Staff
It is well recognised that a business’ greatest asset is the people it employs; this is rarely truer than in the care of young people. At Active Ark we are more interested in the personal attributes and aptitude of a prospective employee rather than their experience/qualifications in similar services. Our person profile for a care worker is well defined and we appreciate the benefit that mature and experienced people can bring to this role particularly those who have a wealth of life experience with families of their own. We employ people who possess maturity and empathy; those who naturally possess patience and understanding, have good listening skills and are non-judgemental. But also people with strength of character who are good role models and can establish standards of behaviour and boundaries and maintain them. Our care staff and managers are often commended by child care professionals for maintaining the highest standards of care and nurture through trying circumstances for the benefit of the child.
We will always allocate a Key Worker to a new child who comes to join us; they are usually a member of the team who strikes up a special rapport with the young person during the early stages of their stay. Each house has an allocated House Manager whose responsibility it is to ensure the highest standards of nurture, hygiene and administration in the home and promote safe, healthy living and responsible care practices.
We ensure that all our care workers achieve vocational and academic qualifications to a minimum of Scottish Vocational Qualification level 3 and Higher National Certificate in Health and Social Care so you can be assured that they are trained and qualified in national child care standards and legislation. We have several certified in-house trainers who are proficient in the teaching of proprietary methods of de-escalation and restraint to ensure the young person’s safety.
We have strict a strict recruitment policy and apply its procedures rigorously. We will not employ any individual without first obtaining enhanced level disclosures from Disclosure Scotland and satisfactory references from previous employers so you can be assured our staff very carefully vetted.
Finally and most importantly, this Service recognises the crucial role that parents and carers possess. It will communicate with parents, carers and significant others and encourage participation with them in furtherance of their child’s care to whatever degree they are comfortable with. The managers and care staff will work with parents and carers, arrange visits to the young person’s Active Ark home, facilitate visits to the young person’s family home or organise other activities as appropriate, the principle aim being to keep family ties strong in accordance with the Five Part Care Ethos.
Testimonials
“The staff seem to have a good rapport with the family”
Social Worker, Falkirk, 2009
“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
“Staff were very caring towards him and ensured that his needs were met”
Social Worker, Cumbria, 2009
“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
“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
“You presented ability to support her for any aspect of her needs”
Social Worker, Fife, 2009
“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.
“Active Ark are always very helpful and provide a first class service”
Social Worker, Falkirk, 2009
“Keep up the good work and thank you for all your help”
Social Worker, Dumfries and Galloway, 2009.
“The placement provided a good opportunity for her to take part in new activities in a safe environment”
Social Worker, Falkirk, 2008
“Impressed with committment of staff in a challenging placement”
Social Worker, Falkirk, 2008
“I rate your service 9 out of 10 – you listened”
Young Person, 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
“I would rate your service as 10 out of 10 - I felt safe all the time”
Young Person, 2008
“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
“Your involvement reduced the risks for the young person and for myself”
Social Worker, Fife, 2009
“Staff clearly knew the young people well and were sensitive to their individual needs and preferences”
Care Commission Inspector, 2008
“A high level of care offered for a challenging child and difficult family situation”
Social Worker, Falkirk, 2008
“Very happy, Active Ark will always support you”
Young Person, 2008
“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
“Staff stated that they enjoyed strong support from the management team”
Care Commission Inspector, 2008
“A challenging placement, the care provided by Active ark was consistently appropriate”
Social Worker, Dumfries & Galloway, 2007
“Communication with staff/managers is very good which contributes to the effect of Social Work involvement”
Social Worker, Fife, 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
“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
“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
“He came home from Active Ark a different boy, he is more settled and content”
Parent, 2009
“I feel that Active Ark workers do well in sometimes challenging situations”
Social Worker, Scottish Borders, 2009
“Active Ark have always demonstrated fully their reliability and commitment to their work”
Social Worker, Scottish Borders ,2009
“Many thanks for your services”
Senior Practitioner, Falkirk, 2008
“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.
“The staff are good and fair and will always treat you with respect”
Young Person, 2008
“Active Ark’s service is very competent and well organised”
Social Worker, Dumfries & Galloway, 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.