Statement of Purpose
June 2007
Aims and objectives
The aim of the unit is to address an area within care and support that is lacking in provision and resources for vulnerable mothers and their babies.
The unit has specifically been created to offer placements to mothers who may have very complex, multiple needs, be considered ‘high risk’, or those for whom every other resource has failed.
The organisation aims to offer intensive care and support for a maximum of 2 years, the objective being that mother and child are able to move at the end of the placement to supported or independent accommodation.
Facilities and services
The unit is an 8 bedroomed detached property in the seaside town of Herne Bay, providing up to 5 resident bedspaces.
It is within walking distance of the town’s shopping, leisure and recreational facilities, doctors and healthcare centres and enjoys good transport links.
The unit has been established to accommodate up to 5 vulnerable mothers and their babies. Each has their own bedroom, furnished with bedroom and nursery furniture. Residents may bring ‘homely’ items with them if they wish.
Residents share 2 bathrooms, 1 shower room and 1 WC for hygiene purposes.
The unit has a communal lounge/dining room, nursery/playroom, kitchen, utility room, life skills kitchen, quiet room, staff room, office and secure garden.
Registered Provider
The Registered Provider is Maple Housing Limited. A Limited Company (Registration Number 05340420), formed in December 2004, with the specific intention of providing high quality care and support to those for whom every other resource or placement has failed.
Registered Company address: 8A Alfred Square, Deal, Kent
Directors:
Ms Helen Smith
(Director of Care & Registered Manager)
Mrs Heather Rollo-Jones
(Operational Director)
Registered Manager
The Registered Manager is Ms Helen Smith. Helen is also a Company Director, has NVQ4 (RMA) and has several years experience in Care Home Management, specialising in Mental Health.
Staff ratio and qualification of staff
The staff team equals 15 full time, part time and bank staff. There is a minimum of 2 staff on duty at all times, with a Director on-call out of ‘normal’ working hours.
The Director of Care (also Registered Manager) holds NVQ4 (RMA), is due to complete studying for a BA in Health & Social Care Practice in June 2006 and has several years management level experience in the care sector – specialising in Mental Health.
The Operational Director holds a Diploma in Counselling, Diploma in Criminology, Certificate in Lifelong Learning, and has over 5 years experience at management level in the social housing sector- specialising in substance misuse and ex-offenders. Heather was also appointed as a magistrate in March 2007
Support staff at Senior Support Worker level hold the Diploma in Welfare Studies/NVQ3 in Care and are studying towards NVQ4.
Support Workers at standard level are in possession of NVQ2 and are working towards NVQ3 in Care/Certificate in Welfare Studies.
Support Workers at Junior level posses or are working towards NVQ2 in Care.
The Nursery Nurse is qualified to NNEB/Btech in Caring for Children and Young People level.
All staff have gained the Basic Health & Hygiene Certificate, First Aid Certificate, Manual Handling Certificate, Adult & Children Protection & Fire Safety Certificate.
Organisational structure
The Director of Care maintains the day to day running of the unit, undertakes Initial Referral Assessments, Risk Assessments, the monitoring and supervision of Care/Support Plans and the Health & Safety of the unit.
The Operational Director oversees the supervision of the staff team, is responsible for implementing the company training/induction program and undertakes reviews/appeals of referral refusals as and when they occur.
Senior Support Workers ‘lead’ the shifts they are on duty and offer support and guidance to Support and Assistant Support Workers.
Fees and charges
The weekly rate per mother and baby(ies) is £2150, as of 1st April 2007. This fee includes food, all utilities, weekly group and 1-1 sessions (as outlined below). This does not include clothing, toiletries or personal items.
The rate for Outreach services is £1600 for the initial 4 week period and £1200 per 4 week period thereafter.
Services such as educational services for those of statutory school age, specialist counselling services or other specific requirements can be accommodated, but will be charged separately to the placing authority.
Fees are calculated on a daily rate for very short term, emergency placements or for those residents arriving after the beginning of the current month.
Maple Housing operates a strict 28 day terms policy regarding invoices.
Criteria for admission
Referrals will only be accepted from the statutory source ie Social Services/Probation that will be funding the placement.
Initial enquiries are welcome from court services, legal teams, private individuals and members of the potential referral’s extended family/foster family
Referrals are likely to be considered very high risk, to have failed with previous resources/placements and have multiple, complex support needs. The individual must show a desire to remain with their child and have some insight into their difficulties and current obstacles.
There is no minimum or maximum age for the mother. They may be expectant mothers in the last trimester of their pregnancy – in such instances, the period prior to the birth would be considered an assessment placement.
There is no minimum age for babies. There is a maximum age of 18 months at admission and we will accommodate babies up until the age of 2 years at the unit. With this in mind, this 6 month period allows a sufficient period of time to provide care and support that will be of some benefit to the family unit.
Ethos and philosophy
We believe very strongly that mothers and their babies should be enabled to stay together, if that is their wish and if it is felt that this is appropriate. We recognise that inadequate life and basic skills, receiving poor examples of parenting themselves, mental ill health, environment, and peer/family pressure can create fear, distress, confusion and desperation in an expectant or new mother, which may present itself in a myriad of ways.
We feel that if we work to enable our vulnerable service users to gain skills so that they may learn, understand and practise in caring for themselves and their baby(ies) appropriately, they will be able to reintegrate into the local community and live independently as a family unit.
Assessment and monitoring
At referral stage, each potential resident will undertake an Assessment, incorporating a Risk Element.
Assessments are conducted at the potential resident’s current home, by the Director of Care & the unit’s Specialist Consultant Social Worker.
Residents are required to contribute to this assessment, in that they are required to complete sections of the assessment form, identifying the type of care and support they feel they need and how this will best be achieved.
Once a referral becomes resident, risk assessments are reviewed on a quarterly basis, unless an Incident/Untoward Occurrence or Near Miss occurs, in which case the Director of Care will instruct Risk Assessments to be reviewed at more frequent and specified times.
All residents are asked at the outset to ‘commit’ to attending weekly group and 1-1 sessions. These sessions are monitored by the facilitator for each group and progress/problems/issues are documented and monitored by the facilitator.
Residents accepted in the last trimester of their pregnancy are monitored and assessed continually. They are required to participate in the same way as non-assessment placement residents and reports are copied to all relevant, involved agencies on a weekly basis.
Advice, guidance and counselling services
Residents are expected and very much encourage to attended scheduled weekly group and 1-1 sessions at the unit.
These include:
- Parenting skills
- Life skills
- Basic skills
- 1-1 sessions
- House Meetings
- Resettlement
We feel in that in a group scenario, with others experiencing similar issues, that there are opportunities to learn from one another and gain confidence and knowledge. Progress/difficulties relating to each group, together with topics covered etc are documented by the group facilitator and kept in each resident’s file
1-1 sessions are considered more in the sense of sharing personal issues, to address concerns and situations or problems that a resident may not want to discuss in the presence of others. Each session is documented and both the resident and key/co-keyworker are required to sign the document which is kept in the resident’s file
House Meetings are an opportunity to discuss domestic and social issues. House Meetings are facilitated by an independent advocate, in order that residents feel able to discuss matters regarding the unit, but are able to feedback both positive and negative issues. Minutes from the House Meeting are distributed by the advocate to the residents and the Operational Director. The Operational Director raises issues requiring action/attention at the staff team meeting.
Resettlement meetings are scheduled towards the final 4-6 month mark of a resident’s placement. Staff are guided by resident’s wishes as to where they wish to reside and, where appropriate offer support to create a ‘Move-On Map’ and relevant guidance and advice. Maple Housing is currently in the process of applying to create a charitable arm of the organisation – to be known as “Maple Leaves”. This will receive financial donations/proceeds from fund raising. Residents due to leave the unit with a planned resettlement programme will be able to apply to the trustees of “Maple Leaves” for a grant to furnish and make ‘homely’ their new home away from the unit.
Outreach will be provided to residents leaving the unit with a resettlement programme. Their previous key/co-keyworker will ensure that the necessary support (benefits, health visitors, Sure Start etc) are in place and visit the ex-resident 3 times a week for the first 2 weeks and once weekly for a further 2 weeks. If it is felt by either one or both parties that this is likely to be an ongoing requirement, the key/co-keyworker will make the appropriate referral to Supporting People, to enable the individual to receive Vulnerable Parent Floating Support.
Staff Supervision is undertaken on a monthly basis, away from the unit, by the Operational director. During the Induction/Probationary period, supervision can be more frequently, and in a less formal fashion, but is always documented. A copy of any supervision notes are always given to the staff member and a copy kept in their Personnel file.
The Director of Care and Operational Director undertake monthly supervision with the unit’s Consultant Specialist Social Worker.
Fire Safety
The unit operates an evacuation policy, with a designated meeting point. Please refer to the Fire Procedure, located in the Policies & Procedures file, and on the back of all doors within the unit.
Complaints Procedure
Maple Housing strives to maintain an exceptional service to its residents, stakeholders and partner agencies. However, we do recognise, that on occasion, things can go wrong. We welcome comments regarding our service and complaints, as we are then able to address these issues and learn from them. Please refer to the Complaints Procedure within the Policies & Procedures file, and located on the back of all communal rooms and the quiet room door.
Standards of Conduct/termination of residency
We promote and encourage respectful and courteous behaviour within the organisation, from both staff and residents. Staff receive Dignity at Work training during their Induction programme and sign a Code of Conduct at the outset.
As part of the resident’s ‘checking in’ process, they are required to sign an informal ‘contract’ (Resident Agreement), in part of which they agree to behave appropriately whilst resident and to treat other residents and staff with respect. Expectations of conduct from residents are outlined in the Resident’s Handbook, as are the consequences to inappropriate/offensive/aggressive behaviour. Residents are required to sign to say that they have understood the content of the Resident Agreement. In some instances this may require it being read to them. When this is the case, it will be documented that it has been read to the resident, and by whom.
Termination of placements are avoided where possible, and only following consultation with the unit’s Consultant Specialist Social Worker and the placing authority. Please refer to the Resident’s Handbook.
Privacy and Dignity
Maple Housing has produced a Privacy Policy – please refer to the copy within the Policies & Procedures file.
Privacy, Courtesy & Respect are also highlighted within the Resident Agreement.
Drug and Alcohol use
Maple Housing operates a zero tolerance policy regarding under age alcohol consumption and the use of illegal substances. Our Drug and Alcohol Policy is contained within the Policy & Procedures file and explicitly details our position on this matter. We feel that due to the highly vulnerable nature of a client group, we are justified in undertaking regular drug swabs of the unit, including staff areas. A full explanation of this is contained within the Policy and clearly explained within the Resident Agreement
Confidentiality
The organisation understands the need to share and disclose sensitive information on occasion, and that this is dealt with appropriately. Staff receive training in Confidentiality during their Induction programme, and our Confidentiality Policy is contained within the Policies & Procedures file.
Residents are requested to sign an Authorisation form during the ‘checking in’ process, to allow staff from Maple Housing to discuss that person with those from other agencies. Residents have the choice to decide to whom they authorise disclosure. They are advised that they may withdraw their previously given consent at any time. Residents are also made fully aware that there may be occasions where Maple Housing must disclose relevant information to a third party, particularly relating to child protection issues.
Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults from abuse
Maple Housing recognises the potential for abuse of children and vulnerable adults in a wide range of environments. As standard, Directors, all full time, part time, Bank and Volunteer workers are required to undergo Enhanced Criminal Record Bureau checks before working unsupervised with residents. All contractors attending the unit for routine or emergency work, are on our Approved List and have therefore also provided evidence that they have undertaken an Enhanced CRB.
New staff to the team, who have not yet received confirmation regarding their Enhanced CRB, will have their application submitted to POVAFirst. In the absence of an Enhanced CRB, or POVAFirst check, staff or contractors will not be permitted to work unsupervised in the unit.
Staff receive Child and Adult Protection as a module during their Induction Programme, and this is a topic that is revisited during team meetings. The company’s Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults from abuse Policy is contained within the Policies & Procedures file and also within the Protection from Abuse file, with regularly updated information on the subject.
Version 2 – June 2007 – HR-J
Review June 08