A residential children’s care home like no other, Positive Futures Homes has recently opened its doors and welcomed its first resident. The new social enterprise, which will offer a home away from home for young people, has grown out of the youth development charity Positive Futures. The new venture is 100% dedicated to driving up the standards in residential care, whilst also investing in the long-term future of a young person.
This new venture is unique in its approach. It will offer a full 360 support service to the young people within their care via Positive Futures, through one-to-one mental health support, youth development activities, and school holiday programs It is hoped that any support needed by the residents of Positive Futures Homes that cannot be met by the experienced residential team, can be supported by the wealth of services on offer at the youth charity.
Research by the NICE suggests that around 45% of looked-after children have a diagnosable mental health disorder, and up to 70%-80% have recognisable mental health concerns. This is why mental health provision will be offered as standard by Positive Futures Home young people will receive preferential access to the likes of Counselling Skills, CBT and Family Support, all of which are services offered by the Targeted Support Service at Positive Futures.
Positive Futures Homes first home, called ‘The Bungalow,’ is a 2-bedroom home, and has been designed to provide a ‘home away from home’ environment. This means that young people will have their own bedroom (that they can help decorate to make their own) and the home comforts that every other young person their age would expect as standard.
Young people will be supported by a team of ten youth-focused workers whose experience ranges from Specialist Education Provision to Secure Care Homes, post 16 accommodation to disability support. By recognising the unique contribution that the team makes to the lives of the young people, Positive Futures Homes will also offer a competitive remuneration and training package, significantly above current industry standards. This is part of their commitment to provide young people with the best possible support and care.
It is the hope that this will be the first of several Positive Futures Homes, all of which will share the same ambition, to be a children’s care home provider that others aspire to be. They will do this by upholding the following commitments;
CEO of Positive Futures and Positive Futures Homes, Clare Corran said;
“Positive Futures Homes has been an ambition of ours now for a number of years, after we saw first-hand the impacts that poor quality residential care has on a young person’s well-being and development. We recognised that across our City alone, there are huge inconsistencies in the standards of care being provided, and a significant shortfall of registered providers.
“Our mission is to help all young people to achieve their potential, so this was a natural progression for us to enable us to further support that mission. I am absolutely delighted to have opened our first home, and cannot wait to start planning the second one!
“We are committed to driving up the standards of care for young people, and will stop at nothing to provide young people with access to the support and guidance that they need to give them to best possible opportunities in life. Afterall, no young person asks to be in this situation, and it is our job as professionals to provide that safety net which also helps to springboard them towards a brighter future.”
More information about Positive Futures Homes can be found here.
