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Streets Ahead Case Study.
A unique partnership between a leading Scottish charity and Borders College has helped people with learning disabilities to gain more independence and improve their quality of life.
Streets Ahead, which provides support to young people and adults, teamed up with the College to deliver basic skills programmes, such as cooking and cleaning, and to train staff as assessors.
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Left to right: Suzanne Blair (Deputy Service Manager-Streets Ahead) Jackson Cockburn (Home Support Worker-Streets Ahead) Alison Redpath (Activity Co-ordinator-Mountview) Doreen Gibson (Neighbourhood Worker-Streets Ahead) Karen Douglas (Carer-Mountview) Helen Ramsay (Home Support Worker-Streets Ahead) Eileen Brydon (Home Support Worker-Streets Ahead) Libby Morton (Mountview)
Its new approach followed a number of personal reviews with service users, who helped to identify that people with learning disabilities needed their own homes and tenancies.
With this in mind, the organisation joined forces with Scottish Borders Housing Association to provide seven flats that individuals could upgrade and furnish with support from staff.
Each of the new residents obtained a Scottish Secure Tenancy and the freedom to live independently in their own flats, with the ongoing support of Streets Ahead.
The Skills Accreditation Programme provided in partnership with the College has since provided the tenants with many of the skills needed to maintain their independence.
Streets Ahead service users now also have the opportunity to access a new Tenancy Award being piloted by the College to help them understand rights, responsibilities, safety and security.
Gordon Robb of Streets Ahead explained: “Streets Ahead was challenged with how to modernise and improve provision for people still living in traditional, shared accommodation.
“Moving away from the traditional model of service delivery was essential to help people gain more independence but required a major directional shift for the organisation and its 147 staff.
“Training was crucial in helping staff get to grips with their new roles and embrace a completely new way of working, which came at a time when care workers were also required to work towards relevant qualifications that met the registration requirements of the Scottish Social Services Council and the company needed a workforce compliant with the Care Commission.
“Being a local training provider, Borders College understood many of the issues facing the business, as well as staff and service users.
“We have been really pleased with its exceptional level of support.
“The College assessors offered flexible, tailored courses and were able to work around other service commitments and I think the results speak for themselves.
“Offering programmes that can be accessed by service users has added another dimension to the work of Streets Ahead and has enhanced the overall provision for the people we support.”
Borders College has provided training for 56 Streets Ahead staff over the last four years, including four Registered Manager awards, 12 Health & Social Care Level 3 awards, 35 at Level 2, and five Introduction to Assessment certificates.
Its flexible approach to times and venues, as well as offering both individual and group support, proved to be particularly effective given the other priorities of the business.
Staff working at all levels, from managers to support workers, have now become more confident and effective in their respective roles and have expressed their appreciation of the Programme.
The partnership with Borders College has enabled everyone at Streets Ahead, including service users, to be involved in training which is ideally suited to their developmental needs.
As well as the obvious benefits to both staff and service users, this has helped to promote a culture of fairness and equality.
This project is managed by BC Consultants Ltd. For further information please contact Susan Govan on 01896 662574 or sgovan@borderscollege.ac.uk