Ascension Social Care ETHOS, AIMS AND OUTCOME

• Ascension Social Care’s ethos is to provide a safe and nurturing environment where all our young people’s welfare is promoted, and they are cared for in a manner that helps them develop positively and progress. Our home shall provide a consistent, nurturing and caring environment using a professional approach to maintaining boundaries and realistic expectations, to allow healthy and positive relationships to build between the staff team and our young people.

  
  We aim to be proactive in seeking and establishing a true and clear picture of each young person’s unique and specific needs and wishes before moving into our homes. We recognise that gathering information and a picture of the young person can be challenging; however, knowing the details about their character, individuality and what makes them special and unique is crucial to success for the individual placement. We shall involve the individual circle of support with clear communication channels in place.

  
  We shall provide robust advocacy for the young people ensuring that their voices are prominent and influential. We shall appropriately challenge decisions where we feel that these are not in the best interest of the young person, making clear our rationale and views. Where a young person expresses dissatisfaction or wishes to make a representation, we shall work with that young person to help them identify a way forward.

  
  With the individual at the forefront, we design an individualised care and risk plan that demonstrates both the broader, longer-term goals as well as the shorter-term day-to-day care practice. We aim to encourage the young people to take ownership and invest in their plans. They will only achieve this if they are ‘connected' and involved in this plan. Our plans are developed in collaboration with the young person, the team surrounding the young person, and any other available information. All targets are SMART, and we ensure that we can monitor progress within the plan.

  
  Safeguarding our young people is paramount, and therefore risk assessments must be clear, detailed and effective, with defined roles for staff and the professionals involved in risk management strategies. We believe that young people should be supported to manage risk where this is appropriate and feasible. Each young person is instrumental in helping us understand how we can collectively manage and mitigate any risks.

  
  We utilise key working and one-to-one working to assist our young people in understanding their concerns and developing strategies with them to minimise risks and keep themselves secure. The young person's support network will be kept informed of any incidents or new potential risks, whilst all risk assessments remain live working documents to ensure they are continually updated.
  We aim to support our young people to successfully navigate significant changes and challenges. We strive to develop enterprising strategies and positive relationships, and encourage young people to assume greater control over their lives.

  
  With staff serving as role models, we aim to assist our young people in forming and maintaining meaningful and beneficial relationships with one another and those significant to them. We understand the significance of the wider community and how these young people may feel marginalised. We utilise these opportunities to encourage them to understand the diversity of cultures and beliefs within wider communities, and leverage these experiences to discuss and gain insights into becoming a productive and valued member of the community.
  The use of diversity days to celebrate different cultures will be evident within the home, and the young people will have input into what they would like to express around this.
  

  Staff interaction with young people will be sensitive, readily available, reliable, warm, responsive and consistent. In this manner, we aspire for young people to have a sense of belonging in a stable and caring environment. We aim for our young people to understand their life story while exploring their identity and culture, cultivating their interest in life and their future. We aim for young people to be engaged in education, employment or training as age-appropriate. We shall support them to progress academically by collaborating with educational professionals. We aim for our young people to develop intellectual and creative skills through the accessible and stimulating environment in the home and via external activities.
  

  Where our young people cannot manage mainstream education or have been excluded, we shall offer our alternative education programme (virtual education).
  We aim for young people to be in good health and support everyone to register with a local general practitioner and dentist, and attend all health-related appointments. Staff shall offer to accompany all young people to every health appointment and support young people to become more independent, guiding them through the process of booking their own appointments. We shall emphasise the importance of nutrition and offer weekly cooking activities with menus to promote a balanced and varied diet. We will support young people to keep themselves healthy through exercise and or making use of local fitness centres.