Working with families

Rationale• LAs talk about ‘sending people away’ to ISCs• LAs talk about students who attend ISPs being

isolated from their local communities• LAs talk about how difficult it is to return to county

after attending an ISC• ISCs are concerned about leavers and smooth

transitions to the next phase of their lives• Harness the lessons learned by ex students, parents

who have been through the process and college knowledge

• To support families to work together to achieve good outcomes for students when they leave

What does your ISC do?

Every college must have similar issues –

How do you support families of college

leavers to influence destination outcomes?

PracticeAt a SWISC meeting colleges agreed to run events to support ISC leavers in the county they are based

• The events were NOT to recruit for our colleges but to support all young people returning or continuing to live locally to our colleges post course.

• To support families to get to know each other• To share resources to enjoy activities post

college

Fairfield ActivitiesStudents

• Talk about interests• Collect stickers• Compare stickers• Introduce parents• Exchange details if

appropriate

Parents• Speakers:

Community Connecting

WEST

Wiltshire Parents Carers

Ex Students• ‘Circle Time’ to provide

mutual support and ask questions

Nick’s Story

Nick’s Transition PlanWhilst at Lufton a possible outcome – Nick living with his mate Scott

Lufton worked with both families

The boys shared a house in their final year

Transitioned to new home in final term

Lads living 5-6 days per week in new home• Supported 24 x7 by a team of four • Each has his own varied routine, with

several activities together

• First holiday booked for March 2014

What’s involved?Parent(s) apply to be a Deputy of the Court of Protection:-

powers may apply to any aspect of the person’s life, including their finances, personal welfare and consenting to medical treatment and social care interventions Choose housemate(s)Agree location of new homeSelect support organisationDecide whether to use a landlord

Get the Local Authority ‘On side’

Know what you want and get organised

Make it clear you are making the decisions

Be very clear - there is only one acceptable outcome

If you are a Deputy of the Court of Protection use these powers

  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Morning SwimmingWork -

MontacuteBus trip Housework Work - cafe Cycling

Varied activities including down-time

Afternoon GardeningVaried

activitiesGym Shopping Art Class

Varied activities including down-time

Varied activities including down-time

Evening Youth ClubStaying In

(TV,DVD,PS3,iPad)

Staying In (TV,DVD,PS3,

iPad)

Cinema, Bowling or Pizza

Staying In (TV,DVD,PS3,

iPad)Night Out

Staying In (TV,DVD,PS3,

iPad)

Getting the right individual budgetPlan potential activities

Getting the right individual budget

Decide which activities are individual and which are shared with housemates

Take advice as to what’s a reasonable budget

Be firm, but also be prepared to negotiate

Getting the right house

Calculate total housing benefit

Identify house

Sign lease/tenancy

Apply for housing benefit

Moving in

Furnish the house

Appoint support workers

Set up bank accountsOne for individual budgetOne for income & expenditureJoint Account (with housemate) for utility bills, TV licence etc

Cashbook account for day to day spending

Nick & Scott’s House

Recommendations• Advertise through Natspec to get students

and their families from other ISCs to attend• Make the activities appropriate for the group –

parents want something different to students• Needs to be quite light, fun and engaging as

well as informative • Give them homework! • Include speakers (parents and students) who

have been through the process as well as professionals

Questions• How far do you involve the Local Authority?

• Do you invite students from Local FE Colleges?

• Do we invite future care providers?

• Do we invite day services/other colleges?

• Should we try to do an ‘Annual Families Day’ / ‘Transition Event’ across the sector which could be promoted by Natspec?