Admissions Procedure Policy Document

All admissions are on a planned basis only.

Referral Process

Initial inquiry's can be made by any professional or agency involved with the family.
During this inquiry, we will give details of costs, availability, admission criteria and an outline of how we work.
We will not place any family on the waiting list or confirm we will accept them prior to us receiving a completed referral form and the parents undertaking a visit to Dudley Lodge.
The Local Authority Social Worker is expected to complete and return the referral form. An up-to-date report such as a core assessment is essential.
We will also consider other legal reports.
New referrals are discussed at weekly executive meetings. During these discussions, we take into account current residents and the possible effects of admitting new families. In referrals that include alcohol/drug misuse, it is not usually beneficial for families to live in close proximity to other families who are dealing with the same issues.
Following consideration of court documents, we will inform the relevant Social Worker of whether or not we would process the application further if the local authority makes a formal referral.
Following consideration of a formal referral there are two possible outcomes.
1. We may decide that a family is not suitable for assessment at Dudley Lodge.
2. If it is felt we should process the application further we will contact the Social Worker either by phone or in writing to make arrangements for visits. In some cases, we will want to meet with the Parents/Carers first to discuss issues raised in the referral. Following this, it may be possible for us to say whether in principle we feel the family would be appropriate for an
The next step can be for the parents to visit Dudley Lodge. Social Workers can be involved in this visit but it is acceptable for parents to attend alone. This visit is for parents to meet with a Manager to talk about the 'conditions of residence', process of assessment and the parent(s) expectations. They will also be shown around the building and an empty flat if we have one.
Following this visit we should be able to confirm our acceptance or otherwise of this family for assessment.
The next step is for a formal meeting involving the parent/s, Social Worker and Managers from Dudley Lodge. This meeting will draw up the Placement Plan. It may be that due to timescales or distances that a meeting with the family prior to this meeting has not been undertaken.
Whenever possible we will arrange admission dates at the meeting. If it is not possible, we will advise the Social Worker of these as soon as we are able to.
When older children are to be involved in the assessment, we can arrange visits for them nearer the date of admission. Children are not expected on the previous visits as this can disrupt the meeting and make it difficult for parents to participate fully.
Social Workers are responsible for making the arrangements to move parents and children into Dudley Lodge.
During the first few days at Dudley Lodge, families are helped to unpack and settle in to the new environment.
Whenever possible the allocated link worker/s will be on duty when the family moves in. Staff members will introduce themselves to the family at the earliest possible opportunity allowing for shift patterns.
New families will usually be introduced to their immediate neighbours and will gradually meet other residents over the next few days.
On the day of admission or possibly the day after, the objectives of the placement will be re-visited. Placement procedures such at the complaints procedure and fire procedure will also be gone through.
A priority is filling in GPs forms and registering with the local surgery, also attending DSS. Staff assist families with these processes usually the day after moving in.
All families will be given the opportunity to be taken out by staff and shown the local area and places to shop. Unsupervised time out of Dudley Lodge is discussed for each family when drawing up the Placement Plan Agreement.
The admittance and settling in process usually takes a few days. Following this, parents are expected to fully engage in the assessment process and to start working towards the agreed objectives.
Supervision of practical care of babies and children will start when the family move into Dudley Lodge.