July 27, 2016

Person Shaped Placement: Our 70 Day with PSS

Hi we are Lisa and Paula, two Liverpool City Council employment based students from UCLAN University who came to PSS to complete a 70day social work adult placement.

Having 26 years’ experience between us of working within Liverpool City Council Children’s Services we felt a little out of our comfort zone, having never worked within an adult social care organisation. We were reassured it is the same skill set and value base and introduced to the task ahead.

Working directly with the Head of Service for the Home & Communities Portfolio, Pam Doyle to review and embed Personal Centred Support Planning & Practices across services.
The 70 day Challenge was…….
• To design and create a generic person centred support plan template
• Develop and deliver training to 30 support staff and team leaders
• Provide 1:1 support and mentoring to support staff in completing over 200 support plans

We actioned this in 3 stages.

1. Planning. We researched relevant theory & legislation. Having met the service managers to gain understanding of the services in the Homes and Communities portfolio we then visited services and spent time with service users. We had meetings and conversations with people who receive support and the staff who provide the support, to increase ownership, commitment and motivation to a change in culture with greater focus on person centred support. Looking at new innovative ways to complete Personal Centred Support Plans.

2. Design. We designed a new support planning tool to create new person centred support plans. We then realised that to promote quality it would be helpful for staff to have clear guidance on how to complete the plan so we wrote a guidance book to compliment and ensure high standards.

3. Implementation. This stage developed into a real team effort, Pam Doyle brought together the heads of services and Karol Zwolinski to meet with the managers of the Day services to discuss the new support plan role out. Our role in this was to provide training to all support staff and team leaders over a two week period then to provide four weeks direct support at the day centres to oversee the completion of the support plans.

We are grateful for the time we have spent at PSS as it has been amazing!

As students our learning experience has far exceeded our expectation and we are thankful for the unique opportunity we were given.

We have learnt so much from PSS service users and families and been inspired by the dedication and hard work of PSS staff who it has been a privilege and a pleasure to spend time with. We would particularly like to thank Pam Doyle and Pam Foy who have been fantastic mentors throughout our placement.

Karol Zwolinski worked closely with Lisa and Paula on this project:

I have had a pleasure to work alongside of Lisa and Paula on a pilot project for new support plans roll out across our Making Days services. This unique however how significant opportunity given to both students, will have a significant impact on the future of our work.

In true PSS style both Lisa and Paula were nothing more than positive, enthusiastic and solution focus. I look forward to working with them as I believe they will help to shape future of Health and Social Care services. Good luck with everything you do!!!