Please note that a copy of our Policies, Routines and Procedures can be viewed when visiting our Children's Home.

At Partners in Care Ltd we believe that all children:

• have the capacity to learn;
• are highly motivated to learn from birth;
• like to learn, to be challenged and to achieve success; and
• have a right to a broad, balanced and relevant education.

We also believe that learning:

• is a life long skill that goes far beyond school days and traditional classroom environments;
• can take place in a variety of settings;
• is about the National Curriculum but it is also much broader than that;
• is more likely to take place when conditions for learning are best matched to a child's individual needs; and
• is more likely to be successful when the child is involved in planning for his/her learning and has some responsibility for it.

However, we recognize that many children that we care for have:

• lost their way in learning at some point in their young lives;
• missed a lot of schooling and have significant gaps in their learning;
• disengaged from some or all aspects of their learning or have become disaffected with it;
• lost confidence in their ability to learn;
• poor self image of themselves as learners; and are
• reluctant to return to some or all aspects of learning for a variety of reasons.

• they are learner centred, offering opportunities for a negotiated curriculum which is modular and activity based.
• they encourage young people to develop responsiblity for their own learning through a process of action planning and reviewing.
• they assist in the personal and social development of young people through a focus on Key Skills for which the QCA national standards provide a template for assessment and accreditation.
• they recognise achievement across the school/college curriculum, as well as in the home, the community and the working environments.

Caring

Respect

Trust

Honesty

Discipline

Dignity

Our mission at Partners in Care Ltd is to seek out and secure the best provision for learning locally for children in our care.

Working in partnership with each young person, his/her parent(s) (where appropriate), placing authority and local education authority, Partners in Care Ltd strive to find and match provision that:

• is up to date and relevant to the young person's needs
• provides real challenge and opportunity; and is
• exciting and fun.

Caveat Given that Partners in Care Ltd's core purpose is caring for young people as opposed to strictly that of an education provider or school, it does not offer teaching and learning on site at any of its homes. It does however, place high value on education and meets the educational needs of each of its young people in two ways, namely by:

1. Working closely in partnership with local schools, education authorities and a range of training providers to secure the most appropriate and relevant education provision for each young person.
2. Retaining the services of a Consultant Ex-Secondary Headteacher to advise on education provision, train staff and liaise with training providers.

Partners in Care Ltd has designated the Registered Manager in each home as the Child Protection Officer. In addition, all members of staff are made aware of their role and responsibility in child protection matters and receive training in Lancashire and Cumbria's Multi-Agency Child Protection Policy Guidance and Procedures, which Partners in Care Ltd have adopted. All new members of staff follow a comprehensive induction programme which includes Child Protection.

Section 26 of the Children Act 1989 requires that 'Looked after Children' have their Care Plans regularly reviewed.

Partners in Care Ltd will aim to ensure that placing authorities follow the statutory review system, namely:

- the first review in placement will be after 4 weeks;
- the second will take place no later than 3 months; and
- others after that time take place at 6 monthly intervals.

Due to the nature and type of referrals, Partners in Care Ltd believe it may be necessary, on certain occasions, to hold reviews more frequently than this.

Every opportunity will be taken to encourage the maintenance of appropriate family links, and to help parents re-establish contacts with their children. In partnership with a young person's parents and family (where appropriate), social worker and placing authority, members of staff at Partners in Care Ltd are committed to assisting each young person in planning for his/her future. We are also committed to support and supervise family contact where it is felt necessary and useful. We will transport and supervise young people to meet their families at the family home or at a neutral place if this is a feasible option.

Young People can phone their family and friends from the house phones.

Fire drills are practiced and recorded regularly. The local fire officer has inspected our homes and any recommendations made have been fully instigated.
We ensure all adequate precautions are taken against the risk of fire and that adequate arrangements are made for warning of fire and for the evacuation of the building in the event of fire.
All staff and the young people resident understand the procedures to be followed in the event of a fire.
Any outbreak of a fire requiring evacuation of our house by the young people will be notified to the responsible authority and the home's registered Inspection Unit.

Each young person placed with us at one of our homes is allocated a key worker. This member of staff has direct responsibility to oversee and support the young person during their placement with us. Each week the young person and the key worker will take time out of the agreed timetable for a one/two hour session/activity which is enjoyable but also allows them time to talk and reflect on the last seven days. Any concerns or worries the young person might wish to discuss can be dealt with. The salient points from this session are recorded on a Key Worker sheet and signed by the young person and staff member. These sheets are reviewed at the next key worker session.

Young people are encouraged to take part in the purchasing and preparation of food. In this way they can ensure that particular favourites are purchased and prepared to their liking. Partners in Care Ltd sets great importance to the provision of healthy food and attempts to encourage and educate the young people in the benefits of a healthy, balanced diet, whilst recognising that many young people prefer 'fast food' type meals. Young people are encouraged to try a wide range of different types of food to widen their experiences. Meal times are seen as an important time of the day and young people are encouraged to participate in regular meal times. These times are seen as valuable times for social interaction and in establishing family routines.

A menu is written and agreed amongst the young people and staff members.

It is the aim of Partners in Care Ltd to ensure that all young people placed with us are healthy and happy. One way in which we achieve this is by making sure they are medically well cared for.

The local surgery used by Partners in Care Ltd has male and female doctors available, therefore allowing the young people to have a choice of G.P. (of their own sex if preferred). Should it be necessary, the G.P. can refer patients to specialist clinics at our local hospitals. Young people will also have the opportunity to visit the local dentist and opticians if the need arises.

However short the placement with us at Partners in Care Ltd, we believe in proactive education regarding health issues. Members of staff follow programmes co-ordinated by teaching staff which will cover healthy living and eating, care of the body, personal hygiene, infectious and transmittable diseases, female sanitary care and awareness, contraception, family planning, alcohol, solvents, drug abuse and smoking.

Our aim, through such programmes, is to promote awareness of the benefits of leading a healthy life style.

We keep an up to date health record on each young person which contains all relevant information e.g. routine checks, illness, medication, etc.

Our policy is to promote the principle and widely held belief that young people should not smoke because it is detrimental to their health. It would however be naive of us to have a blanket policy that says 'No Smoking' as many of the young people referred to us have a smoking addiction. Young People are therefore allowed to smoke (with parental or social services permission under the age of 16) though only in controlled areas and never in the house. Young People will be given every encouragement to stop smoking during their stay with us.

Control at our homes is maintained on the basis of good personal, professional and proper relationships between staff and the young people in our care. It is recognised that a home in which good behaviour is praised and rewarded is a preferable alternative to simply punishing negative behaviour, and that by providing a positive, supportive and safe environment, staff may be able to divert a young person's energies away from destructive and inappropriate behaviour.

We do realise, however, that we will not be able to eradicate a young person's negative behaviours overnight and in order that our homes may function as a harmonious community there are some rules and restrictions on certain types of behaviour.

Accordingly, when limits are set, they are consistently applied by staff and are discussed with the young person concerned so that they know why a particular action has been taken.

Where sanctions are felt necessary it is important that these are seen to be relevant and just and that they are never used as retribution, revenge or to be seen as a power tool. They are designed to encourage young people to 'stop and think' and to make appropriate decisions about their behaviour in the future.

Sanctions could be:

• restitution
• reparation for damage
• curtailment of leisure extras
• additional house chores
• increased supervision.

All sanctions administered will be detailed and recorded in a logbook. Each entry will include the name of the young person, date of misdemeanour, details of the inappropriate behaviour, names of staff present and nature of the sanction. Each entry will be signed by the staff member and countersigned by the Manager or Senior Manager.

As a general rule, restraint of any young person is not acceptable and is rarely used; and only if the young person is at risk of harming him/herself, others, or of seriously damaging property.

Any young person whose behaviour results in a sanction has the right to make a complaint about the situation. This process is outlined in the complaints procedure.

Partners in Care Ltd provide a professional, caring service to young people from a difficult client group. It would be naïve to believe that no problems or incidents will occur during placement. It is important that the young people can voice a complaint about any issues during their placement.

Details of our complaints procedure are made available to the young person and their family or representatives during the planning and admission process.

Information on how to make a complaint is given to each individual young person in his/her information booklet, which he/she is given on arrival at our home. The assigned link worker will go through the complaints procedure with the young person to ensure he/she fully understands the process. A list of telephone numbers is listed in the booklet which the young person could ring to make a complaint.

Each young person has access to a phone and can make a call in private at any time of the day.

We anticipate that the young person would feel able to make a complaint to his/her key worker, the house manager or to one of the Senior Managers who visit the house daily. Each young person will be encouraged to review his/her position with staff and identify issues before they reach a stage where there is a need to complain.

A young person will be considered 'missing' when he/she has left the house without permission and his/her whereabouts are unknown, or when he/she has failed to return at a pre arranged time. Once it is suspected that a young person is missing a careful search of the house, garden and immediate area will be initiated. If after this search there is still no sign of him/her and a period of twenty minutes has elapsed then he/she will be reported to the police.

After reporting the matter to the police staff will then notify the young person's social worker (EDT if at night) and the family (if this is deemed relevant and appropriate). All paperwork with times of phone calls will be kept.

It is our policy that if there is any doubt regarding the safety of any young person, the police will be notified immediately.

When a young person returns to the house either through his/her own volition or is returned by police or staff members, we will see to his/her needs and at some appropriate time discuss with them why he/she went missing.

Each young person will have the opportunity, if required, to attend such religious services and receive such instructions as are appropriate to his/her religious persuasion. Whilst resident at our home, all efforts will be made to provide the young person with facilities for religious observance such as special diets and clothing.

 If particular clothing, hair and/or skin care is required then an additional allowances will be set up to meet the young person's needs.

If members of staff do not possess the relevant information regarding the religion and cultural background of a young person they will make all attempts to proactively seek out the information required.

Each young person will have the opportunity, if required, to attend such religious services and receive such instructions as are appropriate to his/her religious persuasion. Whilst resident at our home, all efforts will be made to provide the young person with facilities for religious observance such as special diets and clothing.

If particular clothing, hair and/or skin care is required then an additional allowances will be set up to meet the young person's needs.

If members of staff do not possess the relevant information regarding the religion and cultural background of a young person they will make all attempts to proactively seek out the information required.

Inspection Unit: Our local Social Service Directorate Inspection Unit has the legal responsibility to inspect each of our children's homes twice a year to monitor the quality of life and quality of care being offered and to ensure that the homes are run in accordance with all relevant regulations.

Regulation 33 Visits: Under Regulation 33 of the Children's Homes Regulations, a responsible person must visit the establishment. Katie Stephens, General Manager, fulfils this role and visits each home once a month. On these visits he inspects the records and examines aspects of care practice, staffing and matters relating to the building and equipment. His findings are written in a report and given to the Registered Manager who acts upon any findings or recommendations.

Independent Visitor: An independent visitor visits each home at least once a month to speak with the young people in residence. The young person can request to speak with the independent visitor at any time during the month and this would be arranged by staff members.

Inspect our homes yourself: Before you place a young person in our care please feel free to arrange a visit to inspect our homes and talk to our staff about the care we can provide.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like further details. We are happy to give you as much information as possible about the services we provide. We fully understand your need to find out as many details as possible before you make the vital decision on where best to place the young person in your care. Please be assured that we will only accept a placement if we feel we can meet the young person's needs and offer him/her a place of safety.

Details of our Fee Structure are available by request.
If you would like to print the above information along with a Referral Form please follow the link below.

The information contained in this booklet outlines the approach Partners in Care Ltd takes when working with young people. It refers to the function of our homes, the manner in which care is provided, practical arrangements and our admission policy. This booklet does not contain all of our policies, procedures and routines but these are available on request. A Referral Form is included, which needs to be completed and returned to Simon Wright at our Head Office, for any placement requests other than emergency admissions.