Wigan Council require two immediate placements for 2 young people

<p>Wigan council require two immediate placements for 2 young people. Female Age 15: Behaviours include mental health, DOLS 3:1 support Female has shown some challenging behaviours, in the context of trauma, not being able to go home, being separated from her peers/family, restrictions of her liberty and continuous change of care provider/staff (which any young person would find unsettling and destabilizing). As a result of this her staff ratio has at times been 4:1 staff however her current staff ratio is for 3:1 with 2 staff directly with female and 1 staff member in the background for if required. Female has responded well to this change. This level of staffing has been required as a response to the fact that the setting is not designed as a children's home and the staff are not specially trained to care for traumatised children. When female&rsquo;s mood changes, she shows multiple behaviours; she becomes distressed and she can be verbally abusive, attempt to hit and bite staff, can barricade herself in the bathroom, has attempted to jump over bannisters, tried to climb onto a bridge and sitting on a multi-story car park, and can swallow items to seek attendance at hospital. The DOLS order will be reviewed again once a regulated placement is identified for female, to update the address and reconsider restrictions based on presenting risk. It is pertinent to note that the DOLS order provides permission for these restrictions of liberty as opposed to stipulating that they must always take place at this highest level of allowance, and therefore staffing ratio can be increased or reduced based on level of current risk. Female is currently supported on 4:1 always staffing levels with 1 member of staff in the room and 3 staff available if needed and to support when she goes outside. Female enjoys positive attention and responds well to praise and reassurance particularly when things get difficult, and she is having a bad day. She will accept support from both male and female staff members but tends to grow a good rapport with female members of staff. Female is best supported using the PACE model and has a CAMHS team involved with her who have helped to implement this model within her current care team. Female&rsquo;s social worker and CAMHS team know her very well and her CAMHS link worker is happy to provide some consultation to the new care staff team when a placement is identified. Female likes to feel included and participating in activities. She enjoys contributing to the activity plans. Female has a good sense of humour and responds well to staff who will laugh and joke with her and this is often the way she begins to open to people and form good relationships with them. Female is a talented artist and enjoys being creative. She also enjoys pampering evenings and doing nails with a face mask with staff. Male Age 15: Behaviours include CCE MFH The overall care plan for X is to remain in residential care until independence. The professionals supporting X at this time are: - Social worker - Targeted Services exploitation worker - Education &ndash; Virtual school X has experienced a lot of change since leaving secure accommodation in June 2020, including four placement moves and two education placements. There are concerns that X feel&rsquo;s rejected by professionals which impacts upon him building trusted relationships with professionals and placement. It is important X experiences stability with his care planning both in terms of placement and education. There is a significant pull to Wigan for X since he came out of his secure placement in June 2020. Whilst it is acknowledged that X has not become involved in criminality or ASB since living in Wigan on the 9th of August, the pull factor to Wigan appears to fluctuate. What is working well? X is up to date with his health needs. X is keen to engage in education and has positive aspirations for his future. X is engaging with most professionals involved in his care planning X's family time with his mum is going well and they have enjoyed days out together where this has been able to take place. X's family time has continued to be supervised, however, T will have one family time a month unsupervised with his mum, and it is felt this is positive progress in the right direction for T and Amy. X talks positively about his aunt, Nan and also about extended family and he has enjoyed contact with them. X has a risk assessment in place in relation to his missing from home episodes X requires a supportive and nurturing environment, where they can offer X stability and direct intervention regarding his emotional and attachment difficulties to family and peers. X needs to be provided with a stable home environment whilst in Local Authority Care. It is felt that X requires a placement in a Residential setting with access to education. X would require ongoing support with his emotional and behavioural needs. Placement to support X in developing in independence skills in preparation for X moving to semi-independent/independent living when X have reached adulthood. X to be encouraged and supported to engage in positive activities to divert X away from the pull factors to Wigan. Placement to support X to have meaningful contact with his family and to continue building positive relationships. If you require Further information please Contact Commissioning Placement Lead, Jessica Smith &ndash; Jessica.smith5@wigan.gov.uk or call 01942 486119</p>