Www.bluesalmon.org.uk Introducing BlueSalmon A new online self-assessment and portable support planning tool for vulnerable people Empowering service users

www.bluesalmon.org.uk

Introducing BlueSalmon

• A new online self-assessment and portable support planning tool for vulnerable people

• Empowering service users and finding out what they really want from life

• Developed by Lemos&Crane working with service users from homeless agency Thames Reach


How BlueSalmon works

• Organisations subscribe to BlueSalmon on behalf of their service users for a one-off fee

• Any number of service users can then register to use BlueSalmon and create an ‘account for life’

• Accounts give service users 24/7 access to:– Structured interactive modules on Identity,

Relationships, and Family and Friends – A personalised action plan to define goals and

component steps for sharing with support workers

• BlueSalmon is easy-to-use, safe and confidential


Benefits for service users

• Service users are empowered to describe for themselves how they want their lives to change

• Service users are encouraged to think differently about themselves as people with potential not just problems

• Service users are motivated to ask for practical support from support workers or family and friends to meet their goals and aspirations


Benefits for support providers

• Support planning meetings are revitalised with a focus on addressing service users’ priorities

• Online working improves the efficiency of the support process - face-to-face time can concentrate on taking action and reviewing progress

• Ideas and insight for developing new services are generated based on service user input

• BlueSalmon’s aspirational approach produces genuinely person-centred outcomes for service users that can be demonstrated to commissioners


Demonstration


Once they’ve logged in service users have the

the option of working on modules addressing

Identity, Relationships, or Family and Friends.

Once they’ve logged in service users have the

the option of working on modules addressing

Identity, Relationships, or Family and Friends.

Or if service users have already completed work on any of the

modules they can then go straight to their action plan.

Or if service users have already completed work on any of the

modules they can then go straight to their action plan.


At the beginning of each module, an explanation is

given about its purpose and intention, and what service

users can expect to achieve from the module.

At the beginning of each module, an explanation is

given about its purpose and intention, and what service

users can expect to achieve from the module.


In the first section of the

‘Identity’ module, service users are asked to identify five key turning

points in their life and, from the

drop down boxes, say

whether they were positive or

negative experiences


The next section encourages service users to think about

positive plans for the future.

The next section encourages service users to think about

positive plans for the future.


A graph then shows the ups and downs from the past, as

well as goals for the future.

A graph then shows the ups and downs from the past, as

well as goals for the future.


Based on input so far, service users are now able to select

goals fortheir action plan by clicking on

the cream circles and

turning them blue

Based on input so far, service users are now able to select

goals fortheir action plan by clicking on

the cream circles and

turning them blue


The service user is awarded a medal for completing the first

quarter of the identity module as acknowledgement of their work to

date and as an incentive to complete the rest of the module. At

any stage they can take a break and BlueSalmon will save their answers so they carry on where they left off at the next session.


The service user is shown at the centre of the action

plan

The service user is shown at the centre of the action

plan

Goals from each module

can be viewed by clicking on

the circles.

Goals from each module

can be viewed by clicking on

the circles.

Once one or more of the modules have been completed the service user then has the option of looking at their action plan

Once one or more of the modules have been completed the service user then has the option of looking at their action plan


The module selected then becomes the

centre point of thediagram

The module selected then becomes the

centre point of thediagram

Arrows point to some of the goals that the service user

wants to achieve.

Arrows point to some of the goals that the service user

wants to achieve.


This option from the action plan menu allows the service

user to make further progress

with the action plan e.g. adding new goals, marking

goals as complete, or deleting goals.

This option from the action plan menu allows the service

user to make further progress

with the action plan e.g. adding new goals, marking

goals as complete, or deleting goals.


Service users can also specify the kind of support

they need to work towards a particular goal

Service users can also specify the kind of support

they need to work towards a particular goal

They first select the goal that they would like some

help with

They first select the goal that they would like some

help with

They can then write a brief description of the type of support that they want

They can then write a brief description of the type of support that they want


This additional support is then shown in the

main action plan

This additional support is then shown in the

main action plan


The service user also has the option at any time of sharing their

action plan, by entering the email

address of the person they would like to

share their action plan with – this could be a

support worker, friend, partner or family

member

The service user also has the option at any time of sharing their

action plan, by entering the email

address of the person they would like to

share their action plan with – this could be a

support worker, friend, partner or family

member


The Relationships module contains a series of

activities that are designed to help people think about

improving relationships with current partners, or

improving the chances of meeting someone new

The Relationships module contains a series of

activities that are designed to help people think about

improving relationships with current partners, or

improving the chances of meeting someone new


For example, this colour-coded self-assessment

about personality type is followed by questions about

current or possible partners.

For example, this colour-coded self-assessment

about personality type is followed by questions about

current or possible partners.


This leads to suggestions for improving interaction

with partners, based on a better understanding of

different personality traits and potential sources of

harmony or conflict.

This leads to suggestions for improving interaction

with partners, based on a better understanding of

different personality traits and potential sources of

harmony or conflict.


The Family and Friends module contains several

questions designed to help people think about family

members and friends they’re close to or want to

get back in touch with.

The Family and Friends module contains several

questions designed to help people think about family

members and friends they’re close to or want to

get back in touch with.


In this first section, service users are asked to identify

key family members.

In this first section, service users are asked to identify

key family members.


Service users are then asked to consider how close they feel to family members

and how often they’re in touch with them.

Service users are then asked to consider how close they feel to family members

and how often they’re in touch with them.


The 'family circles' diagram summarises the input so far

into the module, showing family members' relative importance and distance

from the service user at the centre of things.

The 'family circles' diagram summarises the input so far

into the module, showing family members' relative importance and distance

from the service user at the centre of things.


Service users then need to think about who they want to see more or less of, which generates suggestions for

their action plan.

Service users then need to think about who they want to see more or less of, which generates suggestions for

their action plan.


As with the Identity section, activities from the Relationship module generate goals for the

action plan that can be accessed by clicking on the

Relationships circle

As with the Identity section, activities from the Relationship module generate goals for the

action plan that can be accessed by clicking on the

Relationships circle


And activities from the Family and Friends module also generate goals for the

action plan

And activities from the Family and Friends module also generate goals for the

action plan


What service users think about BlueSalmon

Three Thames Reach service users - Adrian Hillary, Darren Augustin and Meshach Mills (pictured) - carried out peer research withover a hundred Thames Reach clientsduring the development of BlueSalmon. Thequotes that follow are taken from some ofthe feedback they received during thisresearch.

http://www.bluesalmon.org.uk/helpothers.php5?stage=7



• "Gave me insight, confidence and self-esteem"• “Can definitely help to bridge the barrier gap

between service users and staff"• "Changed my thinking, found it very

enriching...would take my action plan to the support worker "

• "I'm impressed with it. I need to learn computer skills so it's a good incentive. I’ll enjoy using it."

• "It's a very smart project...helps people to reach inside"



Follow this link to watch a video with more feedback from service users about BlueSalmon:





Feedback from organisations

Since March 2008, BlueSalmon has been

used by over 80 organisations representing

a wide range of service user groups –

ranging from ex-offenders to people with

mental health problems to women fleeing

domestic violence. Here is some feedback

from these organisations…


Feedback from organisations

• “Interesting and fun way for people to explore personal issues they might not otherwise address” (Blackpool Coastal Housing)

• “Offers a more dynamic way for support workers to engage with service users” (Bolton at Home)

• “The action plan is a great way for people to manage their goals and think positively about the future” (Calico Housing)

• "The perfect tool to break the ice..." (Gloucester City Council)

Documents

Www.bluesalmon.org.uk Introducing BlueSalmon A new online self-assessment and portable support planning tool for vulnerable people Empowering service users