Residential Arrangements & Learning Opportunities
Most students on both
sites live in RMET households. These are houses in the local community
(generally owned or rented by RMET) which are the homes of the residential
care workers who are usually referred to as House Parents. The students
live in the households as guests of the House Parents; and it is
their task it is to make the students to feel at home while they
are living in that household.
Households are
arranged into neighbourhoods to facilitate both organisational and
social structure for students and residential workers. Which students
live in which houses is a decision made by residential services
manager in conjunction with members of the residential services
team and the Principal. This is a process which involves judgements
about the level of care and support which are required, compatibility
and friendships between students, and compatibility between the
lifestyle choices of both residential staff and of students.
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The ILP and the
Household
Each student's ILP includes important sections related to self care
/ independent living skills and personal relationships. These are
also recorded in the Care Plan. Work towards achieving goals in
these areas is carried out in the households but in a manner that
is appropriate to the setting i.e. by focussing on and bringing
to consciousness everyday skills and activities that take place
in and around the home. These personal learning goals are a frequent
topic of conversation between students and residential staff, and
are reviewed formally once each term at the student's PEM.
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The Residential
Style in RMET Households
Residential workers play a very important apart in the lives of
students at RMET. They are regularly able to develop a close working
relationship with the students. This is facilitated by the residential
workers following a life style work pattern rather than doing shifts
and because they work in their own homes. The students experience
a high level of security and stability in these arrangements.
Students move to other
households usually once or twice each year. Security and stability
are maintained because students get to know the households and residential
workers during visits for social activities. It can be likened to
moving within an extended family.
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How Are The Students'
Medical Needs Assessed And Attended To?
During their first term at RMET students are encouraged to register
with a local GP practice, which has close links with Ruskin Mill.
The RMET nurse administers the process and liaises with the practice.
She also arranges clinics for the RMET doctor who visits fortnightly
seeing individual students as well as conducting case conferences.
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Managing the
Residential Provision
The whole residential provision is managed by the RMET Residential
Services Manager (on each site) who works with a team of assistants.
Households are visited and inspected regularly and many are registered
as Care Homes with the local Social Services Department. Registration
is being transferred to the National Care Standards Commission between
November 2001 and April 2002. At the conclusion of this process
a higher proportion of RMET premises than at present will be registered
as Care Homes.
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