Redwood
Let’s talk about Redwood.
Redwood Children’s Home in East Belfast is currently presented as a “new” service.
However, the building itself is not new — it was previously a 6-bed residential children’s home.
Trust Words
At the meeting on 14 June 2024, managment described it as
“a really fantastic facility… very spacious… in actual fact there’s 6 bedrooms but we can only open it under small homes… it has to be 4… that’s a regulatory thing from RQIA… there’s a very spacious, enclosed garden…”
It was also stated:
“there was a lot of competition… the Belfast Trust was looking for it… other parts of the South Eastern Trust were looking for it… we were lucky enough to get it and that means we will be able to eventually open 4 beds within that home”
What Was There Before?
Before Redwood, this site was known as Children’s House.
Operated by Barnardo’s in partnership with Health Trusts
A mainstream residential children’s home
Used for short-term placements before foster care
Registered for up to 6 children
This service later closed, leaving the building no longer in use.
What Changed?
Following the closure of the previous service, the building was repurposed by the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust:
Renamed Redwood Children’s Home
Re-registered as a Children’s Disability Residential Home
Presented publicly as a “new” service
Currently: restricted due to staffing
Location
Redwood is located in East Belfast — within the Belfast Trust area.
However, it is operated by the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust.
Recruitment vs Reality
In March 2025, the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust promoted Redwood as follows:
“The brand new, two bedded children’s residential space is set to open soon… Over 20 new job opportunities are available… Posts range from Managers to Support Workers.”
(Source: SEHSCT recruitment campaign, 2025)
Publicly advertised as a 2-bed service.
At a meeting with senior management on 31 March 2025, it was communicated that:
“posts had been fully filled”
Confirmed in the Northern Ireland Assembly
“Redwood Children’s Home, was issued with registration from RQIA during December 2025. The current registration allows for one placement to be used as a shared care arrangement. This will be revisited by RQIA when the home is fully staffed and internal works to the stair case are completed. The South Eastern Trust plans to have these works completed by the 22nd of February 2026 and to be fully staffed by the first week in March 2026.”
(AQW 39600/22-27)
This post is based on documented information, RQIA approval, recruitment activity, research, and direct communication.
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