Introduction
Next Steps London was established in September 2017. We are a private limited company with the objective of supporting people who have a range of vulnerabilities. These can vary from children seeking asylum, refugees, young expectant mothers who need extra support, children looked after and young people leaving care. Many of these young people may have experienced a range of emotional, physical or sexual abuse, neglect, poor parenting, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, trauma and loss. We understand the reality of these issues and understand the detrimental effects and impact they can have on a person’s life. At NSL we know that, unfortunately, these children and/or adults could experience difficulties in society, which could lead to unemployment, poverty, homelessness and exclusion. By providing the right kind of support and guidance, NSL hopes to build their self-confidence and self-esteem, give them the skills to live independently, to feel comfortable within their environment and to build relationships and feel a sense of community. Our overall priority is to enable those vulnerable people to not only live a better quality of life but to live it proudly and achieve better outcomes for their futures.
NSL is a 24 hour staffed home offering additional one to one weekly keywork sessions. We offer packages of 5 hours, 10 hours or 15 hours direct keywork sessions per week. We are offering housing and support services to Looked After Children, Careleavers and Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers across London, from the age of 16 to 21 years, supporting them at any one time. We believe a person or group is vulnerable when support is required to enable or promote independent living with a safe and active participation within the Community. We endeavour to work closely with Children Services, ensuring that we work towards meeting the goals and objectives of the young person’s Pathway Plan, work closely with health and the CLA nurse where appropriate. Work closely with education providers and EXCITE supporting young people into education, training or employment pathways and liaise regularly with the relevant Youth Participation Officer to ensure young people have access and are engaged in positive activities. For the safety and welfare of all minors in our care, all staff members will have supplied satisfactory references and also undergone a Criminal Reference Bureau (CRB) check.
About Us
Naiha Ali
Company Director / Manager
Ozan Ali
Deputy Manager
Naiha Ali Company Director / Manager
Naiha has over 16 years of experience of working with children, families and young people and holds a BA Honours Degree in Social Work. Naiha qualified in July 2001 and started to work for Harrow Council in November 2001. Naiha began her journey as a Front Line Social Worker working with Children in Need, Children with a Child Protection Plan and Children Looked After. In 2004, Naiha went on to work for the Harrow Leaving Care Team as a qualified Social Worker. In 2010 both the Leaving Care Team and UASC Team merged into one service and Naiha was promoted to Deputy Team Manager. In 2014, Naiha undertook a 2 year secondment to develop her management skills and enhance her skills and knowledge base in other areas and went on to manage the Early Intervention Service for 12 months and the Youth Service for 12 months. Naiha then returned to her substantive role as Deputy Manager in December 2016 when her secondment ended. Naiha is HCPC registered and has continued her professional development by undertaking a range of training course. Naiha has undertaking WLA management training covering various topics such as improving effectiveness in staff supervision, managing your team, strategic management and managing complex cases. In addition Naiha has undertaken and delivered Level 3 Safeguarding training to social workers. During her time managing the EIS service she also undertook systemic training. In addition to this Naiha has undertaken various training in working with Asylum young people, Child Sexual Exploitation, Gangs and Female Gentile Mutilation. Naiha poses a huge range and skills and expertise in working with young people and understanding their needs. In addition as a manger Naiha has developed good leadership skills, proficient in risk management and supporting young people to become more resilient . With growing frustration around the lack of high quality accommodation provision and a strong drive to make a difference to young people in care, Naiha made the decision the leave the Council in October 2017 and set up her own accommodation to provide a service that truly meets the needs of young people, and supports young people to achieve better outcomes.
Ozan Ali - Deputy Manager
Ozan has worked with young people for the past 15 years. Ozan began by working in a children's residential home and then went on to work for Connexions, supporting NEET young people to get back into education, employment and training and worked in a Pupil Referral Unit one day a week too. Ozan then progressed into working in a semi independent placement for CLA and Care Leavers and an Adult Ex-Offenders project for 4 years. Over the past 3 years Ozan has worked as a social housing officer dealing with ASB predominantly.
Support Workers / Keyworkers
All our support workers must have a minimum of 3 years experience in the field of care and support before being recruited. Our support workers have a range of skills, knowledge and experience varying from youth work, mental health and social care. All staff must undertake mandatory training and well as ongoing monthly training to develop their professional competence. All of our staff are DBS checked and must provide at least 2 references.
Statement of Purpose
NSL specialises in a service for young people aged 16 to 21 years of age in the care of the Local Authority. Our principle activity is the provision of high quality shared living and community based support services for people with a broad spectrum of support needs.
The primary task of NSL is to assist young people to develop practical skills, develop emotional relationships, build resilience and have financial skills to achieve a successful transition from care and support to independent living within a safe and caring framework.
Best Service Provider – To provide quality housing and support through a proven system of quality key working delivered by staff we believe are the best.
Improve Lives – To develop individuals to promote independence and empowerment in order for them to live with sustainability, passion and drive.
Readiness for Independence – To ensure we promote and support young people to achieve the ‘Every Child Matters’ headings. Be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being.
Working Together – To ensure we focus on the strengths of our service users and progress at a pace that suits their needs, to ensure the views of the young person are heard and included in their support plans.
Equal Opportunities – To welcome diversity amongst our service users and staff and promote an integrated multicultural diverse environment. We welcome all regardless of colour, race, religion, nationality, ethnic or national origins, marital status, gender, sexuality, disability or age whether service user or employee.
Positive Contribution To Society - To promote positive contribution to society from service users by empowering them to live independently, access employment and integrate within the community.
Strong Emphasis On Outcomes – To implement strategies heavily focused on achieving goals directly from service users. To provide guidance, facilitation in order to enable our client group to find answers for themselves and become driven to find solutions they previously found impossible.
What We Offer
At NSL we use a range of social work and youth work interventions that are child and young person centred:
• Direct Work / Keywork
• Task Centred Practice
• Crisis Intervention
• Motivational Interviewing
• The Advocacy Model (non radical)
• The Empowerment Model (non radical)
Life Skills Training
• Understanding nutrition
• Cooking and baking
• Preparing shopping list, going shopping
• Budgeting for food bills, clothing, bills, recreation etc.
• Cleaning and maintaining bedrooms and communal areas
• Laundry, ironing, bedding etc.
• Maintaining socially acceptable levels of personal hygiene
• Assessing recreational and educational facilities
Assisting with Benefits / Bills
• Accessing welfare benefits /
• Managing benefits • Filling out forms
• Maintaining their Conditions of Residence Agreement
• Opening a bank / savings account
• Accessing Professional help and liaison with other agencies
• Accessing training, education and employment opportunities
• Accessing specialist drug and alcohol services / counselling services
• Registering with GP, Dentist and Optician
• Arranging and attending appointments
• Liaising with social worker, personal advisor's and other representatives
• Liaising with Benefits Agency
• Health and Safety Advice
• Monitoring physical health and diet
• Health and safety training in the kitchen and the home
• Operating and maintaining kitchen equipment safely
• Fire safety training • Safe food hygiene
Other Support
• Monitoring and supervising compliance with medication
• Emotional difficulties (informal counselling)
• Befriending and Behaviour Mentoring
• Resettlement and preparation for move on accommodation
• Organise social events
• Religious and Cultural observances
• Maintaining contact with family and friends
• Signpost to relevant agencies where appropriate
Parkfield Crescent is a five bedroom detached property based in the London Borough of Harrow. The property consists of a communal area, kitchen and dining area, office, 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
The accommodation is ideally located within a short distance of North Harrow and Harrow on the Hill underground station and only a 10min from the Town Centre. The London Borough of Harrow is one of the most diverse local authorities in the UK with more than half of its population from Black and Minority Ethnic groups.
Next Steps London promises: -
• To accommodate in only culturally diverse areas within the region
• Each accommodation will ensure the service user has their own bedroom
• To ensure that the living accommodation is fully equipped to meet the requirements of young people, including on-site laundry facilities and communal living area with TV.
• All living areas, communal areas and bedrooms will be inspected on a regular basis to ensure accommodation rules are being complied with.
• To provide a minimum of 6 hours on site support daily and 5 hours weekly one to one keywork sessions for all needs including basic activities i.e. cooking and cleaning.
• To ensure all accommodation meets with health and safety standards and recommended environmental health standards, including the installation of mains smoke alarms, fire regulated furnishings and safety locks.
• To make sure each property contains emergency evacuation procedures and details of emergency contact numbers.
• To ensure that all gas supply and gas appliances have been inspected and certificated by a CORGI gas registered engineer. • To acquire a valid NIC I EIC certificate in respect of the electrical supply in each property.
• All inspections will include an examination of appliances for damage that is likely to be of a hazardous nature and likely to cause injury.
The Accommodation
NSL (Next Steps London) aims to offer a comprehensive service to contracting authorities as permitted by legislation and to provide advice, support, guidance and assistance.
NSL believe that each individual is unique and requires different levels of support at different stages in their lives. At NSL we offer a range of options for support to suit each individual needs of the young person.
NSL is a 24 hour staffed home offering additional one to one weekly keywork sessions. We offer packages of 5 hours, 10 hours or 15 hours direct keywork sessions per week.
We understand that each individual may have different requirements and some may require more assistance than others, they will be assessed individually and a personal support plan will be constructed. From this plan we will be able to identify each person’s needs.
Within our supporting package we aim to assist in the following: -
• Independent Skills – We will help each individual develop their skill to perform everyday tasks such as cleaning, cooking, shopping, budgeting etc.
• Education, Employment & Training– We will have a list of all colleges and providers within our locality. We will assist in sourcing appropriate courses, completing application forms and liaising with Youth Stop or Excite where appropriate.
• Health – Registering with GP, dentist and opticians, supporting with emotional well being and signposting to mental health services, support with sexual health, diet and nutrition. In the cases of minors we will accompany the young person to any appointments.
• Solicitors - Where needed to handle their asylum claim or other issues, will assist in finding appropriate legal representatives and help them to understand British law if they are not familiar with the country’s basic legalities.
• Cultural and Community Organisations – Our aim is to make them feel comfortable within their environment by referring them to cultural/community organisations that provide support asylum seekers/refuges.
• Social and Recreational Activities - Help them to build relationships and feel a sense of community within their surroundings. Inform them of local cinemas, cafes/restaurants, and social clubs to promote independent living. Also assist young people to access the local gym, libraries, homework clubs and language clubs etc.
• Religious and Cultural Practices – We will assist minors in the furtherance of their religious and cultural practices where required.
• Accommodation– Young people will be accommodated in semi-independent living in a shared house.
If the young person is approaching 18 years of age we will support them with applying for benefits.
We will work with Children Services by providing and sharing information, work in partnership with the pathway plan and attend Pathway Plan Reviews or CLA Reviews where required.
We will provide monthly reports to the social worker and offer daily updates if there are any changes in circumstances or incidents.
Where required we can make referrals to Save the Children to refer the young person to their Befriending Unaccompanied Minors Project (B.U.M.P). We can also make referrals to the Red Cross for their International Tracing & Message service where required.
We also work in close partnership with education / employment services such as EXCITE and Youth Stop.
In addition we also endeavour to ensure young people’s emotional needs are being met by supporting them to attend CAMHS appointments or counselling with Horizon (Tier 2 support services run by Barnardos).
Support Packages
Referrals
Referrals can be made via CarePlace or spot purchases for emergency placements can be made by calling NSL direct on 07946 319059.
Ideally we like young people to visit the placement prior to offering accommodation to give them the opportunity to view the placement first and meet the staff.
NSL (Next Step London) places considerable emphasis on providing accommodation and support suitable to the needs of those young people in our care. Our procedures therefore entail the following: -
• Social Workers to complete the Child Profile in as much detail as possible.
• A copy of the most recent Pathway Plan to be provided before service user is placed.
• Where possible an initial visit to the placement.
• Placement agreement and support plan to be completed within 7 days of placement.
• No young person will be refused accommodation on the basis of race, culture, religion or disability.
• The Local Authority will supply a starter pack which includes towels, pots, pans, cups and cutlery.
• Staff will obtain copies of relevant Home Office paperwork and other documentation supplied by the referring authority.
• The young person will be given information explaining the role and the process of providing support for that young person.
• Each young person will be given an induction pack including how the mechanism for dealing with any complaints is dealt with, and shown to their allocated accommodation.
• Where applicable, Interpreters to be made available by the Local Authority on the day of the move to overcome any language barriers.
• All young people are expected to sign the conditions of residency/code of conduct agreement and made aware of consequences should this be breached.
For any further information regarding referrals, please do not hesitate to contact us via email at naiha.ali@nextstepslondon.com or via telephone on 07946 319 059
Contact Us
Contact
Naiha Ali - 07946 319 059
Placement - 0203 952 8464