Identifying our
Therapeutic Outcomes
Our therapeutic approach proactively develops wellness in four areas that are key to overall wellbeing:
1. Environmental wellness
Creating a safe environment for young people (as well as hosts and our staff team) is the foundation for developing wellness. We also look to develop the ability of young people to care and cater for their own needs, and access the additional support they require.
2. Relational wellness
Strong, positive, relationships are the most effective treatments to help people recover from trauma (Perry & Szalavitz 2017). To facilitate this every young person receives support from a local youth worker and is encouraged to build relationships with peers and trusted adults.
3. Personal wellness
This area focusses on the emotional wellbeing of young people and particularly building self-esteem and a secure identity in which young people feel loved, valued, content and hopeful. Key to this is helping young people to understand and express their emotions, recognise their progress and feel in-control of their future.
4. Vocational wellness
Our strengths-based approach helps young people recognise and develop their own interests and skills. We work with local businesses and education providers to increase employment and training options for young people and also emphasise (and create opportunities to develop) character traits that are important in life and work.
Tracking our
Therapeutic Outcomes
Qualitative measures
We use a range of qualitative measures to track outcomes including:
- Relational mapping: Tracking the development of social/relational capital through regular relational ‘eco-mapping’ (see below).
- Case studies: Young people, youth workers and hosts contribute to case studies that profile the impact of our work.
- Anecdotal feedback: Regular opportunities for young people and hosts to report back on outcomes and improvements.
Quantitative measures
To accurately track changes in the wellbeing of young people our bespoke Wellness Assessment tool creates 360 degree feedback (from young people, hosts, youth workers, and other relevant parties) in the areas of environmental, relational, personal and vocational wellness. This assessment is completed before a placement, at the end of a placement, and at three-month intervals in between and gives a visual representation of the young person’s wellbeing (see below).
Make a difference
Last year 121,000 young people (16-25) in the UK were homeless or at risk of homelessness. You could make a difference. Give young people the opportunity to build a firm foundation for the future by becoming an approved host through our supported lodgings scheme, ‘Room to spare’. We provide training, 24/7 support and start-up bursaries. Find out more by downloading our ‘Information for hosts’ brochure.