Residential Care Services

Complex behaviours, frequent placement breakdowns and lack of available resources are increasingly leading to young people being cared for by youth workers in alternative accommodation. Because of the high needs of young people in alternative housing and rising case load burdens, most resources are spent on attending to the young person’s basic daily care needs only. This leaves a gap in acquiring more specialised living, emotional, behavioural and social skills.

Residential care should be welcomed as a positive option for young people in meeting their needs. Residential care should not be seen as a last resort as it can indicate fault on the young person for their situation.

Youth Lifestyle Options seeks to shift the current focus of young people placed in residential care to one in which their current capacity, goals and needs are addressed to ensure that their potential is maximised. Youth Lifestyle Options focuses on the following points as central to their practice:

• Ensuring the safety of the young person, their environment and those that are providing their care.
• Assisting the young person in developing skills necessary in their ability to manage emotions and behaviour.
• Assisting the young person to overcome cyclical patterns that continue to provide distress and impact on their ability to move forward. This largely includes processing issues related to trauma.
• Continued assessment and ongoing evaluation of the young person's needs and the program itself.
• Development of curriculum's and plans to ensure the safety and optimal learning opportunities for the young person.
• Participation of the young person.
• Training, support and supervision to direct care youth workers to ensure best practise.

Service Delivery

Youth Lifestyle Options residential program is called STAGES which is a short term accommodation and goal enrichment service for 12 to 18 year olds who are considered to be at-risk or have complex care needs. Services can be based on a sole occupancy or co-tenanting model.

STAGES central focus is on the stabilisation of the young person and preparation for their next stage in life.

During the initial month of the young person being placed within the service, assessments, behavioural observations, behavioural patterns, risk factors and other important information is gathered to assist in the development of a plan central to the needs and goals of the young person. This plan is developed in conjunction with the young person and stakeholder's to guide the young person's time within the placement. This plan is reviewed every 3 months with changes to the plan and progress documented.

STAGES also provides support to sibling groups where high levels of support and assessment of needs of family dynamics is required.

Support & Intervention Domains

A young person's Care & Goal Enrichment plan centres on support and intervention within the following domains:

• Personal Development
  • Health & hygiene
  • Personal goals and regulating personal motivation
  • Recreational activities and hobbies
  • Cultural/religious/spiritual exploration

• Education and Employment
  • Study skills
  • Education pathways and opportunities
  • Employment preparation

• Social & Family Relationships
  • Facilitating healthy family interactions
  • Identification and building of positive peer relationships
  • Interpersonal skills

• Safety
  • Personal safety
  • Social safety
  • Health & safety hazards

• Emotional & Behaviour Management
  • Increased insight into difficulties and self-awareness
  • Counselling
  • Strategy development
  • Self-esteem

• Community Engagement
  • Knowledge of community resources
  • Participation in community programs