Welcome to Step By Step Homes

A place where young people’s well-being and growth take central focus.

Who we are

Nurturing and supporting young people

At Step By Step Homes we are dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment for young people in need of care. Our team of compassionate professionals are committed to ensuring that every young person supported by us receives the care, attention, and opportunities they deserve.

We understand that each young person is unique, with their own strengths, challenges, and dreams. With this understanding, we tailor our approach to meet the individual needs of every young person, fostering their emotional, educational, and social development.

Fully trained staff

Our team are fully trained and experienced in working with young people in a therapeutic environment.

An open place to talk

We always encourage a clear and open dialogue with our team.

Dedicated to young people

We create a safe and therapeutic, nurturing space for all of our young people.

Our Mission Statement
Our Mission

Our mission at Step by Step Homes is to provide a nurturing and supportive environment where young people in need of care can thrive, heal, and reach their full potential.

We are dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive community where every young person is valued, respected, and empowered to develop their emotional, educational, and social well-being.

Through personalised care plans, therapeutic interventions, educational support, and a range of enriching activities, we strive to foster resilience, growth, and positive life outcomes for the young people in our homes.

We are committed to collaborating with families, professionals, and the wider community to create a holistic support system that ensures the best possible outcomes for the young people we support.

Our mission is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of these young people , providing them with the foundation and opportunities they need to thrive and succeed in their lives.

A place to grow

A place you can call home

Our care home is not just a place to live; it’s a place where lifelong connections are formed, bonds of friendship are nurtured, and memories are created. We strive to create a warm and inclusive community where young people feel valued, empowered, and supported in reaching their full potential.

Through our comprehensive range of services, including therapeutic interventions, educational support, recreational activities, and personalised care plans, we aim to create an environment where young people can heal, grow, and thrive.

We invite you to explore our website to learn more about the services we offer, our dedicated team, and the positive impact we have on the lives of young people  in our care.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Meet Our Team

Professional and experienced

Andrea Lewis-Coker

Independent Psychologist

Meet Andrea Lewis-Coker, a highly qualified Chartered Counselling Psychologist who graduated from the University of Wolverhampton in 2010. Andrea is committed to maintaining professional standards and is registered with the appropriate regulatory bodies, including the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) and the BPS (British Psychological Society).

With over 15 years of experience in Counselling and Psychology services, Andrea professional background includes providing support to children and young people in various settings such as Child Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), independent hospital-based environments, schools, and residential care homes. Additionally, Andrea has worked with adults facing a wide range of difficulties through Improving Access to Psychological Services (IAPT) and third sector organizations. Her expertise lies in working with children, young people, and families, and she has had the opportunity to assist looked after children in residential and foster care.

Andrea’s involvement with children’s residential homes across the UK has been profound. She has contributed to the development of a residential to fostering provision, offering assessments and support to young individuals and their staff teams in the areas of emotional well-being, behavioral needs, and community integration. During this time, Andrea addressed various issues such as social, emotional, and educational needs, trauma, complex parental mental health problems, safeguarding concerns, and organizational dynamics.

Currently, Andrea continues her impactful work through an independent private practice. She collaborates with residential children’s homes, educational institutions, the NHS (National Health Service), and independent healthcare organizations. In her role, Andrea provides clinical consultation to children’s residential homes, enabling staff members to work therapeutically with young individuals. While individual sessions may be appropriate in certain cases, the emphasis is on training and supporting staff to maximize the therapeutic support and interventions available to the young people in their care.

Andrea Lewis-Coker’s qualifications include a BSc (Hons) and an MSc in Psychology. As a dedicated professional, she is committed to providing quality care and support to her clients.

Lesley Hearne

Responsible Person

Lesley is an esteemed member of our team, bringing with her a wealth of expertise and a deep-rooted passion for social care. With over 30 years of experience, she has made a significant impact in the lives of countless children and young people. Lesley’s accomplishments include successfully managing her own care homes, offering valuable guidance to others in establishing their own care homes , and fulfilling roles as a Responsible Individual and a magistrate in family courts.

Throughout her career, Lesley has consistently demonstrated her unwavering dedication to the welfare and well-being of children and young people . Her commitment to their care is evident in her extensive network and the high regard she commands within the field. Always striving for improvement, Lesley actively seeks out innovative approaches to enhance the quality of care and support provided within her homes.

Lesley’s primary focus is on ensuring that the children and young people under her care have access to the best opportunities and experiences available. Her unwavering dedication and extensive knowledge makes her an invaluable asset to our team as we work together to create a nurturing and enriching environment for our young people.

Lesley has developed “chairing” skills and has led management teams in focusing on Safeguarding and Protection, Learning, development and workforce planning, commissioning, contract and agreement development. Lesley has strong experience around residential for children and young people with EBD, SEM and learning disabilities. Lesley has utilised her experience and knowledge of placement provision for Children Looked After in both community and institutional settings (including secure).

Our managers

All Managers are registered with Ofsted and we take pride in ensuring that they are highly qualified, skilled knowledgeable and experienced in working with children and young people withing therapeutic residential homes.
Debra Wowra

Registered manager

Debra has worked with children and young people in therapeutic residential settings for over 20 years. Debra brings with her a wide range of skills and knowledge that supports both the young people in her care and also her staff teams. Debra’s homes have received both GOOD and OUTSTANDING with Ofsted.
Stephen Doherty

Registered Manager

Stephen has worked with children and young people in therapeutic residential settings for over 8 years. Stephen started out his residential journey working as a residential support worker and has gradually built his skills knowledge and qualification that have supported him in further roles as a team leader and now Registered manager. Stephens homes have also received GOOD and OUTSTANDING with Ofsted
All our staff have continuous training to the highest standards to help support them within their career so they can help us offer the best environment, support, and care possible for our young people. Staff are trained in the PACE/Kim Goldings model of therapeutic care to help support our young people.