LBC Supported Living Services aims to provide a service for young people that meets all their individual needs in a safe, supportive and a stimulating environment and one that offers an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. 
 
We will provide support and care to meet the objectives set in the UK government’s 5 Outcomes Framework which indicates the five outcomes which mattered most to young people. The objectives are to ensuring young people are: 
 
Healthy: enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle,  
Safe: being protected from harm and neglect,  
Enjoying and achieving: getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood and achieving their full potential in life, 
Making a positive contribution: being involved with the community and society and not engaging in anti-social or offending behaviour,  
Achieving economic well-being through preparing them for employment and preventing economic disadvantage. 
 
The provision of semi-independent supported living is needs assessed to ensure the project is able to meet the young person’s needs. There is also an impact risk assessment to ensure the right matching and compatibility of the young person and young people accommodated in the project at any given time.   
 
We have a person-centred approach and we aim for good outcomes for individual young people that will be identified through the care planning process in partnerships with the young people, their parents or carers, social workers and other involved professionals. 
 
LBC Supported Living Services’ care ethos is based upon a humanist approach to caring for young people.  The care delivery is informed by our core values; privacy, dignity, choice, independence, rights and fulfilment. 
 
Our work is focussed on building young people’s recovery and resilience by addressing their trauma and debilitating experiences through the provision of comprehensive evidence-based therapeutic interventions. 
 
LBC Supported Living Services seeks to empower young people and promote their independence by helping them attain independent living skills and education. We view independence in a practical way to describe the young people being able to achieve their own personal goals and potential. We believe independence is created by having assistance when required and in a way appropriate for each individual young person. 
 
LBC Supported Living Services will promote the active participation of the young people in society and all spheres of life.  
 
We believe in partnership working with the young people, parents/carers, social workers and other professionals as we believe all have an important part and input in improving the outcomes for the young people. 

Admissions to the project will usually be made on a planned basis.  However, on occasions, the project may accommodate a young person or young person in an emergency or crisis situation. Such emergency admissions will be planned to ensure they do not disrupt the life in the project. 
 
All referrals will be from the respective young people’s social work teams and ratified through the referral and admissions processes of the project.  
 
 
The key information required to accompany each referral from the placing authority are: 
 
Local authority placement plan. 
Education, Health and Care plan. 
Risk assessments. 
Chronology of significant events/incidents. 
Medical/mental health assessments.  
 
Admission process begins when the referral is accepted, and placement contract is in place. 
 
When a referral is accepted for planned admissions, the project will arrange an introduction/transition plan for the young person or young persons to ensure smooth transition for the young person or young persons. 
 
The project manager will appoint a key worker for the young person prior to start of introductory visits.  
 
The key worker will be provided with any referral information or documentation.  The key worker will ensure that any relevant information is shared with the staff team.  
 
The key worker will liaise with the social worker and parent(s)/carer(s) to visit the project before start of the planned care. The purpose of this visit is for the parent(s)/ carer(s) to meet managers and staff and to look around the project and to have answers to any questions they may have.  The social worker will accompany the parent(s)/carer(s) on this visit. 
 
A visit will be planned (approximately one hour) for the young person and their parent(s)/carer(s) – more if needed.  This visit provides the opportunity for the parent(s)/carer(s) and young person to meet their key worker. 
 
 
Parent(s)/carer(s) will be given an information pack that contains: 
 
The project’s statement of purpose. 
Young people’s guide to the project. 
Complaints procedure. 
Equality and diversity policy. 
Admission checklist. 
Parental consent forms. 
 
Prior to the admission of the young person, the following details/documents should be availed to the project with forms/documents requiring signatures duly signed by the parent/carer and/or social worker;  
 
The young person’s full name. 
The young person’s gender and date of birth. 
The young person’s address prior to being admitted. 
The statutory provision (if any) under which he/she is to be provided with accommodation.  
The name, address and telephone numbers of parents/carers.  
Name and contact details of social worker. 
Any religious/cultural requirements. 
Any special dietary or health needs of the young person. 
Name of school or educational provision. 
The name and address of the young person’s G.P. 
Consent for information sharing with medical professionals. 
Consent for medical treatment for the young person. 
Consent for administration of first aid on young person. 
Consent for administration of prescribed medication. 
Consent for administration of over the counter and homely remedies. 
GP confirmation of regular medications.  
Any medicines prescribed for the young person and details of doses etc. 
Consent for information sharing with other relevant professionals. 
Consent forms for activities, local (UK) trips, photos, videos etc. 
Regulation 44 visitor access to young person’s records consent form.  
 
 
The key worker will develop an individualised project daily living support/care plan and risk assessment in consultation with the young person, parent(s)/carer(s), social worker and key worker. 
 
Introductory/transition visits are arranged for the young person/young person. The duration and frequency of these visits can be reduced / extended to meet the needs of the young person and parents/carers.  
 
Post admission, regular care/support progress, support/care plan and risk assessment review meetings will be arranged for the parents/carers and social workers to meet with the key worker and project manager. 

Our work with young people is underpinned by coaching and mentoring activities.  Coaching is a question-based enlightening, inspirational and energizing process by a coach to orient a coachee to the realities of a situation and to help them achieve desired goals. Mentoring is a supportive learning relationship between a caring individual (mentor) who shares knowledge, experience, guidance and advice to another individual (mentee) who is ready and willing to benefit from this exchange, to enrich their development.  
 
The organization uses the GROW (Goal, Reality, Options, Wrap-up) coaching model. The GROW coaching model stands for learning through experience: reflection, insight, making choices and pursuing them. The coachee is personally active in identifying problems and generating ideas for solutions. The means that anything that comes out of the coaching session has a lot of chance to be achieved. Work is completed through the four stages of the model. 
 
The first step in the GROW coaching model is defining the goal of the coaching. Depending on the type of coaching this can include long term goal (end achievement) and short-term goals (for each session). Goals need to be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Acceptable, Realistic and Timely. 
 
Step two of the GROW coaching model is becoming aware of the actual situation the coachee is in. The coach’s role here is to stimulate self-evaluation with the coachee and identify the obstacles that have been holding them back. 
 
Step three involves the generation of ideas that can contribute to the solution of the problem. This involves a creative brainstorming process without censure or conditionality to generate potential solutions, then to evaluate every option.  
 
The fourth and last step is the selection of one option. This is converted into a concrete plan of action for the coachee.  
 
We use formal and informal mentoring programmes that include 1:1 and group mentoring in our interventions with young people. Where appropriate, peer mentoring can be used. 

Supported Living Services is committed to protective young people from avoidable harm. We are aware of the range of risks and risk factors of harm young people in our care can be exposed to which we have measures in place to minimise: 
 
Neglect in the project or community 
Abuse in the project or community 
Accidents in the project or community 
Bullying in the project or community including cyber bullying 
Being victims of crime 
Sexual exploitation 
Forced marriages 
Substance and alcohol misuse 
Radicalisation 
 
 
 
All staff member will be aware of their professional and legal duty to: 
 
Compassionately and respectfully care for the young people 
Practice using safe approaches and methods 
Ensuring the work/project environment complies to health and safety regulations and laws  
Be vigilant to young people being abused 
Report any behaviour by other members of staff or third parties that may present risk of or actual harm to the young person 
Report any suspicion of young person abuse 
Teach young people about abuse, how they may keep themselves safe and how they may report abuse  
 
Staff will be aware of the: 
Possibility of young person abuse be it physical, sexual, emotional or neglect  
Signs of young person abuse 
Paramountcy of the young person’s safety and interest when there is suspicion of abuse 
Processes and procedures to report young person abuse including: Project’s young person protection policy and procedures, Local Safeguarding Children Board’s child protection and safeguarding procedures, and the organization’s ‘Whistle Blowing’ policy and procedure. 
 
When abuse of a young person is alleged to have been carried out by another young person or young person, or it is suspected, the young person protection procedures must be followed in respect to both the abused and alleged abusive young person. 
 
Any suspicion of a young person accommodated in the project being abused and any subsequent investigation and young person protection enquiries and their outcomes will result in Ofsted being notified. 
 
We seek to have a ‘smoke free’ environment for the young people and staff. This is because of our awareness that smoking is bad for health. Young people who are already considered to be ‘smokers’ will be supported to access smoking cessation support/care. Staff and visitors are not allowed to smoke on site or in our vehicles or around young people. Alcohol and substance use are prohibited in the project. 
 
Because smoking products and paraphernalia are considered to be prohibited and fire risk items, it is possible in accordance with the Necessary Searches policy to undertake searches for suspected smoking products. 

The allegation of abuse will be investigated by the ‘Senior Nominated Officer’ and follow Local Safeguarding Children Board’s child protection and safeguarding procedures. 
 
The investigating officer should consider all the details of the incident and any evidence to support or refute the allegation.  
 
In deciding the level of investigation, the investigating officer will determine which of the following categories the allegations might represent: 
Acceptable professional behaviour, i.e. the allegation concerns appropriate action by the member of staff concerned. 
Unacceptable professional behaviour, i.e. this may require action under the Disciplinary Procedures but falls short of abuse. 
Abusive behaviour, i.e. as defined in the Young person Protection Procedures. 
 
The investigating officer will immediately refer the matter to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) if there are grounds to believe that there has been abusive behaviour. A strategy meeting will then be held to determine how to proceed. 

LBC Supported Living Services is aware of the high risk of young people in semi-independent supported living going missing from project and exposing themselves to a range of risks such as; accidents, bullying, being victims of crime, sexual exploitation, engaging in crime, substance and alcohol misuse.  
 
The project is, therefore, committed to preventing young people going missing in the first place and on finding them and returning them project as quickly as possible.  
 
The project will educate young people on the risks of going missing from the project and of how to keep themselves safe should they go missing. 
 
The project will maintain adequate staff members to young people ratios to ensure young people have adequate supervision and engagement with staff members who can provide a range of engaging and enjoyable activities for the young people to prevent their need to run off and seek thrills in unsafe environments.    
 
The project follows its missing from project policy and procedure and the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board safeguarding children who go missing procedures to guide staff when dealing with an incident of a missing young person. The policy requires that where a young person goes missing from LBC Supported Living Services care, their parents/carers, social worker and police will be informed immediately and that staff members should be involved in any search if it is assessed as safe to do so.   
 
Ofsted will be informed after 72 hours of the young person/young person being missing or earlier if deemed necessary.   

LBC Supported Living Services is committed to keeping young people safe. This commitment may only be achieved by ensuring that: 
 
All young people have individual risk assessments to highlight their particular area of need. 
Appropriate staffing to young people ratios is maintained. 
We provide appropriate staff levels and procedures for monitoring and supervising young people.  
Ensuring that the young peoples’ monitoring and supervising processes do not unjustifiably infringe on the young people’s freedoms and privacy 
Maintaining a healthy and safe living environment 
Ensuring staff team have adequate health and safety training 
Teaching young people about health and safety and how they may keep themselves safe 

LBC Supported Living Services is committed to ensuring that all young people in our care are protected from bullying. Bullying shall be defined as deliberately hurtful behaviour that is repeated often over a period of time and is difficult for those being bullied to defend against.  
 
The three main categories of bullying are: physical, hitting, kicking etc; verbal, name calling, insults, racist remarks, swearing and indirect; spreading malicious stories, exclusion from a social group. Bullying can manifest as: young person on young person, young person on adult or adult on young person. Bullying can be face to face or indirect through medium such as writing and social media. 
We take a pro-active approach to preventing bullying by teaching young people on what bullying is and how they can challenge and report bullying. We also ensure we teach them to understanding the impact of their bullying behaviour on others. 
 
 
On receiving a complaint or an incident being witnessed, we will ensure that the: 
 
Victim of bullying is fully supported and offered counselling. 
The alleged perpetrator and victim are not left together unsupervised until the incident investigation is completed. 
Incident is recorded and fully and timely investigated. 
Relevant parties such as social worker and parents/carers for the alleged perpetrator and victim will be notified of the alleged incident. 
The outcome of the investigation including what action is to be taken and why will be shared with all parties (the alleged perpetrator and victim, social worker and parents/carers for the alleged perpetrator and victim as appropriate). 
The options available to the parties if they are unhappy with the outcome and prescribed actions, will be communicated to all parties.  
A copy of the complaint and its outcome will then be shared with the head of service. 
 
This bullying handling procedure does not prevent any young person/staff member making direct referral for police involvement should they wish to. 

We believe that positive behaviour is essential for developing positive relationships, promoting harmonious living in the project and for engaging with society and activities such as education. We are aware that our young people may have behavioural difficulties which impact on their interactions with others and stand in their way and we are committed to supporting them address the negative behaviour and develop positive behaviours.  

• Our staff team will address negative behaviour and promote positive behaviour in line with the objectives of:
• Using rewards, often as part of a ‘behaviour modification’ programme to promote positive behaviour.  
• Using diversion techniques including positive activities to divert a young person from negative behaviour. 
• Ensuring young people with difficulties of self-control are cared for in ways which are sensitive to their needs. Staff will always take into account the young person’s / young person’s level of understanding prior to the use of any measures of control. 
• Taking a non-punitive but learning/restorative approach which brings about enduring behaviour change when dealing with negative behaviours. 
• Using sanctions such as verbal reprimand, withdrawal from the group / recreational activities, sending to bed early, supervised ‘time out’, delayed or supervised pocket money spend, as a last resort to deal with negative behaviour. 
• Empowering young people to take ownership of their negative behaviours and appreciate the impact of such behaviour on self and others. 
• Helping young people enjoy sound relationships, interact positively and behave appropriately. 
• Helping young people gain control of unacceptable behaviour. 
• Ensuring that the safety of both young people and staff is treated as equally important. 
• Incidents reports relating to young people’s negative behaviour will be recorded and copies shared with social workers. Serious incidents will be notified to Ofsted. 
• All rewards and sanctions will be recorded in the appropriate file and in the young person’s individual file.  

LBC Supported Living Services staff will use physical intervention as a measure of control as provided for by its Physical Intervention Policy & Procedure. 
 
Physical restraint will only be used when immediate action is necessary to prevent a young person / young person from significantly injuring him/herself or others, or causing serious damage to property (DOH Circular 4/93). Physical restraint will only be used an act of care and control and not as a punishment. 
 
The project will use electronic mechanisms or other modifications which are necessary for security, for example on external exits or windows, so long as this does not restrict young people’s mobility or ability to leave the premises if they wish to do so. The project will also use the lock doors policy to physically restrict the normal movement within or from the project to reduce the risk of Significant Injury or Serious Damage to Property and so long as the criteria set out above (Section 5, Criteria for using Physical Intervention) are met i.e. where the injury or damage to property is likely in the predictable future, that the locking of the door is immediately necessary, used as a last resort and for the minimum amount of time necessary to de-escalate the situation *. However, such restrictions for one young person should not impose similar restrictions on other young people. 
 
*If such strategies are used upon a young person on a frequent or extended basis, it may be a form of restriction of liberty, which is not acceptable; therefore, the Head of Service and social worker must be notified and should give consideration to an application being made for a Secure Accommodation Order. 
 
Physical interventions will be used in accordance with the young person’s behaviour management plan and in line with the physical intervention techniques authorised for use in the project which should be applied by people competent to use such techniques. 
 
All the staff working at LBC Supported Living Services will receive training in positive and protective handling strategies within a whole setting holistic response to behaviour management. It will be these strategies and techniques that the staff will be expected to use when managing behaviour within the project. 
 
All incidents of restraint will be recorded by staff involved and will be reviewed by the project manager.   
 
The young person’s social worker and parent/carer will be informed of any incidents of physical restraint as soon as it is practicably possible. 
 
Young people subjected to physical intervention will be offered medical check up and the offer should be recorded as to whether accepted or refused.  
 
Staff will work in accordance with regulation and the projects policy and procedure on the use of physical restraining. 

LBC Supported Living Services believe in the importance of educational achievement in promoting the knowledge and active participation of our young people in society. We are, therefore, committed to supporting our young people attain an education. 
 
Young people are expected to attend education/training when they are in our care. We support this by ensuring that the young people have adequate and appropriate resources they need for their education/training e.g. uniforms, equipment, stationery and transport. The project will ensure that young people have adequate study facilities at the project with each young person having access to a study desk/chair.  
 
We promote young people’s independent travel and where appropriate will arrange for older young people to independently travel to school or work placements. Transport/escort is arranged and provided to take young people to and from school where necessary. 
 
The young people will be encouraged to take part in school activities, after school clubs and outings etc. Any programmes implemented at school including and complete their project work will be continued in the project. 
 
We value close partnership and liaison with relevant schools/colleges and other training providers with whom we will maintain regular contact and in review meetings. This relationship ensures we work together to support young people with their education and development.  
 
We will advocate for the inclusion of our young people in schools/colleges and other training provision and challenge any exclusions for behavioural issues should we believe adequate support has not been provided and that other non-drastic measures have not been taken to manage the young person’s behaviour prior to exclusion. 
 
Our internal independent living skills training will be accredited to ASDAN, a qualifications awarding body in the UK [see: https://www.asdan.org.uk/courses/courses-for-your-setting/post-16] 

LBC Supported Living Services is committed to promoting the young people’s right to association and contact with people significant in the young person’s life, where such contact is in their best interest.  
 
Contact is facilitated in line with the placing authority’s placement plan which often stipulate how and when the young person may have with their parent(s)/carer(s), other family members, friends, social worker etc 
 
The placing authority’s placement plan or Court Orders may prescribe that some contact is supervised or restricted for safeguarding and legal reasons.  
 
 
The project will promote and facilitate contact in a number of ways to include: 
 
Providing phone facilities to the young person 
Receiving young person’s visitors to the project and providing contact space 
Transporting and accompanying young people for contact in the community 
 
To ensure appropriate plans are made for contact, we would ask that, wherever, possible contact is planned in advance.  
 
The project will not withhold contact as a disciplinary or punitive measure. The project may only restrict contact, in agreement with social worker and/or parents/carers for safeguarding reasons. 

LBC Supported Living Services is committed to upholding the United Nations Convention on the participation rights of the young person and will promote and safeguard this right by: 

• Empowering and enabling the young people to have an active voice and freedom of expression by communicating with them and allowing them to communicate and share information in any language and way they choose, including by talking, drawing or writing.
• Respecting and promoting the young people’s right to: 
• Express their views and for these views to be taken into account when we make decisions that affect the young people especially in their care planning; and to exercise their; 
• Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
• Freedom of association including contact with people important in their lives 
• Right to privacy, particularly the right to have their personal information confidential and safe 
• Right to access to information that that is important to their health and wellbeing

In promoting and safeguarding these rights, LBC Supported Living Services will ensure they enable the young people to understand that in exercising their rights, they have a responsibility to also respect the rights, freedoms and reputations of others.  
 
Furthermore, LBC Supported Living Services is committed to will promoting the active participation of the young people in society and all spheres of life. As such, young people will be encouraged and supported to: 
 
Participate in the project life and on how the project is run and how their care is provided 
Access and participate in community life and activities 
Be active participants in the nation’s education and economic spheres. 

LBC Supported Living Services values consulting young people, their parents/carers and significant others to ensure the project fully understand their needs and respond appropriate.  
 
Views from these partners will help us make necessary changes and improve the quality of our service and improve their experience of our care and support.  
 
Furthermore, we acknowledge that where there is dialogue and understanding, there is opportunity to develop and maintain positive relationships with the young people, their parents/cares and significant others.  
 
The young people at LBC Supported Living Services will be consulted on a regular basis to express their views, needs and choices regarding all aspect of their stay. Forums such as key work sessions, young people’s meetings, service quality questionnaires, suggestion boxes and complaints procedures are used for this purpose. 
 
Where appropriate, for example to meet communications needs of some young people, such as language, level of understanding and literacy levels, individualised means of consulting with the young people will be used. 
 
The project gives young people access to independent advocacy services such as the Independent Reviewing Officer, social workers, Children’s Commissioner and National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Young people, as well as to the children’s social care regulator, Ofsted.  These agencies can help young people to have a voice. 

LBC Supported Living Services is committed to anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice and will comply with the United Kingdom’s Equality Act 2010 in their service delivery and practice. 

LBC Supported Living Services has an equality and diversity policy to support this commitment. A copy is made available to young people, parents/carers, social workers and other partners.  

When a young person is accommodated at LBC Supported Living Services their religious, cultural and linguistic needs will be identified prior to admission in consultation with the young person’s, their parents/carers and social worker. 

Young people will be encouraged to maintain their religious and cultural activities (including diet, dress) supported by the staff if required. Where necessary, facilities will be provided to practice religious beliefs. 

Food provision and preparation will acknowledge and respect the young person’s culture and religious beliefs. Activities, music/videos, fixtures and fittings in the project will be selected in a way that is religiously and culturally sensitive. 

We will endeavour to promote each young person’s sense of identity through direct work in relation to his or her cultural background. 

LBC Supported Living Services is committed to upholding the human rights of all young people who access or wish to access our service. In compliance with the United Kingdom’s Equality Act 2010, when considering referrals or continuation of placement, we will not discriminate against any young person who meets our admission criteria on the grounds of their; age, disability; gender reassignment; race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.  
 
All staff at LBC Supported Living Services are aware of the discrimination and negative perceptions that are faced by young people in care and will strongly challenge such attitudes and behaviours.  
 
The staff will advocate for young people should they face discrimination in their daily lives, be it in the project or community.  
 
Young people will be supported to have a positive image of themselves, to be assertive and stand up for their rights, and to support them or direct them to the right support should they wish to challenge any discriminatory practices they face in their lives.  
 
We celebrate diversity through daily living experiences and educational programmes. These include; activities, experiences, literature and media which celebrate diversity in our project and society.  
 
Staff and young people will be provided equality and diversity training so they have an understanding of how they can protect themselves from discrimination and understand the need for them not to engage in any discriminatory practices. 

LBC Supported Living Services’ approach to young people’s rights is underpinned by our core values; privacy, dignity, choice, independence, rights and fulfilment. 

We will respect and promote every young person’s right to:

• Have their privacy respected whilst each young person has an obligation not infringe on the privacy of others. 
• Be treated with dignity and respect at all times. 
• Make choices on their day-to-day living and take major life decisions, while making sure they do not have any negative effect on other people. 
• Maximise their abilities and in doing so improve their degree of independence 
• Having their human rights respected and promoted.
• Experience fulfilment in their day-to-day living.  

The project is committed to having experienced and qualified staff that share the project’s vision and values. The project is also committed to having adequate staffing that can safely meet the needs of the young people. The staffing arrangements and the staff training and development arrangements detailed below, reflect our commitment: