3rd Mar 2010

...was formed on 03/03/10 consisting of 6 members whose ages ranged from 14 to 17.

It was envisaged that regular group work would foster members’ transferable skill and knowledge development (particularly relative to transition issues). Just as the word ‘transition’ implies, the group has since dwindled to 3 members. The group convenes weekly in the Unit and is facilitated by the in- house Social Worker. Graduate Senior Care Support Workers also render support as part of their induction training.

Based on the group’s interest in supported living, members were facilitated to visit a supported living housing scheme (for vulnerable adults) in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk on 01/04/10. The objective of the visit was for members to gain an understanding of what supported living entails by (1) having an opportunity to ask questions relative to supported living (2) having an opportunity to match their ‘concrete’ understanding of supported living with the abstract, real- life operations. The scheme’s project manager provided an overview of what supported living entails and answered the group’s questions. The group was taken to a flat and bungalow where the residents showed them around, disclosed snippets about their past and entertained further questions.

A forum on supported living was held in Cherry Oak lounge on 09/04/10. It provided an opportunity for the group to impart their knowledge, particularly to their peers. Before the start of the forum, service users and staff were requested to choose one from 15 pre-written questions from an envelope. The panelists took turns in answering the questions and were applauded after each answer. When the written questions were exhausted, additional questions were entertained by them. They remained composed throughout and required minimal support. The audience participated well and at the end of the forum the panelists were commended for a job well done!

Samples of questions asked and answers follow:

Question: What is supported living like?
x’s answer: “Supported living is good because you can do what you want, for example you can go to town , you can budget, you have freedom, you can get a job.”

Question: What kind of privileges do you have?
xx’s answer: “You can do anything within the law. Some of the privileges you have are independent travel, having your girlfriend/ boyfriend around and access to the community.”

Question: What is the best thing about supported living?
xxx’s answer: “It is probably the freedom you have because you can do anything you want to within the boundaries of the law and company restriction. You are allowed pets but you have to ask about them first. You can have a job and you get help with money troubles and they would support you to a fair standard.”

Ruth Hamilton - Transition Group Facilitator/Social Worker,
Cherry Oak Unit





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