Support Services

SUPPORTING PEOPLE SERVICE

Supporting People delivers a high quality of housing-related services which complement existing care services. Supporting People offers support for people with learning disabilities in their own homes, to enable them to enjoy a more secure environment and greater independence.

The support work includes helping participants’ with all aspects of being a tenant including budgeting their money, advice on safety and security and health and wellbeing.

The aim of the service is to enable people with a learning disability, through proactive support, to maintain their tenancy, achieve their potential, improve their quality of life and gain greater independence.

The service enables participants to gain knowledge, practical skills and have healthier and more fulfilled lifestyles. The service offers a holistic approach, and works towards the wellbeing of all individuals/family members, and therefore addresses a wide range of issues that are significant to the person.

A minimum of 32 people each week are currently being supported in their homes as part of Options for Life’s Supporting People service.

PARENT SUPPORT SERVICE

Parent Support Service aims to ensure parents with a learning disability and their children enjoy the same rights and opportunities as non-disabled parents and children, by offering pro-active and preventative support.

Parent Support Service works with:

·         Families where one or both parents have a learning disability, i.e. people who have required involvement of some support services for people with a learning disability before becoming a parent, e.g. day care, supported employment, CLDT.

·         Families, from the mother’s pregnancy until the child reaches teenage years.

·         Families who live within Sandwell Metropolitan Borough

The Parent Support Service workers visit each family weekly, and work on mutually agreed issues, which may include the following:

·         Support families to be able to access and maintain appropriate health care.

·         Support parents to attend school meetings and help and encourage their children with homework and engage in appropriate developmental activities.

·         Support families to take part in leisure and friendship activities.

·         Signpost parents to other relevant services such as welfare rights, housing, education and training.