Our Approach - Supported Accommodation

LCS knows that every young person is different. We don’t believe in ‘one size fits all’. We understand that we need to earn trust and respect by being reliable, safe and having caring staff who can positively impact young people gradually. We won’t assume how they feel – it’s up to them to tell us when the time is right.

We have a demonstrable track record of providing high quality and flexible services for both care leavers and their commissioning Local Authority. Our services are built around the needs of the young person, and the objectives of their responsible authority

LCS supports young people to achieve independence – through informal but structured day-to-day personalised support, and a specific Preparation for Independence programme. Preparation for Independence covers the skills to live independently, eg. money management, housing, rights and responsibilities, health, volunteering, safety, relationships, running a household and employment, education or training.

Support & Independence

Leaving Care Solutions delivers a personalised Preparation for Independence programme to all young people within our supported accommodation or receiving floating support. Personalised support planning identifies areas where young people will benefit most, ensuring individual plans are appropriate and targeted.

Our structured, strengths-based ‘Independent Living Journey’ teaches independent living skills and records progress in a bespoke workbook that young people co-produce. Young people can choose to work towards AQA accreditation, which provides valuable, recognisable qualifications evidencing their skillset as well as providing a sense of achievement.

Group Of Young People Hanging Out In The Home

Accommodation

At LCS, we will only place young people in accommodation that we and our family would be happy to live in.

Our duty of care to young people is reflected in the way we source, furnish and maintain our properties – by ensuring only safe, high quality and suitable premises are used. All our properties are compliant with required housing standards and requirements.

Young People's Views

We put the young person at the centre of developing their own Action Plan, ensuring it identifies specific goals and outcomes that are important to the young person.

We also encourage and promote young people making their new home their own. This includes personalising their room with photos, posters, furnishings and possessions that will help them to feel at home

Young Person Confiding In Support Worker

Safeguarding

We work with referrers to ensure relevant information is shared regarding the young person’s background and known risks. This informs the matching process for young people entering group living accommodation, ensuring they can be placed alongside other young people safely.

We implement Safer Recruitment practices which ensure all staff are appropriately qualified and able to deliver a safe, high quality service.

Quality & Monitoring

We follow a systematic approach to quality management and monitoring, including external certification, an internal Quality Management Framework and a culture of continual improvement.

Our staff are trained as licensed users of the evidence-based Outcomes Star™ monitoring system. As well as providing valuable information about progress to guide our work, this also encourages young people to co-produce their own progress records and encourages participation, ownership and accuracy.