Parents Guide AHS Sixth Form July 2019

Parents Guide AHS Sixth Form July 2019

Contents

Welcome ....................... 2

The Role of Care ............ 2

The Role of Key Worker. 3

Annual Reviews…………….4

Activities ........................ 4

Medication .................... 5

Clothing ......................... 5

Money ........................... 5

Housekeeping................ 5

Possessions.................... 6

Keeping in Contact ........ 6

Religious , Culture and Language ....................... 6 Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation .................... 6

Transport....................... 7

Keeping Children Safe ... 7

Bullying.......................... 7

Online Safety ................. 7

Concerns & Complaints.. 7

Important Contacts……….8

A Parents Guide to Alderwasley Hall School & Sixth Form (Upper Site)

Welcome to Alderwasley Hall School and Sixth Form (Upper Site)

We recognise that having a child living away from home can be an anxious time for parents. Our aim is to help you as much as we can with the adjustment of having a child at a residential school and support you throughout your child’s time with us. Although you will have contact with the staff team during your child’s assessment / stay, we hope this guide will re-affirm any of the conversations you have with our staff and provide a valuable reference guide for you in the future.

If you have a question that you feel is not answered in the guide, or require more information on a particular matter please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best wishes, Lesley Mawbey Registered Manager Devonshire House

Devonshire House is a fantastic starting point for young people wanting to live a more independent lifestyle, preparing them for adulthood. Catering to the individual, we set targets personalised to your child’s needs and future aspirations.

Our Aims

The Role of Care

Within the care environment we support young people to develop their:

We recognise that good quality care is paramount not only to young people’s education, but also to their wider life skills and general well being. We therefore have an interdisciplinary approach to care which complies with Quality Care Standards and Children’s Home Regulations. Devonshire House provides a warm, friendly, homely atmosphere with a team of Residential Support Workers who work on a rota to cover all hours outside of the education day.

Communication Skills

Individual use of Leisure time

Practical and domestic skills

Independence skills

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What is a Key Worker?

Every young person is allocated a Key Worker. They will introduce themselves to you and keep in contact with you on a regular basis. The Key Worker will work closely with your child to ensure they settle in well and have their needs met accordingly. They will liaise with the key team to set realistic targets to enable your child develop their life skills and maximise their potential. If you do have any worries or concerns or there is anything you wish to talk about, the Key Worker is the ideal person to make contact.

Devonshire House

What are the residential staff working hours?

Devonshire House is situated on the Alderwasley Hall School & Sixth Form Upper Site. Situated in picturesque Derbyshire close to the towns of Matlock, Belper, Duffield and Wirksworth. Here we provide a specialist residential placement for young people aged between 15-19 who choose to study at the upper site. Devonshire House is a fantastic starting point for young people wanting to live a more independent lifestyle preparing them for adulthood. Catering to the individual we set targets personalised to your child’s needs and future aspirations. Facilities onsite include a swimming pool, a gym, a climbing wall, tennis courts, squash courts, ICT access and a sensory room. We also offer great opportunities to access nature and walks in the countryside. We have good transport links with bus services to Matlock, calling at Wirksworth through to Bakewell and through to Derby calling at Belper and Duffield. The bus stop is at the end of the schools drive. A train station in Matlock with trains to Derby and Nottingham.

Currently all residential staff at the Upper Site work their shifts on a rolling rota. This enables young people to work with different members of staff on a regular basis in order to familiarise themselves with them and build positive relationships. This means that your child's nominated Key Worker will not necessarily work with your child every evening.

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What is an Annual Review & What Do I Need to Do? It is a statutory requirement under the Education Act 1981 for all children who have an EHCP (Education and Health Care Plan), to have an Annual Review, to which you are invited. As well as yourself, the following people will also be invited to attend; a representative from the authority (this is usually an Educational Psychologist), the Head Teacher or a member of Senior Management, the class teacher, the Key Worker, Speech & Language Therapist and Occupational Therapist. Reports are also submitted from the Health Promotions Manager, specialist teachers (PE, Art and Music) or the Mental Health Team. Your child will also be asked for their views by their Key Worker and these will be presented at the review, either by your child or by the Key Worker, depending on your child’s age and ability and whether or not they want to attend. You are likely to have already met most of the people present at the review. You will get advance notice when the review is due, and will be invited by the Head Teacher to submit your own comments prior to the review.

What Activities can my Child Do?

After school, as part of their development, young people are encouraged and helped to make appropriate use of their leisure time. This means not only looking at individual interests and hobbies, but also extending their interests by offering them the opportunity to sample different activities. This does mean going out of school, both into the community and further afield. join community based organisations such as Cadets, Scouts and Guides. Some young people also regularly attend horse riding lessons at a local Equestrian centre. Some activities may require parental permission and additional payment, you will be contacted if this is the case. Emphasis is put on developing life skills independent travel, cooking and shopping on a budget in a local supermarket, which is always a popular trip. Weekends are less structured as some young people go home for weekends. For those who do stay weekends we encourage them to plan ahead any activities they may wish to take part in. Examples of off site activities that we are involved in over the year include camping, youth hostelling, cycling and Laser Quest. We also go on trips to museums, zoos, theme parks, skate parks, the seaside and theatre, as well as visiting local towns and enjoying the local countryside and places of interest. Some young people

While young people are away from home, it’s important that they do not miss out on the opportunities to develop their practical and domestic skills. Within the house, as at home, there are a number of domestic and practical jobs that need doing. Young people are encouraged to help with these daily tasks, taking turns and responsibilities for all aspects of the day to day running of the house. Young people are responsible for their own bedrooms supported by staff if necessary. We have well equipped laundry facilities and encourage all our young people to wash their clothes/bedding onsite, with support from staff if needed. We encourage our young people to cook meals for themselves and for the home. Baking is an enjoyed hobby for a lot of the young people that stay with us. As young people get older and progress, their need for independence becomes more apparent. They are supported to achieve levels of independence initially within the house and as they become more competent, they are supported to become more independent within the house and eventually out in the community. Gaining Independence

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Who looks after my Childs Medical Needs?

School staff have basic first aid training to help you deal with any problems that might occur. If your child does become poorly whilst with us, we will make arrangements with local health professionals for appointments if required. During the evenings and weekends we will contact NHS Direct. If necessary, we will arrange for them to be seen by the local GP. We will always contact you in the event of your child becoming ill or having an accident.

If your child becomes ill, changes medication or there is a medical discrepancy at home, please keep us informed.

If your child is on any long term medication, this is monitored by residential house staff. Records are kept of any prescribed and non-prescribed medication. It is important that all prescribed drugs are clearly marked in their original container, labelled with the young person’s medication name, dosage and time to be given, We are unable to accept medication that does not include this information. All medication should be handed to a member of staff by an adult. Staff will sign to confirm receipt. Please do not under any circumstances send medication in your child’s luggage or on their person. Only competent, medically trained staff are permitted to administer medication.

If your child becomes ill, changes medication or there is a medical discrepancy at home, please keep us informed.

How is Laundry & Housework Organised?

What Clothing Will My Child Need?

Young people are encouraged to do their laundry, where possible. This is supervised by a member of staff and your child will be fully supported to complete their washing until they are confident enough to do it independently. Young people have laundry baskets in their room for dirty washing. Residential care staff are responsible for overseeing the general tidiness of the house, but each young person is responsible for his or her own bedroom and are asked to tidy up after themselves in communal areas.

We do not have a school uniform at the Upper Site, but the young people do need to wear appropriate clean clothes. In care time, children can wear any casual clothing they wish, as long as it is clean and comfortable and appropriate for the activity. Young people use the leisure facilities and will require swimwear, trainers/ plimsolls and also a PE kit. It is also important that your child has a waterproof coat, hat and gloves for the winter months.

Who Looks After My Childs Money? Devonshire House runs a 'bank account' system. Each young person has an individual account, where cash can be deposited or withdrawn. During each transaction the young person, as well as a member of staff, signs to confirm the transaction has taken place; this way we ensure accurate and appropriate records. If your child is a Looked After Child, financial arrangements may be different, which will be confirmed by the Registered Manager.

child is running short of cash we will contact you. We would suggest that £30 per half term usually covers the needs of most young people, but if there is a special event that requires a request for additional cash we will let you know with plenty of notice. If you decide to send a larger sum of cash for you child, please send it directly to staff or make us aware that your child has cash on them that needs to go into the 'bank account'. We can only be responsible for cash that we are aware of.

Parents are welcome to ask for the balance of their child's account at any time. If your

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What Possessions Can My Child Bring to School?

How Do I Keep In Contact With My Child?

Young people can bring any possessions from home to personalise their bedrooms. Posters, photographs, bedding, toys, TV’s and games consoles are all welcome. Any electronic games or DVD’s must be age appropriate for your child. We provide lockable bedside cabinets and encourage young people to take responsibility for their bedroom key. The schools insurance does not cover items of value belonging to young people and would therefore need to be covered by your own household insurance. equipment brought on to site must be PAT tested by a member of staff prior to use. Please also ensure that your child's name is visible on their possessions. All electrical

We will always help and encourage your child to contact you, either by telephone, text, email, skype or letter, and will assist them with any incoming calls/mail. When young people first stay away from home it is a difficult time for them and you. Regular telephone calls between parents, young people and staff help keep all parties well informed. If staff are unable to answer the telephone it may be they are all very busy with the young people and following their individual routines. If you call during these times then please leave a message on the answer phone and we will call you back as soon as we are available. The religious and cultural needs of young people and their families are respected by all staff. We work with families and the young people to ensure all cultural needs are met. Please discuss this with a manager or your child’s Key Worker. Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity As a school we are passionate about supporting young people to develop their potential regardless of their disability, gender, age and sexual orientation. Not everyone is the same, this is a fact of life and something that should be celebrated. Here at Devonshire House we want your child to feel comfortable to express themselves freely, without prejudice or discrimination. How do you meet my child’s religious, cultural and language needs? We understand that it can be difficult for both young people and parents to be parted on birthdays and other special events. We therefore work to ensure these really are special days with a party supper and games. Any members of the young person’s family are welcome to visit. If this is not practical then staff will work with you to ensure that your child receives their presents and cards and speaks to you on the telephone. Can I visit my child for special occasions, such as birthdays?

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Transport Arrangements for Weekends and School Holidays. Some Local Authorities will help with travel arrangements by providing a taxi with escort if required at the beginning and end or term. They may also help with transport for weekend home visits or by giving you financial reimbursement for visiting the school, you will need to check with your own Local Education Department to find out what their arrangements are. Bullying We will not tolerate bullying of any kind here at Devonshire House. Bullying is not acceptable and should not have to be put up with. If you feel your child may be being bullied please speak to one of the Senior Team members identified in the back of this booklet.

How Do You Keep my Child Safe?

We take the safety of your child very seriously and therefore ensure that all staff have completed mandatory safeguarding training as part of their induction. All visitors must sign in and carry a visitor’s personal identity badge. Visitors must be approved and escorted appropriately. Whenever possible, all visits to meet with young people should be planned in advance. Our school works closely with Derbyshire Local Authority as well as Placing Authorities. We follow national and local guidance on safeguarding to make sure your child is safe at all times. All young people are individually risk assessed and staff are aware of their needs. Every off site activity is also risk assessed. On the day of the trip another check is completed to account for any changes in weather, staffing or other factors that may affect the safety of the trip. School site environmental and area risk assessments are also carried out to help minimise any potential hazards that my affect the wellbeing of young people and staff. Alderwasley Parents Together (APT) meetings are parent workshops and networking groups. We try to have four meetings a year; October and April parent consultation days and the last day of half term in both February and May. Each meeting normally has a speaker discussing a particular topic as well as a chance for parents to speak to the Headteacher and each other. Previous meetings have had both external and internal speakers who have spoken about an area they specialise in. We have had an author with high functioning autism speak about his experiences, a lecturer from Derby University speak about his research into ASD, solicitors to talk about the EHCP transfer process and internal speakers discussing strategies around sleeping, to name a few. We are also always interested in hearing from parents who would like to make a suggestion for topics or would like to lead a workshop themselves. Alderwasley Parents Together (APT)

Online Safety

What do I do if I have any concerns or need to make a complaint ? If you have any concern in regards to your child, your child's key team are here to support you . The key team can work together to put everything in place for the wellbeing of your child. If you have any concerns which you feel are of a more serious nature or if you want to make a complaint, you can contact the Registered Managers and Head of Care (contact details at the back of this booklet). As a school we aim to keep our students safe. This includes keeping the young people safe when online. We want to ensure the young people are using computers and the internet safely and believe by having the equipment checked and the IP address taken by our IT manager will keep the students safe when using their computers in school. Parents will need to sign to agree this and any equipment that has not been checked, parents will be responsible for the equipment.

7 The school has recently introduced the Piota Schools app which you can download and have access to news, events, alerts, contacts and other information. APT meetings are also a chance for the Head Teacher to bring up topics for discussion and gauge opinion on matters which affect the students, the school and wider community.

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Important Contacts

Your Notes

Karen Tatham Head of Care (Upper and Lower Site) Registered Manager (Lower Site) Alderwasley Hall School & Sixth Form Alderwasley, Derbyshire, DE56 2SR Tel: 01629 822586

Lesley Mawbey Registered Manager Devonshire House (Upper Site) Alderwasley Hall School & Sixth Form Derby Road Wirksworth Derbyshire, DE4 4BN Tel: 01629821402

Sara Forsyth Headteacher Tel: 01629 822586

If you require this booklet in another language or format please ask a member of staff.

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Created July 2019