Our approach to empowerment

We understand how difficult and overwhelming this experience can be, and how easy it is to end up on the wrong path. Our ethos is to help our young residents feel part of the Blossom Living community, where we hope to instil a sense of belonging, in a safe, nurturing, vibrant place that they can call home. We aim to provide the skills necessary for the young person to make the successful transition towards independent living and to fulfil their full potential.

We provide opportunities for personal growth and development to prepare them for the wider world. To a young person leaving care, this transition can seem frightening. But Empowered with the right tools, skills and knowledge, they will gain confidence and resilience, and going on to have positive life experiences.

We aim to build trusting relationships, to be good listeners, to provide a structured, knowledgeable service underpinned by our principles of transparency, excellent communication, support, and understanding.

We follow the outcome guidelines of Every Child Matters. Our registered Chartered Psychologist provides direct counselling and therapeutic support for a wide range of emotional, traumatic experiences and mental health issues. 

Our process

Each young person will have an individual care package. An initial assessment will be arranged with all those involved in the young person’s pathway planning from the initial referral. The care package will include training programmes to equip the young person with the necessary education, life and employability skills, plus therapeutic support where required.

Pathway planning is always done in collaboration with the young person to ensure their wishes and feelings are considered at all times.

Blossom living key workers use the ASDAN Skills To Independence Programs to develop the essential life skills to live in independently. Completing an ASDAN short course provides the young person with a recognised certificate, thus building up their own personal portfolio.

Examples of the skills taught in the programs include:

Food Management

Food hygiene and preparation, and how to cook on a budget

Money Management

Paying bills, banking, budgeting, how to spend wisely

Housing

Completing housing and benefits forms, renting or buying a property, getting a mortgage, home insurance and utilities bills

Safety Awareness

How to stay safe, fire safety and safety in the home

Health

Basic first aid, healthy living and health awareness, how to register with medical services, advice and positive promotion of personal care and sexual health

Social Awareness

Staying safe in the community, gang awareness, Internet safety, healthy relationships, communication skills, community knowledge

Transport

Travel planning, using public transport

Time Management

Employment

Support with seeking employment, how to search for employment, CV writing, interviews and employability