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Riviera Retreat: ShortStay Therapeutic Home for Children and Young People (Ages 7–17)

A Place to Pause, Heal, and Thrive

Riviera Retreat is a 10 bed short stay children’s home based in Torquay, Devon, designed for children and young people aged 7–17 who require emergency, respite, or short term placements.
The home was created to provide a calm, restorative environment for children who need immediate safety and stability while longer term plans are developed. Every aspect of Riviera Retreat from its design and staffing to its daily routines is built around therapeutic structure, emotional safety, and empowerment. We understand that short stays are often born from crisis. That’s why our focus is on helping children regain control, rebuild trust, and reconnect with hope, even in the most uncertain moments of their lives.

Our Purpose

Riviera Retreat bridges the gap between crisis and stability. Our short stay model is designed to support local authorities and families by offering:
  • Emergency and crisis placements with immediate care and stability.
  • Short-term stays (up to 12 weeks) to support transition, reflection, and assessment.
  • Respite care for children and families in need of temporary relief or reset.
  • Assessment opportunities where children’s emotional, behavioural, and educational needs can be understood in a structured, therapeutic setting.
We focus on building understanding not labels and every stay is seen as a step toward a more permanent and positive future.

Our Environment

Riviera Retreat is intentionally designed to feel homely, not institutional. Set within a large detached property in the heart of Torbay, the home provides a balance of privacy, comfort, and connection.
Children have access to:
  • 10 beautifully furnished ensuite bedrooms, each designed to feel personal and safe.
  • Bright communal spaces that encourage connection and relaxation.
  • A wellbeing and reflection room for quiet time, therapy, or creative expression.
  • Education and skills room for learning, homework, and structured activities.
  • Games and recreation lounge to promote positive social interaction.
  • Outdoor space and garden area, offering a calm environment for reflection and play.
Every room is built to promote dignity, calmness, and belonging ensuring each child feels part of a safe and welcoming home from the moment they arrive.

Our Approach to Care

Riviera Retreat follows Kalo Living’s trauma informed care model, built on compassion, safety, and understanding.
Our approach is grounded in:
  • Trauma and attachment theory, helping children understand and manage their emotions.
  • Positive behaviour support, focusing on communication and consistency rather than punishment.
  • Therapeutic daily life, where healing happens through relationships, routines, and everyday interactions.
  • Individualised care planning, designed around each child’s strengths, goals, and needs.
  • Active reflection and review, helping children and professionals understand progress and challenges together.
We believe behaviour is a form of communication and that our role is to listen, interpret, and respond with empathy and structure.

Our Support Team

Our dedicated team of Residential Support Workers, Seniors, and Managers are trained in trauma informed care, safeguarding, and child development.
Every member of the team is handpicked not only for their experience but for their emotional intelligence, consistency, and compassion. Alongside our in house care team, we work closely with Kalo Living’s professional network,
which includes:
  • Child and Adolescent Therapists
  • Clinical Psychologists
  • Educational Consultants
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Family Support Practitioners
This integrated model ensures that each child’s emotional, behavioural, and educational needs are supported holistically.
We also offer access to 1:1 therapeutic sessions and reflective support when needed, helping children to express, process, and recover safely.

What Makes Riviera Retreat Different

  • We believe short stay care should be purposeful not just a pause.
  • Riviera Retreat offers a structured yet nurturing environment where children can: Feel safe and cared for immediately upon arrival.
  • Stabilise emotions through predictable routines and compassionate support.
  • Re-engage with education or learning through personalised daily structure.
  • Rebuild confidence and self worth, often lost through trauma or instability.
  • Transition successfully to longer term placements, family reunification, or foster care.
Our focus is always on the whole child their story, their safety, and their potential.

Partnership with
Local Authorities

Riviera Retreat works in close collaboration with local authorities, social workers, schools, and health professionals. We ensure all communication is transparent, timely, and child focused.
Our team provides detailed placement summaries, progress reports, and assessment feedback, helping local authorities make informed, confident decisions about a child’s next steps. We recognise that partnership is key to success and we take pride in being trusted as an extension of the professional team, not just a placement provider.

Our Outcomes

Riviera Retreat’s success is measured through:
  • Emotional stability reduction in crisis behaviours and improved coping strategies.
  • Engagement increased participation in education, therapy, or activities.
  • Connection development of positive relationships and communication skills.
  • Transition readiness clear understanding of next steps and what support is needed beyond placement.
Each child’s journey is unique, and we measure progress through reflection, feedback, and outcomes that matter not just paperwork.

Our Commitment

We promise every child who stays with us that they will be:
  • Safe, respected, and cared for.
  • Listened to their voice and choices will always matter.
  • Supported without judgement.
  • Encouraged to see their potential, no matter how short their stay.
Riviera Retreat exists to offer more than care it offers a moment of calm in chaos, a place to reconnect with safety, and a team that believes in each child’s ability to move forward.

Contact Us

For placement or referral enquiries, please contact:
Call – +44 5689 586
Email – support@kalo.com

“Short stays. Long term impact.”