Settling in

Aims

• To support the client through a change in lifestyle.
• To help the client start to develop new local networks.
• To ensure, as far as possible, that the client has other contacts in the area.

This may well be a good opportunity to use volunteers, previous service users, to act as buddies or mentors.

Tasks

• The worker should wherever possible visit the client in the first week of the move to arrange a package of support with them.
• Offer informal counselling (active listening to know how the client feels, what their current needs are, and if necessary make referrals to the appropriate agency)
• Sometimes a client may need accompanying on first visits to new places, reminders or help accessing services, operating facilities in the home, shopping etc.
• Once a period of stability has been achieved, work should begin on possible education and employment options, if these are not already set out in the plan.
• Support plans should be reviewed, and if necessary be redrawn for each client - examples of which are set out below.
• The worker is responsible for helping the client locate resources that they might be eligible for, benefit from, and in which they may express an interest.

These might include:

• Registering with a local GP practice, dentist, opticians, etc
• Home helps for people who, through disability, are unable to maintain their accommodation satisfactorily, go shopping, do their laundry etc. They can be contacted through the council/neighbourhood office or the social services department, depending on the local authority.
• Community psychiatric nurses for people with mental health problems, particularly if their condition is unstable. These may be contacted directly, or by referral through the GP or social services.
• Health workers or district nurses for people where the client is unable to attend hospital or clinics. They can be contacted through social services or the local medical centre.
• Meals on wheels can also be contacted through social services.

The worker should try as far as is practically possible to ensure that the client remains linked in with all support services they were accessing before the move, either in new services in the area or that previous contact is mainained. Wherever possible, spend time planning routes and transport options to arrive at appointments on time from their new location. Make sure the client does not let all support services slip during the first few weeks, only to find they were useful after all and no longer know how to go about accessing them from their new location.

• Also: tenant's associations, job clubs, adult education services, day centres, Citizens Advice Bureaux and law centres, local leisure or recreational clubs, hobby groups, local churches, mosques, synagogues, voluntary organisations etc. (see the full section in the Environment).

• As well as providing leaflets about services/leisure options/communities/ in the area, talk these things through with people. We all know how much use we really make of leaflets on our local area once we move in, so make it a reality by taking a walk around, or start from the perspective of what the client is interested in and where to find it in the new area, rather than presenting a one-size-fits all on what the area may (or may not) have to offer. If this sounds like a lot of work, and in the interests of diversifying dependence, are there others in the person's network who could introduce the client to the area, show them the centres?

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Co-ordination

• Co-ordinate the agreed resettlement plan or support contract with the agencies involved in the new area.

Advocacy

• Ensure that all support services that were designated and agreed are linked in supporting the client e.g. GP, dependency support services, mental health workers.
• Represent the client with GPs and other support services if access is impeded.
• Support the client to access other services they may not have recent experience of using.

Standards

• An appropriate package of suppor1;icare plan worked out with the client.
• A regular review with the client of the suppor1;lcare plan, redrawing them if necessary.
• A reconsideration of risks posed by and to the client in their new situation.
• Ensure that the support contract was monitored.
• That both the client and the worker were satisfied with the work done.
• That the client and worker agree the plan going forward to flying solo! see the next section for more on this.

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