40+ years experience in Residential Child Care

Therapeutic Residential Care for Children and Young People

Providing highly individualised, therapeutic residential care for children and young people, including those with complex and additional support needs, within a safe, nurturing and consistent home environment.

Small, Focused Care

Our Mission
We provide residential care for no more than two young people at any one time, allowing us to offer highly individualised support, carefully tailored around each young person's needs.

Complex & Individual Needs

Our Care
We can support young people with complex and additional support needs, including autism, learning disabilities and communication differences, with care, staffing and routines tailored around the individual.

Consistent, Experienced Team

Our Values in Action
Our small, experienced team provides reliable and consistent care, building strong relationships and developing a detailed understanding of each young person's individual needs, communication and preferences.

Our Therapeutic Approach in Practice

We provide structured, therapeutic care shaped around the individual needs of each young person. Our approach begins with developing a detailed understanding of the young person, how they communicate, what helps them feel safe, their strengths, preferences, sensory needs and the support they may require.

Alongside consistent, relationship-based care, our team has access to specialist input including forensic psychology, Play Therapy and Animal Assisted Therapy. This allows us to adapt our approach to the individual, creating an environment where young people can build trust, develop confidence and make meaningful progress at their own pace.

Creating Strong Foundations for the Future

Every young person’s journey is different. At Carolian, we focus on what progress and a positive future mean for the individual, recognising their strengths, celebrating achievements and supporting development at a pace that is right for them.

Through stable relationships, meaningful experiences and opportunities to make choices and develop new skills, we aim to help young people build confidence, experience greater independence where possible, and enjoy a fulfilling childhood.

Our approach is always shaped around the young person, their abilities, their aspirations and what matters most to them.

A message to our young people

We know that moving somewhere new can feel difficult, and you may have lots of questions about what it will be like.

At Carolian, we will take time to get to know you and understand what is important to you. We will listen to you and find the best ways for you to tell us what you want, need and how you are feeling.

You will have your own space, people around you who care about you, and support that is right for you. We will learn about the things you enjoy, the things that help you feel safe and comfortable, and the things you might need some help with.

Most importantly, Carolian is your home. We want you to feel safe, cared for and included, and to have opportunities to enjoy yourself, try new things and be proud of your achievements.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

If the answer to your question is not covered here, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help.

Yes. Our therapeutic approach is embedded within everyday care and relationships, with specialist input available where appropriate. Our team has access to consultation from a Forensic Psychologist, alongside Play Therapy and Animal Assisted Therapy.

Therapeutic support is considered around the individual young person and their needs, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

You can contact us on 07957230835. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or use our Contact Us form.

Yes, we will review referrals for young people from outside of Scotland.

We are located in North Ayrshire, Scotland.

Yes. We can support young people with a range of complex and additional support needs, including autism, learning disabilities and communication differences.

As a small two-bed service, we are able to take a highly individualised approach, adapting staffing, routines, communication and the environment around the needs of each young person. We consider every referral individually and work closely with families, social work teams and other professionals to understand how we can best meet the young person’s needs.

At Cairnara, we are dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate care for our young people. Our primary focus is on creating a safe, stable, and nurturing environment in semi-rural homes with a capacity of no more than two young people. This small-scale, family-like model offers all the benefits of fostering, individualised care and emotional support, while maintaining the consistency, safety, and stability that the best residential care settings can provide. Cairnara aims to provide bespoke, personalised care, helping young people thrive through stability and emotionally connected relationships.   

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© 2025 | Cairnara Ltd

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