Elm GroveYoung Person’s Guide

17 Elm GroveHeckmondwikeWF16 9DN

01924 325635/6Claire Morgan - Acting Residential Manager

Updated March 2012

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Contents

This booklet is all about Elm Grove Children’s Home. It has been written by the staff with help from young people who live or have lived here. We hope it will give you a good understanding of what it’s like to live at Elm Grove. If you have other questions about things we haven’t covered here please ask any of the young people, the staff or your social worker. We are happy to help.

Welcome!

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Welcome! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3About Elm Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Moving into Elm Grove. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Key worker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5The move itself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6About the staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7About living with new people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Care plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Your rights at Elm Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Birthdays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Bedtimes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Religion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Food and drink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Phone calls and letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Smoking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Bedrooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Keeping everyone safe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Visitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Children’s Rights Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14What about school . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Leisure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Can I make a complaint, compliment or comment. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Leaving Elm Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Confidentiality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Any questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

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About Elm Grove

Elm Grove is a home for disabled children. Eight young people could be living at Elm Grove at any one time. All young people have their own bedroom. Elm Grove is built on one level, which means there are no stairs so it’s really easy to get around. There are eight bedrooms, two big lounges, two kitchens, two dining rooms, four showers/bathrooms, one laundry room and an office area for staff.

Where is Elm Grove?

Elm Grove is in Heckmondwike. There are buses from Heckmondwike direct to Huddersfield, Halifax, Leeds and Bradford, so you can easily get out and about.

Who lives at Elm Grove?

The young people who live at Elm Grove are here because they are unable to stay at home with their family, for lots of different reasons. Some young people stay here while they are getting ready to move into a foster family and some may be here for a year or two while preparing to live on their own, either in a flat for a small unit. Some young people may return home to their family, others may stay until they turn 18.

The staff at Elm Grove have worked with young people and their families for many years helping them to make positive choices and decisions about their lives.

Moving into Elm Grove

If your social worker thinks that Elm Grove would be a good place for you to stay, they may visit Elm Grove with you and your family and talk to the staff.

Visiting Elm Grove

You will probably want to visit Elm Grove before you move in. The staff team can arrange a time for you to visit. You can visit when you like and as many times as you like. You can have meals here, spend the day here, stay the night— whatever you and your social worker think is best.

The staff need to know as much as possible about you so that they can try to provide what you need. One of the staff team will be chosen as your ‘key worker’.

Key worker

If you come to live at Elm Grove you will have a member of staff who will work closely with you and who has a special responsibility for you, called a ‘key worker’.

However, all staff are here to look after you and all will help you to make choices about your life.

What a key worker does

A key worker will attend parent’s evenings, arrange contact with your family, make doctor’s appointments, and ensure all written information about you and your needs is up to date. On a daily basis staff will write down how you’ve been and what you’ve been doing. You are welcome to read this and comment if you want to. Each month you will have a chat with your key worker about how things are going. Your key worker will help you look at how you are keeping yourself safe and healthy. They will also talk about whether you are enjoying yourself and doing well at school and meeting up with the people you want to. You can also talk to them about anything that you or the staff need to be doing to work towards your future dreams.

One of the key worker’s most important jobs is to help you to develop your skills and eventually, to move on from Elm Grove. They will talk with you about your past and your future, perhaps making a ‘life story book’ and keeping a ‘memory box’. They will help you keep in contact with important people in your life. They will try hard to understand you, your likes and dislikes, what you may be scared of and what you want out of life. They will then help you plan to work towards this. Don’t worry: staff are always here to keep you and them safe and to talk to if you find it difficult. You can also talk to your social worker about this. There are

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good things about living with new people too—you can make new friends and you might find some new interests!

The move itself

Your social worker and staff will organise the move with you including keeping your personal belongings safe (things like clothes, toys, books, photos, school reports).

They will register you with the local doctor, dentist and optician. The staff at Elm Grove have a legal duty to keep a detailed file about you, which is confidential (private) and is locked away so that only those people who need to see it can see it. If you wish to look at your file you can ask your key worker.

Feelings about moving

There could be lots of good things about moving. You will be safe here. You will have the chance to make new friends. You will have a room of your own and you may be able to go on holidays. You will get support and help and there is always someone to talk to!

Moving into another home can be difficult. You might not like the idea of moving, even though you may think it is the right thing to do. You may not want to leave where you are now. Most of all you may not want to leave the people you are living with now. No one will tell you that this is easy. The staff will try to understand your feelings and help you settle in to Elm Grove.

Here are a few things that young people have said about living at Elm Grove:

About the staff

Claire is the manager who is in charge of the overall running of the home. There are also three deputy managers, 15 day staff, 6 night staff, 3 domestic staff who make sure the home is nice and tidy and 1 cook. Staffing levels depend on the needs of the young people.

All staff believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity and given opportunity and choice. There will be a member of staff in the home all day and all night. The day staffs work from 7 in the morning until 10 at night and the night staff work from half past 9 at night until half past 7 in the morning. All staff are here to make sure that you are safe and well looked after.

About living with new people

You may find it strange living with other young people at first. Some of them may have been through some very difficult times and they may behave in an angry way when they are upset or confused.

Care plans

Everyone who comes to live in Elm Grove will have a care plan. A care plan helps staff understand what we need to do to care for you. We will listen to your feelings and wishes and try to include them in the plan. We want you to feel safe and happy at Elm Grove.

A daily living plan (DLP) will be completed by staff, you and your family/carer. This plan will help us care for you and will include information about what you like to do and how you prefer to be cared for. For example, if you like a bath or shower.

Updating the plan

Your care plan will be looked at regularly and it will be reviewed, (to see if it is working well). There will be a review within one month of you moving in, then at three months and again at six months, your plan will then be reviewed every 6 months while you are still living at Elm Grove. These are called review meetings and they are all about you! You will be asked how you want these meetings

….some not so good….

“We have to go to bed too early”“My mum and dad don’t live here”“We have vegetables with our tea!”“I have to tidy my room”“I don’t have Sky TV in my room”

some good….

“Staff care about us” “You’re safe here”“Staff take you to see your family”“People smile at Elm Grove and the staff make me laugh”“Staff help me with homework” “Staff are happy”“We have Sky TV” “They look after me really well”“I get to go on holiday” “I want to live here forever”“I like it best when we have takeaways”

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to take place. You can choose food, music and even give your views by video recording, Big Brother style, if you like!

One young person who used to live at Elm Grove chose a Halloween themed review meeting, where everyone came in fancy dress!

Your care plans will explain why you are here, how we are trying to help you and what your future may hold. They include goals to help you grow up safely. They cover what you want, as well as what we think you need. You help us to make the decisions, it is YOUR plan!

Your rights at Elm Grove

The first right you have is to be treated fairly. Although staff need to keep everyone safe, you have the right to be respected and to receive fair treatment. If you feel that you haven’t been treated fairly, you have the right to complain. You have the right to make choices about your life and to make your views known. You will be expected to treat other people with respect too. Just as they will be expected to do the same for you. The staff actively try to maintain a safe, happy home for all young people. The staff at Elm Grove will not tolerate bullying in any way. If you feel bullied you must tell a member of staff as soon as you can.

If you are bullied, you will be supported by staff, protected and offered counselling as appropriate. Play fighting will not be allowed as it can lead to someone being hurt.

Money

While you are living at Elm Grove you will be given pocket money. You will also receive extra money for toiletries and clothing, on birthdays and at Christmas as well as £6 a week towards your chosen social activity.

Safekeeping

If you bring something that means a lot to you (it does not have to have cost a lot of money), you can ask for it to be kept in a locked place so it is safe.

Birthdays

Your birthday is your special day; you will have a birthday cake and you can celebrate it how you like. Whether you want to have a party, a meal of your choice, or spend it with your family and friends. You will receive a birthday allowance that your key worker will use to buy your birthday presents. If there is anything in particular that you would like, feel free to ask your key worker, or you could just have surprises!

Bedtimes

The time you go to bed depends on how old you are; we think that this is the fairest way to do it! You can go to bed a little later on a weekend and holidays, because you don’t need to be up for school, college or work. However, we do like all young people in their rooms by 10pm at the latest, so that everyone can settle to sleep.

Religion

All young people living at Elm Grove will be supported in following their chosen faith. Staff can help you find a local Mosque, Church etc. and will support you in attending it. Young people are encouraged to explore other cultures and religions through play, themed evenings, books, toys and celebrations Halloween, Easter, Chinese New Year etc. The staff at

Elm Grove will help you to continue to follow your religion in terms of foods you eat and don’t eat, any special things you need and any places you go.

Food and drink

There is a cook at Elm Grove. She encourages a healthy balanced diet and she will ensure all of your dietary needs are met including halal, additive/ allergy free and low salt diets. If there is anything you like or don’t like, just let her know. We try to encourage healthy eating and everyone is expected to sit together to enjoy the evening meal. The young people at Elm Grove help in planning the menus, preparing food and going on shopping trips.

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Phone calls and letters

If you want to speak to your family or someone else please speak to any of the staff. They will support you to arrange a time.

If you have a mobile phone and want to bring it to Elm Grove you will need to discuss this with the staff. An agreement about the use of your mobile phone will be discussed with your keyworker and any misuse may mean that you cannot have your phone at Elm Grove. We would prefer it if you would use the phone after 6 in the evening during the week. You also have the right to free stamps for letters to your family, foster carers and any official letters.

Smoking

We do not encourage young people to smoke because it is not good for you. So there is no smoking at Elm Grove, even if you are over sixteen.

Bedrooms

All young people at Elm Grove have single bedrooms. Your bedroom is your own personal space and you can decorate it how you like. You can put pictures, posters and photos up, as well as choosing the room colour. People have to knock on your door before they come into your room (including staff). You are not allowed to go into anyone else’s bedroom unless it is agreed by a member of staff and the young person.

Room searches

On some occasions staff may have to check your room or search it if they think you have anything in it that may cause you harm, or hurt you in some way and sometimes this may be taken. They will explain and talk to you about why they have to take the item.

Keeping everyone safe

At Elm Grove we try to get on with everyone. The staff are not here to stop you having fun, but they do have a responsibility to look after you. Staff will expect you to behave in a way which does not bring harm to yourself or others. They cannot and will not hit you, but they can hold (restrain) you if there’s a danger of you hurting yourself or anyone else. This is only used to ensure your safety and the safety of others.

All staff are trained to do this properly and restraint is NEVER used as a punishment for your behaviour. You will always be given a chance to talk about what happened once things have calmed down.

There are some rules at Elm Grove that the staff will expect you to follow—such as not hurting others and and respecting other people, their feelings and belongings. Remember that other people live with you and that Elm Grove is their home too.

If you do something that you have been asked not to, you may be given sanction. Sometimes this may be a reminder of the rules, and staff will chat to you about the reasons behind your behaviour and how we can prevent this in the future. Sometimes a sanction involves staff taking away a privilege for example, if you are playing your music loudly and everyone else is sleeping you will be asked to turn it down. If you refuse and others are getting upset we may have to remove your music player until the morning.

All sanctions will be agreed with you beforehand and written up in a plan. A sanction cannot involve taking away contact with your family, or basic needs such as food and drink. You will always have the chance to talk about your feelings, what went wrong and how to make things better in the future. Remember, we want you to be happy and to enjoy yourself while living at Elm Grove; we only want what is best for you.

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Your health and safety at Elm Grove

While you are at Elm Grove you will be encouraged to keep yourself safe. Young people at Elm Grove are encouraged to develop their independence and life skills, which could sometimes be a little bit scary as it may involve trying new things. The staff are here to help you to plan to do these things safely.

Staff at Elm Grove will support you with all your health needs. If you need them to they will support you when you visit the doctor or nurse, dentist, optician or hospital. If you feel worried or need more help ask them.

Fire

All the rooms at Elm Grove have smoke or heat detectors. Every Wednesday the fire alarm is tested and there are regular checks to see how long it would take to get everyone out of the building if there was a real fire! If you hear the fire bell Staff will support you and guide you to the safest place. Do not worry, they are here to look after you.

Security

All the outside doors are locked whenever young people are at home. Some inside doors are always locked for safety (for example, the medication room); others can be locked when necessary (for example, the main kitchen). Doors are not locked unless there is a good reason; this is decided on the basis of the risk assessments of the young people who are staying at the time. The doors that separate the units from the front door, the front door itself and the door from the lounges to the garden are locked electro-mechanically. This means that if there were a fire the locks would automatically release, allowing the young people and staff to leave the building.

Visitors

Your family can visit you (if agreed by your social worker) but it is best if they phone in advance to arrange a time. Friends can visit too (except during school time or working hours), preferably after 6 in the evening on weekdays and at weekends. All visitors have to leave by 9 at night. If you do not have regular visitors you can ask for someone called an ‘independent visitor’ to visit you at Elm Grove on a regular basis. This person may be able to take you out. There may be some other visitors who come to see you and staff at Elm Grove:

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The Regulation 33 visitor will visit every four weeks to check that the home is running as it should be. The Ofsted inspector will visit Elm Grove at least twice a year to check that the manager is running the home properly and to check that you are well looked after. Both of these visitors may ask you for your thoughts about Elm Grove.

Other professional staff that have a particular interest in you or the home may visit Elm Grove while you are living here. They will want to check you are being looked after properly and feel safe and cared for.

Other visitors include:

• socialworkers • othermedicalstaff• children’srightsworkers • firesafetyofficers• doctorsandnurses • workmen.

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You will come across the Children’s Rights Service (CRS) while living at Elm Grove. This service is available to all young people living at Elm Grove and in other homes across Kirklees. The CRS can offer you support if you feel that you are not being listened to or if you are unhappy with anything in your life and feel that you would like to talk to someone outside of Elm Grove. You can also have lots of fun meeting new friends and involving yourself in drama, art and discussion groups. Gemma and Rachel are Elm Grove’s link workers. They will visit Elm Grove and spend time to talk with you to see if you feel happy, safe and cared for at Elm Grove.

Children’s Rights Service can be contacted at:Brian Jackson House, New North ParadeHuddersfield, HD1 5JP

Telephone: 0800 389 3312 [free of charge]Email: childrens.rights@kirklees.gov.uk

You can also contact The Children’s Rights Director for England (CRD) – Roger Morgan at Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6SETelephone: 0800 5280731Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk

What about school?

If you are of school age, you will be expected to go to school. Support and computers are available at Elm Grove for homework.

Elm Grove staff will attend open evenings and talk regularly with your school about how you are getting on. They will visit you in school if you and your teacher agree this would help you. You will have a Personal Education Plan (PEP) which helps the teacher and Elm Grove staff plan your education support.

Leisure activities

At Elm Grove we will support you to attend and take part in lots of different leisure activities, both inside and outside the home. Here are some activities young people have enjoyed while living at Elm Grove:

Can I make a complaint, compliment or comment

Yes you can….If you are not happy or want to complain about something you can talk to any member of staff at Elm Grove. We have a pictures and symbols book which some young people use to help them explain. It’s called ‘Your Choice Book’.

Posters and leaflets about the complaints system must be available in Elm Grove. There are pictures up around Elm Grove explaining who you should contact if you want to complain.

If you wish to express thanks or make a comment, please contact the Complaints, Comments and Compliments Unit. All expressions of thanks or comments will be acknowledged and passed on to the members of staff concerned.

• swimming,horseriding,dancingandskating

• hydro,tennis,bowling,bikeriding• cinema,theatre,pantomime• art&crafts,drawingandpainting• visitingparksandthemeparks

• viewingtwobigTVsandplaystations

• minipooltable,cookingandmusic• footballandrugbymatchesand much much more….

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Leaving Elm Grove

The young people living at Elm Grove may move on or leave for many different reasons. Some go back to their original families or other relatives. Some go to live with new families. Some leave to live in their own place.

Whatever the reason for moving on, the staff at Elm Grove will help you prepare for that move. If you are moving to services for adults we will help you put together a plan which helps everyone know what you want and what you don’t want from your new place.

After all, it’s your future!

Coming back

You are welcome to come back and visit your friends and staff at Elm Grove once you have left. It is helpful if you phone before you plan to visit so that staff can ensure they are available to talk with you and spend time with you.

Confidentiality

We will not share any personal information about you with anyone else unless it is in your best interests to do so. If we need to pass on information about you we will talk to you first. If you choose to talk to other young people about your personal issues then this is up to you.

Any questions?

We hope the information in this booklet has helped you understand a little more about Elm Grove. If you have any further questions please ask or speak with any of the staff at Elm Grove. They are always happy to help you and if they do not know the answer to your question they will find out!

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By post:

Complaints, Comments and Compliments Unit

FREEPOSTKirklees Directorate for Children and Young PeopleCivic Centre 1, Huddersfield

Text: COMPLAIN to 80800 or Telephone: 01484 225140.

Online:

www.kirklees.gov.uk/childrenscomplaints

for details of the statutory complaints procedure.

If you or your family are not satisfied with Kirklees complaints procedure, you should contact:

OFSTEDPiccadilly Gate, Store StreetManchester, M1 2WD

Telephone: 0300 1231231 31

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Useful addresses and contact numbers

ChildlineTelephone: 0800 1111 [free of charge]Website: www.childcare.org.uk

Voice for the Child in Care

Unit 4, Pride Court80-82 White Lion Street, AngelLondon, N1 9PFTelephone: 0808 800 5792 [free of charge]Website: www.voiceyp.org

Children’s Rights Service

Brian Jackson House,New North ParadeHuddersfield, HD1 5JP,Telephone: 0800 389 3312 [free of charge]Email: childrens.rights@kirklees.gov.ukWebsite: www.kirklees.gov.uk/kick

Child Protection and Review Unit

Westfields, Westfields Road,Mirfield, WF14 9PWTelephone: 01924 483749

Children with a Disability Team

Westfields,Westfields Road,Mirfield, WF14 9PW

Complaints, Comments and Compliments Unit

FREEPOSTKirklees Directorate for Children and Young PeopleCivic Centre 1, HuddersfieldText: COMPLAIN to 80800Telephone: 01484 225140Website: www.kirklees.gov.uk/childrenscomplaints for details of the statutory complaints procedure.

Independent Review Officers

Directorate for Children and Young PeopleKnowle Park HouseCrowlees RoadMirfield, WF14 9PR

OFSTED

Picadilly GateStore StreetManchester, M1 2WDTelephone: 0300 1231231 31