Our Referral Process
We strive to support individuals, families and professionals to find the right support service/s and to relieve any anxieties and concerns when searching for support.
Our Referral and Placement Process is extremely thorough and enables us to get to know each individual and their support needs in as much depth as possible. This allows us to identify and plan support and services in line with individual need – with the person at the centre of everything we do. Our Business Development Team, Directors of Operations, Registered and Deputy Managers and Chief Operating Officer are all highly involved from start to finish to ensure that the process is seamless.
We welcome all enquiries and are happy to provide information regarding our services and support to anyone who gets in touch. We initially become aware of individuals who require support by speaking with the individual, their families or representatives, social worker, placement finder or local commissioning body. Through this initial interaction, we are able to gather as much information as possible about the individual’s interests, skills, support needs and preferences.
In the next stage of our Referral and Placement Process, we begin to assess individual support needs and compatibility with our services and support. By reviewing an individual’s information and documentation further, we are able to explore all options, assess suitability and specifically match individual support needs, personal aspirations and preferences to the most appropriate service(s). Options are then fed back and if suitability is agreed by all involved, we will arrange and complete a Face to Face Assessment.
We also offer individuals requiring support and/or their families or support networks the opportunity to come along and visit the identified service(s), as well as meet with the managerial and support teams.
Our Face to Face Assessment usually involves the Manager and a Senior Team Member of our identified service(s) meeting the individual, their support teams and sometimes families. This can take place where the individual currently lives or spends a lot of time e.g. Family home, current placement, residential school. Here, support needs and aspirations are discussed and assessed in greater depth. Compatibility with the service and the level of support we would provide are also identified.
Following assessment, we feedback our findings to all relevant individuals involved and confirm whether or not our support and service(s) are suitable. If our service(s) are suitable, we will submit a proposal to the individuals Health and Social Care Team. Our proposals include levels of support, how support would be provided, any multi-disciplinary input required from our internal team, written assessment and our cost breakdown.
Once we have submitted our proposal, an individual’s Social Worker or Care Manager and Commissioning Team will then liaise. Funding can be either agreed or refused at ‘panel’ – which is where members of the Commissioning Team and the individual’s Social Worker or Care Manager meet to decide whether or not the proposed placement will be agreed and funded. The time that this takes can vary, however we keep in regular contact with the Health and Social Care Team, the individual and family members.
What happens if funding is not agreed?
If funding is not agreed for an individual’s placement, their social worker or care manager should discuss and explore alternative solutions with them and their family or support network. On some occasions, funding can return to commissioning panel for further consideration. If funding still refused at this stage, the social worker or care manager should discuss other options with the individual and their family or support network. Many placements are agreed with differing timeframes for each. Once funding is agreed, individuals are able to begin transition planning for their new home and support.
Once funding is agreed, we begin to plan ‘transition’ for the individual to ensure that their move to their new home is as smooth as possible. We also offer transition support for outreach packages to allow time for the individual to get to know their new support team. Transition Support is planned between the individual, their current and new support teams and family members.
Every transition is different as this is based upon individual need, however the main aim is to reduce anxieties around the upcoming change(s) in the individual’s life. We understand how crucial it is to get the transition period right and we usually offer:
- Meeting and beginning to build relationships with the new support team in individuals familiar surroundings
- Shadowing and observations
- The use of social stories, visuals or other augmentative communication methods to increase understanding, choice and expectation
- Day and overnight stays in the individual’s new home
- Decorating the individuals new flat/room to their taste and to increase familiarity
- Our transition planning and support are fully funded by ourselves as we believe this is crucial to the success of an individual’s placement and wellbeing
With a structured and thorough transition complete and familiarity, trust and relationships already growing, the individual is prepared and ready to move into their new home! Formal support starts at this point, however regular contact is maintained with the individuals Health and Social Care Team and family every step of the way.
With a structured and thorough transition complete and familiarity, trust and relationships already growing, the individual is prepared and ready to move into their new home! Formal support starts at this point, however regular contact is maintained with the individuals Health and Social Care Team and family every step of the way.
