Buddies Clubs & Services

Procedures for Admission & Discharge      

Admission
Children and Young People can be referred to Buddies Clubs & Services through:
•	self-referral via parents/carer’s
•	referrals from Additional Support Needs schools via teachers
•	educational psychologists
•	health visitors
•	social workers

An information pack is sent to the source for completion. Initial contact is made by inviting parent /carer/child/young person to Buddies Clubs to have a discussion.  Following this 2 free taster session are arranged at the chosen service for the child/young person. This is to allow staff to observe the child/young person in the Buddies Clubs environment, to ascertain the appropriate care ratio and to ensure the service will meet the needs of the child/young person and their parent/carer. 

In making the care ratio assessment senior staff must take into consideration suitable days, level of support required and the mix of group attending. If deemed appropriate, to gain more information, a senior member of staff may carry out a school/home visit in the early stages of the care ratio assessment.  

Parents/carer’s must ensure funding for services is in place before a formal service offer can be made.

For children/young people to access the service parents/carers must become members of Buddies Clubs & Services.  Annual membership is £6.00 per family, £3.00 for a lone parent family.

Contact with families is maintained via regular monitoring/evaluation questionnaires and the offer of service reviews to ensure services continue to meet individual needs.

DISCHARGE
Normally children/young people who are happy to attend and able to benefit from Buddies Clubs remain within the service according to need and funding.

Should a child/young person experience difficulties or not settle, a full discussion is held with the referral source and parent/carer with the aid of written reports.

Occasionally Buddies Clubs simply cannot accept a child/young person because of the high level of support needed or because some serious health issue is incompatible with our insurance cover.

Our management team exercises the right to review placements when circumstances and events pose a potential risk to other children /young people/staff in line with Buddies Clubs & Services Health and Safety Policy and risk assessments.