13–15
Age range
Mixed-gender at admission. Capacity for ages already placed will be considered as part of group fit.
For Placing Teams
How to Make a Referral
Lunar Care accepts placements through local authorities. Every referral is reviewed by the Registered Manager against the cohort, group dynamic, and the home's care model — and we'll be transparent if we don't think we're the right fit.
Scroll
The Home
What You're Referring Into
The headline parameters of the home — the things that determine whether a referral is even worth proceeding with.
4+1
Maximum capacity
Up to four young people in the main house and one in the self-contained annex next door.
EBD / ASC / LD
Cohort focus
Emotional and behavioural difficulties, autism spectrum condition, and learning disabilities — assessed individually.
Who Lunar Care Is Designed For
Use this as a first-pass guide before sending paperwork through. Borderline cases are welcome — but we're upfront when something isn't a fit, rather than trying to make it work.
Often a Good Fit
- Young people aged 13–15 with EBD, autism spectrum condition, or learning disabilities.
- Those who would benefit from small group living, consistent staff, and clear routines.
- Local authority placements where keeping the young person in or near the London Borough of Enfield protects family and school connections.
- Young people for whom the lower-stimulation annex might better fit individual need.
May Not Be Suitable When
- The young person is outside the 13–15 age range at admission.
- Secure accommodation under a court order is required.
- There is a high and unmanaged risk of serious violence or persistent high-risk offending.
- Acute clinical or psychiatric inpatient intervention is the primary need.
The Process
The Admissions Process
Four stages, with the Registered Manager as the single point of contact throughout.
Step 01
Send the Referral
Email referral documentation, current care plan, risk assessments, and any relevant education and health information to our referrals inbox.
Step 02
Matching Review
The Registered Manager reviews the referral against the cohort, the existing group, and the home's care model. We may request additional information before responding.
Step 03
Visit and Transition Plan
Where appropriate, the young person visits the home, meets staff, and a clear transition plan is agreed with the placing authority before move-in.
Step 04
Settling and Review
Increased support and monitoring through the early period, with care planning, behaviour support planning, PEP, and health appointments activated from week one.
What to Send
Information We Need to Make a Decision
The earlier we can see a complete picture, the faster and more honestly we can respond. If something is missing, we'll ask — but a fuller pack speeds everything up.
- 01 Current care plan and pathway plan.
- 02 Up-to-date risk assessment, including any history of self-harm, exploitation, missing-from-care, violence, or fire-setting.
- 03 Recent chronology and key social work case summary.
- 04 Education plan (PEP, EHCP, statement of SEN if relevant).
- 05 Health information — physical, mental, sexual, and emotional health needs and any current treatment.
- 06 Family and contact arrangements, plus any safeguarding considerations attached to contact.
- 07 Any relevant court orders, restraining orders, or legal status notes.
Send a Referral
Talk to the Registered Manager.
Referrals come through one inbox so nothing gets missed. Out-of-hours and urgent placement enquiries should be flagged in the subject line — we'll respond as soon as the on-call line picks up.
Referrals inbox: referrals@lunarcarehomes.co.uk
Questions
Referrals FAQs
Common questions from social workers, commissioning teams, and placement officers.
Q. Do you accept emergency placements?
We can consider emergency placements where the young person clearly fits the cohort and where the existing group dynamic can absorb a less-planned arrival. We'll always try to do at least a brief telephone matching conversation before agreeing — even in emergencies, mismatches do nobody any favours.
Q. What's your typical turnaround on a referral response?
Within one working day to acknowledge the referral, and within a further 48 hours to give an indicative yes or no — sometimes faster. Final agreement always depends on the matching conversation and any visit/transition plan.
Q. Will you decline a referral?
Yes — when the young person is outside the cohort, when the group fit isn't right, or when we can't safely meet the assessed need. We'd rather say no upfront than agree a placement that breaks down.
Q. How are placements priced?
We work to a published fee structure with band variations based on assessed need and any additional support requirements. The Registered Manager can discuss this once a referral is in active matching review.
Q. Can the young person visit before agreeing the placement?
Wherever practically possible, yes. Visits help everyone — the young person, the existing group, and the staff team. For emergency placements, we'll do whatever planned introduction is feasible in the time available.