9.2.8 Support to Individuals |
RELATED CHAPTER
Advocacy and Independent Visitors Procedure
AMENDMENTS
This chapter was amended in June 2011, to reflect the Children's Homes (Amendment) Regulations 2011, Associated Guidance (Volume 5) and National Minimum Standards (NMS. The changes are highlighted below.
Contents
1. Context
The Children Act 1989 places particular emphasis on support to individual children and young people. The National Minimum Standards for Children's Homes, 2011, sets out clear guidance on the possible type, range and content of the support which may be required by young people who are Looked After in residential care.
2. Scope
All young people placed in residential childcare environments will have individual support needs; but these will vary from individual to individual. It is important to take a view of the whole life of the young person (emotional, physical, educational, social and recreational aspects) and consider, with them, the particular individual needs he or she may have in each of these key areas.
It is also important to remember that all children and young people, as they grow, develop and learn need to be able to take risks, supported by residential staff and significant others, that help them learn how to enjoy life safely and get the most out of their opportunities.
The local context is also relevant and staff should be aware of Sanctions and Physical Intervention in Units Caring for Young People.
3. Procedure
| 1.0 | All young people should receive individual support within all areas of their lives as required. |
| 1.1 | Young people should be involved, at a level appropriate to their understanding, in deciding what their particular individual support needs are and how these will be met. |
| 1.2 | In assessing and agreeing the particular support needs for each young person, account must be taken of the young person’s gender, religion, ethnicity, culture, language and sexual orientation. |
| 1.3 | For young people where English is not their first language, either because of their ethnicity or because of a disability, the support that is negotiated with them (and the subsequent support provided) must be provided in an accessible language. |
| 1.4 | Any young person, who has been involved in abuse and/or sexual exploitation, either as a victim of abuse or in abusing others, should receive support and advice to help with these issues. Additionally the young person should be involved in the planning of any programme of support. |
| 1.5 | Each young person, appropriate to his or her level of understanding, should have the opportunity to engage in personal, health, social and sex education on an individual basis. |
| 1.6 | Each young person should be supported and helped to take part in the group living aspects of the home, thereby reducing isolation. Particular attention should be paid to those young people who cannot readily fit into a group living environment. |
| 1.7 | Each young person should have at least one person, independent to the home and the Department, with whom they have contact about any matters or concerns. (See Advocacy and Independent Visitors Procedure. The Placing Authority must appoint an Independent Visitor where it appears to them that it would be in the child's best interest to do so. All children should also be provided with information about how to contact the Children's Rights Director. |
| 1.8 | Each young person has access to any member of staff, not only their Keyworker, to whom they go to if they choose to. |
| 1.9 | Each young person should be supported to take controlled risks, appropriate to their age, understanding and particular circumstance. In this context, risk taking can and should cover the whole spectrum of a young person’s life. The following examples are provided in order to help develop this aspect of young people’s lives:
Crucially, when a decision has been taken to enable a young person to take a risk, this decision and the action plan should be recorded within the young person’s Placement Plan. Authorisation from either the Manager or Assistant Manager should be given, prior to engaging with the young person. Each stage of the action plan should be detailed and include what action will be taken if the young person does not follow the agreed plan. Where appropriate permission from the young person’s parents should be gained and recorded. |
| 1.10 | For young people where the Placement Plan identifies specialist external support, those services should be made available. This will include services from other agencies and organisations. |
| 1.11 | Specific therapeutic techniques must only be used within the home, if this is specified in the young person's Care Plan and Placement Plan and approved of by senior management and, where appropriate, the those with Parental Responsibility and the young person (dependent on age and understanding). Furthermore it must be demonstrated that such techniques are both safe and effective and practiced only by staff that hold a particular qualification for the use of the therapy. In these instances, a qualified supervisor, who is not employed within the home, must provide supervision of staff qualified to practice. Details about the home's therapeutic models must be in plain English, so that all agencies responsible for the young person are able to understand how the preferred therapeutic approach supports the young person to achieve the objectives set out in their Care Plan. For further information please see General Health Care Procedure. |
| 1.12 | In the particular circumstances where a young person is an Asylum Seeker, appropriate support must be provided that is particular to each young person's experience of leaving his or her country of origin. |
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