Positive Independence provides supported accommodation for young people 16 and over, who are Looked After Children.
Positive Independence will support young people to gain the skills and knowledge required for an independent life.
It is our goal to ensure the young person develops these necessary skills as soon as possible. In turn, this will mean less staff availability for the young person, meaning a reduction in costs for Local Authorities. From the initial planning meeting we expect regular meetings with all involved agencies, to monitor the young person’s progress. Positive Independence expects an exit strategy for the young person will be formulated at the first meeting.
Positive Independence does:
- Allow Young People to choose to stay away overnight. We expect that the young person informs staff members of their plans in this situation.
- Enable the young person to have full control over their finances. (Staff may advise the young person on the best use of their money, but the ultimate decision will be the young person's.
- Support the young person to remain in charge of meeting all of their health needs, including such things as arranging GP or specialist health care appointments. (Staff will support the young person to make and attend these appointments but it is their choice whether they attend or not.
- Ensure the young person has significant periods of time, whilst in the home, unsupervised. Staff may be available during these periods, should the young person require them.
- Offer the young person support services, when they leave our provision, when required. Positive Independence will not have after care responsibility for the young person at this point.
- Enable the young person to control what they wear and of the resources to buy clothes.
Positive Independence does not:
- Stop the young person from leaving the home without asking the staff permission.
- Have full control of the young persons medication. Staff will not administer medication for the young person.
- Restrain young people. Staff are trained in breakaway techniques for the safety of all individuals involved.
- Have access to the young people's medical records. Positive Independence will ask to be made aware of any risks to the young person in regards to health, in order for them to be safeguarded in this area of their lives.
- Apply a sanction policy which goes beyond house rules and legal sanctions that would be imposed on any adult.
- Provide or commission a specialist support service, which forms part of the main function of the establishment.