We provide more than care – we create a sense of belonging.
Nestled in the East Sussex countryside, our outstanding homes offer children a safe, warm, and nurturing environment – a place they can truly call home.
Each child receives therapeutic, individualised care tailored to their unique needs and experiences. Mayfield House provides specialist care to children with learning disabilities, neurodevelopmental conditions and developmental trauma while Acre Farm provides a home for those who have experienced developmental trauma and attachment disruption .
With love and attachment at our core, we empower young people to heal, grow, and thrive.
“A place where memories are made and challenges overcome.” – PJL Healthcare’s vision
From meaningful connections to joyful shared experiences, our homes are spaces where children can overcome challenges and create lasting memories.
Whether at Mayfield House or Acre Farm, we are dedicated to empowering children to flourish, knowing they are surrounded by love, understanding, and a sense of family.
“Having a nice chat?” – Child living at Mayfield, 2006
PJL is a small company with a BIG heart.
The story of the home opening is one driven by love; a story of a committed group of people with a deep desire to stop the closure of a home and the children living there being uprooted.
In 2006, an emotional meeting took place, informing the team that the company was being sold and the children would be relocated.
Janis, an administrator at the time, vividly remembers a child peering through the window asking, “Having a nice chat?”. In that moment, she knew she had to ensure the children remained in their home. Her daughter, Leah, who had worked at Mayfield House since 1999 and is now a director, joined her in this mission.
Together with Paul, Janis and Lycia purchased the company in 2006, securing the children’s futures. Today, Janis & Paul continue the work they began decades ago; providing safe, loving homes for children.
…That child remained living at Mayfield House for a further 15 years!
“Relationships are the agents of change, and the most powerful therapy is human love.” – Dr Bruce Perry
We believe in the transformative power of relationships.
We understand that a child’s potential is shaped by the quality of the connections they make, which is why we prioritise trust, empathy, and love in all that we do.
Children in care deserve the same experiences and opportunities as any other child, free from stigma or limitation – which is why love is part of the deal at PJL!
All children deserve to benefit from the simple, yet profound, experiences that many of us take for granted – to feel loved.
Whether you’re a parent, social worker or looking to join our team, our FAQs provide answers to the most common questions about our homes, therapeutic support, referrals and the care we provide.
PJL provides care for children with a range of needs across both our homes. One of our homes supports children with learning disabilities (LD), offering a highly structured, nurturing environment that promotes independence and life skills.
Our other home supports children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, providing trauma-responsive care to children who have experienced relational and developmental trauma that helps children feel safe, understood, and able to make positive progress.
We are registered to look after children until the age of 18 years
All adults complete a thorough induction and ongoing professional development programme covering safeguarding, trauma-responsive practice, behaviour support, and therapeutic approaches (to name just a few). Every person who works at PJL is enrolled on the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare, delivered by our own in-house training department. In addition, staff take part in regular reflective clinical supervision and team debriefs, helping to maintain consistent, high-quality care for the children.
You can read more about our approach to training and staff development.
We believe in strong, collaborative relationships with families, social workers, schools, and other professionals involved in a child’s life. Open communication and shared planning ensure that everyone is working towards the same goal — helping the child feel safe, understood, and able to thrive.
Relationships are at the heart of everything we do at PJL — not only between adults and children, but also in how we work with everyone who plays a part in each child’s life. We recognise that genuine connection, respect, and trust form the foundation for positive outcomes, and we strive to build these relationships across every level of our practice.
All children living in PJL homes have access to therapeutic support, though the type and level of therapy is tailored to each individual’s needs. Every child’s care plan is developed in consultation with their placing authority and our leadership and therapy teams to ensure the right kind of support is in place.
We work closely with psychologists, therapists, and other specialists to embed therapeutic approaches into daily life – meaning that support isn’t limited to formal sessions, but also reflected in the care children receive every day.
You can read more about our therapeutic support.
Yes. All PJL homes are registered with Ofsted and operate in line with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations and the Quality Standards. Each home is inspected annually by Ofsted to ensure that the care, safeguarding, and support we provide meet the highest standards. Both our homes are rated as Outstanding and you can read our reports for Acre Farm and Mayfield House.
