Introduction

Ant and Bex Lodgings, comprising of FOUR HOMES, is a cutting-edge RESIDENTIAL FACILITY homes designed to empower and nurture the potential of our youth. Our facilities are meticulously crafted to provide not just accommodation, but a supportive environment where young individuals can flourish into productive and responsible citizens.

At Ant and Bex Lodgings, we prioritize holistic care, addressing not only the physical needs but also the emotional and educational facets of our residents. Our dedicated team of trained professionals is committed to creating a safe and inclusive space, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. Our staff include an in-house Approved Mental Health Assessor (AMP) and the facility is managed by a qualified NVQ Level 5 in Management and Leadership. All our staff members have a first degree and an NVQ Level 3 qualification.

The facility boasts state-of-the-art two to four bedroom living quarters, promoting comfort and security. Each resident is provided with personalized care plans, ensuring their unique needs and aspirations are met. Educational programs are tailored to encourage academic growth and skills development, preparing them for a successful future.

We understand the importance of mental health, and our facility incorporates recreational spaces, counseling services, and therapeutic activities to support emotional well-being. The Therapeutic Services offered are on request or at the recommendation of qualified social workers or healthcare personnel. By nurturing resilience and self-esteem, we aim to equip our residents with the tools needed to face life’s challenges.

OUR COMMITMENT

Ant and Bex Lodgings is dedicated to commit to the following:

  • Continuous development of its services to ensure that children can develop and grow.
  • That each child’s physical and emotional health care needs are met, and positive healthy lifestyles are encouraged. Enable all individuals to benefit from educational opportunities,
  • To actively encourage individuals to tell us their thoughts and views and ensure we actively listen,
  • To promote contact in line with the Support / Placement Plan, birth family and significant others during a placement and to encourage and facilitate this as appropriate,
  • Monitoring a support plan for the individuals future that is acted upon within the timescales set at each Statutory Review.

OUR PRINCIPLES

  1. To ensure the delivery of safe person-centred support with comprehensive and robust safeguarding systems,
  2. To promote educational participation and attainment for all individuals we look after in line with the goals identified by their education professionals,
  3. To ensure all staff are fully assessed and trained on behaviour management and are fully supported in meeting the needs of the individual,
  4. That all assessments are undertaken by experienced qualified staff with active participation by applicants,
  5. That all accommodation meets all health and safety and risk assessment requirements,
  6. That all our staff are committed to meeting the objectives of the children’s care plans and adhere to the terms of the placement plan,
  7. To maintain written records on each child.
  8. That all staff receive regular support and supervision, this is monitored and is increased as necessary in line with the needs of the individual in placement. All supervisions are recorded and signed by all relevant parties. All communications are recorded and appropriately stored,
  9. That support will be sought from specialist consultants on an as needs basis,
  10. To ensure all information that the service holds – and particularly that on the individuals we look after, is safeguarded, and protected in line with the values of dignity and privacy, as well as guidance and legislation,
  11. Operates in accordance with the placing authorities’ expectations and delegated tasks as agreed in the support plan and placement plan, and any amendments because of reviews.

STAFFING

  • Approved Mental Health Practitioner
  • Level 5 NVQ Home Managers
  • Level 3 NVQ/ First Degree
  • Staffing ratio
  • Referrals

FOCUS AREAS

Company Statement and Pledge

Our mission at Ant and Bex is to offer children in crisis a family environment where they can be safe, settled, relaxed, and bring some stability to their lives. An environment where they will receive nurture, understanding, encouragement, care, and support from adults who care and are trained to work in a professional and non-judgmental way. Our staff will work hard to support the children with their emotional, social, educational and health needs.

We aim to treat the children as individuals, with a variety of needs that are addressed in a positive and proactive manner as part of a clearly defined care plan. Through believing that each child is an individual they receive respect, courtesy, and full recognition of their rights.

We operate a caring, nurturing home with clearly defined expectations and boundaries that is responsive to the children long-term needs, as well as developing emotional and mental resilience.

All members of the staff team working with the children have the skills and abilities, to help and support them with the range of emotional needs.

The children are recognised as unique, with specific needs and beliefs that requires individual assessment and planning. They have the right to be consulted about the decisions being made about his/her/their future and where possible his/her/their feelings taken into consideration.

Each child is valued and shown respect and courtesy from our staff team who will give them every encouragement and support in reaching their full potential.

Care Planning

  1. Personal Care Plans and Risk Assessments
  2. Criteria for admissions
  3. Planned admissions.

HEALTH AND THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION

It is our aim that all children placed with us are healthy and happy and one way we achieve this is by making sure they are medically well cared for.

The local surgery has male and female doctors available, therefore allowing the children to have a choice of GP and of their own sex if preferred. Should it be necessary the GP can refer patients to specialist clinics at our local hospital.
The children will be registered with GP, Dentist and Optician within the first four weeks.

We will endeavour to develop close working relationships with each child’s assigned CLA Nurse and will ensure that health assessments are supported and undertaken as required.

However short the placement with us we believe in proactive education regarding health issues. Care staff members follow programmes which will cover healthy living and eating, care of your body, personal hygiene, infectious and transmittable diseases, female sanitary care and awareness, contraception, family planning, alcohol, solvents, drug abuse and smoking. Staff will also support the children to access various health services such as:
CAMHS
Substance misuse services
Sexual health and wellbeing services
Local pharmacies
Smoking cessation services

We keep an up-to-date health record and chronology on each child which contains all relevant information e.g., routine checks, illness, medication etc. All the children have regular Individual key work sessions where they can raise any concerns they may have regarding their own health, and these are acted upon quickly.

All the children’s medication is reviewed on a regular basis in line with their individual needs.

All the children have a regular annual health assessment to make sure that the home is meeting their individual needs.
The staff team attend mandatory training and workshops, to promote health and well-being.

Examples of training are Health and Safety, Administration of Medication, First Aid, Food Hygiene, and promoting equality and valuing diversity, and Mental health and self-harm Awareness.
Specific training can be sourced around individual needs at the point of referral and placement if assessed as required.

Part of the element of health, for children especially, is the opportunity to improve physical and mental health through activity.
Staff will also encourage children to access a variety of activity services / clubs within the surrounding areas.

ACTIVITIES

All children placed at any of our four houses are given opportunities to participate in appropriate leisure activities which take account of their race, culture, language, religion, interest, abilities, and their disabilities.
Any child who has a pursuit is encouraged and supported to follow their particular skill.
Birthday, cultural and religious festivals are celebrated where appropriate and the children placed with us are encouraged to plan and negotiate leisure activities and special events with members of their staff team.
There are lots of community resources in the local area for activities including Leisure centers, activity clubs and classes, youth clubs and volunteer organizations. Other activities that are available to the children include swimming, badminton, squash, tennis, football, cycling, walking, ice-skating, rollerblading, Go-Karting, horse riding, guitar lessons, dance classes, music and singing lessons, amongst many others.
The children are encouraged to read; to participate in art and crafts.
Children are encouraged to explore their artistic potential through art and craft, music, poetry, song, creative writing, if this is something they wish to explore.
Resources are available within the home for the children to be able to take part in these interests.
The children are encouraged to join in community activities such as youth club or climbing club, army and navy cadets and other interest groups.
The staff team helps the children to complete weekly activity planners, choosing what they would like to do each week. This will be a combination of in house and out of the home activities. The staff will use individual work sessions and consultations as an opportunity to suggest and support the children with new or existing interests.

Education

  • Special Needs
  • Arrangements

SECURITY

Door alarms are not fitted in the home but may be fitted to the doors of the home to ensure their safety and welfare in line with appropriate securing of the premises and children’s risk assessments – this will always be done in agreement with the local authority if ever assessed as being necessary.
CCTV may be installed externally to the home; this is intended to provide additional safety to our children and staff – this will not be used for surveillance.
A policy is in place for the use of CCTV – a risk assessments will compliment this policy if required.

On occasions monitoring maybe required around children’s social media use due to risk taking. This can be done through having access to passwords and conducting regular checks.
Or through parenting apps such as Custodia.
This level of monitoring is used when deemed appropriate by the manager following consultation with the social worker and parents if applicable – a risk assessment will always be implemented for the use of any monitoring or surveillance.

POLICIES

In house policies include:

  • Anti-Discrimination and Child rights
  • Equal Opportunities
  • Anti-Bullying policies
  • Complaints

We make sure all our policies are in line with the UK laws and periodically review them to ensure compatibility.