Opportunities have opened up for anyone interested in assisting young people in a rewarding way.
Supported Care Service supports young people aged 16 to 21 who are moving to independent living after being looked after in, for example, foster care or a children’s house.
Supported Care offers an intermediate stage that enables the young person to develop the skills and confidence needed for living their own lives by providing a home with a carer who will help them towards the next stage of their life. Unlike other forms of care, Supported Caring does not require the carer to give up their employment or interests, as the young people have a degree of independence and can be left on their own.
Supported Carers are paid a weekly allowance but the greatest rewards are in the bonds that form between the carer and the young people, and the delight in seeing a young life develop.
Janet is a Supported Carer in South Lanarkshire and loves being involved in the service.
Now 73 years old, she has been helping young people in this way for 21 years but her enthusiasm is as strong now as it was at the start.
“I had always been used to having my own children around the house, so when they grew up I wasn’t used to having the house to myself. It was actually my ex-husband who suggested I get involved in Supported Caring and I have loved doing it every day since.
“They tend to be a bit shy when they first come in, of course, but after we have a wee blether and they settle in, they are always fine.
“I respect them and they respect me, and it’s always important to remember to have patience. I help them to do their rooms, and show them how to cook and use the washing machine we always get on great. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anyone.”
Aidan has lived with Janet for a year now and has found Supported Care to be an ideal way to prepare for independent living.
The 18-year-old said: “I was in a local kids’ unit before this, which was good for that stage of life, but this is great because it teaches you how to cope in the real world but, at the same time, it is flexible and I can still go out with my pals.
“I wasn’t ready for moving out on my own so this is ideal – it is just like having a normal family life for someone of my age, and Janet is not just great at showing me how to do things but she is great company, too.”
With a waiting list of young people who would benefit from this type of assistance, the Supported Care Service are eager for people to become involved.
Lyn Bouse, from the Family Placement Team, said: “We are looking for motivated and committed people who are keen to care for a young person in their home in a sensitive and supportive way.
“It would be ideal if people already have experience of working with young people and know the issues they face, but the most important qualities we look for are being open-minded, understanding and able to see the potential in a young person.”
Anyone interested in becoming a Supported Carer must be over 21 and have a spare room, and can request more information by emailing the Family Placement Team at
familyplacement@southlanarkshire.gov.uk
The time that young people remain with their carer varies according to the individual, but Janet explained that the relationship is not limited to just the time of care.
She said: “You build up a bond that lasts into the young people’s lives, and it is brilliant. One of my former guests has been away from here for three years but she still brings her own wee girl to see me once every week.
“Another was a boy who had been trafficked from Vietnam and who struggled with the language when he came. During his time he developed so much, including learning to drive and passing his test first time, and even taught me some new things as well as he did his own cooking from Vietnamese recipes!
“He is an incredible boy and still texts me to let me know how he’s getting on.
“These are just two examples, but there are so many more. When you see them going on to have lives of their own, growing into adulthood and being successful in their own right, it is the most wonderful feeling.”
