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Southern Adolescent Care Services have a variety of methods to ensure the practical development of the young people we look after. The most obvious being our formal life skills programme. This covers everything from wiring a plug to sexual health, voting rights to safe sunbathing and a considerable amount in between. Once young people reach the age of sixteen they are given a weekly budget and with guidance from staff plan a menu, shop and cook for themselves. In addition all young people are required to complete daily chores, including their own laundry and keeping their rooms clean.
Of course, while these areas are important, they are not the only abilities young people need to develop in order to lead successful lives and survive in the outside world. Those necessary include: Social skills such as how to treat others, appropriate use of humour, how and when to be assertive, manners, courtesy and controlling anger. Other issues are coping with stress and loss as well as more complex dilemmas like putting others first without being exploited and how to be both ambitious and realistic.
While psychotherapy from external sources and key work sessions with staff aid progress in these areas, young people do not like to feel as if they are continually being counselled. As a result a considerable amount is achieved informally, firstly through the ability of staff to build strong, trusting relationships with young people so they feel comfortable approaching staff with both day to day and significant problems. These bonds will also make it easier for young people to accept staff having to occasionally issue unsolicited advice. Secondly through role-modelling, because staff consistently demonstrate the appropriate attitude and behaviour, young people cannot help but learn.
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