S.T.A.R.S(Seeking Talented And Resourceful Supporting-actors)

Brief Introductions Who are we? What are our skills?

What do we see are roles consisting of?

What are we doing personally to help move this along so we are ready for our Launch date of 14th

Feb 2015?

• Skyped with Caroline Tomlinson founder of My-life.org.uk and Dr Annick Janson.

• Holding this meeting to find supports and ideas

• Sue and I are meeting with The Minister for Disability Issues Hon Nicky Wagner on Nov 8th ‘14

• Sue is attending a one day workshop sponsored by the CCC and Social Enterprise Institute for Exploring Business Opportunities for Community Organisations

The day workshop will:

• Investigate models of social enterprise that work for community organisations

• Explore and develop your business idea

• Give you pathways for the future of your social enterprise

• Irene’s attending the Imagine Better Conference in Nov

• Dr. Annick Janson, Researcher [more here]

Parents taking charge!

We were introduced to Dr. Annick Janson by Gaye from Manawanui InCharge. Annick was interviewing Families and Individuals on the process of transitioning to self-directed supports.

One of the topics we touched on was the difficulties around finding, training and retaining good support workers for our Very High Needs complex needs children.

Annick introduced us to My-Life.org.uk a Parent led group in the UK called My Life whom have a very unique creative recruiting and training programme that has been running 2 years and is very successful.

Our first team meetings

Sue and I were very interested in knowing more so over 2 consecutive breakfasts at the Chateau On The Park and more conversations we decided this is something we would like to put our Energy into as it is a win win for everyone involved and will have if successful, a very positive impact on the community as a whole.

Introducing Movie based language(Changing the language one supporting actor at a time)

S.T.A.R.S language

• Trailer

• Auditions

• Leading Roles

• Stars

• Supporting actors

• Agents

• Directors

Current language

• Pilot/Demonstration

• S.T.A.R.S unique Training Process

• Irene and Sue

• Disabled Clients

• Support workers

• Parents

• Advisors

Outcomes for Agents with very High complex Needs Stars who use IF/EIF or EGL

Positives

• Star centred not group or Supporting-actors availability centred with time and resource restraints this allows the Star to live a good life

• Looking for Supporting-actors who have the same interests as your Star

• No transport issues because it’s one on one either using the Stars vehicle or the Supporting-actors vehicle or public Transport

• Control over your Stars Budget:

• Control over the Supporting actor/s you employ for your star

• More flexibility

• Control over how many different agencies/supporting–actors are in your Stars life on a daily 24/7 basis

• More opportunities to be in the community with a support-actor who enjoys the activities that your Star enjoys

• More opportunities for Employment because of the flexibility of hours to have a supporting-actor with you

Negatives

• Recruiting, Training and Retaining Supporting-actors to walk alongside their Stars

• Being responsible for Supporting-actors i.e., Time Sheets being correct and done on time, Employment contracts, Job descriptions

• Fear of Staff i.e., Personality clashes, Personal grievances, confidentiality, Stealing, inappropriate behaviours, cultural differences

• How to terminate quickly when things go wrong (Very stressful to still have them in your home and supporting your Star when the relationship has broken down but your obligated because you have to give them so many verbal and written warnings as they may be out of the 90 day trial period)

• Learning how to keep respectful boundaries between Supporting-actors and others.

Outcomes for Agents with very High complex Needs Stars who use Agencies

Positives• Someone else takes care of supplying Staff for you

• Someone else trains the Staff

• Someone else does the rosters for the staff

• Someone else decides how they will deliver services to your Star

Negatives• Lack of control

• Lack of Power and balance

• Lack of empowerment/support worker feels more empowered

• Strangers coming into your home

• No background knowledge of the Support worker

• Feelings of being obligated to the Support worker

• Afraid if you complain you may lose services or be treated unfairly

• Fear of Staff i.e., personality clashes, Personal grievances, confidentiality, Stealing, inappropriate behaviours, cultural differences

• Feeling obligated to fill in annual questionnaire positively even though your not happy with the service being provided

• Learning how to keep respectful boundaries between staff and others

• Reject offer of support all together because of bad experiences in the past

• Feeling isolated, exhausted and depressed and lacking in confidence and trust.

S.T.A.R.S(Seeking Talented And Resourceful Supporting-

actors)

A quick overview:

• Free training for Supporting-actors

• Free training for Agents

• The trailer aimed at Very High Needs Disabled Stars

• A unique training system for New Zealand

• 5 consecutive Saturdays

• 9am to 4pm

• Beginning with a Trailer in Christchurch

• Start date February 14th 2015

S.T.A.R.S training vs Current systemS.T.A.R.S (in no particular order and not limited to this)• Believing in the worthiness of their role as Supporting-actors

• Being recognised and supported as a S.T.A.R participant

• Budgeting

• Confidence building

• How to dress for success

• How to communicate honestly

• How to listen

• Planning and efficiency

• How to Cook 5 basic meals

• How to clean

• Agents/Stars Prospective on what makes a great Supporting-actor to their Star (delivered in person or via video)

• Keeping safe

• Opportunities to listen to representatives from different groups in the disability sector

• Police checked

• Vehicle licenses or help to gain one

• Driving a van

• Operating a wheelchair lift and hoists

• Experience with different wheelchair tie downs

• Personal cares

Current system

• We can only speak from our own experiences of Support Staff through agencies and from what they have told us personally. We have had agencies in our Stars lives for nearly 2 decades they receive minimal training if any!

Role of Agents of Very High Needs disabled Stars:

Attending workshops when asked by Irene and Sue in preparation for receiving a matched Supporting-actor

(These will be fun and free!!! and run by experts in their field, with food and drink provided) some even over a weekend away for Agents and Stars Siblings in the future. Bring your Star as well and our Supporting-actors will have an opportunity to meet your Star and find out if there’s a natural friendship develop.

Examples of some Workshops:

• Bringing out the best in your Star

• Building the dream life for your Star when money is no object

• Confidence Building practical solutions

• Confidence in communication whether in person, over the phone, email or texting

• Building natural supports around your Star

• How to be a great Employer of Supporting-actors

• Employment nuts and bolts, the how to with Supporting-actors Contracts, Job descriptions, Personal budgeting

What do we need to be able to launch on Feb 14th 2015

• Hourly wage for Leading Roles ( presently Irene Andrell and Sue Banks)

• Facilitator/Analyst/Researcher documenting the process ( Dr. Annick Janson)

• Koha for invited speakers

• Venue and Venue Hire

• Morning teas and Lunches

• T. Shirts for Leading Roles and Supporting-actors

S. T. A. R. S

Seeking Talented And Resourceful Supporting-actors

• Brochures, Posters and Banners for advertising

• Printing, Stationery office supplies folders, Lap top

• Website and work emails

• Work car with S.T.A.R.S logo (Maybe a Long term goal)

Tackling a core issue –in a novel, unique and sustainable way

• Learning in real time right from the start (i.e. flexible model that can be adapted to suit new knowledge built as we go)

• Families leading social change – by example• Families helping each other - intentionally• Families that are self-determined• Sustainable over time – collaborating with our UK

colleagues, we have direct access to the Social Enterprise lessons they have learnt. We are conducting a systematic research of the Social Entrepreneurship models that can help us achieve our vision

Aiming for the S.T.A.R.S.

Our commitment to our Stars Auditioning for Supporting-actors

S.T.A.R.S will endeavour to match every Star with a compatible Supporting-actor through our

unique Training system.

S.T.A.R.S will endeavour to discover the unique talents of the Supporting-actors and do our best to match them with a compatible Star. We may discover through our Auditions that the Supporting-actor maybe better suited in another Role for example gardening, cleaning, driving.

Ripple effect and sustainability into the

future

We know this will have a massive positive influence in our communities across New Zealand if Christchurch is successful.

How can we make sure Christchurch is a success?

It starts Today! What role do you want to play in the success?

Check us out if you haven’t already…

http://fasttrackinclusiontrust.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/launching-creative-recruiting-idea.html