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Safe Steps: Delivering Improved Outcomes
Safe Steps Transitional programme has been created:
To stop a cycle of placement disruption that may lead to long term residential care.
To facilitate the transition into a stable family based environment for those already in long term residential
care.
The additional outcome for the referring Local Authority is that:
They benefit financially, making significant savings.
The significant savings that result from the outcomes of this programme are simply derived from the fact that
the Local Authority, post-Safe Steps, has a choice of cost effective options compared to meeting the costs
of long term residential care.
So what contributes to these improved outcomes?
The 3 Step structure of the Safe Steps is designed to ensure high quality, consistency and continuity of care throughout the programme.
From the initial rigorous assessment, the residential staff, social work staff, therapists and foster carers all work and train alongside each other providing an holistic approach to the care of the young person based on need. Progress is reviewed collectively (including the Local Authority) on a monthly basis ensuring that all are working cohesively and responsively toward the next agreed goal in the programme.
Education is an essential element of every young person's development and an integral part of the structure of Safe Steps programme. Safe Steps will find the most suitable education provision based on an individual assessment and in liaison with the placing authority during each stage of the programme.
Education may be mainstream provision or a Local Authority Special School. Marlowe Child & Family Services also run two Special Needs Schools near to the Safe Steps residential units. These schools can provide appropriate education for students with Emotional & Behavioural Difficulties, Mild Learning Difficulties and / or Autistic Spectrum Disorders. This includes students with statements of Special Educational Needs.
Fees for education are not included in the basic Safe Steps Fee. Full details, including Ofsted / Estyn reports, are available on request.
Safe Steps - The Team
Programme Leader
The Safe Steps programme leader ensures regular contact with all key members of the programme and is a critical link between the Safe Steps programme and the referring Local Authority.
Marlowe Team
The Marlowe team includes Therapeutic Care Workers, Clinical and Educational Psychologists, Psychiatric Nurses, Psychotherapists, Play Therapists and Creative Therapists, Teachers and Teaching Assistants. The Marlowe residential team initially undertake a thorough programme of assessment and create positive relationships with the children and young people. Valuing them and their experiences, and treating them with respect is seen as key to helping with their psychological growth and emotional recovery.
Clinical intervention initially involves a thorough and detailed series of psychological assessments. These inform the development of the behavioural support plan which is used initially by residential staff, and later by foster carers as the basis of their therapeutic interventions. Individual therapy on a one to one basis is available, as appropriate throughout the Safe Steps programme and beyond.
Safe Steps Foster Carers
Safe Steps foster carers are selected from within Pathway Care's existing foster carer team or are specifically recruited by Pathway Care. In addition to Pathway Care's mainstream foster care training, they also receive enhanced training from the Safe Steps team and this includes
Non-violent confrontation
De-escalation
Residential Care First Aid Course
Preparing for Independence
Appropriate Adult Training
Working with children who hurt
Managing challenging behaviour
Working with troubled teenagers
Care planning
In addition each Safe Steps foster carer receives further training specific to their needs and those of the young person for whom they are to care.
The foster carers train alongside residential workers and therapists and shadow residential workers during their induction period. Once matched with the young person on the Safe Steps programme, the Safe Steps Foster Carer works alongside the residential staff on a regular basis, developing relationships with the young person as well as learning and mirroring positive strategies for conflict management etc. The foster carers work intensively with colleagues and other professionals to ensure consistency of care throughout the transition period.
A major contributor to the quality of the outcome achieved is the quality of the Safe Steps foster carers. The profile below is typical of the type of carer recruited for this programme.
Pathway Care Support Team
Safe Steps foster carers benefit from weekly visits from the Programme Leader and access to high levels of ongoing support from the local Regional Support Centre including 24 hour on call services.