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NUMBER ONE
WELCOME TO NUMBER ONE
Revised April 2014
D. Moses
CONTENTS
Page 3 – Mission statement
Page 4 – Referral process
Page 5 – Arrival and discharge times
Transport
Page 6 – Clothing
Toiletries
Money
Toys
Page 7 – Contact with the Unit
Medication
Page 8 – Sickness and Diarrhoea
Page 9 – Care and disciplinary measures
Physical intervention techniques
Page 10 – Keypad system
Policies and Procedures
Access to personal records
Page 11 – Suggestions and complaints
Page 12 – Contact details
Number One Short Break Service Manager
Page 13 – Complaints Procedure
Page 16 – Bullying Policy
Page 18 – Sanctions Policy
Page 20 – Medication letter
Page 21 – Medication consent form
Page 22- Residential Short Break Service Agreement form
The Number One’s Service offers residential short breaks, which can include day care, in East Cornwall to children and young people with a disability. We are registered with Ofsted as a Children’s home that can support Children with Learning Disabilities, Children with Physical Disabilities and Children with Sensory Impairments.
We aim to:
C Be child centred and child focused in approach, recognising and responding to the unique individuality of each young person
C Provide a high standard of care, to meet each child’s complete care needs in a comfortable, safe and secure environment
C Offer a range of play resources, fun activities and experiences in the centre and by using community resources in order to stimulate, enhance and broaden the child’s experiences
C Promote independence, build self esteem and develop confidence
C Offer support, privacy, respect and choice to the child and their family
C Respect confidentiality
To achieve these aims the Number One staff will work closely with the child, parents/carers and others involved with the child’s care to enable the needs of each individual child to be met. We will also liaise proactively with other professional agencies and service providers to ensure the child and family are supported positively and holistically.
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
Welcome to the Number One Short Break Service
REFERRAL PROCESS
Following referral to the Short Breaks Panel by your Social Worker, your child has been allocated a package of short breaks care.
The Panel decide the number of overnight stays which vary from family to family according to individual needs and the demands on our service. Your Social Worker will discuss with you the short break package you have been allocated.
You will receive a Residential Short Break Service Agreement that states the allocated number of overnight stays your child has been allocated (see attachment). This is to be agreed and signed by both the young persons parent/career and by the unit manager (please see a copy at the back of this pack).
Planning for overnight stays is done several months in advance. We will always try to allocate a suitable regular day of the week or month. We do always try to ensure your child is in an appropriate grouping of young people who stay at the same time, so your child can develop relationships and make friends.
Prior to your child’s stay, a keyworker will be appointed. The keyworker is a member of staff (Residential Care Worker or Care Assistant) who will work closely with you and your child, talk to you both about the service and ensure we have all the information we need to make your child’s stay an enjoyable one. You may have another keyworker who is a care assistant. They will work together to support you and your child. All this information is gathered into a “care plan” and kept at the unit. This information is confidential and is kept secure. It will only be seen by people caring for your child. The keyworker will take a special interest in your child and will contact you regularly to ensure that we are meeting all your child’s needs. He or she will also arrange regular reviews.
Initially your child will be invited to visit the unit for a couple of hours and stay for tea. You are, of course, welcome to come as well. Tea visits will continue until your child feels comfortable and confident enough to stay overnight.
Should a young person need to access Number 1 as an emergency we may contact you to cancel your Child’s short break. We try our upmost to maintain a young person’s Short Break Package but we also aim to support families in emergency situations.
Due to the number of children we offer short breaks to, we are unable to offer longer holiday stays. The Unit is open and staffed 5 days of every week, Wednesday to Monday. We can accommodate up to six young people a night and it is unfair to expect any family to have their short break reduced so another young person can occupy the bed whilst their family goes on holiday. We are currently closed for one weekend a month.
ARRIVAL AND DISCHARGE TIMES
During the school term, young people/children can arrive at the end of the school day and leave Number One to return to school the following morning.
At weekend and school holidays, children are welcome at 10.30 or just after, and go home between 9-9.30 am, on the day they are going home. We follow Cornwall’s holiday schedule but are unable to follow inset days (teacher training).
TRANSPORT
Transport can usually be arranged through your Social Worker. Please discuss this with your social worker. If this is set up, we will forward the allocated dates to them, each time the bookings are completed. Please notify them if transport is not required at any stage i.e. child/young person is unwell and not attending Number One or you are on holiday etc.
CLOTHING
Please send your child/young person with enough appropriate clothing for their stay (see separate “What to bring to Number One “Leaflet)
Clothing is only washed if soiled. Please ensure all items of clothing are marked with your child’s name. We cannot take responsibility for clothing which is not clearly labelled.
TOILETRIES
Your child will need a toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush and comb, shampoo, shower gel and deodorant if required. These should be in a wash bag.
Please also send enough incontinence pads for your son/daughter’s needs if they use them.
MONEY
The cost of outings and activities is usually paid for by Number One. For some trips we may ask for a voluntary contribution. Your child may have the opportunity to go out and use local facilities and you may wish to send your child in with a small amount of pocket money for their personal use and to encourage independence skills.
TOYS
The unit is well equipped with toys and games but should your child wish to bring a special toy e.g. a favourite bedtime teddy, they are welcome to do so. If your child would like to bring in other items such as CDs, books, videos or play station games these should be clearly marked with your child’s name and meet the legal age appropriate for your child, i.e. not sending in a film that is rated 12 if your child is less than 12 years of age.
CONTACT WITH THE UNIT
Parents/carers are welcome to telephone Number One or call to see their child whilst their child is using the short break provision.
Sometimes a child/young person will ask to ring home and staff will always respect this request. Should a staff member be unclear about any aspect of your child’s care they may also contact you.
We discourage young people from bringing mobile phones into the unit. If they do bring mobile phones they are kept in the staff duty office and young people can access them at convenient times, agreed with the duty officer each shift. Neither staff or young people are permitted to carry mobile phones around the unit.
Should you have any concerns about your child’s well-being or wish to discuss any issue relating to his/her care, please contact the duty officer at Number One.
Contact names, addresses and telephone numbers are enclosed.
MEDICATION
All staff are trained to administer medication in line with the Department’s Policy and Procedure guidelines. If there are special health needs on a temporary basis i.e. dressings, the District Nursing Service is used. The District Nursing Service has also been contacted to administer regular injections, although a specific community script is required from the GP.
If your child takes medication you must complete and sign an Agreement to Authorise Administration of Medication form (SS269). This form needs to include all the medication you will require staff to give your child, including “as required” medication such as pain relief and show the times of day each medication needs to be administered.
If at any time your child’s medication changes, either in type or dosage, we always need written authorisation to administer, and a new form will need to be completed.
All medication must be sent in its original containers with the Pharmacists label on them.
You will need to send in sufficient medication for your child’s stay, but please do not send in excessive amounts. We are required to count all medication as it arrives at the Unit and as it leaves.
SICKNESS AND DIARRHOEA
Number One cannot accommodate a child that is unwell. In line with Cornwall Council policy we would ask that following a period of sickness and diarrhoea your child should not come to the Unit until a 48 hour period has elapsed.
In the event that your child becomes unwell whilst at the Unit it is policy that the duty officer informs you of their illness, so that you can collect your child, thus ensuring the health and well being of other children and staff at the Unit.
If we are unable to contact you and your child needs to be seen by a doctor, we will try to contact the child’s own GP. If this is not possible, an appointment will be made with the Units local GP practice, or out of hours, Kernow Doc will be contacted.
In the event of a health care emergency, staff will take appropriate action and inform parents as soon as practical. If a child/young person requires admission to hospital, we will try to send a staff member with them, but this is not always possible.
CARE AND DISCIPLINARY MEASURES
Number One’s approach to child care is based on co-operation between child and staff, and consultation with parents. Positive behaviour from the child is encouraged by praise from staff. Occasionally staff need to acknowledge that a particular form of behaviour is unacceptable and this is initially approached by way of a verbal reminder, which is usually sufficient. Should this prove ineffective, staff follow firm guidelines from the Department regarding the use and recording of sanctions (enclosed).
If this is not enough and your child is presenting with particularly difficult or challenging behaviours, guidelines will be developed with you which may include input from a Clinical Specialist.
USING PHYSICAL INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES
If a situation arises in which staff need to “hold” your child to prevent your child injuring his/her self, other children or staff, staff use taught approved minimal physical intervention techniques (team teach). These are only used as a last resort. If repeated intervention is needed or we need to hold your child for a period of twenty minutes, to ensure the safety of your child, other children, or staff, you will be contacted to collect your child.
No.1 has a Physical Intervention Policy if you wish to see it please ask. If your child requires a Positive Handling Plan we will liaise with you and put a plan in place to enable us to support your child in the most effective manner.
THE KEYPAD SYSTEM
Number One uses a keypad and fob system to open and lock external doors. The keypad system is in place to ensure the safety of your child and the safety of others by preventing uninvited persons entering the premises, or the possibility of your child leaving the property unsupervised.
If a fire alarm sounds the external doors are unlocked automatically to enable staff and children to evacuate quickly and to allow emergency services access.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Children, Schools and Families Service have a number of policies and procedures regarding the service Number One provides. The Sanction Policy, Bullying policy and Complaints procedure are enclosed. If you require further information, please contact staff at Number One.
ACCESS TO PERSONAL RECORDS
Basic information regarding your child will be kept at Number One. All such information is confidential and is stored in a lockable filing cabinet.
Should you wish, you are able to access your child’s records. You need to complete a request form. A leaflet is available from your local Social Care office that will explain the process.
SUGGESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS
We do welcome regular contact from parents. After all you know your child best. We aim to make your child’s stay at Number One as enjoyable as possible. If there are any ways in which we could be improving upon this, please let us know. You should always feel able to discuss any concerns you may have either with your child’s keyworker, who is someone who works regularly with your child, or the Short Break Service Manager.
If you have any suggestions about how we could do something better, or wish to draw our attention to something that you think we have done well, please let us know.