Young Peoples development and Independency Skills are at the forefront of what we do at EachOne Support, regardless of the age of the young person, they need to develop skills so that they can become as independent as possible and be encouraged to take responsibilities when they are able to do so.
Practical Life and Independence Skills are to be built into the routine of a young person to include cooking, cleaning, shopping and budgeting in recognising the benefits and outcome of such tasks. This may start with an easy task such as purchasing food items and then preparing food and drink. We include our young people in supermarket shopping where we can to help them understand the difference between the cost of convenience foods and fresh foods.
As the young person gets older they will be supported and given responsibility for paying for things from their allowances or pocket money for activities, toiletries or maybe even mobile phone credit. We support all young people to open a bank or building society account in their own name and operate a savings scheme to save for their own home when the time is right.
We prepare our young people when preparing them for independence in the following:
- Budgeting, managing money and savings;
- What food to buy, how to cook it and store food;
- How to use a washing machine and ironing;
- Housework and cleaning;
- Light DIY such as decorating if suitable
- Considering futures and in bedding within Support Plans; what do the young people want to do, employment, further training, and how can this be achieved by them?
- Accessing advice and support from their peers and network;
- Leisure activities, including music, art and other interests.
At EachOne Support we support our young people with their own esteem which in itself creates resilience in order for the young people to survive living independently.
All Young People who are Eligible will receive a multi-agency assessment of their needs covering the advice, assistance and support they will need when leaving care. We at EachOne Support draw up a Support Plan with the young person
within 7-days of the young person moving in to their home with us; we encourage young persons’ participation in preparing and reviewing their Pathway Plan and, as part of this; the young person will be supported by their Personal
Adviser/Social Worker to work together and to identify the ways in which the young person can be provided practical, financial and emotional support to become independent.
The Support Plan/Pathway will cover some of the key area’s as below:
- Health;
- A plan for education, training or employment;
- Support to develop and keep appropriate family, social and sexual relationships;
- A programme to develop practical skills to live independently;
- Budgeting and money management;
- Any safeguarding issues or concerns that need to be addressed around keeping the young person safe such as sexual exploitation, county lines;
- The young person’s accommodation needs including any adaptions for a young person with a disability;
- What is needed to provide the young person with support;
- Who is involved from Adult Services if the young person has additional needs;
- The Pathway plan should be reviewed every 6 months by the Personal Advisor until the young person is 21 or longer if the young person is in education.
Our extendable network of skilled and experienced professionals in the local area enables us to consider the options available, and where possible, find the right ‘fit’ and matching of personalities to bring out the best in the young person and to give them the comfortable platform and setting to make the young person feel at ease and achieve their own personal goals and to recognise their OWN TALENT!
