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The primary purpose of all the homes within Southern Adolescent Care Services is to provide a safe, nurturing and therapeutic environment for the young people residing there. We attempt to tailor the home and the structure of the day to the needs of the young people and of those working with them. The homes are maintained to a high standard on a day-to-day basis by staff on duty, not least due to the importance for young people to witness appropriate role-modelling at this level.
The secondary purpose of the homes is to provide a functional living space for the young people and those around them, designed to promote a warm, healthy and educational environment rich in opportunities for personal achievement and development. Our aim is to assist in their psychological and physical development through a continual cycle of accurate assessment, care planning, monitoring and evaluation of their progress.
Southern Adolescent Care Services firmly believes that the environment in which a young person lives influences their behaviour. To this end, staff strive to maintain a consistent, progressive environment and strong emphasis is placed on staff members role-modeling healthy, functional attitudes and behaviours. It is our belief that any contact time between a member of staff and a young person is a potential learning experience. We believe that staff should, at all times, be approachable and accessible for the young people in our care..
We see communication as being a key skill in the development of young people. It is our belief that integration and compromise are the most important ways in which to facilitate functionality. Within the environment of the home, we understand that even if an appropriate skill or behaviour is “learnt”, its application and repetition lead to its’ acceptance and adoption. We place great emphasis on young people building self-esteem by encouraging personal achievement and regular self assessment with keyworkers and providing access to high quality counselling and psychotherapy along with other specialist services.
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