Samaritans Disability Services

Don't miss out on your Samaritans ASSET Calendar for 2008



Adult Skills Support Education and Training (ASSET) is designed to assist young people with disabilities identify their goals and plan for their future after leaving school. Staff assist clients to access and utilise the local services available to them by providing guidance and advice. The programme delivers personal and social development skills, including literary and numeracy, recreation, independent living skills and vocational training.

The Calendar was created by the ASSET art programme. The aim of the art programme is for each participant to have the opportunity to express his or her emotions and individuality through painting. Participants use a wide range of implements to make a mark on the page including paint, different shaped brushes, spoons, palette knives, marbles, forks, spray bottles and other tools. The programme is accessed by young adults who have a disability. The participants have developed their own style by combining some of the above techniques.

Cost $15
Purchase yours by visiting Samaritans Central Office Warabrook or calling Mick Pritchard
P 4960 3100

All proceeds from the calendar go back into funding next years art programme and exhibition.



Samaritans Enhance Living Options (ELO)

Overview

Samaritans enhances opportunities in community life for people with disability through:

Flexible accommodation services

In home support

Recreational, vocational and social programmes, and

Respite Care

Vision
We will be recognised as leaders in the disability area by providing innovative, client focused services that meet individual need and are based on the principles of equity, access and participation.

What We Do
Services for people with disability are provided through two divisions. Enhanced Living Options Coastal provides services from Gosford to Newcastle and Enhanced Living Options, Hunter provides services primarily across the Upper and Lower Hunter, Port Stephens, Manning and Taree areas.

Samaritans undertakes a planned cycle of review of its disability service programmes and models to strengthen and consolidate its services and to improve their quality.

Aspects of Enhanced Living Options

Enhanced Support towards independent living through flexible accommodation models, provision of services tailored to individual needs and drop in support for people in their own homes, respite care and vocational social and recreational services.

Enhanced Family Involvement of family members in all aspects of care and service. Family committees operate in a number of locations. Samaritans strengthens family relationships through family holidays, visits and regular family contact and actively encourages the development of relationships with family members where contact has previously been lost.

Enhanced Community Participation by working closely with other service providers. Samaritans is a member of Hunter Region Supported Accommodation Placement Panel whose task, together with two other service providers, is to represent all disability services in establishing a more consultative approach to decision-making and service development.

Enhanced Staff Skills and Training have reduced service costs, OH&S risks, staff turnover and absenteeism whilst improving the capacity to respond to mental health issues.

Enhanced Vision and Mission through the active involvement of staff in strategic and operational planning for service quality improvements.

Enhanced Client Opportunities and Skills.

What you can expect from Samaritans Enhanced Living Options

1. Community support workers will offer quality professional services. We will offer services based on assessed need and available resources. We will follow professional standards in terms of conduct and respect for individual difference and ability. We will confirm to practice standards and norms in promoting independence, dignity and choice.
2. Community support workers will adapt their practice to the needs of individual clients. This means that we will base our service provision on the wishes of the person through the implementation of individual service plans. Community support workers will be clear, open and honest in their communication with people with a disability, their family members and friends.
3. Community support workers will ensure that people with a disability are able to participate as fully as possible in community life. This means that we recognise the importance of assisting and supporting people to have active and satisfying lives within the community.
4. Community support workers will recognise that every person with a disability has the right to achieve valued roles within the community. This means that staff will assist people with a disability to develop and maintain the skills that enable participation in activities that help to achieve valued roles in the community.
5. Community support workers practice will be confidential. This means that we will ensure that the information shared about an individual conforms with disability standards and Samaritans policies and ethics with respect to confidentiality.
6. Community support workers practice will promote safety. This means that we will seek to provide at all times a work and living environment that is free from harm and risk of injury.
7. Community support workers practice will be self-aware. This means that we will be conscious of our own values and interests, approaching difference with respect and integrity.