Statement of Purpose
INTRODUCTION
This Statement of Purpose has been designed in order to accurately describe
what is offered by The Home Hub Supported Living.
The Home Hub Supported Living supports young people at risk of social
exclusion. We make a difference in people lives through our services which
include residential support, community intervention and training by taking
a holistic approach and having a focus on the core values of being
non-judgmental, providing care and empathy.
Everyone is unique so we use tailored approaches in working with them so
they can feel safe, secure and inspired to lead fulfilling lives. We
believe that in order to offer an outstanding service, the needs of the
individual must lie at the heart of everything we do.
We work in collaboration with local authorities, families, health
authorities and educational establishments committed to their community,
which improves relationships, strengthens development and allows us to
adapt our work to the specific needs of each individual.
PRINCIPLES
Our principles are based on
• Quality of care
• Sincerity and openness
• Participation of young people in the design and delivery of services
• Contribution of young people in decisions which affect them individually
and collectively
• Networking, multi-agency collaboration and benchmarking best practices If
you would like to arrange a visit or find out more about the service, we
can offer please
email info@homehubsupportedliving.co.uk
OBJECTIVES
Our core aims and objectives are:
– Provide an environment in which young people can be encouraged to develop
physically, psychologically, intellectually and socially.
– Support young people in acquiring academic qualifications that would enable them to continue their education or undertake a career of their choice.
– Assist young people to maintain and establish positive relationships with his/her family, relevant adults and the community.
– Empower young people, by participating in group programmes at Home Hub
Supported Living, in order to enhance their self-esteem and social skills.
– Work in partnership with Placing Authorities and significant others to
develop programmes and plans for young people.
– Always promote the independence of young people and encourage them to
care for themselves
by offering a high level of emotional support and practical help in health
and educational/employment issues, cooking, budgeting and household tasks.
– Provide the maximum opportunity for each young person to mature as an
individual, to develop their personal identity and accept responsibility
for their own actions.
– Ensure that all staff receive ongoing training, support and guidance to
enable them to support the young people to the best of their ability.
– Ensure non-discriminatory practices in accordance with our Equal
Opportunities Policy.
We will deliver the above objectives aiming to encourage young people to
become well balanced, positive and productive members of our society whilst
working towards independence.
DELIVERY STRATEGY
The delivery strategy for our objectives are based on Service User and
Carer involvement by
Matching: Staff working closely, with the young people, are appropriately,
matched to maximise the quality, continuity and purposefulness of contact
time. Key workers will be allocated to each young person accordingly.
Purposeful activities: A structured day ensuring that our service users
attend all appointments,
and that they participate in independent living skills, life skills and
social skills
Progression and development system: The development strategies give
individuals clear boundaries and the opportunity to fulfil their maximum
potential. Changing behaviour is accomplished in a firm but nurturing way.
Care planning assessments: A highly detailed care planning system is
operated based on a thorough pre-placement assessment. As much information
as possible about our service users is gathered to ensure we understand why
the placement is being proposed, what the care needs are likely to be, and
the likely areas of challenge and work for staff. In this way, we can
develop with our service users agreed targets and be more specific about
the outcomes we want to see for them.
Regular updates: We provide the placing authority with interim and full
assessments of the progress being made based on the information gathered
from the professional services provided throughout our young people’s stay.
Environment and Facilities: Our premises are well designed and maintained.
An audit is carried out monthly and unforeseen damages repaired swiftly.
Our facilities are equipped for the delivery of good care in a working
environment that enables the safety for both staff and service users
OUR SERVICE
PURPOSE OF THE SERVICE
Our purpose at The Home Hub Supported Living is to provides 24 hour
semi-independent living and support services for young people aged 16-25
years, to ensure young people are able to develop and maintain respect,
self-reliance and self-care skills and enable them to make informed, age
appropriate decisions, concerning their present and future so they can
achieve a successful transition into independence and adulthood. Offering
both short- and long-term support and emergency placements.
Services offered will be based on an assessment of the young person’s needs
and be part of the pathway plan for the young person.
WHO WE PROVIDE SERVICES?
The young people we accommodate, and support have varying needs which may
include:
– Challenging Behaviour
– Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker
– Moderate learning disabilities
– Attention deficit disorder
– Autistic spectrum disorder (High functioning)
– Mild mental health issues
– Self-harming behaviours Low Level sexualised behaviour Attachment
disorders.
RESIDENTIAL SEMI-INDEPENDENCE
Our semi-independent homes are staffed 24-hours by members of our highly
trained team. The level of support provided is as required and in
consultation with the placing authority to meet individual needs,
especially for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities,
we provide 1:1 support 24 hours per day and waking night staffing.
Our staff team assesses and documents every aspect of the young person’s
daily living to establish their level of independence and what areas
require support to develop.
We also encourage and support our residents in accessing employment,
education and training. Key-working sessions will help young people build
up skills in areas that require extra provision until a safe level of
independence is achieved and young people can then be supported in the
transition to their own home. There is no timescale for when a young person
should be ready for his or her own home. This is done to ensure the young
person is ready and prepared before taking this major step in their lives.
Over this time, they will be set up with their own bank accounts, passport,
benefits and anything else
you would expect someone living independently to possess. When young people
are assessed as ready, staff will begin setting them up in their own homes.
This will be a slow transition from semi-independence to a home of their
choosing.
All young people will receive the support with:
– Hygiene routines
– Maintaining a clean and safe living environment
– Food preparation and healthy eating
– Food and grocery shopping and budgeting
– Joining and attending leisure and health activities
– Accessing and registering with health services
– Healthy relationships and safe sexual health
– Education, training or employment
– Reducing substance and alcohol abuse
– Safety and self-harm reduction
– Appropriate conduct and behaviours/
– Reduction of offending behaviour
– Managing emergencies
– Socialising and community integration
– Attending appointments
– Bill payments, banking, savings and money management
– Obtaining own accommodation and accessing a tenancy
– Joining the housing register and support with bidding for council
properties
– Self-esteem and confidence coaching.
REFERRALS AND ADMISSIONS
All referrals and enquires about our service can be made by phone calls or
email enquiries, where information can be sent, and discussions held with
management. We would usually like prospective young people to visit or be
visited to begin our own assessment and to talk through with them their
hopes and fears about the prospective placement.
We also hope the placing officer visit the house and local area prior to
admission.
All admissions comply with the Looked after Children procedures and we
encourage all professionals to be in attendant for planning meetings before
admission. The appropriate Looked after Children forms will be expected to
accompany our service users on admission so that key information is
available and appropriately recorded
The Home Hub Supported Living has been designed as a home that provides the
space to grow into an independent valued adult. The staff team provide
24-hour cover, for young people at The Home Hub Supported Living in a secure,
safe and well-maintained environment.
On admission our service users will review with their key worker the plans
for their placement and expectations of them at the unit. The key worker
should already have had contact with the service users and will have
explained the purpose of the unit.
All efforts will be made to make admissions to The Home Hub Supported Living as
planned as possible. It is particularly important that the agencies work
together to remain ‘child centred’ in planning admissions; however, we do
in some situations consider emergency admissions. Great care is taken to
assess any emergency referral to ensure the balance within the existing
group of residents is maintained.
If a referral is made and our service users being referred has been
‘tagged’ by order of the court, then a risk assessment must be in place
prior to the placement commencing to determine the risks and safety of
others before the placement begins. A Care / Placement planning meeting
should be arranged before or soon after the placement begins (within 72
hours) to ensure that a comprehensive care package is in place at the start
of the placement.
In cases where key information is not available at the time of referral
then a decision will be made to delay the admission
EMERGENCY PLACEMENTS
Emergency placements are those, which are arranged at short notice giving
less than forty-eight
(48) hours’ notice. The Home Hub Supported Living should receive a brief
synopsis of our service users behaviour and placement history; this should
be accompanied by a recent report either from the Social Worker or the last
placement. The Social Worker making the referral must also provide
The Home Hub Supported Living with the LAC forms ‘Essential Information part 1
& 2 as well as Placement Plan part 1 & 2. These forms should be
received on the day of the placement or within fortyeight (24- 48) hours of
the placement being made.
DISCHARGES
The plan for moving-on needs to be clear, soon after admission in terms of
time scales even though this may be some time away.
Our service users will a clear sense of planning for their future.
Our service users will be able to review with the staff and their key
worker the progress they have made and the steps they need to take to build
on this success. This will mostly appear in the care planning system.
Please Note – For comprehensive details of our Referral, Admission and
Discharge procedure please contact our placement team on
PLACEMENTS TEAM CONTACT DETAILS:
Or contact our placement team at: email: info@thehomehubsupportedliving.co.uk
STAFFING AND RECRUITMENT
There are enough numbers of skilled staff that meet the needs of service
users.
The staff works effectively as multi-disciplinary teams.
There is enough flexibility in staffing numbers to accommodate the
services’ changing needs.
Recruitment practice strives to maintain the full staffing complement.
We have a clear management structure that works effectively to support
services.
Throughout the year, The Home Hub Supported Living have placement training
sessions to provide a better service.
THE KEY WORKER
The key worker has a particular role to present the organisation ethos, to
our service users, to advocate on behalf of our service users, to assist in
details the carrying out of their care plan and to build a relationship
through intensive interaction with our service users.
The key worker has an important role as the focal point of information
being shared with the outside agencies and individuals concerned with our
service users. Directions to services needed are given by the keyworker.
They will also assist, where appropriate, in obtaining resources for our
service users to support their care plan.
The key worker prepares reports at the agreed level of frequency and
attends all meetings pertinent to the service users. All key workers have a
responsibility to keep the whole team fully up to speed in order to support
them in the detailed work required with young people.
THE TEAM APPROACH
It is recognised that it is vitally important that the team functions well
together. That challenging behaviour is too much for individuals to bear
solely and that it is only through the staff group operating as an
effective team that they can withstand the ‘acting out’ of the young
people.
The team holds regular meetings. This provides a powerful forum to provide
feedback and discuss strategies linked with care planning, reviews and
general updates.
The concept of a team incorporates those professionals, family members,
carers and others that are involved in caring for our service users – which
in turn increases the strength which can be found to work with difficult
and challenging young people
Each young person will have a key worker who will be available to work with
them throughout the day, and a manager will be on call 24hours.
There are normally two staff on duty throughout the day. The night is
covered by a support worker and an on-call manager. The young people will
have the phone number of the on call Manger available to them Twenty-four
(24) hours a day.
All staff will undergo checking and clearance with the Disclosure and
Barring Service (DBS) With checkable references carried out before they are
offered employment.
The staffing team offer a mixture of male and females who have skills to
cater for the complex needs of the young people. All staff go through an
induction process; we offer skills and knowledge enhancement training
regularly ensuring they are equipped to work with young people who may have
complex needs
The staffing team ensures that majority of the cultural, religious and
linguistic backgrounds of the young people are catered for. The staff work
towards empowering the young people so that they will be able to live
within the community with a sense of pride, sense of belonging and social
responsibility.
All new staff will receive supervision every two (2) weeks for the first
six (6) months of their employment from their Line Manager or other
designated person. Thereafter supervision will be held at least once a
month; records of these meetings will be kept detailing agreed action and
timescales. This should be in accordance with The Home Hub Supported Living
supervision policy.
All staff will be appraised within the first six (6) months of their
employment and annually thereafter. This is to assess with the member of
staff their development during their probationary period and then each year
thereafter. This will also identify how The Home Hub Supported Living can
support the staff member reaching their full potential. This will also be
reviewed during supervision.
The Home Hub Supported Living supports further training and development of each
care staff and are encouraged to undertake the NVQ Level 3 in Care. In
addition to staff undertaking nationally recognised / professional
qualifications in childcare, a rolling training programme is offered to all
staff covering childcare practices in line with legislative and health
& safety guidelines. All staff will receive training in acting as an
Appropriate Adult, First Aid, Notification of Incidents, Child Protection,
Health Promotion and Hygiene (including Food Hygiene), and Fire Safety.
All staff are trained via the in-house training programme which cover all
aspects of ‘Good Child
Care Practice’ in relation to Residential Care, Working with Young People
who display Challenging Behaviour, The Children At 1989 and the Care
Standards Act 2000, this in turn enhances the staffs overall development
and career potential.
The Home Hub Supported Living ensure that Children’s residential care workers
appointed all hold the Level 3 qualification or are undertaking the
qualification.
HEALTH PROMOTION
Each young person placed at The Home Hub Supported Living will be encouraged to
register with all health services. This will be part of their living skills
programme.
Health promotion is also undertaken by our care staff which endeavours to
develop and enhance the individual awareness of the different health care
services. Ensuring that they have a better understanding of issues relating
to health care promotion.
This is achieved through individual and group discussions such as key work
sessions, one to one discussion, residents’ meetings and through inviting
local and national specialist agencies to The Home Hub Supported Living to
discuss specific social and health related issues with the residents and
staff both individually and as a whole group.
If its recognised that a young person has issues that could affect healthy
development, individual referrals are made to specialist agencies so that
assessments and actions can be put in place that would support and help
overcome their presenting problem and / or dependency. This will be done in
partnership with their social worker
SMOKING:
At The Home Hub Supported Living we operate a non-smoking policy for staff and
young people.
SAFEGUARDING:
The Home Hub Supported Living recognises that an allegation of abuse made
against a member of staff may be made for a variety of reasons and that the
facts of the allegation may or may not be true. It is imperative that those
dealing with an allegation maintain an open mind and that investigations
are thorough.
The Home Hub Supported Living recognises that the Children Act 1989 states that
the welfare of the young person is the paramount concern. It also
recognises that hasty or ill-informed decisions in connection with a member
of staff can irreparably damage an individual’s reputation, confidence and
career.
Therefore, those dealing with such allegations within the organisation will
do so with sensitivity and will act in a careful, measured way.
Receiving an allegation
A member of staff who receives an allegation about another member of staff
should follow the guidelines for dealing with disclosure.
The allegation should be reported immediately to the Director, unless the
Director is the person against
whom the allegation is made, in which case the report should be made to the
Nominated Officer. The Director (or Nominated Officer if the allegation is
against the Director) should:
a) Obtain written details of the allegation from the person who received
it, that are signed and dated. The written details should be countersigned
and dated by the Director (or Nominated
Officer);
and
b) Record information about times, dates, locations and names of potential
witnesses. Initial assessment by the Director (or Nominated Officer)
The Director (or Nominated Officer) should make an initial assessment of
the allegation, consulting with the relevant local social services
department or agency as determined by local arrangements as appropriate.
Where the allegation is either a potential criminal act or indicates that
our service users has suffered, is suffering or is likely to suffer
significant harm, the matter should be reported immediately to the relevant
LSCB.
It is important that the Director (or Nominated Officer) does not
investigate the allegation. The initial assessment should be based on the
information received and is a decision whether or not the allegation
warrants further investigation.
The procedure in the event of any allegation of abuse or neglect:
(a) The Home Hub Supported Living will liaise and co-operate with any local
authority which is, or may be, making child protection enquiries in
relation to any child placed with The Home Hub Supported Living
(b) The Home Hub Supported Living will make prompt referral to the area
authority of any allegation of abuse or neglect affecting any child placed
with The Home Hub Supported Living
(c) The Home Hub Supported Living will notify the Director, manager and
relevant authorities of the instigation and outcome of any child protection
enquiries involving a child placed with The Home Hub Supported Living.
(d) The Home Hub Supported Living will keep written records of any allegation
of abuse or neglect, and of the action taken in response,
(e) The Home Hub Supported Living will consider the measures which may be
necessary to protect children placed within care homes following an
allegation of abuse or neglect.
ANTI-BULLYING:
The Home Hub Supported Living has a Anti Bullying policy, which should be read
in conjunction with the Safeguarding Policy.
The staff at The Home Hub Supported Living are aware that bullying can take
place when young people live in a group setting. The forms of bullying that
can take place are verbal teasing, physical threats or attacks, theft or
destruction of property, isolation and racism. The effects of bullying on
young people can cause emotional difficulties and relationship problems and
can lead to self harm and actual suicide. Staff will be supportive and
vigilant about vulnerable young peoples need to be protected, should the
problem of bullying arise. The staff will discuss in an open and frank
manner the issues of bullying with the young people.
The Home Hub Supported Living will not tolerate bullying, and when staff are
aware of this happening, our service users is given support and his/her
wishes taken into consideration. The Social Worker of the victim and the
perpetrator (if applicable) will be contacted and a meeting would be
arranged to discuss a way forward
It is made clear to the young people placed at The Home Hub Supported Living
that in the event of being bullied, they should tell someone. This could be
one of their peers, carers, Social Worker, or anyone they are comfortable
with. The disclosure will be dealt with sensitively and swiftly.
The Home Hub Supported Living also recognises that in some instances ‘the
victim’ often fears reprisals if they openly disclose to anyone that they
are being bullied. Therefore, the staff receive training on how to identify
behaviour, triggers and signs that could indicate that a young person is
being bullied or that someone is bullying at The Home Hub Supported Living.
In certain situations, The Home Hub Supported Living reserves the right to
immediately end placements of (the perpetrator) our service users(s) when
it has been disclosed that they are causing harm to or intimidating any
other young person placed in The Home Hub Supported Living. The Anti-Bullying
and Cyber bullying policy is available on request.
FIRE AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURE
All precautions are taken to ensure young people placed at Home Hub
Supported Living are aware of the dangers of fire. Smoke Detectors are
fitted throughout the house and there are fire extinguishers available.
Should any faults be discovered then they would be dealt with immediately.
The Home Hub Supported Living has one named officer, the Manager, but every
member of staff is trained in carrying out the necessary checks and dealing
with any potential problem.
The fire alarm system, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are checked
weekly and every month a fire drill is held. A qualified electrician for
any faults checks the system annually.
All young people are made aware of the procedure in case there is a fire
and instructions are displayed throughout the house. These instructions
include identifying the designated escape routes. Emergency fire procedures
are reminded on a regular basis at our service user’s meetings, especially
after an admission.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES:
If the building became unusable due to physical damage the young people and
staff would in the first instance.
Inform the on-call Manager
Assess the damage
If there is no possibility of returning to the building, we would plan for
the young people and staff on duty to stay in a hotel from our list of
emergency planning hotels
We would inform all the necessary people of the where the young people are
staying, and the actions taken to prevent/minimise any disruption to their
lives.
Once the building has been made safe and had the necessary checks have been
made young people and staff would return to the house
On admission to The Home Hub Supported Living each young person is shown around
the unit, the location of the fire panel and where the fire call points are
situated. They are also made aware of The Home Hub Supported Living’ Fire
Evacuation Procedures; this also applies to new members of staff.
FIRE ACTION PLAN
If you discover a FIRE or one is reported to you, raise the alarm by
location the nearest alarm point and breaking the glass.
On the alarm being raised
1. Leave the building by the nearest exit to the fire assembly point which
is the car park
2. Call fire brigade by telephone
a. Dial 999
b. Give operator the telephone number and ask for FIRE
c. When fire brigade replies give the message distinctly FIRE AT………
d. Do not replace the receiver until fire brigade has repeated the address.
3. Call the roll at the assembly point and also check for persons at the
place of safety, the back garden and report missing persons to the fire
warden or the fire brigade officer/controller.
DO NOT STOP TO COLLECT PERSONAL BELONGINGS
RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS
Religion is very important to The Home Hub Supported Living, and it is part of
the admission process to have as much information about our service users
religion, culture and first language.
Each young person is also encouraged to regularly visit their designated
place of worship locally and if needed a member of staff would escort them
to facilitate this. As part of each young person’s development it is also
part of The Home Hub Supported Living’ criteria to discuss difference both
individually and collectively with the group (at house meetings). This
enables the young people placed to identify with and respect cultural and
racial differences of others within a safe environment.
CULTURE
Culture is viewed as being essential to the development of the young people
being placed. A programme to cater for these needs in a positive manner, by
visits in the local community, obtaining books, arranging discussions, and
inviting speakers to The Home Hub Supported Living as well as identifying
positive role models.
The Home Hub Supported Living acknowledges and supports the celebration of all
cultures and religious observations. All young people are encouraged to
celebrate their cultural events both at The Home Hub Supported Living and
within the wider community. This allows the young people placed at Home Hub
Supported Living to remain ‘in touch’ with their cultural values, which in
turn ensures that they do not
lose sight of their cultural heritage.
CONTACT
Contact between young people and significant people in their lives is
always encouraged and there is space within the unit to allow this to take
place with an appropriate degree of privacy. To ensure that young people
have realistic and safe expectations about contact, we will expect to
discuss this in detail at the time of admission and agree arrangements for
contact that can then be regularly reviewed.
Refreshments are available to visitors.
Young people are encouraged to make friends and to bring those friends to
the unit; they will take responsibility for their visitors and not allow
them to invade another residents’ space. There are no sleep over for
guests. All guests are expected to leave the unit by 8.00PM.
All visitors to The Home Hub Supported Living are asked to identify themselves
to staff before entering and staff will always take steps to verify
visitors’ identity if in doubt. All visitors are required to sign the
visitors’ book on arrival and departure.
CARE AND CONTROL
Great care is taken to ensure that young people are helped to maintain a
positive and calm
environment. There is an emphasis on our service users reflecting on the
consequences of their actions.
The Home Hub Supported Living Policies and Procedures manual sets out clear
guidelines regarding the care and control of young people in our homes,
based on the requirements of the Department of Health guidance.
Within The Home Hub Supported Living we aim to control young people through
building relationships with them based on trust, created by consistent
practice, mutual respect and understanding. We understand that on occasions
young people will test the boundaries set by staff and that there will be
times when control moves outside the relationship and appropriate
reflections may be required to correct behaviour.
CURFEWS
All young people are expected to notify staff if they plan to stay away
from The Home Hub Supported Living for any period of time, this will be agreed
with the social worker.
The registered person may call for a placing authority to review a child’s
care plan where the child has been persistently absent from Home Hub
Supported Living, or if they consider them to be at risk of harm. The
police forces have a missing person’s coordinator, or someone performing
that role, whom may be prepared to advise homes on their “missing child
policy”
REPRESENTATION AND COMPLAINTS
On admission into the unit, each young person is given a copy of the “Young
Person’s Handbook” which has details of the “Young Person’s Complaints
Procedure” as well as other useful information relating to Home Hub
Supported Living. The “Handbook” will be discussed fully with our service
user to ensure that they have a full understanding of the house rules and
their rights to complain.
If a young person has any concerns / complaints about another young person,
The Home Hub Supported Living and / or the staff encourage them to voice their
opinions individually at
key work sessions, oneto-one discussions and or collectively during house
meetings. Young people are encouraged to complete a complaints form if they
want to make any complaint. All complaints are treated seriously and
sensitively in line with the child protection procedure.
The young people also have access to information on how to contact the
National Youth Advocacy on Free phone: 0808 808 1001
EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
At The Home Hub Supported Living we encourage young people to attend school and
we are committed to working in partnership with local authorities to obtain
an education placement for young people in our care. The Education
Department, schools, colleges and / or careers advice centres in the area
will be contacted soon after the placement begins at Home Hub Supported
Living, and an appointment would be made for our service users to attend a
local school or training centre.
In circumstances where a young person is attending mainstream school at the
time of admission, we make every effort to support them in maintaining
their attendance, including provision of staff time to accompany them and
collect them daily.
Where appropriate, young people over sixteen (16) years of age will be
encouraged to actively be seeking employment or further education if they
are not in full-time education. The Care Manager and allocated keyworker
will support this.
Staff support will also give support in helping in their interviewing
skills and other areas.
For those young people who do not have English as their first spoken
language, We work with local college that offer English courses and staff
also encourage the development of their language skill by speaking
frequently and slowly.
Education is viewed as being the way forward for young people, each young
person must have a
Personal Education Plan (PEP) which is devised by their Social Worker in
conjunction with our service users, school /college and Home Hub Supported
Living.
The Home Hub Supported Living work with colleges on vocational training in
subject which include –
customer service, business administration, retail, health & social care
and functional skills in Maths and English.
Aims of Top-Up Education:
To extend our service user’s general knowledge and practical abilities.
To provide each young person with a solid grounding in basic skills.
To develop our service user’s understanding of themselves and their
surroundings.
To stimulate the creative potential and enhance the cultural awareness of
every participating young person we accommodate.
SEMI–INDEPENDENCE TRAINING
Aims of Semi-Independence Training:
To provide a safe environment for the young people to learn and enhance
their skills and knowledge in preparation for them to live independently.
To develop our service user’s awareness about Government systems and
community services, so that they can represent themselves as and when
necessary.
To ensure our service users recognises and develops their social skills to
enable them to integrate into communities and society.
To develop our service users’ interpersonal skills so that they can make
and sustain friendships.
To enable our service users to acquire knowledge and skills in household
maintenance and money management.
To ensure our service users develops the necessary competencies with
regards to employment and further education.
The aim of the semi independence programme is to ensure that, as far as
possible young people are prepared for independence so that when they leave
residential establishments’ they are ready to take their place in the
community with a sense of pride and strength. The young people would then
be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to develop, socially
and emotionally thus making sure that they have a smooth transition to live
independently.
REVIEWS / RISK ASSESSMENTS / PLACEMENT PLANS
Reviews will be held in line with the looked after procedures and it is our
expectation that an initial review will take place within one week of the
service users being admitted. We will assess and plan practically and
effectively for the success of the placement.
In the case of emergency admission, a planning meeting will be arranged
within 72 hours of the service user’s arrival. Following this a further
review will be held at four weeks and regular reviews at appropriate
intervals throughout our service users’ stay.
The allocated key worker will attend all reviews and planning meetings held
at the unit and elsewhere. The key worker will prepare detailed reports for
these meetings in consultation with the staff team, the young person and
other relevant people.
Young people are encouraged to attend any meetings about themselves and
care will be taken to ensure that their views are taken into consideration
at all times. Where the young person does not feel physically able to
attend, staff will try and find some other way for the young person’s views
to be expressed.
Where it is the case that English is not the first language, then reports
and minutes of meetings will be translated into appropriate language so
that they are accessible, and an interpreter will be made available.
Our service users and where applicable family or persons with parental
responsibility and other agencies should be invited to the planning and
review meetings. The Care Plan / Placement Plan should be discussed and if
needed modified. Plans should be made clear to all present with the needs
and wishes of the young person being considered.
A risk assessment and placement plan must be in place at the time of
admission or within twenty-four (24) hours of admission. Taking into
consideration the presenting circumstances of the individual and those of
the group.
The risk assessment and placement plan should then be regularly reviewed as
the placement progresses to reflect the progression or digression made by
the Young Person during their placement at The Home Hub Supported Living.
WORKING WITH REFUGEES/ASYLUM SEEKERS
Another feature of The Home Hub Supported Living is working with Unaccompanied
Asylum Seekers and Refugees.
Paramount importance is placed on supporting young asylum seekers and young
refugees placed with us. It’s our duty to help them settle smoothly into
the British system without losing sight of their origins and cultural
values.
Based on the premise that knowledge is power, commitment is given to
ensuring that young people seeking asylum status in the UK are provided
with the support, information and advice that they rightly deserve. To that
end, comprehensive liaison work is carried out with the allocated Social
Worker of our service users, Solicitors and Panel Advisers from the Refugee
Council (where applicable). Also, every attempt is made to encourage the
tracing of and maintenance of contact with family members, relations and
friends of the young person both here in the UK and abroad, through liaison
with international agencies that are equipped to trace families in other
countries.
WORKING IN AN ANTI-DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE
The Home Hub Supported Living believes in empowering young people to enable
them to make choices in their lives, based upon informed choices. This is
achieved through using positive
role models and respecting diversity and reaffirming the strengths of
others in a positive and constructive manner. The staff’s awareness of
anti-discriminatory practices (equal opportunities) will be raised through
training and support.
Each young person’s care/placement plan is drawn up together with him or
her so that they have a sense of belonging and also take an active part in
their future plans.
The staff will ensure that the young people are made aware of their rights
through discussions and information sharing both on an individual basis and
in young peoples’ meetings.
SELF-HARMING BEHAVIOUR
We recognise that a young person may cause self-harm to him/herself. It is
vital that the staffing team are aware that this is often a ’cry for help’
and in some cases be a form of attention seeking. If it is suspected that a
young person is causing harm to himself or herself, action must be taken in
accordance with the Child Protection policy / procedure guidelines.
All staff must take self-harming behaviour seriously; staff are expected to
recognise changes in a young person’s behaviour, which may lead to
self-harm. These may be due to emotional and physical distress. Our service
users are given as much support and reassurance as possible to try and
protect them from causing any further harm to him/herself. The welfare of
the young person is of paramount importance.
DISABILITY
The design and layout of the building does not cater for the accommodation
of young people who have a physical disability. However, the staffing team
will receive training on Moving and Handling should the client group
change.
TAGGING SYSTEM
If a young person is admitted to The Home Hub Supported Living the Care Manager
should evaluate the implications that ‘tagging’ can have on the residents
group including the young person who has been ‘tagged’. This should be
covered in Staff Meetings and key work sessions of all the young people
placed at The Home Hub Supported Living.
A risk assessment must be in place prior to the placement commencing and
must be reviewed weekly and as agreed at the placement-planning meeting.
Any additional arrangements for our service users in question will be
discussed and agreed at the same meeting including the responsibilities of
each party involved with the overall care of our service users.
The decisions will be made, which should focus on the needs and welfare of
the service users including the support, implications of and effect that
the ‘tagging’ has on him / her, the staff and the whole group.
This should be read in conjunction with the Tagging Policy Guidelines
LEISURE / SPORTING ACTIVITIES
It has been recognised that hobbies / leisure / sporting activities plays
an integral part in the social and emotional development of young people.
Each young person placed at The Home Hub Supported Living is given the
opportunity to engage in activities of their choice. They are encouraged to
identify with a hobby / leisure / sporting activity outside of Home Hub
Supported Living to take part in, such as swimming, football, netball,
basketball, cricket, youth club, leisure centre, martial arts etc.
Group activities (both indoor and outdoor) are arranged at Home Hub
Supported Living for the young people to take part in; this enables the
staff to observe the young people’s social skills in a group situation both
in and outside of The Home Hub Supported Living. The staff’s observations are
then evaluated, and the findings would then form part of our service user’s
placement plan.
