Mission Statement

To provide individualised support and care, as part of a holistic care plan, to children who are under a Care Order, thus living out of home and presenting challenging behaviour.

The Service

The High Support Service provides one-to-one support to children living out of home, who require more in-depth intervention due to the challenging behaviour which they present. The service helps by sustaining the children through a high support programme, and assists them to integrate within the Residential Home or an alternative place of residence. The service is offered to Children who are under a Care Order and who present challenging behaviour or special needs, and is part of the Care Plan for the said children.

Presently, there are around 21 children benefiting from this service, while there are 20 Care Workers providing this service mainly in residential settings. Appoġġ is responsible to recruit, train, monitor and supervise care workers undertaking such work, in order to ensure a high quality service to children utilising this service.

Recently, this service has been extended to provide respite for Foster Carers who have children with challenging behaviour and who are also under a Care Order.

Aims and Objectives

- To provide individual care and support to the children within the setting of the Residential Home or wherever the children are residing, so as to enable them to integrate better in their setting;

- To work hand in hand with various professionals, including the child's key social worker and the residential worker so as to meet the children's needs in an integrated manner;

- To support residential workers or care providers in caring for the children concerned with the ultimate aim of enabling these children to settle and integrate in their alternative place of residence;

- To adopt and maintain safe working practices with the children in the programme.

- To support the children to integrate and function positively as part of their "family group" and to assist them in developing skills which are appropriate and acceptable within a family.

- To provide stimulating activities (educational/play) according to each children's individual needs, interests and abilities, while at the same time support the children in tasks within the home setting in keeping with the timetable and expectations of the residential setting/home.

- To assist and support the children in developing independence and general life skills, appropriate to the age and ability of the children.

- To attend Case Reviews and Care Plan meetings so as to represent the child's progress and/or needs, and to support the children in participating in such meetings, where necessary and appropriate;

- To keep updated records of all activities and interventions, so as to ensure continuity of care and accountability.

- To communicate effectively, always in the best interests of the children with the housemothers and social workers and any other person or professional involved with the children.

- To report any concerns regarding the children immediately to the appropriate professional.

- To recruit, train, monitor and supervise care workers in order to help them provide the best service possible to help them build a positive healthy relationship with the child according to his or her needs.