Admissions Process

Referrals are accepted for young people presenting with a range of multiple challenging behaviours. For young people with severe learning disabilities, physical disabilities or diagnosed mental health problems, the Placing Authority would need to provide the required information in order to ascertain the ability of the home to comprehensively meet the needs of that young person.

The initial referral information and subsequent pre-entry assessment provides us with the information required to allow the full compilation of the young person’s Placement Plan and Care File. This information is gathered from the referral forms, Looked after Children paperwork, previous psychological reports, Court reports, Youth Offending reports and family chronological history. This is completed prior to admission (where ever possible) and assists in the appropriate placement of a young person in any Plus One home.

The time taken ensures that appropriate provision in line with the Care Standards Act 2000 and Department of Health guidelines, which meets the identified needs of the young person, may be put into place and that selected personnel may be given adequate training regarding issues relating to that young person before they arrive at Plus One. We believe that good planning and preparation is the key to a successful placement. We always endeavour to match the needs of the child with the skills and personality of the support workers.

Initial contact with us is usually made via the social worker, youth justice worker, guardian ad litem, solicitor or psychologist to our Practice Manager. On receipt of a referral we will then send a referral form requesting specific information about the young person being referred. At this time we invite the interested parties to visit Plus One, take up references and explore our suitability to work with their young person.

Our Practice Manager will visit the young person within their current placement to make their own assessment of their suitability for a Plus One placement. A meeting between Practice Manager and Registered Manager will reject or confirm a placement proposal with opinions based on the referral form, availability of professional’s reports, the manager’s pre-entry assessment and of course the wishes of the young person.

If the placement is to proceed and contracts have been agreed it is usual for the future support team to begin working with the young person in their current placement for relationship building and forward planning. The young person will be asked to become involved in choosing decoration, furniture and fittings for their future home.