towards - torbay · towards independence the idea throughout my life i have worked with young...

TowardsIndependence

This belongs to:

Young

pers

on

Introduction

© Irene Wolf 2008.

TowardsIndependence

contentsThe Idea ..............................................

Objectives and Aim .............................

Structure .............................................

Key ......................................................

Phase 1 Additions .............................................

Phase 2 Additions .............................................

Phase 3 Additions .............................................

Phase 4 The Essential List ................................

Information Checklist ...........................

TowardsIndependence

The IdeaThroughout my life I have worked with young people.

I have been responsible for them, involved in their

care, their holiday jobs and their education. I am also

a parent and believe it or not, was a teenager once

myself.

Carers know that being a teenager isn’t easy and

that being a teenager in care often feels twice as

hard. Sometimes you may simply feel that nobody

understands you and that everybody is on your case.

Life may appear to be going downhill rather than up.

Feeling this way can happen to us all regardless of

our circumstances. We wouldn’t have been normal

teenagers if it hadn’t but we can appreciate the extra

problems that you could be dealing with. Please

believe people when they say that you have so much

to look forward to in the future. Try telling yourself that

tomorrow will be the start of the rest of your life. Believe

that it is never too late to make a new beginning or to

make changes. You have now made a start in the right

direction.

Growing up is easier said than done. Then before you

know it, it will be time to move on from the type of

care that you have now. This may be a tough call too.

Moving on can be tough for most young people. So

how can your transition from care to independence be

made easier? From my own personal experience and

by observing many young people I believe that part of

the answer lies in the preparation of your life skills and this is what

you will be working on. By the time you are due to move on you

will feel that you can manage anything and everything that comes

your way with confidence and success. That’s the aim but it’s

entirely up to you. You will need to put some time and effort in,

in order to achieve this and you will also need to be honest with

yourself, truthful with others and acquire a realistic attitude.

GO FOr IT.

You have your carer/s and many other people around to give you

support and encouragement. They want you to succeed in your

chosen lifestyle and are there for you unconditionally so work

together throughout.

Just one thing, before you start. You are unique

and your needs are individual to you. You may find therefore that

some of the bullet points do not apply to you. Discuss this with

your carer and worker and maybe change them, delete them or

even add your own. You can be proud of yourself for recognising

your own needs and having an input into shaping your own future.

GOOD LUCK

TowardsIndependence

Objectives

Enhance

self respect

self esteem

self confidence

social skills

Promote

personal safety

a safe living environment

and sustain positive living habits

and manage personal responsibilities

positive attitudes towards the future

Aim

To prepare a young person to live and

flourish independently within the community

and to enjoy a happy, healthy lifestyle. The

young person will have acquired the skills

and knowledge necessary to create a safe

and secure living environment and be able

to adequately meet everyday needs. This

provides the essential base necessary for a

successful transition from care to independent

living and the future fulfilment of the young

persons potential.

TowardsIndependence

StructurePhase Age Timespan 1 13/14/15yrs SAT’s,GCSE1stYear

2 15/16yrs GCSEExamYear

3 16/17yrs ASYear/college/ employment

ALevelYear/college/ employment/ 4 17/18yrs furthereducation/ gapyear

Phase1Financial Skills (F)Kitchen Skills and Nutrition (K)Education (three sections to choose from) (E)Personal Skills and Health Issues (P)Household Skills (H)Communication (C)Additions

Phase2Financial Skills (F)Kitchen Skills and Nutrition (K)Education (three sections to choose from) (E)Personal Skills (P)Health Issues (B)Household Skills (H)Communication (C)Additions

Phase3Financial Skills (F)

Kitchen Skills (K)

Nutrition (N)

Education and Employment/Training (E) (J) (three sections to choose from)

Personal Skills (P)

Health Issues (B)

Household Skills (H)

Communication(C)

Towards Independence

Actions and Contigencies

Additions

Phase4Financial Skills (F)

Kitchen Skills and Nutrition (K)

Education and Employment/Training (E) (J) (three sections to choose from)

Personal Skills and Health Issues (P)

Household Skills (H)

Communication (C)

Interim Independence

Actions and Contigencies

Action Needed

Assessment

The Essential List

Information Checklist

Key

ActionNeeded

WorkingTowards

Achieved

PIF...........Personal Items File

ImpF....... Important Items File

LC/InF......Leaving Care/ ................ Independence File

EmpF......Employment File

AF...........Achievement File

J

K

L

4

?

x

TowardsIndependenceYoung

pers

on

Phase1

This belongs to:

© Irene Wolf 2008.

Phase

Financial Skills

1

JKLCode:

F1 Manageyourownpocketmoney.

F2 Manageanyactivitymoneyappropriately.Oops!

F3 Useextramoneyyougetappropriately.

F4 Beabletodiscussfundingforaspecifichobby.Ifyoudon’taskyoudon’tget.

F5 Makeyouressentialneedsknowne.g.equipmentforschool.Sorryipodsandjetskiswillhavetowait.

Phase

Kitchen Skills and Nutrition

1

JKLCode:

K1 Getintothehabitofwashingyourhandsbeforetouchingfood.Don’tgivewormsordiarrhoeaandsicknessachance.

K2 Makeyourownbreakfastmostofthetimee.g.toast/cereal/teaetc.

K3 Beabletomakesimplesnackse.g.sandwiches,beansontoast,scrambledegg,cheeseontoast,eggandbaconandheatupsoup(specialdietsandreligiousviewswillneedtobetakenintoaccount).JamieOliverhadtobeginsomewhere.

K4 Beabletomakeabalancedpackedlunchforschool/outings.

K5 Beinvolvedinsomehouseholdmealpreparationse.g.veg.preparation,layingthetable,stirringthegravy.

K6 Managethesimpleuseofthemicrowave.

K7 Beabletouseamanualtinopener.

K8 Beabletousevariouscanringpulls.Howmanydifferenttypesarethere?

K9 Beawareof‘sellandusebydates’informationandunderstanditsimportance.

K10 Getintothehabitofreturningperishableitemstothefridge/freezer.Bancheesymilk,souryoghurt,rancidmargandmingingmeatforever.

Phase

Kitchen Skills and Nutrition

1

JKLCode:

K11 Helpputthehouseholdfoodshopawayfromtimetotime.Morechildlabour.

K12 Beabletowashdishes/cutlerybyhand.

K13 Beabletowipeupdishesandreturnthemtothecorrectplace.Theymayhangaroundinthekitchenallday,lOSerS,butlearntoloveyourteatowels.

K14 Beabletoloadthedishwasher(ifapplicable).Nowthat’smorelikeit!

K15 Beabletowipeupyourownspillageshygienicallyandsafely.

K16 Arrangeforyourfoodtechingredients(forschool/college)tobeavailable.Watchoutyou’llprobablygetanearfulifyouaskforcoconutmilkthenightbefore.

K17 Discussfoodtechlessonsandbringbackthecooking(ifyouhaven’talreadyeatenit).Wewouldalllikeataste,well,maybe.

K18 Beabletosetupanironingboardandanironsafely.

K19 Beabletoironat-shirt-don’tmeltanyexpensivelogos.

K20 Beabletoputwasteinthecorrectbin.

Phase

Education (full time)

1

JKLCode:

e1 Pinupyourschooltimetableandhomeworktimes.

e2 Deviseahometimetableandplanyourhomework,revision,computer,freetimeandclubsetc.Thenpinitup.

e3 Produceyourhomeworkdiaryforsigning(ifapplicable).

e4 Becomeinvolvedinatleast1afterschoolorlunchtimeactivity.No,notthat!

e5 PinupyourSAT’stimetable.

e6 PinupyourIindividualtargets.

e7 AttendyourPePmeetings.PePstandsforPersonaleducationPlan.

e8 AttendtheOptionsMeetingforGCSe(ifapplicable).

e9 Bringlettersfromschooltotheattentionofyourcarer.They’renoteasytoreadafterthey’vebeenwashed.Youmightmissoutonsomethinggood.

e10 returnletterstoschoolontime.

Phase


1

JKLCode:

e11 Beawareofthepupilclinicsforhealthandadviceatschool.

e12 Discussworkatschoolandbeawareofanyadditionalhelpprovided.

e13 Askforhelpifneededregardingyourwork,bullyingoranyotherissues.

e14 Joinyourlocallibrary.It’snotjustforbookworms.Checkitout.

e15 Beawareofresourcematerialinthehouseholde.g.leisureFile,WhoCaresmagazine,books,magazines,TV,computer,newspapers.Usethemfromtimetotime.

e16 Beatschoolontime.

e17 Bringyourcarertothenoticeofanydetentionsatschool.

e18 Discusstheschoolresidentialtripswithyourcarerandsocialworker.

Phase


1

JKLCode:

e19 DiscusstheDukeofedinburgh(Dofe)schemewithyourteachers,carersandsocialworker.Thiscanbefun.YoumeetnewpeopleanditlooksgoodonyourCV(ThisisyourCurriculumVitae).YourCVbecomesveryimportantwhenyouareapplyingforcoursesorjobsinthefuture.

e20 Tryyourbesttoattendlocalauthorityandgovernmentruncoursesaimedatyouragegroupandespeciallythoseyouhavebeenpersonallyinvitedto.

e21 Begintocompileafileofpersonalachievement.Putallyourcertificatesandmeritsalongwithanoteofanycoursesyouhaveattendedintoaboxfile,folderorequivalentstorage.ThiswillbereferredtoasyourAchievementFileorAFforshort.

e22 WritedownyourSAT’sresultsandputthemintoyourAF.WellDONe.

e23 Writespecialdatesandtimesinthehouseholdorganiser/calendarthatneedtobesharedwithyourcarer.Don’tmissout.

Phase

Education (part time)

1

JKLCode:

e1 Pinupyourschooltimetableandhomeworktimes.

e2 Deviseahometimetableandplanyourhomework,revision,computer,freetimeandclubsetc.Thenpinitup.

e3 Pinupyourschool/collegetargets.

e4 AttendyourPePmeetings.PePstandsforPersonaleducationPlan.

e5 PinupyourSAT’stimetable.

e6 Attendanyothertargetsettingmeetingsatschool/college.Thesemayhelpyoutoplanyourworkinachievablesteps.

e7 Tryyourbesttobringlettersfromschool/collegetotheattentionofyourcarer.They’renoteasytoreadafterthey’vebeenwashed.Youmightmissoutonsomethinggood.

Phase


1

JKLCode:

e8 Tryyourbesttoreturnletterstoschool/collegeontime.Placesforsomeactivitiesfillupquickly.Youcouldmissout.

e9 Tryyourbesttobeatschool/collegeontime.

e10 Writespecialdatesandtimesinthehouseholdorganiser/calendarthatneedtobesharedwithyourcarer.Don’tmissout.

e11 Doyourbesttofollowtheschoolrules.

e12 Askforhelpifneededandfindoutaboutadditionalhelpavailable.Youwontbetheonlyone.

e13 Tryandjoinyourlocallibrary.Youcanaccessvideos,CD’sandacomputerbesidesreadingmaterialfromhere.Askyourcarertohelpyourememberreturndates.

Phase


1

JKLCode:

e14 JointheOasisproject(orsimilar)atyourlocallibrary.It’sworkingonyourcomputerskillsinafunway.Alternatively,joinadifferentcomputerskillscourseelsewhere.

e15 Beawareoftheresourcematerialinthehouseholde.g.leisureFile,WhoCaresmagazine,books,magazines,TV,computer,newspapers.Usethemfromtimetotime.

e16 Discussschoolresidentialtripswithyourcarerandsocialworker.

e17 DiscusstheDukeofedinburgh(Dofe)schemewithyourteachers,carerandsocialworker.Thiscanbefun.YoumeetnewpeopleanditlooksgoodonyourCV(thisisyourCurriculumVitae).YourCVbecomesveryimportantwhenyouareapplyingforothercoursesorjobsinthefuture.

e18 Begintocompileafileofpersonalachievement.Putallyourcertificatesandmeritsalongwithanoteofthecoursesyouhaveattendedintoaboxfile,folderorequivalentstorage.ThiswillbereferredtoasyourAchievementFileorAFforshort.

Phase


1

JKLCode:

e19 Tryyourbesttoattendlocalauthorityandgovernmentruncoursesaimedatyouragegroupandespeciallythoseyouhavebeenpersonallyinvitedto.WritetheminyourAF.

e20 Beawareofanypupilclinicsforhealthandadviceatschool/college.

e21 Dosomeregularexercise,e.g.swimming,jogging,football,tennis,athleticsetc.PHeW!

e22 Joinafitnessclubandattendregularlyorjoinaselfdefencecourseorasportscoursefromtimetotime.

e23 WritedownyouSAT’sresultsandputthemintoyouAF.WellDONe.

Phase

Education (Home based)

1

JKLCode:

e1 Pinupyourtutor’stimetable.

e2 Deviseahometimetabletoplantutortimes,homeworktimes,computertimesandfreetime.Thenpinitup.

e3 BeinvolvedinyourPePmeetings.PePstandsforPersonaleducationPlan.

e4 Beinvolvedinanytargetsetting/achievementplan/incentiveplanthatisspecificallyforyou.Bytakingpartinthisyouwillbebetterpreparedforyourfuture.

e5 Bereadyatthesettimeforyourtutor.

e6 Askforhelpwhenneeded.WellDONe.

e7 Joinyourlocallibrary.Youcanaccessvideos,CD’sandacomputerbesidesreadingmaterialfromhere.Askyourcarertohelpyourememberreturndates.

e8 JointheOasisproject(orsimilar)atyourlocallibrary.It’sworkingonyourcomputerskillsinafunway.Alternatively,joinadifferentcomputerskillscourseelsewhere.

Phase


1

JKLCode:

e9 Beawareoftheresourcematerialinthehouseholde.g.leisureFile,WhoCaresmagazine,books,magazines,TV,computer,newspapersetc.andusethemfromtimetotime.

e10 Dosomeregularexercise,e.g.swimming,jogging,football,tennisorathleticsetc.PHeW!

e11 Doyourbesttoenrollinsports/exercisecoursesonaregularbasis.

e12 Joinafitnessclubandattendregularlyorjoinaselfdefencecoursefromtimetotime.

e13 Tryyourbesttoattendlocalauthorityandgovernmentruncoursesaimedatyouragegroupandespeciallythoseyouhavebeenpersonallyinvitedto.WritetheminyourAF,(seee16).

Phase


1

JKLCode:

e14 PinupyourSATstimetable(ifapplicable)andbereadyontime.

e15 Writeanyspecialdatesandtimesinthehouseholdorganiser/calendarthatneedtobesharedwithyourcarer.Don’tmissout.

e16 Begintocompileafileofpersonalachievement.Putallyourcertificatesandmeritsalongwithanoteofanycoursesyouhaveattendedintoaboxfile,folderorequivalentstorage.ThiswillbereferredtoasyourAchievementFileorAFforshort.lateron,youmayneedtolistyourachievementsonyourCV.ThisisyourCurriculumVitaeandthisbecomesveryimportantwhenyouareapplyingforcoursesorjobsinthefuture.

e17 IfyouhavetakentheSAT’stestswritedowntheresultsandputtheminyourAF.WellDONe.

Phase

Personal Skills and Health Issues

1

JKLCode:

P1 Beabletoorganiseyourownroomandkeepitreasonablyteenagetidy.

P2 Putyourdirtyclothingintheappropriateplace.

P3 Beresponsibleforyourownbelongings.

P4 Prepareyourschoolbaganduniformdaily(ifapplicable).Watchoutforthoserottenbananasandtheglueonyoursweatshirt.

P5 Beabletoclean/maintainyourfootwearfromtimetotime.

P6 Beabletocleanyourschoolshoesweekly(ifapplicable).

P7 Beawareofyourappointmentsandbeavailable.

P8 Beconfidentusingpublictransportwithinthefamiliarlocalareae.g.toandfromschool/localtown.

P9 Whenyouarrangetomeetfamily/friendsataparticulartimeandplace,bethere.

P10 Beabletopackanovernightbagforyourself.

P11 Beabletopackaweekendbagforyourself.

P12 Begintotakeaninterestinpersonalhygieneproducts.Shoparound.lookforBOGOFoffers.

Phase


1

JKLCode:

P13 Bath/showerand/orwasheveryday.

P14 Beresponsibleforbrushingyourteethtwicedaily.SomeVictoriansusedtohavealltheirteethtakenoutasa21stBirthdaypresent.NOTNICe.

P15 Flushthetoiletafteruse.PleASe!

P16 Washyourhandsafterusingthetoilet/beforeeatingfood.

P17 Beawareofthetimesand/orfrequencyofmedication(ifapplicable).

P18 recognisethesigns,whenyouneedadoctor,dentistoropticianbetweenroutineappointments.Don’tgrinandbearit.Mentionanyconcernstoyourcarer.

Phase


1

JKLCode:

P19 Beawareoffamilyplanningclinics,sexualhealthclinicsandwellwomanclinicsetc.

P20 Beabletousepublictransportfurtherafielde.g.20milesaccompaniedorunaccompanied(withmonitoringe.g.mobilephonecontact).

P21 Takeaninterestinlocalteenagegroupsandactivities.

P22 Begintotakeaninterestinyourpersonalclothing/footweartomeetyourneeds.Oops!areyourfeetbeginningtoleavetheground?

P23 learnhowtosewonabuttonortrouserbarandhook.Backdowntoearthagain.

P24 Usetheappropriatesuncreamandbeawareofsunprotectione.g.sunglasses,hatandlongsleevesetc.Don’tgetburnttoacrisp.

P25 Begintoputyourpersonalthingse.g.photographs,letters,cardsetc.intoaboxfolderorotherequivalentstorage.ThiswillbereferredtoasyourPersonalItemsFileorPI.forshort.

P26 Ifyouarelikelytobegoingabroadwithyourschoolorcarersinthefutureyouwillneedapassport.Gettheballrollingnowandaskyourcarerandsocialworkertolookintoitforyou.BONVOYAGe!

P27 Askyourcarerandsocialworkerwhetheryouareuptodatewithyourvaccinations.

Phase

Household Skills

1

JKLCode:

H1 Beabletouseavacuumcleaner.Herewegoagain,morechildlabour.

H2 Beabletokeepyourownroomclean(vacuumedanddusted)occasionally.

H3 Beawareofhouseholddangerse.g.loosesockets/plugs,trailingcables,overloadedsockets,unattendedelectricalgoods,candles,knivesinwashingupbowls,disposalofbrokenglassetc.

H4 Beresponsibleforlockingyourownbedroomdoor(ifapplicable)andlookingafterthekey.

H5 Getintothehabitofswitchingoff/turningoffeverythingyouuse.

H6 Getintothehabitofreturningthingstothecorrectplaceafterpersonaluse.Thiswillsavealotoftimeandstress.

H7 Beabletochangeyourownbedfromtimetotimewhengiventhecleanbedding.

H8 Tryyourbesttoleavethecloakroom/bathroomasyoufoundit.

H9 Hangyourowntowel/sintheappropriateplacebetweenuses.

H10 Putfacecloth/sintheappropriateplacebetweenuses.

Phase

Communication

1

JKLCode:

C1 Beresponsibleforownmobilephone.

C2 BeawareofMOBIlePHONeFreeZONeS.

C3 Beabletokeepcreditonyourmobilephoneforemergenciesoressentialcalls.

C4 Beabletotakemessagesandpassthemonappropriately.

C5 Beabletoleavewrittenmessagesinanagreedplace.

C6 Tryyourbesttocontacttheappropriateperson/peopleifvenuesortimeschangefromthosearranged.

C7 Getintothehabitoftellingyourcarerwhereyouaregoing,whoyouarewithandwhenyouintendtobeback.Noworriesforyourcarerandasafetynetforyou.

Phase

Communication

1

JKLCode:

C8 Makeeveryefforttoletyourcarerknowifanyarrangementschangeduringyourtimeout.

C9 Writeappointments,specialoccasionsetc.,inthehouseholdorganiser/calendar.

C10 Knowsomeimportantphonenumbersoffbyheart.

C11 Beabletocontactyoursocialworkerindependently.

C12 TrytoattendyourClAmeetings.Youareallowedtogooutandcomebackinwhenyouchooseto.

C13 Trytounderstandthehouseholdrulesandboundaries,keeptheminmindanddoyourbesttolivewithinthem.

C14 Tryyourbesttomakeyourneedsknown.

C15 TryyourbesttocommunicatewithyourIndependentreviewingOfficer(IrO).

C16 Tryyourbesttoreadlettersaddressedtoyou.Somepeoplehavetoreadalettermanytimesinordertodealwiththeinformation.

C17 Tryyourbesttorespondtoletters/formsaddressedtoyou.Askforhelp...mostpeopledo.

C18 Knowhowtomakeanemergencycall.

C19 Knowhowtorespondwhilstmakinganemergencycalle.g.calmly,knowwhichserviceyouneed,knowyouraddressandtelephonenumber,knowwhereyouare,knowwhathashappened,listencarefullytoanyinstructionsandbeabletoaskwhattodointhemeantimewhileyouarewaitingforhelp.

Phase

Additions

1

Youcouldalreadybeaprettygoodcook.Youmayhavebeenusingpublictransportonyourownforages.GreAT.

Here’syourchancehowever,towriteafewbulletpointsofyourown.Youcanbuilduponthemlaterandgraduallyimproveyourspecificskillsandcapabilities.

Trynottomakethemtoohardtoachievebutnottooeasyeither.Thinkofsomethingthatyoufeelyoushouldandcouldbeabletodofairlysoonandgetstarted.

© Irene Wolf 2008.

towards - torbay · towards independence the idea throughout my life i have worked with young...

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