Supported lodgings What we expect from you: A supported lodgings carer is expected to provide a safe and supportive environment to a young person aged 16 to 18, who may either be moving towards independence as a child looked after or have experienced family breakdown. The following is a list of the type of activities that a carer is expected to undertake in support of any young person placed in supportive lodgings: A supported lodgings carer is expected to: •Provide a spare room in their home for a young person •Help to develop a young person’s life skills with a view to independent living eg budgeting, form filling, relationships, etc •Help develop a young person’s sense of identity and self-worth •Provide a safe and supportive environment •Help a young person to learn how to keep themselves safe •Be a good advocate for them •Understand diversity and promote equality They should provide the young person with support and encouragement, to: • Maintain or find college/employment/training • Pursue any hobbies/interests • Cook nutritious and inexpensive meals • Maintain personal cleanliness • Keep safe • Keep to boundaries set within the home • Keep within the boundaries of the law • Lead a socially accepted lifestyle • Maintain contact with family members if possible • Attend placement reviews and meetings • Liaise with various professionals within Children’s Services • Inform us of any changes in young person’s behaviour or circumstances • Maintain confidentiality at all times • Attend court with young person if required www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/supportedlodgings What do we give you? Support for carers We do ask a lot of our carers and by return offer: •A dedicated supervising social worker who will provide you with support advice and guidance through regular meetings •2 4 hour telephone support •E ssential equipment and resources if required •A comprehensive training programme including specialist training of young people • Mandatory Training, Development Standards (TDS) training. • Access to a well-established support network run by other carers • Support from a team of professionals working with the child (Social Care, Health and Education) • Benefits and discounts for carers including free use of Bracknell Forest’s leisure centres, Coral Reef and the Look Out Discovery Centre • An allowance for the young person you are caring for Real Life stories ... r e r a c s g n i g d upported lo S ings pported lodg su a g in m o c e out letting ought of b as worried ab and so the th w , e se h u s o a h g e in th Mary d a ird young u ers in are on our th k a bit of pers e o aving teenag w h to d d d n e n a a , lik w sb o ys u n a nce. lf yh I’ve alw aking a differe year and a ha aling to me. M m a e f r p o p fo y a it a w g lly a a in o re is d to. carer was this – it really . We’ve been meone to talk g se in so u o o d d h e r r e e u n d o o si h to n nely kids w u should co a teenager in ey are just lo teenagers yo th e s e lik m u ti e yo m If o . person enagers. S m are lippy te Not all of the How support Kelly ed lodgings h elped me Kelly, now 18 , spent 14 mo nths with her to live indepe Supported Lo ndently. dgings Carers “I was placed John and Ma in foster care ry before mo a few months ving on time in a loca before my 16 l shared housi th birthday, a ng resource b At the time I nd when I turn efore being tr was nervous ed 16 I spent ansferred to and didn’t kn or family. I wa some live with supp ow what to e s sarcastic, I o x rt p ed lodgings c e ct. When I firs was drinking - getting arre arers. t arrived I did a lot and han sted all the ti n’t have any ging around me for things fr w “I spent the fi ie it nds h lik a really bad c e criminal da rst week and rowd. I was h mage and th a half just sa quiet and enc e o ft. rrible t in my room, losed. John w without even as persistent listened to m sp eaking to my and eventually e. Gradually carers. At ho I opened up I opened up my old friend me I was and at the sa to him - he talke s, and stoppe m e time my self d to me and d drinking. “John and M e he st e em improved ary taught m . I stopped se e how to step fend for myse eing back from m lf - life skills, y family prob how to cook thinking abou lems. They a and clean. M t myself. I did lso taught me y issue was th n’t think I wa feel really po how to at I try to help s worth helpin sitive about th other people g . I’m now bac e relationship on my own. I before k in contact w I have with th live near Joh ith my family em. In May, ju n and Mary in process of m and I st a a fter I had turn one bedroom oving, and all ed 18, I move flat. At first I of the agreem rubbish with d out felt a bit isola ents, quite co money at firs ted. I also fou nfusing. Now t - but I’m ge n Mary and Joh d I tt the a in m g fi b n etter. I can’t w ding it good. n really did it ait to get a jo I was really for me. They around. I kno b now. gave me con w they will alw fidence and th ays be there ey really help for me, they ed me turn m are like my fa y life mily.” © Design and Print Services 2015