Achieving Economic Well-being

We will manage a young person’s person finances such as their weekly personal allowance by helping them to budget, supporting them in claiming and receiving any benefits and entitlements they may be applying for, assisting with applying for bursaries and grants, supporting them with food and clothes shopping and opening bank accounts and giving general advice around the expenses of future household bills that they will be expected to pay when they become fully independent.

Be Healthy

We will ensure early identification and appropriate action in the event of a young person’s ill health and support the young present take the treatment prescribed, liaising where appropriate with their social worker and those with parental rights. We will keep a record of their health, their treatment medication and administration, and their development.

Vaccination, immunisation and screening for vision and hearing shall be undertaken in accordance with medical advice. Well will contact their doctor’s and dentist’s surgeries for checkups or arrange a transfer to a closer surgery should this be required. We will work towards the following outcomes, to achieve good physical, emotional, mental and sexual health, to have a healthy lifestyle and have access to information about health issues that allows them to make informed choices as they move to independence.

Stay Safe

The aim is to provide a physically and emotionally safe environment with appropriate support from a network of other agencies and organisations to meet their individual needs. We have supported young people with referrals to NYAS who provide advocacy advice and some peer mentoring, the Princes Trust programmes who provide a nurturing 12 week programme that benefits them in many aspects of life, the mental health team who can support young people who are having problems such as depression or self harm, Connect who provide sexual health screening an counselling, Connexions who provide support with applications for employment or education, and the Awaken team who can provide advice and support to a young person who may be experiencing sexual exploitation.

Making a Positive Contribution

We aim to engage our residents with weekly key working sessions, cook and eat nights, dvd and film nights and other practical sessions that they may not have experienced previously. We encourage participation in the local community such as volunteering with a charity to raise funds or work experience in a charity shop. By making decisions about their future they are increasing their self confidence which will help them deal with change and other life challenges. We also encourage their understanding of the effects of discrimination and challenge their own perceptions of the different areas of equality and diversity.

Move on

We will support the young person in moving on to independence by preparing them with the financial aspects they can expect, viewing and choosing suitable accommodation, applying for council housing or a private tenancy or even student accommodation. We aim to develop their independence and money management skills so that the transition will be a positive and enjoyable experience. We will also provide them with the emotional and social support that a move into independence will generally need and we are always glad to see our residents return to let us know how they are doing.