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Gender
Mixed Gender
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Specialism
Specialist Mental Health
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Location
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Ages
12-18
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Type
Residential
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Capacity
22
A nurturing home-from-home environment.
Providing expert therapeutic support, education and care in a nurturing home-from-home environment.
Merida is a fully operational, 22-placement residential Specialist Mental Health Service (SMHS), designed to support young people with complex and ongoing mental health needs. Our site includes:
4 individual homes (each supporting up to 5 young people)
1 intermediate care home (supporting up to 2 young people for short-term stabilisation and assessment)
An on-site school and outdoor facilities for holistic development
Care That Builds Confidence, Trust, and Belonging
At Merida, our dedicated team provides more than just care - they offer connection, consistency, and hope. The strength of our service lies in the relationships we build with every young person who walks through our doors.
Meet Beverley Marshall, Manager of “Tiana”, one of our on-site residential homes at Merida, Beverley shares how our young people are supported and cared for every day.
It's about building strong relationships so families feel supported and know they can reach out. Supporting the children helps strengthen their bonds with their families, and the families' connection to them in return.
Beverley Marshall, Manager at Tiana, Mental Health Services
Meet Graham Adkins - Senior Practice Nurse at Merida
At Merida, building trust is central to everything we do. In this video, Graham reflects on how meaningful communication helped one young person begin to feel safe and supported within our community.
Our Vision and Values
Helping Young People Thrive, Not Just Survive
Our vision is to provide outstanding care in a home that feels safe, stable, and empowering. We aim to support young people in developing the academic, practical, and social tools they need to transition into healthy, independent adulthood.
Every care plan is adapted over time to reflect a young person's growth, with a strong focus on:
Individual progress
Relationship-based support
Long-term recovery and independence
Therapeutic Approach and Integrated Support
Through a robust assessment process, we identify young people who may not meet hospital admission criteria but still require a therapeutic environment to manage risk, build skills, and regulate emotions.
Our Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) works closely with each individual to create a personalised care plan and provide integrated therapeutic support, including:
Clinical therapy
Life skill development
Education and emotional support
Preparation for independence
We use the intermediate care home to stabilise high-risk behaviours and plan next steps - whether transitioning into one of our main homes or moving on to more suitable treatment pathways.
