Background on redwood and Greenhill
TIMELINE.
We were originally told that families would soon have access to a new respite facility called Redwood, which was meant to provide much-needed short-break services for children with disabilities.
Unfortunately, Redwood was later repurposed into a children’s disability residential home, despite the assurances we had been given. This has left families without the respite provision we were led to believe would be available and has caused frustration and disappointment.
Below is a timeline of events showing what has happened since the first announcement, based on letters, meetings, and official responses from the Trust.
Redwood / Greenhill — Timeline
1) Letter to parents — 10 June 2024
Parents received a letter about the temporary move to (“Redwood”) and to invite parents to a meeting. It stated:
> “I am writing to update you with regard to the change of accommodation to Greenhill short break provision. As a Trust we have been given the opportunity to lease ( Redwood ) for 18 months. This is a much bigger home with a sizable, enclosed garden and will allow us to eventually open 4 beds per night when we are able to adequately staff it, and we are actively recruiting staff currently. We anticipate that this will happen quickly, with the intention of moving by the end of June 2024.”
Meeting at Lagan Valley Hospital — 14 June 2024
At this meeting, parents were told:
Up to 4 children could stay at one time or 2 children plus another child with greater needs at the same time.
Funding had already been spent on furniture for the house.
There was a fire safety barrier, but the Trust assured us they would resolve it (via risk assessment/mitigations).
Parents would be able to view the house before schools broke for summer.
First children would be staying by the end of June 2024.
We were told under no circumstances would Redwood be repurposed as a children’s home and that Barnardo’s had made this clear; this would be legally binding in the lease.
The following week, parents were brought to view Redwood.
No updates; discovery via media — February 2025
Months passed with no further information.
In February 2025, we learned via media that the Trust was recruiting staff for Redwood as a new 2-bed children’s disability residential home.
I contacted my sons social worker; this was the first she had heard of it.
Microsoft Teams meeting — 5 March 2025
We were told:
Redwood could not be used as a short-breaks unit because NIFRS said it could not operate as 4 beds (fire safety).
I contacted the NIFRS and there was no record of this phone call.
We were told a 4 bed in Greenhill was nearly over the line
Meeting on funding — 31 March 2025
We were told:
The 4-bed plan at Greenhill would not proceed until the Trust could show the service was running efficiently by operating two beds, 7 nights a week
Yet this directly contradicted what we were told in writing 2 years prior
> Letter dated 1 June 2023
“I wanted to let you know that we got the permanent funding for the staffing in Greenhill overnight short breaks service. Therefore, we now have the funding to go out and recruit a permanent team. I am sure you will appreciate that it will take a minimum of 3 to 4 months to go out and recruit the staff… The longer-term plan is that when we have the permanent staff team in place we will be opening Greenhill 7 nights per week. This is a very positive development for the Children’s Disability Service.”
FOI Response on Redwood dated 20th June 2025
The Trust later confirmed the following in response to an FOI:
“Barnardo’s had put Redwood to a high fire safety standard and, on initial viewing, it did seem very robust. Alongside the staffing model proposed (2 staff, one waking night and one sleep-in), it looked like it would meet the HTM 84 requirements.”
“On closer inspection by the Trust, it became clear that having children sleeping upstairs without a second staircase was not feasible unless each child had an individual waking night member of staff assigned to them, which was not financially viable.”
“The Trust then negotiated with Barnardo’s the terms of the potential lease to have a small two-bedded medium to long-term Children’s home.”
Senior Management did consult with Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) on 13/06/24, in relation to the risk assessment but their advice was that they couldn’t make recommendations pre-occupancy and that the Trust would be required to do this within legislation and under HTM84.”
It was explained on 31st March 2025 that the business case had been signed off at senior Trust level to release funding for staff recruitment, estate work, and rental costs pending the signing of the lease. The Trust stated this was part of a legal process that must be precisely negotiated and can take time to complete.”
* But this directly contradicts the letter parents received on 10 June 2024, which stated the Trust was “actively recruiting staff” for Redwood almost a year earlier *
“The final lease agreement has not yet been signed, but it’s nearing completion, and we anticipate having the signed lease by the end of June 2025.”
“Barnardo’s were happy with short breaks as it is their intention to take Redwood back in a few years. They are also happy to agree to our current Plan for Redwood, which is again only for a set period of 5 years.”
* Another contradiction the letter dated 10th June 2024 stated that barnardoes would lease Redwood for 18 months.
I hope this helps to explain the current situation - but also show why parents feel disappointed. Families have been given repeated assurances, yet very little has changed. From the first letter dated 1st June 2023 to now, there has been no meaningful progress, and in many ways things have become more difficult for those depending on these services.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
Please continue to share.
JH