Young Person’s Guide – Clovelly House
Young Person’s Guide
May 2017
About us
Welcome to Clovelly House. We hope you enjoy your stay with us. The staff members have put together some information which they think will be helpful for you. If there is something else that you wold like to know, just ask us.
Clovelly house is a home for up to three young people from 10-18 who are unable to live at home for various reasons. Staff will help you to keep in contact with your families and you may even go back to live with your family at some time, or move on to a home of your own.
The staff
The staff members at Clovelly House are there to take care of you. We are approachable, understanding and committed to helping you. You will be given a list of our names when you arrive at the home.
The staff will make sure that you are safe and happy and that everyone who lives here gets along. If someone is behaving in a difficult way or upsetting you we soon put a stop to this.
Staff will work with you to make sure you get the best chance in education, life skills and training and job prospects.
You can talk to us about private stuff. Usually we will not tell anyone about this, but if we think that you are in danger then we have to pass the information on.
Key worker
When you arrive at the home will have a key worker. This is a member of staff who will spend time with you and deal with any worries you may have. The key worker will attend meetings you may need to go to and will look after your best interests.
Social worker
You will always have a social worker while you stay with us. They will visit you at Clovelly House regularly and attend all your review and planning meetings. They will support you if you need to go to court and will listen to any problems you may have while living at the home.
Your room
You will have a bedroom of your own. You will have your own key so that you can keep your belongings safe. Staff members will not go into your room without knocking or asking first – unless they are worried about you. We would only ever search your room in exceptional circumstances if we felt this was the only way to keep you and other safe, for example If we suspected alcohol, drugs or weapons – this would be to keep you and others safe. A room key is available if you want one.
Looking after the home
You will be expected to look after your own bedroom and everyone is expected to help keep the rest of the house tidy, including staff. You will be expected to do some chores before you get your pocket money. This may include hoovering, washing pots or anything else you can think of to help out. The aim is to keep a clean and happy home.
Shopping and cooking
Everyone is encouraged to take part in shopping and cooking. This is important as it teaches you skills for when you may move on to your own house. Everyone chooses the type of food they want each week, this then help make up the food menu. It doesn’t matter if you are vegetarian, vegan or something completely different – we will prepare food for you in a special way if you have a diet that means you are unable to eat certain foods. You will always have enough to eat and a good choice of food, no matter what.
Clothing and other things you need
You will get a monthly clothing allowance and something called a personal needs allowance which can be spent on toiletries. A member of staff will take you shopping for these.
Pocket money
You get pocket money on Friday afternoons when you have tidied your bedroom. The amount of pocket money you get will depend on your age. You will be told how much when you first move in. Any reparations could also be taken out of your allowance. Only two thirds of your pocket money can be taken for reparations.
Education, training and work
You will be expected, encouraged and supported to go to school, college or work (depending on your age). Everyone has talents and abilities and deserves the chance to do well. Weekends are more chilled and you will have a chance to lie in, relax and enjoy your free time. There is a school on site at Clovelly House and you will be expected to attend regularly. You can get a copy of the Young Person’s Guide for the school.
During the school day some of your peers from the school may need to come into the house to use the bathroom and to use the kitchen. They will not be allowed to go into your room and a staff member will be with the school group the whole time.
Health
We want you to keep healthy I mind, body and spirit. This means helping you with doctors, dentists and opticians. If you have any worries about your health it is important for you to speak to someone. Speak to a member of staff, your social worker or the LAC nurse, even if you feel embarrassed. They will be understanding and supportive.
Meetings
When possible everyone meets to discuss what is going on at Clovelly house. This can be about anything from what food you like to what you would like to do on school holidays. You need to attend these meetings as it is your chance to have a say about how things are run. Staff members are there to help out.
If you feel your point of view is not being listened to there are other people to help out. The Children’s Advocate who does not work for social services can offer you a listening ear away from the home. The Advocate will help you to speak up about things that are important to you.
Statutory reviews
When you first come to live at Clovelly House it is a legal requirement to hold a review meeting to which your family and all professional involved in your care will be invited to. It is to discuss your care and plan a positive way forward. If there are people you don’t want to attend you can discuss this with your social worker. You are invited to make a comment on your views and feelings by either attending the meeting or completing a document to be viewed by the Individual Reviewing Officer, (IRO).
The IRO will listen to any areas of concern you make have and make recommendations on an appropriate way forward. The same IRO will usually chair all your future meetings. It is fine to attend and then leave the review meeting if there are things that upset you. You will be fully informed of the outcomes at the end of the review process. Your social worker will keep you fully informed on all decisions made. Meetings can be very stressful and those who attend understand this, if you need any advice on any subject please ask or make a comment in your review document. Staff will help you to complete the document if needed. The review meeting process is working towards meeting outcomes for you.
Reg 44 monthly inspections
Each month the home is inspected by an external professional and the level of care is assessed. During these visits the persons carrying out the visit may request to speak to you to listen to your views and opinions. You do have a choice so if you decide you don’t want to talk this is fine.
Personal information
There will be a file of information all about you kept on a safe place in the home. We need this to make sure we get everything right for you. You can look at your file when you wish. You just need to ask a member of staff.
Bedtimes
These are agreed with you when you arrive and will depend mainly on your age. There will be staff members staying at the home and there may be a ‘waking night’. They will help you settle down and make sure you are safe and well. If you stay out without permission we will have to report you missing to the police.
Leisure
In our house, we encourage you to take part in activities, both inside the house and outside. When you start to live with us, we will talk to you about your interests and we will write these into your placement plan.
You will get a weekly activity allowance that can be spent on activities and any hobbies that you may like to do such as swimming, ten pin bowling, ice skating, cinema and so on. Young people attending school can earn £10 per week to spend on activities. This is dependent on school attendance and behaviour. Young people who are not at school can only have £5 once per week to spend on activities.
While you are living with us, you can have your TV and sound system in your room. We have loads of games that you can play as well, both board games and on the home computer.
There are games at Clovelly House such as a Play Stations and a computer with internet for you to use.
There is also a large garden where you can play football and space to plant vegetables and keep small animals such as chickens and rabbits. We can get games such as a games table for you to play table tennis and pool and you may like to challenge staff to a game.
Outdoor Activities
We arrange outings to swimming, gym, bowling, cinema and to the local country park. During holidays or weekends we like to go further afield, to places like the beach or the hills. The staff at the house will talk to you about all of the things you might be interested in trying and we’ll try our hardest to make sure you get to try them. If you want to join in any of these activities
During school holidays you will be offered things to do like day trips to the coast, trips to theme parks, camping and holidays away.
Family and Friends
While you are staying at Clovelly House you will still get to see your family and friends. Arrangements for this will be discussed when you arrive. Visitors are welcome to come to Clovelly house after school so long as they behave in a safe and appropriate way. You will be encouraged to spend time in your family home if you want to and if it is safe to do so. If you want to stay with a friend or family overnight you will need to ask a member of staff first. We need to check that you will be safe whilst you are not with us and we may need to phone and check with other people first. If you cannot see or stay with your family or friends you will be told the reasons why.
Rules
Telephone
The home has a phone just for the use of the young people, but you can’t have unlimited calls.
Smoking drugs and alcohol
Young people are discouraged from smoking. If you do smoke, smoking is only allowed outside the grounds. Staff members are not allowed to let you smoke because it is not good for you and will offer assistant to help you stop with help from the doctor and the LAC nurse. It is also a fire risk and against the law to smoke in the building.
Drugs and alcohol
These are illegal and are also not allowed for the same reason so don’t being them into the home. If you break the law we do have to call the police. If you have a problem then it is best to talk to someone about it and get some help. Staff will support you if you want to stop the habit.
Consequences
If you behave in a way that is unacceptable, such as deliberately damaging the home then a sanction will be used. A sanction could be money off your pocket money to replace something you have broken, or losing out on a treat or activity. Staff will always discuss the reason for a sanction with you.
Keeping safe
Fire
There is always a fire risk in any home. The more people that live in the house, the more risk and the harder it is to ensure that everyone gets out quickly and safety.
SO WE NEED TO PRACTICE !
There are a lot of smoke and heat detectors at Clovelly House Every week the smoke alarms are tested and every month there is a check to see how long it takes for everyone to get out of the building
When you hear the alarm, you should leave the building by the nearest exit, (these will be pointed out to you when you first arrive), and you will need to go to the designated safe area in the front garden. Tell staff straight away if you see a fire. Do not try to put out the fire.
It is important that you do not go back for any of your things – they can be replaced, you cannot.
Don’t panic – the fire brigade can get here is a few minutes.
Risks
If we don’t know the dangers it will be difficult for us to keep you safe. When you first arrive we will talk to you and all the people who know you about the risks to your health and safety. The risks might involve bullying, drugs and alcohol use, getting in trouble with the police or being abused by an adult. We will need to agree how to help with this and whose help we need. We call this doing a ‘risk assessment’.
High risks
If staff members believe that someone in your life is harming you they have a duty to protect you. Their fears and concerns will be reported to your social worker who will then look into all the facts. You will be told what’s happening and your views will be taken very seriously, but your protection comes first so we have to report it even if you object.
A meeting will be held with a group of professionals when all the facts have been gathered. A plan of how to protect you will then be agreed. You can go to this meeting, and, with the help you key worker, you can say what you want. We call this a ‘safeguarding conference’.
Settling in
You may not like it at Clovelly House at first because it may be busy and noisy. Other young people may feel unhappy about things they have experienced and this might upset you. They may behave in ways that frighten you and make you feel unsafe.
If you feel unhappy, feel unsafe or can’t settle tell a member of staff. Moving into a new home is difficult and strange. We will try to make it as easy for you as possible. If you don’t say anything we won’t be able to help sort things out.
While you are living at Clovelly House your key worker will arrange private time with you so you can talk about how you are settling in. This will give you the chance to discuss any worries you may have about the home.
If you continue to feel unhappy you can talk to your social worker about moving. Moving to another home may take some time so you need to be patient.
Bullying
Bullying can make life miserable it is not allowed at Clovelly House and staff will always step in to stop it happening. If you feel you or someone else is being bullied please tell staff straight way. If they don’t know then they can’t help. There are other people you can talk to like your social worker, the Children’s Complaints office or the Children’s Advocate. Their numbers are at the back of this guide. If you are bullying others staff members will also step on to try to help you to stop bullying them.
Please speak up if you think bullying is happening.
Complaints
If you feel that you are being treated unfairly or that you are not being looked after properly you need to tell a member of staff about this. They will do their best to sort it out for you. But if you don’t think staff members are taking it seriously or are not sorting out the problem you can complain to the Children’s Rights officer. You can also contact the Children’s Advocate as well as your Social Worker. There is also a free phone number for ‘Childline’ that is an organisation who help children and young people when they are worried about something or someone that is hurting them. If the complaint is against the manager the manager will not handle the complaint, the complaint will be dealt with by your Social Worker, Complaints Officer or the Children’s Rights Advocate.