Detailed Information

This part of our website goes into more detail about some of the features of ‘Options’ services. This includes:

• General Features of Our Service

• Examples of Our Service

• Charges and How to Pay

• Feedback

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General Features of Our Service

Versatile

Each person we support has unique support and care needs, and the most important aspect of our service is its ability to fit itself around those needs.

Individualised

Rather than trying to fit an individual’s needs or desires into services that already exist, we will tailor the package of support around each person’s individual and unique requirements

Efficient

We aim to provide people with a prompt and focused support service. Each package of support and care is dealt with by liaising with a small number of people. This helps build and progress the relationships with individuals and service professionals.

Flexible

We accommodate different people’s needs dynamically through a person centred approach that does not put any limitations on a person’s potential.

Independent

With ‘Options’ assistance, people can obtain their own tenancy agreement or potentially purchase their own property.

Our support:

• Promotes independence.

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  Protects rights, as the same as any other person in society.

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  Protects confidential information.

• Promotes freedom, by allowing people to take risks, but also provides security through the completion of risk assessments when needed.

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  Supports people to be full members of the community, and if desired, to be actively involved in all work, social, leisure and educational opportunities.

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  Enables a social life that is as varied and active as people desire.

• Supports people to manage their own responsibilities in the same way as anyone in society.

• Encourages the development of social relationships with family and friends.

Considerable effort will be made to ensure that the plan fully integrates the needs and wishes of the individual, and that it is achievable.

The work of the support worker, and each person’s progress, will in turn be monitored by a senior supervisor to ensure progress toward the goal is being maintained. This process is essential to allow each person to progress onto future goals.

Recruitment

Individuals can choose who provides the support they require and become as involved as they wish when it is time to recruit and interview.

Individual Service Plans

The Individual Service Plan is our version of a person centred plan. It supports people to look at every aspect of their lives and set goals for their futures based on their own needs and desires. It provides a clear way of monitoring and tracking the progress that is made towards those goals. The ISP is a living document and can change at any time, but is officially reviewed every 6 months.

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Some Examples of ‘Options’ Services

*All dates and names have been changed to protect the confidentiality of those involved.

Supported Living

Mike – Life had reached crisis point.

In February of 2005 an individual who was living alone in a house was referred to us. His father had passed away and his mother had moved to a different county leaving him in the council house he had been brought up in.

His living conditions had over time deteriorated drastically. Family members had control of his money and, along with local people, they were stealing from him. He had no control over who came in and out of his home. People stayed in his home against his wishes. He had minimal furniture and no bed to sleep on.

We commenced support within two weeks of referral and supported him to attend to his most immediate needs.

Over a four week period we developed a close understanding of his own needs and desires for the future. We introduced him to a number of support workers and, enabled him to decide who he would like to support him. In this time we supported him to achieve; an immediate improvement in his living conditions, confidence to control who came in and out of his house, grant for furniture, which was urgently needed, and control of his own finances.

He also gained the confidence to express a wish to live in a different area. We worked closely with him, and even spent time doing things like driving around different parts of Bristol as he knew certain areas well but could not remember their names. He eventually decided on a particular area and we used our contacts with private landlords and letting agents to arrange, in total, six properties to be viewed before he decided on one that he would like to move into. This was a property which would also accommodate his cats and his smoking.

His life has now completely changed. We are proud that it is our involvement that was so influential in assisting him to make many positive changes. Ultimately we are most proud that we did nothing for him but everything with him. We were a catalyst for great change and inspired choice and control. But this individual made these changes and did all this for himself and, therefore, we can be most satisfied that he is proud for himself.

Enabling Supports

Simon – Needed a flexible service.

Simon had attended a range of day services. He needed something different because he did not like or manage well with timetables. He needed a service which could moderate the activities on offer according to how he was feeling each day. ‘Options’ facilitates him to access a variety of community resources, such as drop in services, leisure centres, college classes on his own terms.

Linda – Wanted time away from the family home.

Linda has lived with her mum all her life. She was happy at home but wanted to have some independence away from home once a week. Linda was enabled to expand her activities within the community and she has learnt several bus routes which she can now use independently to go out whenever she pleases. This means that both Linda and Mum can have a much appreciated break and respite from each other.

Supported Living

Russell – Living Independently

Russell is a young man with Asperger’s Syndrome; he had lived within a variety of residential and group homes for a number of years. He was not comfortable in this environment and longed for his own space. ‘Options’ developed an understanding of Russell’s needs and desires and helped him find a privately rented flat in the area of his choosing.

By using ‘Options’ relationships with private landlords and letting agents we were able to offer Russell a full choice of where he would like to live. Russell is settled at his flat and he receives support with day to day needs as well as keeping in contact with friends and family.

Phil and John – Sharing Accommodation

Phil and John had been friends for 3 years when their Social Worker put them in touch with ‘Options’. They wished to share a house together. We helped them find a two bedroom flat which they share together. At their request they have stayed in the same area that they grew up in.

They both share support hours in the morning and the evening. But they also have individual time with Support Workers who assist them to access the community independently, and meet their own needs individually.

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Charges and How to Pay:

To find out more about what we charge in your area please call the ‘Options’ office.

We presently accept funding from; Social Services, Direct Payments, Individualised Budgets and Privately.

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Feedback

We are pleased to have a history of excellent feedback from both the people who use our services and from the local authorities who commission us.

Here are some things that people have said on our satisfaction surveys:

“I enjoy working with you.”

“My support worker talks and listens and is someone who helps me.”

“I think the staff and ‘Options’ are really good, it’s a good service.”

“I am glad ‘Options’ helped me to move out of the residential home, I have been stuck there for the last 5 years and finally I found ‘Options’ its such a relief.”

Here are some things that professionals have said on our satisfaction surveys:

“‘Options’ are considered an excellent provider by our social work team we are using more and more. ‘Options’ have good management structure which is both efficient and approachable. Support packages are usually with service users with complex needs, ‘Options’ are able to provide a flexible approach to meeting need. Although essentially a business ‘Options’ are able to work successfully from a person centred planning perspective.”

“My experience of the the service has been excellent, communication is very good, flexibility in meeting service users needs and staff are keen to work with service users and other professionals.
I have been consistently impressed by the quality of care provided by ‘Options’. I value the opinions expressed by support workers.”

“‘Options’ staff are realistic about the support they can offer and do not always accept referrals which they feel are inappropriate for them, which is good. Services and staff are very person centred and flexible. Staff are help, approachable reliable and knowledgeable. Excellent.”

“The service is always accessible and willing to be flexible.”