‘Supporting Citizenship’ Policy March 2016 This policy says how ARK will: Help you to take part in your community so that you may become a full member of society; an equal citizen.
ARK will help you to have and maintain good relationships and make sure there is support to do the things you want in any way that you would like: In ARK, in your local and wider communities. In ARK, we want to make sure that your service (support or housing) is the best that we can make it so that your needs and wishes are met. We believe that this will help you to make the most of your citizenship. We want to help you to: Get more confidence if you need it. Have all the information and support that you need. So that you can make good choices about how and when you contribute as active citizens.
ARK wants to make sure that everyone who works for them knows what to do—how to support you. This policy sets out to show how we follow different ways we can look at things, follow different rules...and bring it all together so that everyone can understand what to do: Where to find the information they need to help and support you. 3
These are the 5 ways that ARK follows when supporting you: ARK thinks that these things are most important and that everyone should have these in their lives.
Being with other people in your own community Good relationships
Having choice
Being valued and respected
Developing skills and abilities ARK CHAR TER RK
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Ark has some rules for staff to follow and these can be seen in the ARK Charter and in our values, vision and mission statement.
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ARK must also follow the rules set by the government: As well as making sure you get the support you need to live a good, safe, healthy and full life, ARK will help you to make the most of your life in the best way for you.
Survey Re port 2015 A summar
y of you
ARK will use different ways to find out if your service is working for you in a way that suits you. It is very important that everyone gets the information and guidance they need so that you can be at the centre of your support. These organisations give what we need. 4
r feedbac k from Survey the 2015
Framework or outline to support and help you to take part in your community as an active citizen... ARK’s Care and Support works with what is called an Outcomes Framework. This means that we are looking at what your long term goals are—what your life could be like at its best. This also means that we will follow what the Scottish Social Housing Charter tells us so your home suits you.
Using the Outcomes Framework, ARK wants to make sure that everyone who helps you with your service knows what it means for you to be an active citizen. We can then know that you will be supported to achieve the best life that you can have.
There are 3 things ARK will do to support active citizenship: Help you to plan your support around you (Person Centred Planning).
Help you to connect with your community (Community Connecting). Follow plans that ARK has set down to make sure you can be involved in your ARK tenancy and services.
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ARK follows the Scottish Social Housing Charter. This means we must make sure we meet all of the outcomes or results that the charter says we have to. ARK will be able to support you if you are an ARK tenant. You will get the information you need and the chance to do the things you want in a way that you would like: In ARK and in your local neighbourhood.
How do we find out if ARK is doing a good job at helping you to be an active citizen? We make sure that there are different ways that:
Help us to check what is going on in ARK.
Help us to see how well we are encouraging you to be active in different ways in your life if you want to be.
ARK has a team of people who work on checking to see whether ARK services are doing well (the Quality and Compliance Team). They will make sure this policy is working for everyone and senior staff will agree each year about the best ways to do that check (or audit). 6
How we will know if this policy is being carried out? ARK’s Chief Executive is responsible for making sure that all ARK staff work well with this policy. Jane Gray will also make sure that this policy is looked at by ARK’s Board of Management at least every 3 years.
This policy was looked at and approved by: Supporti ng
C itizen shi p
Policy
The Senior Leadership Team
2016
The Board of Management
2016
Policy &
The ARK Working Group
4th March 2016
Next review of policy due by: 2019
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ARK Housing Association Canaan Lane The Priory Edinburgh EH10 4SG Tel: 0131 447 9027 8
