Inspire Community Services is developing into a leading provider of Community Support and supported accommodation services.

We have been accepted on the Placements Northwest Care Leavers Tender framework, meeting all the required standards. This enables any Local Authority in the Northwest to make a referral to us, where we can then complete our risk and needs assessment working with all relevant professionals. We are also developing our services into Yorkshire in 2016 to become a preferred provider across the county with a range of services for LAC and Care Leavers.

Inspire continued partnerships with Social and Private Landlords, can give young people the opportunity to take over the tenancy, if demonstrating stability in the accommodation and have a good level of Independence Skills.

The purpose of our group supported living  service is to give service users the opportunities of acquiring the necessary skills to best prepare themselves for independent living. Group Supported Living Placements offered by Inspire Community Services provide service users ‘in home and community’ support followed by continued outreach from our Support Workers which is outlined in this model.

Many care leavers experience homelessness and problems finding decent, affordable accommodation. The Children Leaving Care Act 2000 gives local authorities the duty to accommodate young people ‘in need’ and the Homelessness Act 2002 stipulates that local authorities must now deem 16 and 17 year olds and 18 to 21 year olds leaving care to be in priority need of housing.

Inspire Community Services  will provide Floating Support in our Solo Supported Living Placements for (Post 16) in a 4 phase model for and will consider bespoke packages for young people Post 16 and young adults preparing to leave care or actual care leavers and young people or young adults who are or at risk been homeless.

Inspire Community Services can offer Training or Education and also support this externally including support with housing and employment within the early stages of any support packages.

Preparing for independence

At Inspire Community Services we believe that young people who are preparing for independence need additional help to increase their chances of being able to successfully live on their own or share with others. Inspire Community Services provides an accredited independence programme, which supports care leavers to increase life skills social and emotional development, raising confidence and self esteem.

That’s why we have set up an Independence Training Programme which lasts 10 sessions – some of which are for either a half or full day in their home or at our training facility.

At Inspire Community Services we will work with the placing authorities, to put together robust support plans and risk assessments, to ensure the needs of the clients can be met. As part of our packages we will make clear recordings of progress care leavers make, which will be securely stored in our Head Office in-line with our data protection policy and procedure. This can be accessed on request by the client and placing authority.

Inspire Community Services  source appropriate accommodation  working in partnership with the local council or Housing Associations and the private rented sector. Inspire Community Service can act as a guarantor, but is not the Landlord). Our existing working partnerships allow us to quickly source accommodation to meet the needs of the young people, care leaver or families. Inspire Community Services  are able to take on tenancies for young people and their families, if this is supported by the referred local authorities and the Landlord of the properties.

By initially having a small number of private rented properties available, Inspire Community Service  can react to placement requests by Local Authorities at very short notice and provide emergency accommodation

We can provide, bespoke wraparound mental health services for residents who have complex mental health and social care difficulties. Our psychotherapeutic approach is recovery-orientated, informed by Attachment Theory and aims to address unresolved trauma associated with abuse and/ or neglect. In respect of self-harm, a harm minimisation approach is used.

Inspire Community Services also have access referral based to  mentoring services for young people or young adults, through a grant funded programme through our partnership with Creative Futures TSS CIC. Mentors can meet with the young people each week over agreed periods at the young person’s education/training placement, home or in the local community, helping to build your confidence self-esteem and encouraging and rewarding positive behaviour.

The mentoring service to support young people, young adults and their families to achieve goals such as improved relationships within the home, reduced anti-social behaviour, improved educational attainment, joining a club or taking part in positive activities.

A’desso supports Inspire Community Service by providing a Bi Monthly Quality Assurance review which will include consultation with service users, professionals and key stakeholders, producing a report with good practice recommendations or requirements. On request the QA report can be sent to any placing authority. These reports are then analysed by the Service Manager in order an action plan can be produced to ensure continued progress is made to the service delivery;

• Quality Assurance
• Service Reviews
• Regulation Inspections & Reports
• Policy review.
• Training & Personal Development

A’desso is currently supporting a number Children’s Homes, Post 16 Supported Living Services and Foster Care Services across Yorkshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cheshire with compliance, Quality Assurance and be-spoked training requirements.

A’desso also works with Inspire Community Services to promote its in-house ‘Care Leaver Forum’, allowing us to show an independent commitment in seeking young people’s views and opinions in how to shape services, improve their experiences and journey through care. A’desso is also a current member of St Helens LSCB Empowerment and Engagement sub-committee for involvement and participation of young people.

A’desso Training & Development Ltd was established in May 2010 to provide staff training and support to develop the workforce predominantly in the North West of England, however, the planned expansion for 2015 will allow for a wider geographic to now include opportunities in Shropshire, the Yorkshire counties, County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland. Barry Henry Service Director has been involved in Social Care since 1992 and has successfully supervised and managed in Children’s and Young Peoples Residential Care, Pre-school Services, Leaving Care and Children with a Disability Services. He has acquired his skills and knowledge through his employment with Local Government, National Charities and the Independent Care Sector, and also with his experiences of being a Community School Governor and Mencap member. All Associate Partners and facilitators also have extensive experience and qualification in the Social Care field.

Barry Henry barry@inspirecs.org

BSc (Hons), DipSW, DipHEd, Nebosh, RMA, HABC Tutor 15760, Worksafe Tutor 654, Team Teach Senior Tutor