Cora Services
The Cora Approach - Meeting the Needs of Young People and their Families
The experience across the Cora Network of Services, Good Shepherd, St John’s and St Philip’s, St Mary’s & Stepdown (Secure Care, Residential Care & Community Support Services) of providing care and education for young people with complex needs is extensive.
That experience has long recognised the critical place for comprehensive assessment and planning, work with the family, the quality of care and education for the growth of each young person, and the preparation and transition back home and to the community.
Residential care staff have consistently pointed to the clear value in working with families before and after a young person’s admission to care. This has regularly assisted the co-operation of the family and child during the placement and significantly increased the successful return of the young person home and to family.
Recognising the need for sound After Care/ThroughCare support for young people leaving Care, the Cora Network of Services has developed a specialist service, Stepdown, dedicated to providing Community based support services for young people and their families/carers. Stepdown will work with young people in transition from Secure, Residential and other In Care settings to return successfully to their families, Carers or onto independence.
Stepdown will also support young people & families in the community where community support might assist in preventing breakdown.
Experience & Discussion
The Cora approach to a comprehensive service framework for young people and families with complex needs is based on the experience across the Cora Network of services and the discussions with Local Authority colleagues on improving outcomes for children and families.
That experience coupled with the views from Local Authorities has pointed up the need for the provision of a comprehensive range of services when complex needs are assessed.
Consistency in the availability and provision of this comprehensive range of services was paramount.
The Cora Service Framework – ‘What Works’
The Cora Network of Care Services has, consequently, put in place a Cora service framework based on the experience of ‘What Works’. This service framework will be available across all the Cora Network of Care Services and will be delivered on and off the campus areas.
The Cora approach recognises three stages in the planning and delivery of services for a child and family:
- Pre-placement planning and intake
- Care, education and family & community integration
- Tailored planning and service delivery for aftercare
Outcome Driven
The critical focus of the Cora Service Framework is to plan and provide services which will improve outcomes for the young person and the family. Planning for the exit of a young person at the point of entry will support holistic outcome driven planning.
When a young person enters the Cora Network of Care Services all three stages in the planning and delivery will be provided. The intensity levels associated with elements of the range of services will be tailored to needs.
An Adaptable Service Framework
The Service Framework can adapt to focus on prevention if, for example, at the pre-placement stage it is recognised as appropriate to deliver services to the young person and family in the community. Services can be delivered to young people and families in the pre-placement stage using the experienced combination of residential care staff and Stepdown Community Services staff.