Start with a conversation
Finding the right home starts with understanding the child and the care they need. Please get in touch to discuss a referral, ask about availability or talk through whether Nestra could offer the right support.
Nestra is pre-launch. No homes are open and no placements are available yet; we welcome early conversations about future needs.
What we’ll need from you
To help us make a thoughtful, informed decision, we’ll ask for:
- A completed Nestra referral form.
- Any current Deprivation of Liberty (DoL) order, where applicable.
- An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and PEPs, where applicable.
- Any relevant medical or psychological reports.
- The child’s current care plan.
- Details of family relationships, contact arrangements and any restrictions.
- Information about anyone who must not have contact with the child, including any relevant notices, court orders or safeguarding concerns.
- A conversation with someone who knows the child well.
That conversation matters. Alongside the paperwork, we want to understand the child’s personality, strengths, important relationships and what helps them feel safe.
Safeguarding is our priority. We must be made aware of any restrictions involving family members or other people, including who can visit, call, collect or receive information about the child. Clear information helps us protect the child while supporting the relationships that are safe and important to them.
If you’re working to a tight timescale or some information is still being gathered, please tell us when you get in touch. We’ll explain what we need to progress the referral and keep you informed throughout.
A welcome, whatever they arrive with
Children may arrive with very few belongings, or none at all. That should never leave them feeling embarrassed or less welcome.
Our referral form includes a section where you can tell us what the child has and what they need. If they are arriving without belongings, we’ll prepare a welcome package with clothing, toiletries and everyday essentials, shaped around the information you share.
We want each child to arrive knowing that someone has thought about them, prepared for them and is ready to care for them.
What you can expect from us
We’ll review the information carefully, discuss any questions with you and consider whether we can safely meet the child’s needs.
You can expect:
- A responsive, clear answer about whether we can offer a placement and the proposed timescale.
- A clear written offer, where we can help, setting out the care and support we would provide.
- A transparent cost breakdown, explaining what is included and any additional costs.
- Consistent communication, so you know where the referral stands and what happens next.
- Honesty and integrity, including being open about our limits if we cannot provide the care a child needs.
Planning the move together
Where a placement is agreed, we’ll work with you and the people who know the child to plan their arrival. We’ll confirm practical arrangements, understand family contact and safeguarding requirements, and make sure staff are ready to put the care plan into practice.
Our aim is for everyone to understand the plan, and for the child to receive a thoughtful, prepared welcome.