Community Lives Consortium

Targeting Support Update 2007

My name is Lynne Stainsby and I'm the Contract Manager for Network 6, I have worked for the Consortium since March 1993.

In last year's Annual Report we told you that we were implementing Targeting Support in Network 6. This happened in August 2006.

Network 6 was picked for the pilot as it has a wide range of schemes, if was felt that if it worked here it would work in the other Networks.

This also gave some staff the opportunity to have an increase in salary, althought with that came additional responsibilities.

These staff were called Support Co-ordinators, when on shift they have the responsibililty of co-ordinating the shift and giving direction to the Support Workers who come in to the scheme to Target Support.

During and after the consultation period staff had lots of concerns of the changing roles, although some staff were positive.

One of the main concerns they had was moving around from one scheme to another. When we started we had a lot of staff sickness and people not turning up for their shift. This took a while to settle down but it did.

Now the Support Workers prefer this role, they enjoy going around working in different schemes, in fact we have had a few Support Co-ordinator vacancies to fill. The Support Workers have not applied as they prefer the Support Worker role.

Initially we had a lot of problems with rotas, we were using the new rota software which took a lot of getting used to. It was taking a long time for the Team Co-ordinators to prepare the rotas and get them to the staff.

As time went on the software became easier to use and the rotas were completed quicker.

Initially rotas would be delivered by hand to the schemes on the Friday. This proved to cause problems because some Support Workers were not getting rotas in time. We have recently met with Support Workers and it was agreed that we would post the rotas to people's home addresses, this has been more successful.

Service Users have benefited from having less staff around and recordings show that behaviours have decreased.

We meet on a monthly basis with the Support Workers as they are not always able to attend Team Meetings in the scheme. Although if they are in the schemes when there is a Team Meeting they are encouraged to attend.

From the Team Co-ordinators point of view there has been a large change in their role as they have had additional responsibilities to their Job Description.

They have prepared the rotas with some support from the Service Co-ordinators. They also supervise the Support Workers and are responsible for everything in relation to the Support Workers.

This has had an impact on them, although things have started to get easier.

Targeting Support although we had a lot of problems in the beginning has worked well in Network 6, I can't see us going back to the original way of working, no doubt we will always come up against problems but as we hit a problem we seek advice or support and sort it out.

We have recently had the first interim report from the Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities which has shown that there is better efficiency in the Service and the support is as good as was previously offered.

My name is Lynda Rosselli and I am a Peripatetic Contract Manager for the Consortium and I have supported the Contract Managers in their Networks for the period of time when Targeting Support was initially introduced.

Targeting Support was implemented in Network 5 in April 2007. Consultations were held with the staff and managers within the Network explaining Targeting Support and the staff structure that would be implemented.

There has been difficulties with adapting to using the Rota Software, especially when allocating Support Worker shifts.

Lynne discussed earlier the concerns of the Support Workers and the impact of staff sickness. This has also been a concern in Network 5.

Alongside the implementation of Targeting Support, individual Service Delivery Support Plans were reviewed and Support Plans were updated which enabled consistency regarding the support delivered.

Activity Support Plans have proved a good tool for Support Co-ordinators when directing Support Workers on shift. Team Co-ordinators arranged Support Worker meetings where staff were able to de-brief and give feedback.

It has been 5 months since the implementation of Targeted Support and Staff and Managers are more positive and less anxious.

Service Users have expressed that they have enjoyed being supported by a larger group of Support Workers.

Hi I'm Michael Connolly I'm the Contract Manager for Network 2. Network 2 is in the Gorseinon area of Swansea which is made up of 11 schemes.

Targeting Support will be introduced to Network 2 by the end of February, so what I wanted to do now is just give you an update on the process and the progress we have made up to date.

Consultation Meetings - we held consultation meetings with the Care Managers who have clients in Network 2 schemes. We have also had consultation meetings with all the staff in Network 2. So hopefully all the staff in Network 2 have been given information and have been able to ask questions and raise any concerns they have around Targeting Support.

Each scheme has discussed Targeting Support obviously in their Team Meetings and as a Network the Service Co's, Team Co's and Housing Co's have discussed in depth Targeting Support and its implications within our Network.

At the present time we have reviewed the care hours which will be presented to the Care Managers. Application forms have been sent out for the roles of Support Co's. The Support Co's interviews will take place at the end of November.

We have also offered training to staff around interview techniques.

The feedback we are getting from staff presently is positive. Obviously there are concerns which hopefully we will address and manage as time goes on.

We are up to date with our training, more training will be offered to our staff at the end of November.

In our Network Meetings I am very lucky that all the Support Co's are very, very positive around the Targeting Support and being proactive and very positive when discussing Targeting Support with their staff.