Preparation forindependence

Ofsted inspection 2012

Ofsted Inspections in preparing young people for independence.

Ofsted are now focussing within the new Framework for Inspection that young people make excellent progress when in a Children’s Home. Beeston View was evaluated and graded under the following headings:

• Overalleffectiveness• Outcomesforchildrenandyoungpeople• Qualityofcare• Safeguardingchildrenandyoungpeople• Leadershipandmanagement

At GBA Care’s latest inspection in August 2012, the home achieved an overall “Outstanding” Judgement.

WithinthereviewedOfstedEvaluationScheduleandGradeDescriptorsthatwereintroduced from April 2012, it is paramount that the young people’s life skills, independence and preparation for adulthood is promoted and can be demonstrated within day to day practice.

Here are some areas in the current evaluation schedule which Ofsted want Children’s Homes to achieve in relation to young people preparing for independence:

• Effectivepreparationforasuccessfultransitiontoindependenceand adulthood.

• Developmentofapositiveselfview,abilitytoformandsustainattachments, emotional resilience, knowledge and understanding of their background, andconfidenceintheirskills.

• Theeffectivenesswithwhichthehomeprovidespersonalised,wellplanned care taking full account of the individual needs of each child and young person, and promoting positive outcomes for all children and young people.

• Childrenandyoungpeopleareconfident,asappropriatetotheirageand understanding about their readiness for independence and adult life. • LeadersandManagersroutinelymakegooduseofarangeofrigorous monitoring activities relating to the quality of care provided and improving outcomes for children and young people.

• Staffbuildexceptionallyeffectivepartnershipswithexternalagenciesand social work services and consistently and effectively challenge any shortfall in partner organisation delivery to ensure that children receive the support that they need.

Key Principles

Our overall purpose is to provide a safe and empowering environment for young people to learn to live independently and to move to an appropriate semi supported or unsupported independent living environment when they are ready. Theadvantagewiththisprovisionwillbetheconnectionfromlivingwithinourresidentialhometomovingintoaseparateself-containedflat.Thiswilleliminatethe gap that a lot of young people have to face, from moving straight from residential to unsupported independent living. Also, GBA Care takes into account their needs and assists them to:

• Achieveeconomicwell-being.• Enjoyandachieve.• Behealthy.• Staysafe.• Makeapositivecontribution.

ThisisaservicethatcurrentprofessionalsarerequiringandafterconsultationwithvariousLeavingCareTeam’stheyaremajoradvocatesforthistypeofprojectandin great support of it going ahead.

Theyfeelthereisagapandneed,andthattherearen’tenoughprovisionsfor16+that help them live independently, yet help them emotionally and educationally. Theyfeelthatthecurrentoutreachconductedbylocalauthoritiesisn’tadequate,andisextremelylimited.Theadvantagetoourprojectisthecontinuitythechildrenwillhave,andtheemotionalattachment.Thereforebeingabletoachievewhilstlearning how to live independently – successfully.

Outcomes

We will endeavour to maximise and achieve our outcomes, by supporting and helping the young people in our care.

Therewillonlybeoneyoungpersonatanyonetimeontheprogramme on the “Preparation for Independence Programme”.Thiswillallowthecareteamtofocustheirfull support in achieving the best outcomes for the young person.Thiswillenablethemtocontinueas“GoodTenants”whilst supporting them in achieving and maximising their current education, further education, training or employment.

•WhereverpossibleweaimtohelpandsupportyoungpeopletomakethetransitiontosemisupportedorIndependentLiving.

•Toprovidelonger-termsupportforyoungpeopletomakethemreadyandabletomoveontoliveindependently, keeping the emotional connection with staff at GBA Care, as they will have previously lived within the residential side.

•Weaimtohelpyoungpeopleachievetheirfullpotentialinrelationtoallaspectsanddimensionsoftheirlives.

•Weprovideastructured,stimulating,caringandsafeenvironmentthatisfreefromanyprejudicesandwhichoffers young people the opportunity to be listened to and express their wishes, needs and feelings.

•Weaimtoencourageapositivesenseofself-imagethroughrespondingtoyoungpeople’sindividualitybytreating them with dignity and focusing on and reinforcing positive behaviour.

•Tosupporttheyoungperson’seducationalneeds,inordertoensuremaximumeducationalattainment.

•Wemaintainandsupportyoungpeopleinpromotinganddevelopingtheirhealthanddevelopmentalneedsinorder that they can develop to their full potential.

•Wewillaimtomaintainandstrengthenanylinkstheyoungpeoplemayhavewiththecommunity.

•Weaimtoworkwithyoungpeopleandallothersignificantpartnerstoachievethebestpossibleoutcomesfor young people.

•ToworkwithLocalAuthorities,SchoolsandColleges,PathwaysTeams,Employersandallapplicableprofessionals.

•Toseekappropriatepartnerstoprovideaseamlesstransitiontoindependentliving.Liaisingwithappropriateaccommodation providers in seeking suitable housing, on leaving GBA Care’s preparation for independence programme, as part of an exit/move on plan.

•Toassistintheformulationofanexit/moveonplan.Assessingtheachievementsofeachyoungperson,theircurrent and future needs and any support still required.

Aims & Objectives

Contents & layout of the GBA Care Studio Room

Placing Authorities will also have an option of placing young people in GBA Care’s “Preparation for Independence Programme”.

At the point of referral this programme can be discussed with the homes manager if deemed appropriate, based on the information given by the placing authority. Only one young person at any one time can be placed onto the programme at the home. All young people coming onto the Preparation for Independence Programme will move to the home in a planned way, and will be 15 ½ years or older.

TheYoungPerson’sPersonPreparationAssessmentToolwillcover:

• MoneyManagement• FoodManagement• PersonalAppearanceandHygiene• Health• Housekeeping• Accommodation• Travel/Transport• EducationPlanning• SkillsFindingaJob• SkillKeepingaJob• Emergency/SafetySkills• KnowledgeofCommunityResources• InterpersonalSkill’s• LegalSkills• PregnancyPrevention/Parenting/ChildCare

Theyoungpersonwouldinitiallybeplacedwithinthemainbedroomsonthe1stfloorofthehome.Thiswillassistinestablishingrelationsipswiththecareteamandother young people at the home. Within this period, the young person will need to engagefullywiththeIndependenceAssessmentTool.

OncetheAssessmentTooliscomplete,areportwillbecompiledwithrecommendations.ThiswillidentifyiftheyoungpersonissuitableandabletoliveintheStudioRoomsuccessfully.ThiswillthensupportthesocialworkerinordertoimplementthefirstorreviewedPathwaysPlan,withinthestatutorytimescales.If the young person is suitable to live in the studio, this will be discussed and agreedattheyoungperson’s20WorkingDayReview.Withinthereviewallagencies involved will discuss and identify the level of support and independence theyoungpersonshouldbeprovidedwith.Theyoungpersoncanstillbeprovidedwith the same level of support when living in the studio and will remain assigned to thesameKeyWorker.

In the studio room, they will receive a weekly allowance which is to run on 3 stages. • Stage 1(BasicAllowancetocoverPocketMoney,PublicTransport)

•Stage 2(AllowancetocoverPocketMoney,Housekeeping,PublicTransport) • Stage 3(AllowancetocoverPocketMoney,PersonalRequisites,HousekeepingPublicTransport,Clothing)

Support & preparation for movingon

If the young person is approaching 18 years of age and is preparing to move into a more advanced level of independence the home will fully support this.

Movingonto:

• SupportedLiving

• SemiIndependence

• SupportedTenancy

• OwnTenancy

When a young person moves on from the home into further independence, the careteamwillensurethattheyoungpersonisbestprepared.ThehomecanalsoofferOutreachSupportattherequestofthePlacingAuthority,toensurethat the young person’s transition is supported to ensure they have the best possible outcome.

Progression Stages Progression Stage 1

•Alladmissionsareplanned•Degreeofindependenceawayfromthehometobediscussedatplanningmeetingandoutlineintheyoung person Care Plan/Pathway Plan and Placement Plan •DesignatedKeyWorkerfromthedayofadmission•WillstillbeonStage1ofweeklyallowance•Willbeginlivingwithinthehomeforfirst28workingdaystoundertakepreparationforindependenceassessment(Recommendationforthefuturetobemadeatthe20workingdayreview)•24/7xhoursofindividualsupport•WeeklyReportsonprogress•3hrsperday(e.g.4pm–7pm)-workingonthepreparationforindependenceassessmenttool•Toprepareincreatingarealisticlivingenvironment•Supportdailywithbudgeting •Support3timesaweekwithhousekeepingskillsandshopping•Support/encouragementdailywitheducation,furthereducation,trainingoremployment•Supportwithcookingandmenuchoices•Emotionalandwellbeingsupport•Weeklybudgetsupportonallareasoftheirpotentialfinancialbudget.•Educationtopup’swillbeavailablesubjecttobeingineducation•Support/encouragementwithhealthappointments•Support/encouragementwithfamilycommitments/arrangements•Supportinginchoosingadditionalfurniturefortheiraccommodation•Weekly1:1workwithstafftoaddressareasofconcern•Supportingcontactwhererequired

Progression Stage 2

•StatutoryReviewtotakeplacebeforetheyoungpersonmovesintothestudioandallinvolvedworking agencies should agree to the plan•WillbeonStage2or3ofweeklyallowances•TheyoungpersonwillcontinuetobeassignedtothesameKeyWorker•Managerwillensureonceadecisionismadethattheyoungpersonismoveintothestudioafull risk assessment around this is undertaken and agreed by all working agencies •Theyoungpersonwillneedtosignaworkingagreementthatwilloutlinetherulesandboundaries when living in the studio. •NootheryoungpeoplewithinthehomewillbeabletohaveaccesstotheStudio•WillhavefulluseoftheStudioRoom,thatofferstheirownkitchen,bathroom,diningandbedroomalongwithallfixturesandfurnishingtopromoteindependence•Willnowbelivingwithinthestudioroom•24/7xhoursofindividualsupport(basedonneedsassessment)•Willstillhaveaccesstothemainpartofthehomebetween(basedonneedsassessment•7xhoursof1:1supportperweek(Monday–Sunday)–with24/7supportandguidance•Creatingarealisticlivingenvironment•WeeklybudgetgivenonMondays–(BudgetplanswillbepreparedwiththecareteamoneachFriday)•Weekly1:1workwithstafftoaddressareasofconcern•Educationtopup’swillbeavailablesubjecttobeingineducation•Furniturefortheiraccommodationifadditionalfurnitureneedsbepurchased•Emotionalsupport•Supportwithcontactwhererequired

Outreach Support and our Consultation with Professionals

Councilsareofferingcommunallivinginhouseswithothersofupto4/8residents,whichisn’t dissimilar to residential. It doesn’t though promote independence in a positive way, and doesn’t cater for young people leaving residential due to having limited outreach workers throughleavingcare.Theyarealsonotoncall24/7.Theydon’thelp/supportinkeyareas.Youngpeoplearelefttofendforthemselves.Often,failing,duetonottrustingintheirnewworker.

Councils also offer private housing, which involves going on the housing list for the local councilandapplyingforatenancy.Youngpeopleneedhelpandsupportwiththisandalsowhentheyhaveahouse/flat/tenancy.Thisisaservicewecanhelpwithaswewillensurethe transition in to their own tenancy is smooth, and they feel reassured and most importantly they are not alone.

Also, it can take up to 12 months to obtain a tenancy through this process.

Leavingcareteamscangettenanciesforyoungpeople,yetthisleavestheyoungpersonmovingfromresidentialtotheirownindependentflat,withonlyoutreachworkersconductingupto15hoursperweek–whichisrarelyachieved.TheyhavetousetheirownLeavingCareGranttofurnishit,whichregularlydiminishesbythetimetheyare18yearsold, having to replace items regularly.

Progression Stage 2

The service can offer an extended support service to the young people’s transition into their own tenancies which includes fulfilling the role as the significant person for the young person.

This service can include routine wake calls and reminders, weekend call-ins, supporting contacts and the team’s knowledge and experience of knowing the young person. This service has a standard set cost of £15 per hour with minimum contact based at 5 x hours per week or maximum at 15 x hours per week.

We genuinely believe there is a massive gap within the supported needed to support LookedAfterChildrenbetweentheAgesof16to18.Wehaveconsultedvariousprofessionals and they fully support this debate.

Theybelievethataserviceofthistypeofprojectwillberewardingandviableandisaservice they would use. We have spoken with other care professionals and again they reiterate this view, stating that they are constantly looking to providing children and young people’s outcomes and futures, to ensure young people are are fully equipped for successful independent living.

www.gbacare.com

2nd Floor Brian Royd MillsSaddleworth Rd, GreetlandHalifax, West YorkshireHX4 8NF

01422 822898