Southdown adopts a time limited model of support, acknowledging existing strengths, skills and resources as well as assessing areas that need additional support. The model of support helps service users to identify their own aspirations, maximise their income and develop positive relationships and lasting social networks.
A pre-assessment questionnaire gives the potential client an opportunity to state their aims and expectations for support prior to receiving a service. A worker and service user work together to identify practical issues which need to be addressed, taking into account service user's social and emotional aspirations. These become a series of goals which the service user, with Southdown's support, works towards achieving. We can help the service user overcome any barriers which are preventing change and provide the practical support the service user needs.
Action planning focuses on six areas which impact on a service user's quality of life and independence. They are:
Work, learning and daytime activities
Tenancy sustainment and independent living skills
Income and money management
Health and well-being
Housing options and resettlement
Each core area has 7 identified ‘development steps’ against which service users are assessed at referral and at subsequent action plan reviews. Each plan uses a monitoring system and service users and staff are able to track progression as the plan develops.
Details of action plan targets and achievements are recorded by staff on our supporting people database system ‘OSKA’. Using the OSKA system, action plans can be viewed as ‘STAR’ diagrams. Based on the STAR model we are developing an interactive tool to enable service users to independently review and reassess their action plan achievements/scores. This will encourage those service users who have access to the internet to take ownership of their own skills development.
STAR Diagram highlighting the Areas of Independence that need support:-
Reviewing action plans
All action points include outcome-based targets that are reviewed and updated on a continuous basis. Action plans are formally reviewed at agreed time periods although service users can request reviews at any time. All other support agencies, families and carers are invited to review meetings (with the service user’s agreement).