FERNDALE HOUSE YOUNG PERSONS GUIDE Ferndale House 37 Deanery Road, Kingswood, Bristol. BS15 9JB Tel: 0117 382-2678 Ferndale@positivecycle.co.uk Positive Cycle Ltd. Last Reviewed Mar 2015 1
Introduction This welcome pack is for you to keep and read in your own time. We hope it will answer many of your questions, but if it doesn t or there is something that worries you or you can t understand, just ask any member of staff who will be pleased to explain and help you. We want you to be happy in your home. You are welcome to bring friends in provided their behaviour does not cause problems for others, but please check with staff first. We do ask that your friends do not visit during school hours and that they leave by 9.00pm. We have a Visitors Policy which will be explained to you. The house has four bedrooms for young people between the ages of 10 and 17+. There is also a lounge with games, a TV and music, access to a telephone and a large garden. The home is regularly inspected to make sure we are taking good care of you. You will be able to add your own things to your room and personalise your space. For example, pictures and posters of your choice and other items you might bring with you when you move in. Positive Cycle Ltd. Last Reviewed Mar 2015 2
Location Ferndale House is a large semi-detached house with its own garden situated near central Bristol and Bath. The home is located near a main bus route to the city centres and benefits from local popular shopping areas, swimming pool, sports centre, cinemas, theatre, skating ring, bowling alley, railway and coach station, fast food shops, etc. There are also youth clubs, dance classes, football teams and drama groups that you could join if you wish. Routines For any home to run smoothly we need to have some sort of routines, however times have to be changed when activities or outings are arranged or something special is happening. Meal Times We like to be quite flexible but do try to have our meals all together. Mealtimes are usually: Breakfast Lunch Evening meal Supper 07.30am to 8.30am 12 noon to 1.00 pm 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm 8.30 pm to 9.30pm Bed Times There is no set bedtime as this will be negotiated/agreed in line with the age of each child/young person living at Ferndale House. Bedtimes will be age appropriate, however, our general guidelines are as follows: Week Days - Everyone is expected to be in their rooms by 9.30 pm and settled by 10.00pm. For younger children 8.30pm is acceptable. Weekend- Everyone is expected to be in their rooms by 10.30pm and settled by 11.00pm. For a younger child, 9.00pm is generally agreeable at weekends. Pocket Money You will be given your pocket money on Saturday mornings. However this can be negotiated in line with your needs. You can choose to spend or save this. If you want help in saving your money towards something special, Key workers will help you to open a bank account. Staff The home is managed by staff who are on duty and available 24 hours a day. At night, all the external doors are kept locked for your safety. Key worker Every child/young person will have their own Key worker. Your Key worker is a member of staff who will take a particular interest in you and support you to achieve the outcomes you need. They will also help you to buy your clothes and toiletries, make doctor s, dentist s and optician s appointments if you need them and provide for your education/support needs. They will also attend your Reviews and help you keep in touch with your family, friends and Social Worker. Positive Cycle Ltd. Last Reviewed Mar 2015 3
Records & Files As you probably know, we do keep files about you. The files are to help you, so you can look at them if you wish and put in anything you think should be in them. The files are very helpful in making sure your needs are met and that nothing gets forgotten at your Review meetings. They are private to you and only those people who need to know are allowed to see inside. Fire When you arrive at Ferndale House you will be told information about the fire and evacuation procedure. This is to make sure you know how and where to get out of the building as quickly as possible if there is a fire or any emergency. There will also be drills from time to time to help us to maintain fire and safety procedures. Be Healthy At Ferndale House we encourage a healthy lifestyle. Your fitness is important to you so we will help and encourage you to take part in sport and other activities. We will provide information of local amenities. If you would like to join a sports or activity based club, just ask your Key worker to help you. To maintain your fitness level, good food is essential. We cook and prepare your main meal of the day and there are always plenty of different healthy dishes to choose from. Sometimes you may like to prepare your own food in the kitchen, but take care as kitchens can be dangerous places, if required staff can support you with this. You will need to be registered with a doctor, dentist and optician and your Key workers will help you do that. The house is a non-smoking building for everyone. We do not allow drugs or alcohol in the house and, if we find any, we will take them away and you will be disciplined. Stay Safe For your safety, it is very important to tell staff where you are going when you go out and what time you will be back. If you know you are going to be late, please phone us. Your bedroom is your own private place where you can shut the door and have time and space to yourself. Visitors are not allowed in your room. Sometimes, children/young people get upset and/or angry; Staff put your safety first and will not let you harm yourself or others. They may have to hold you to stop you and, at times, this can be upsetting for everyone. It helps to talk it all through with somebody of your choice after things have calmed down. Bullying at the home is not permitted, whether it is name-calling, teasing, pushing or Positive Cycle Ltd. Last Reviewed Mar 2015 4
pulling, fighting, ignoring or leaving others out or spreading rumours. If you feel you are being bullied or you see any bullying, please speak to a member of staff. If you are a victim of bullying, or a bully yourself, staff will do something to prevent this. House Rules Ferndale House is your home, a place where you can feel safe, relax and be comfortable. We will all take responsibility for keeping the home clean. Everyone is expected to help keep our home clean and a healthy place to live. Your bedroom is your private place so it is up to you to keep it clean and tidy. We will provide you will guidance and support to ensure that this is done. Living together can sometimes have its difficulties. We are all unique with different habits, likes, dislikes and expectations so we must respect each other for what we are and treat everybody with the same respect. Young people, who continually disrespect others or our home, will sometimes be given sanctions. These could be deductions from pocket money, being left out of activities or doing household chores, but there is always the opportunity to earn these back. Enjoy & Achieve Everyone at Ferndale House is expected to participate in education. Your education is extremely important and staff, especially your Key workers, will do everything they can to support you and help you keep up with your studies/personal development. If you love to read you can select a weekly magazine of your own. As well as the everyday activities, we sometimes organise outings for our young people, based on their behaviour and achievement during the year. We also use any excuse to have a party, not just on your birthday. There s Christmas and Easter, Pancake Day, Bonfire Night and other special religious and cultural days, when we like to have fun. Please let us know if there is a special day you wish to celebrate and we will make every effort to support this to happen. Achieve Economic Well Being Whilst at Ferndale House we will help you learn how to look after yourself in the future. You will be given opportunities to learn how to cook, pay bills and generally care for yourself which will help you when you leave here. You may want information and advice about a job or career, so we will be working closely with you and your Connexions advisor. When you are 16 and working towards your first job or career, Staff and other people will provide help and advise you during this time. Positive Cycle Ltd. Last Reviewed Mar 2015 5
Independent Visitors All homes are required to have someone who is experienced with working with children and young people and residential settings to visit the home frequently to see that everything is working well (will finalise this wording). Our Independent visitor will visit Ferndale House once a month, they visit the Home to have tea with you and will discuss any problems or concerns you may have about your care. These may be very private things that you may prefer not to talk about with the home s staff. Amongst other things, the independent Visitor might ask you if you would like to be involved in various things which may include the training and selection of staff. Independent Visitor- Name: Winston Williams Tel: 07886679773 Positive Cycle Ltd. Last Reviewed Mar 2015 6
People Who Can Help Independent Reviewing Officer Your Independent Reviewing Officer is Telephone: - Email: - Ofsted Ofsted is a government organisation that inspects all children s homes to make sure they are run well and follow your care plan. Our Ofsted Inspector visits twice a year. Before visiting, you will receive a questionnaire to fill in and during the visits you may be asked questions about living at Ferndale House, however if you wish to contact Ofsted you may by: Ofsted, Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester. M1 2WD Phone: 0300 123 1231 Email: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk Off the Record They offer a confidential free counselling and support service for young people aged under 25. If you are aged 11 15 you can access the service at The Park Centre, Kingswood, BS15 4AR (every Monday) Telephone: - 0808 808 9120 SMS Text: - 0789 688 0011 Email: confidential@otrbristol.org.uk The Office of the Children's Commissioner As a child or young person living away from home receiving social care, if you need advice or assistance, you can contact Free phone number: - 0800 528 0731 Email: advice.team@childrenscommissioner.gsi.gov.uk Childline ChildLine is a private and confidential service, meaning that what you say stays between you and ChildLine. You can contact ChildLine anytime - calls are free and confidential Telephone: - 0800 1111 Talk online: - www.childline.org.uk/talk/pages Copies of this document can be made available in different formats including different languages, large print and audio. Please call 0117-3290280 for assistance or more information. Positive Cycle Ltd. Last Reviewed Mar 2015 7
Other Local Agencies Contact Telephone Numbers & Addresses Helpline Carers: Tel: 07966 088248 Out of Hours Telephone Advice for Foster Carers Emergency Duty Team (EDT) Tel: 01454 615165 Fostering Network Tel: 0800 0407675 Children & Young People Headquarters Tel: 01454 868008 P.O Box 2082 Council Offices Castle Street, Thornbury BS35 9BQ Family Placement Team Tel: 01454 866088 P.O Box 2082 Council Offices Castle Street, Thornbury BS35 9BQ Child Care Community Teams Filton Community Team Tel: 01454 866051 Kingswood Community Team Tel: 01454 868520 Yate/Thornbury Community Team Tel: 01454 866917 Adolescent Services Team & Continuing Support Services (Leaving Care) Tel: 01454 866303 43 The Park, Kingswood, South Gloucestershire, BS15 4BL Under 11 s Tel: 01454 866330 Court Road Family Support Centre, Court Road, Kingswood, South Gloucestershire, BS15 9QP Child Health and Disability Team Tel: 01454 866259 P.O Box 2082 Council Offices Castle Street, Thornbury BS35 9BQ Positive Cycle Ltd. Last Reviewed Mar 2015 8