Kupenda operates semi-independent and supported living environments, across England, and Wales for young people aged between 16 and 25 years old. These include a number of single occupancy flats, multi-occupancy homes, with a maximum of three young people, and a number of sustainable “move on” appropriate properties. For young people we offer packages of support, tailored specifically for each young person’s needs, which we will continually review with them, during their duration of stay with us. Scenario 1: Young people leaving residential/ foster care, used to high levels of support, worried and scared of what the future holds for them, in respect to semi – independence, and demonstrates a non coopertive attitude as a result. Our approach: We provide a sliding scale of reduced support, with set timescales to decrease hours as the young person demonstrates their ability to be less reliant on staff support and make better choices in respect to their behaviours. Scenario 2: Young people who require support but are reticent to engage with services and professionals and who are used to time to do whatever they feel like doing, especially in terms of non productive or anti social behaviours. Our approach: We provide a low level of support aimed at encouraging young people to make use of the support to gain those essential life skills whilst monitoring their progress and well – being. Our Staff Our senior management team and support staff have experience working and providing services, for young people aged between 16 and 25, with many senior staff being former social workers. Our staffing structure has core head office functions including, safeguarding, operations, accounts, HR, procurement, and compliance with maintenance teams and field staff working at each of our supported living projects, to provide services. Our staff, believe in, and fully support young people, focusing on safeguarding, helping them to raise aspirations, and engage in continual self improvement. Our recruitment team operate a ‘safer recruitment’ policy with robust procedures in place including having an enhanced DBS checks (renewed every three years). Staff training Our induction training is robust and comprehensive. We run an ongoing training programme virtually via ‘MS Teams’ and our staff engage in CPD accredited courses that are relevant in ensuring our staff update their knowledge and skills, on how to meet the needs of young people, that stay with us. Courses staff undertake are listed below and include: • Safeguarding children • Dealing with offending behaviour • Health and Safety • Mitigating gang membership amoung young people • First aid • GDPR • Managing challenging behaviour • Safer caring and allegations • Recording and evidencing • Equality and diversity • Preventing bullying amoung young people • Working with Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking Children (UASC) • Independent living skills • Self-harm/ligatures • Preventing sexual exploitation • Drugs and alcohol awareness • ADHD and Autism awareness • Mental Health • Internet safety To bolster this training, throughout the course of the year we deliver extra training such as ‘Prevent’ (vulnerability to radicalisation/terrorism, child sexual exploitation (CSE), child criminal exploitation (CCE) and trafficking). Other bespoke training is identified through regular supervision and according to any ‘special’ needs of young people we support e.g. attachment disorders, Foetal Alcohol Disorder Syndrome etc. Prior to being allocated shifts, staff undertake at least five ‘shadow shifts’ with an experienced staff member ,where young people have an opportunity to feedback on staff suitability. If young people are not pleased with the satff member then their employment is reviewed. All staff are made to focus exclusively on the support, encouragement, guidance and assistance for young people, in helping them to make the right choices to improve their life chances, and have productive futures. HEALTH & WELLBEING Registered and attendance of: Doctors Dentist Opticians CIC health assessment Specialist services LIFESKILLS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES Applying for: Bank account Driving licence Passport Personal independence payments N.I number Personal financial management Understanding credit Importance of paying bills EDUCATION, TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT (ETE) Support with accessing and enhancing opportunities: CV writing and support Further education Access to higher education Certifications Training courses Voluntary/ paid work experience Career guidance