Skills 4 life programme
Living independently for the first time is a big challenge. Your personal advisor or social worker are there for you to talk to about this. They will also work with you to help develop your skills and knowledge, so you are prepared for when you are living more independently.
Your Pathway Plan has a section to help identify your skills as well as areas that you may need to work on or require support with.
Key to our approach for you as care leavers is our Skills4life Programme, co-developed by you and staff. It focuses on building skills and confidence in the different areas professionals look at when assessing your ability to live independently.
It also assists empowering you to step confidently into an independent and healthy adult life.
The aim of the Skills4life programme is to improve your resilience and wellbeing while also signposting you to services, so involves sessions focused on money management, which bills to pay first and practical life skills.
Friendly and supportive professional facilitators will help you gain valuable life-skills through interactive and engaging activities.
This is a group programme you must attend for us to nominate you to eventually move into your accommodation. You should ask your social worker or personal adviser to nominate you onto the programme. Areas covered include:
- Cooking and safety in the home
- Advocacy (your rights and entitlements)
- Essential first aid
- MyBank (where you learn all about budgeting and finance)
- Managing your tenancy
- Internet safety
- Community safety and the police
- Health and good hygiene (healthy living)
- Dealing with emergencies (power cuts, leaks, fire etc)
- Accessing services (benefits job centres, education)
- Basic home maintenance (use of electricity, gas, water etc)
Please ask your social worker or personal adviser for more details.