Three homes, run by people who'll really get to know you
Rubicon is three small children’s homes, each with its own character and everyday rhythm. Familiar people, the same values and one consistent way of working across all three - so when you come to live with us, you’ll be properly known, understood and looked after.
established 2007
Years of experience supporting young people to thrive beyong their potential.
outstanding ofsted
Independent evidence of the standard of care across our homes.
One shared team
Familiar people, shared values and a joined-up approach across our houses.
PACE-LED PRACTICE
Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity & Empathy build lasting trust.
OT in everyday care
Sensory understanding, and practical strategies woven through daily life.
who we are
small on purpose.
people first
We’re not a chain. Rubicon is three homes, and being small is part of what makes us who we are. It means we can know you properly, the people making decisions know what’s going on, and the same values and way of working run through all three homes.
The houses don’t have grand names. They’ve got numbers, like any other house on any other street - because that’s what they are. Homes. Three front doors, three teams of familiar people and one consistent Rubicon approach.
And life here includes plenty of very ordinary things. There’s a kettle on, washing up to do, someone watching telly in the next room and probably a sofa cushion everyone wants. You’ll have your own bedroom, with shared spaces to cook, eat, relax and spend time together. There are beaches, parks and shops nearby too, with plenty to do when you want to get out and explore.
Being small means the adults around you have time to actually know you - not just your name or the things somebody has written about you. What makes you laugh. What winds you up. What you like for breakfast. What a good day looks like for you, and what might help on a difficult one.
our homes
3 doors. 3 kitchens.
One way of doing things.
Each Rubicon home is different. Different people, different personalities, different surroundings and its own everyday rhythm. What connects them is the way we care. We take time to get to know you properly, build relationships and create the consistency that helps you begin to feel settled.
no.32
herne bay
5 children
A larger Rubicon home with a long-standing team, plenty of personality and room to make yourself at home.
close to the sea
no.6
seaford
4 children
A home for four children close to the coast, with a big garden and a team with a wonderfully mixed collection of interests.
bright & airy
no.117
newhaven
2 children
A smaller, close-knit home for two children, with support to build confidence, everyday skills and independence.
close to the parks
more than just a place to live
You can decorate your own bedroom so you're happy in your own environment
no.32 resident
from day one
a space to be you.
a space to be at home.
team rubicon
our promise
What we promise to every young person who comes to live with us
We won't get everything right, all the time. No home does, no parent does, no team does. But these are the things we'll always try to do - and when we don't, we'll say so and try again.
We'll know you properly.
Not just your name and date of birth, but the actual things - what makes you laugh, what winds you up, what you like for breakfast, which films you can't watch because they make you sad. That's the job, and the team has time to do it because there are only ever five of you in each house.
We'll help when things are hard.
We won't try to fix things for you - that doesn't usually help. But we'll sit with you while you work them out, and we'll be there afterwards too. When something feels too big to sort out on your own, you won't have to.
We'll treat you with respect.
You get a say in how the house runs, how we treat you, and what happens next. Your voice matters in house meetings, in decisions about your room, in the small daily things and the bigger ones. You're not a number here. You're someone who matters.
living with us
Everyday life, with understanding underneath it
Life at Rubicon is made up of ordinary things: school or college, friends and family, favourite dinners, bike rides, gaming, cooking, music, beach days, appointments, films, trying something new, having your own space and having someone around when you need them.
You can keep the interests you already have, discover new ones and be involved in everyday decisions in the home - including the very important business of what everyone is eating.
There is also a reason we do things the way we do. Feeling safe is not only about where you live; it is about knowing the adults around you will listen, be consistent, try to understand what is happening for you and still be there after a difficult day.
Relationships sit at the heart of Rubicon’s care.
the rubicon way
relationships first
The relationship comes before the framework. We take time to build trust, stay consistent and be there through the ordinary days as well as the difficult ones.
known properly
A child is more than their history or the information written about them. We get to know the person - their strengths, interests, humour, relationships and what helps them feel understood.
always thinking
What works for one child may not work for another. Our teams stay curious, reflect on what they’re seeing and adapt as they learn more about the individual child.
Our Team
Just a few people you'll meet
Lou Ellis
Director and Occupational Therapist
Susie Pascoe
Associate Director & responsible person
Mark peters
head office Administrator
vicky
Education and Training Lead
still wondering about something?
If you’re coming to live with us, you might have lots of questions about what your new home will be like, who you’ll meet and what happens when you get here. You might also be wondering about the smaller things - whether you can bring your phone, what your room will look like, what happens at weekends, or whether anybody there will like the same things you do.
We’ve made this website for you too. You can meet the homes and the people, find out what everyday life can be like and get answers to some of those questions before you arrive.
what people say about rubicon
our approach
Relational, trauma-informed, properly considered.
Our approach is relational and trauma-informed, with therapeutic parenting and PACE embedded in everyday care. Relationships come first - creating the consistency, trust and emotional safety children need to feel understood and supported.
Care is built around the individual child, not the other way around. We look beyond behaviour to understand what may sit beneath it, adapting our response as we get to know each child, their experiences, strengths, needs and ways of communicating.
At Rubicon House, that culture and practice were recognised by Ofsted with an Outstanding judgement across all three inspection areas in February 2026. Inspectors highlighted exceptional progress, strong safeguarding, thoughtful transitions and a therapeutic approach embedded in everyday practice.
Where Being Known, Understood and
Cared For Changes What Comes Next.