Intro to The Service
Families
Active Ark has developed its participation strategy to a high degree such that it was commended during the feedback of the 2010 Care Commission annual inspection. Of particular note was how well the management team had implemented the strategy’s principles and how well they had communicated those principles to the care staff who clearly understood and embraced them.
We are in no doubt that, resulting from our experience of communicating with and the inclusion of parents and carers, difficult and challenging situations have been ameliorated by adoption of the strategy. When our mature and dedicated care staff employ our open and inclusive approach to carer inclusion it provides carers with a level of trust and understanding, and most importantly often encourages them to adopt similar strategies.
Underwritten in our participation strategy is the premise that the position of the child care professional must not be undermined by the process. Being ever mindful of that, we believe that our participation strategy enables us to advise, advocate or mediate as appropriate and thereby assists the social worker and other child care professionals in furtherance of their objectives.
Our “keep it simple” approach is typified in the participation strategy; our service manager and the duty manager will establish and maintain communication with the parent/carer to an extent with which they are comfortable.
They are provided with copies of weekly reports and are invited to inspect and participate in the development of their child’s care plans. They are invited to be involved in other aspects of their child’s care and we communicate with them as much and by whatever means suits. Families are able to visit the young person’s Active Ark home, if appropriate, for meetings or social visits which we will facilitate; we will also facilitate visits to the family home, again as appropriate. So the strategy begins, it is then tailored to suit the individual needs of child and parents/carers and our managers and staff develop a relationship and understanding to all party’s mutual benefit especially that of the young person.
Reference can be made to the Young People and Carers section of this website to view the Service’s philosophy towards parents and carers inclusion and communication contained in the Five Part Child Care Ethos.
Testimonials
“Keep up the good work and thank you for all your help”
Social Worker, Dumfries and Galloway, 2009.
“Communication with staff/managers is very good which contributes to the effect of Social Work involvement”
Social Worker, Fife, 2009
“Staff clearly knew the young people well and were sensitive to their individual needs and preferences”
Care Commission Inspector, 2008
“Your care worker was so very understanding, and yet was able to challenge him and set the necessary boundaries to keep his charge safe”
Family Group Co-ordinator, Falkirk, 2007
“Many thanks for your services”
Senior Practitioner, Falkirk, 2008
“Your care worker had a great deal of patience with my Son, I think he went beyond the call of duty with him”
Parent, 2009
“The staff seem to have a good rapport with the family”
Social Worker, Falkirk, 2009
“Active Ark have always demonstrated fully their reliability and commitment to their work”
Social Worker, Scottish Borders ,2009
“The flexibility of both care staff and management enabled her to have input into her care whilst providing the protection that she needed”
Social Worker, Redcar and Cleveland, 2009
“Staff stated that they enjoyed strong support from the management team”
Care Commission Inspector, 2008
“Thank you so much for all the support you have given to him over the past months. He has made so much progress and it’s all down to the hard work of your staff”
Parent, Scottish Borders, 2008.
“Your involvement reduced the risks for the young person and for myself”
Social Worker, Fife, 2009
“I rate your service 9 out of 10 – you listened”
Young Person, 2008
“The continuity of staff who in turn were clearly committed to the young person . There was a good sense of this leading to a good and supportive relationship with the young person”
Social Worker, Falikirk, 2009
“Thank you very much for the help you gave to my boys while they were with you. I will not forget your caring and patience and the time you dedicated to helping them and talking to them through their time at Active Ark. I know you have made an impact on their lives for the better”
Parent, Falkirk, 2009.
“I feel that Active Ark workers do well in sometimes challenging situations”
Social Worker, Scottish Borders, 2009
“The standards of care at Active Ark are excellent and your Duty Managers systems work exceptionally well – always helpful and effective in my experiences with Active Ark”
Senior Practitioner, Falkirk, 2008
“He came home from Active Ark a different boy, he is more settled and content”
Parent, 2009
“Active Ark provided him with a very holistic model of carewhich included working with his whole family. This worked very well for him and definitely contributed to the progress he has made”
Social Worker, Scottish Borders, 2009
“Embracing and working with the whole family to ensure the young person remains an important and included member worked well and helped with solving problems and building resiliences”
Social Worker, Scottish Borders, 2009
“The staff are good and fair and will always treat you with respect”
Young Person, 2008
“It is difficult for care staff to remain impassive to the young person and to contribute to keeping the rules/boundaries/routines but your staff are able to provide the young person with all the skills, they are very proficient”
Social Worker, Dumfries & Galloway, 2008
“The care staff, especially his key worker, helped rebuild his trust in adults and helped him mature as a person”
Social Worker, Scottish Borders, 2009
“The placement provided a good opportunity for her to take part in new activities in a safe environment”
Social Worker, Falkirk, 2008
“You presented ability to support her for any aspect of her needs”
Social Worker, Fife, 2009
“Impressed with committment of staff in a challenging placement”
Social Worker, Falkirk, 2008
“It is acknowledged that staff were very often under a lot of stress when looking after her and considering this, their responses and standard of care was excellent”
Social Worker, Redcar and Cleveland, 2009.
“Active Ark are always very helpful and provide a first class service”
Social Worker, Falkirk, 2009
“Active Ark’s service is very competent and well organised”
Social Worker, Dumfries & Galloway, 2008
“Staff were very caring towards him and ensured that his needs were met”
Social Worker, Cumbria, 2009
“A challenging placement, the care provided by Active ark was consistently appropriate”
Social Worker, Dumfries & Galloway, 2007
“I would rate your service as 10 out of 10 - I felt safe all the time”
Young Person, 2008
“Very happy, Active Ark will always support you”
Young Person, 2008
“A high level of care offered for a challenging child and difficult family situation”
Social Worker, Falkirk, 2008