Avocet House
Turnstone House
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An assessment of Specialist Education Services took place in September 2011, against the seven LILAC standards.
The key purpose of LILAC is to draw upon the experiences and expertise of care-experienced young people to improve the policy and practice of agencies in how they involve and consult with children in Care and Care Leavers. It does this by using a framework of quality standards for involvement which has been developed by care-experienced young people. Young people from Care are trained to assess the performance of agencies against the LILAC standards.
The LILAC standards are based on the well-known ‘Hear By Right’ approach to participation but they have been developed to closely reflect the nature of the care system. They have been developed by care-experienced young people to reflect what is important to them. Each standard is backed by a number of criteria to ensure a robust methodology that focuses on quality over processes. (Website: www.lilacanv.org)
Quotes from the report:
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The LILAC assessment team had not encountered a service use as SES that provided such a large number of services for young people and the number of good practices already in places that the team found it to be outstanding as an independent organisation providing specialised education and residential care throughout Norfolk and the wider UK.
LILAC Assessors wanted to acknowledge and commend the “No limit approach” ‘in place at AVOCET House for supporting young people’s achievement and the genuine focus of the staff team in supporting the young people in place and the continuous learning ethos throughout the entire service. LILAC Assessors felt that this sort of ‘placement/home’ offering both emotional and practical support can be invaluable for young people and for some young people this was the first time they have been empowered in making decisions about what happens to them. None of them had experienced this service in their own Local Authorities but felt it would have been extremely useful.
Messages from LILAC Assessors:
They are doing great work with the young people, I think most of the young people are happy and I wish for more young people to have that kind of opportunity and their work is outstanding really.
This home would be ideal for some of the new young people I know.
All the staff at SES really care about the young people and want to do the best for the young people they look after and really want to make their lives better
Messages from LILAC Assessors:
For six weeks between 20th Feb and the end of March all the boys at Avocet House took part in an exciting and innovative theme that ran across every evening in the house. The idea stemmed from members of the care team looking creatively at how an aspirational target within our Development Plan could be translated into a powerful, fun, reality.
Within the development plan the aspiration was:
“Through raising expectations of manners, courtesy and dress, for all children to be the epitome of smartness, cleanliness and high personal standards in respect of appearance, personal care and behaviour.”
A six week programme involved staff dressed as tooth fairies, visitors from the armed forces to inspect personal standards, pamper evenings including pedicures, manicures and facials, elocution lesson’s, visits from the ‘language police’, spring cleaning the house to the sound of Madness “Our House” and much more. The highlight, however, was in the final week where the boys took their very best learning and decorum to join an established Ballroom dancing club for the evening. Each boy was partnered by a girl who played a key role in teaching the boys to dance. So successful was this that some of the boys are continuing to attend on a weekly basis.
The spoof heading for the programme was “Chavs to Chaps”.
Here are just some of the comments about it.
What a lovely, well-mannered group of boys. Robbie and Connor particularly impressed me with the effort they had made, in their dress, their bedrooms, and their social skills. Robbie is an impressive young man, with a good attitude. Norman listened well, demonstrated the right attention to detail, and followed instructions, which were a credit to him. Six very well groomed and polite young gents. It was a pleasure to take part in their Inspection evening, very kind of James to ask if I would like to stay for tea, and extremely difficult to choose a winner, as they were ALL WINNERS!!
Staff View: Rachel
I have to say that the Chavs to Chaps idea is probably the best, most creative idea we have tried.
The fact that the whole community has been involved was genius and really helped to pull it off. It has been a lot of fun to be part of. Overall, you can see the difference in how the boys are interacting with each other and showing more respect and consideration for others and at times they really feel and act like a community too. Excellent work!!
Student’s View:
I enjoyed everything about “Chavs to Chaps”. I found it hard at first but once I was more comfortable with it, I enjoyed it all. My highlights were the Ballroom dancing, The Officers Mess inspection Evening, and the Grand Finale meal – seeing Jon in his Tuxedo being our Waiter! I feel more positive, grown-up, and well mannered. Not just at Avocet House but in general. I would like to continue Ballroom dancing!!!
On the 16th of April Avocet House was awarded its Team Teach Gold Status Accreditation for the second time. The Gold Award is a recognition of excellence for positive ways of managing behaviour reflected in a holistic approach within a positive environment. Pictured below is George Matthews of Team Teach presenting the award to a selected group of the Avocet House Community.
