mats.
You’re also welcome to bring personal touches like photos, music, books, or anything else that helps you feel more at home.
For a full list of what to bring and further guidance, please refer to the Parent Handbook.
During the initial first two weeks of your stay, you will be closely supervised and this will involve any time spent away from the centre, where you will need to be accompanied by a member of staff.
Should you wish to go out without your child, a babysitting service is available at an additional cost but it must be paid upfront.
We understand how important it is to stay connected with loved ones during your stay. Visitor arrangements will be discussed with you throughout the admission process to ensure they are safe, supportive and in line with your care plan. You may be allowed to invite people to visit you at the centre if it has been pre- arranged, and agreed by the Local Authority who are responsible for your placement.
All visits must be agreed upon in advance between you, the Centre and your Social Worker. While you are at the Centre, you may request visits, but they will still need formal approval from both our team and your Social Worker.
Visitors are expected to follow the Centre’s rules and respect the environment we’ve created for all families. Any visitors who bring children are fully responsible for their behaviour while on site. All visitors must follow the rules outlined in both the Parent Handbook and the Visitors Handbook. These measures are in place to ensure your safety, the wellbeing of other residents, and the smooth running of the Centre.
While positive relationships between residents are encouraged, there are some boundaries in place to ensure privacy and a calm environment for everyone. Between the hours of 9:00pm and 10:00am, parents are not permitted to enter other residents’ rooms. These quiet hours help support rest, routines, and personal space for each family. Shared communal areas remain open and supervised during appropriate times for social interaction and support.
Your placement at the centre is funded by your Local Authority, so there is no charge to you for staying here. However, you will be responsible for covering your day-to-day living costs – including food, toiletries and any personal items for yourself and your baby or child/ren.
A washing machine and dryer is available on-site at a small cost of £1 per wash and £1 per dry, or if you prefer there is a local laundrette nearby. Additional expenses may be incurred for equipment hire and babysitting.
During your stay, you are responsible for caring for yourself and your family, managing your money and personal belongings, and keeping both your room and shared spaces clean and safe. It's also important to follow all safety protocols, including fire procedures and letting staff know your whereabouts.
If your social worker requests it, you may be asked to hand in all medication (whether prescribed or over the counter), this is so that we can monitor and assess how well you can take your medication and give your child's medication as per the Dr's advice. If your Social Worker does not request this, you can manage your own medication.
For a detailed breakdown of our rules and expectations during your stay, please visit our Rules and Conditions page.
We follow a clear disciplinary process, which begins with a verbal warning from your Link Worker. If concerns continue, a written warning will be issued with input from staff and your social worker. Ongoing breaches may lead to a final written warning, and in some cases, this could result in your placement ending early.
Your safety and privacy are a top priority. All staff are DBS-checked and trained in safeguarding, and any visitors are supervised until fully checked. You’ll have a private room, and staff always knock before entering. Shared areas are designed to allow for observation to help ensure everyone's safety. From day one, staff will walk you through fire alarm procedures and evacuation plans so you know exactly what to do in case of an emergency.
We would very much like to hear what you think about our Centre and welcome your feedback at any time, whether it is good or bad. We can only make sure our centre is a helpful and supportive place for families if you tell us which of the things we do are helpful to you – and which we could maybe done better in a different way.
There are a few different ways that you can provide us with feedback:
If any of these methods are used, we would be able to discuss it with you within 2 weeks from you telling us.
If you prefer not to tell us yourself, you can get someone else to do it for you - including:
You are also welcome to raise any issues directly with the Centre Manager or Managing Director.
Should you need to escalate a complaint, you can ring Ofsted (0300 123 4666) or the Children’s Commissioner (020 7783 8330).
Ofsted inspect what we do on a regular basis and can also be written to at the following address: OFSTED, Royal Exchange Building, St Ann's Square, Manchester, M2 7LA
