YOUNG PEOPLE
WELCOME TO DIDS
This part of the website is for our young people.
Along with the support guide you have been given, you should find all the information you need about us and your stay here but if you have any other questions please ask.
Download our PDF guide.
ADMISSION
You will receive your own keys to the house and your bedroom.
The Youth Independence Mentor (or YIM for short) on shift will spend time with you settling in and go through the tenancy agreement paperwork and health & safety induction with you.
You will be given the Wi-Fi code and phone numbers you will need to keep in touch.
You will receive a welcome pack and food hamper – see detail below.
We will pay for you and your house mates to have a ‘welcome takeaway’ so that you can meet everyone and not have to cook on moving day.
Meal ideas
Tuna, pasta sweetcorn, mayonnaise
Pasta sauce, pasta, sweetcorn
Pasta, hotdogs, mayonnaise
Hotdogs, pasta, pasta sauce, sweetcorn
Meatballs, pasta,
Hotdogs, part baked rolls, ketchup
Soup, part baked rolls
Baked beans , part baked rolls
Savoury rice, tuna, sweetcorn
Savoury rice, meatballs.
ACCOMODATION
We provide you with a comfortable small double bed with a full set of bedding and a set of towels.
Each bedroom will have storage for your clothes, a bedside table, a smart TV, curtains, and carpets. We pride ourselves in providing excellent, clean accommodation and encourage you to maintain your room to a standard acceptable by a landlord. You will be supported to understand what this looks like.
If you wish to hang pictures or personalise your room, please ask a YIM to help you so you do not damage the walls, another great independence skill to learn.
All bedrooms are lockable with a key for your privacy and protection, please use them to protect your personal items, you are responsible for your own belongings.
Please report any maintenance issues or concerns about your room to a YIM as soon as possible.
In the shared kitchens you will be given a cupboard or shelf of your own, this is the same for the fridge freezer. All the equipment you need to cook is provided. We provide all the cleaning products for the kitchen and you will be expected to clean up after yourself for the next person to use it.
We provide cleaning products and toilet roll for your bathroom. The cleaning of the bathroom is shared between the young people in the house on a weekly rota basis.
HOUSE RULES
Curfew is 23:00 (11:00pm). Let us know if you are in or out and when to expect you back.
Respect your housemates by keeping communal areas clean and tidy, including kitchen, bathroom and living room. Bathroom deep clean is rostered between residents.
Keep noise to an acceptable level for all residents and neighbours.
Intimate relationships between residents are not encouraged and if this does happen, one of you may be relocated.
Visitors are welcome but must be agreed by your mentors prior to visiting. They must be over the age of 16 and may be asked for ID. They must leave the house by 22:00 and adhere to the house rules. No overnight guests.
Return your room to us at the standard you received it and report any issues to YIMs ASAP. Intentional damage to the home will result in you being asked to leave.
If you lose your keys, you must advise a member of staff immediately, replacement keys will cost you £7 each.
HEALTH & SAFETY RULES
No alcohol or illegal substances allowed on the premises.
No smoking in the house – a designated area is provided outside.
No weapons of any kind allowed on the premises. Do not remove kitchen knives from the kitchen.
Do Not Use the tumble dryer, hob or oven after 11.30pm (FIRE HAZARD)
No candles or any naked flames to be burnt in the house.
Violence or aggression towards staff or other residents will not be tolerated.
Personal belongings and medication must be kept in your own room.
Breach of any of these rules mean you are putting yourself or someone else in danger and will result in your placement at DiDs being withdrawn.
WHAT WE DO FOR YOU
We have trained Youth Independence Mentors on site 24/7. They are there to help you improve your independence skills during your stay with us and take you through the independence programme.
They are also there to provide encouragement and emotional support to you while you transition into adulthood and independent living. They may signpost you to other specialised support.
YIMs will help you keep to your tenancy agreement and ensure you have all the skills you need when you leave us.
They will promote your independence through encouragement, practical skills and challenge!
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
Attend your weekly 121 – a 121 is a structured conversation with your YIMs to review the past week and make any plans for the upcoming week. It is your opportunity to reflect on the week and ask for any support you may need. It will also be an opportunity for the YIMs to give you feedback, both positive and developmental to help you improve your skills.
Up your skills – whether its ironing, budgeting or self confidence. We are here to help you improve so that when you leave you feel confident to face the challenges of being an independent adult. You can complete the programme at your own pace but the aim is to have it completed ready for when you leave.
Be honest and open to support – We are not here to judge decisions you make about your life, we are here as a sounding board with a wealth of lived experience, so whatever is on your mind – talk to us.
Take responsibility – you will need to manage your own time. If you must be up for college or you need to get back to DiDs for curfew, you must make plans to do so. YIMs are available from 07:30 to 23:00 to support you. After 23:30 they are sleeping in and available for emergencies only. They cannot offer you lifts.
MONEY
If you have any money worries or concerns, please talk to your YIMs so they can help.
FEEDBACK, COMPLAINTS & COMMENTS
If you are not happy with any part of our service here at DiDs please speak up. Firstly speak to Yims, if they cant resolve it or you are not happy with their resolution then please speak to the team leader or fill in our form on the website where the Director will review your complaint.
If you would like to give us feedback or make a comment on our service, good or bad, please fill in the contact form where our Director will receive it.
Download a copy of our complaints Procedure below.
FAQ’s
The most common questions that we are asked.
Why can I only have 3 nights a week staying out?
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The reason for three nights a week is that if you have a tenancy post 18 with a local housing authority the terms of your tenancy state that you must reside there for at least four nights a week. Of course, there are exceptions to the rules for example if you go away on holiday. The same happens here if you need an extra night or two then you must let us know the reason and we will do our best to allow it. You must also speak to your social worker about it to gain permission from them. |
Will I need to do my own cooking?
Yes, you will need to do your own cooking but don’t worry about it we can help you. We can help you to plan your weekly shop, considering your favourite foods, how to shop economically and how to batch cook. (Making more of your favourite dishes to freeze for another time) We can look at recipes and cook together to give you the skills needed so that eventually you will be able to cook healthily and independently.
Can my friends visit me here?
Absolutely your friends will be more than welcome to come to the house. They do need to be over the age of 16 though and we will have to take their full names for our visitors’ book. You should warn them that we may have to check their ID. They will need to have left the house by 22.00 hours and will not be allowed to stay overnight under any circumstances. It might be a good idea to chat to them about the house rules as they will be expected to abide by them when they are visiting.
Are we allowed visitors?
Yes, you are allowed up to 3 visitors at a time. Visitors must give their full name to the staff on duty so that they can be signed in for Safety reasons. All visitors must be over 16 unless they are a relative and or it has been approved by your Social worker and the DiDs team.
Are visitors allowed in our rooms?
Yes, visitors are allowed in your bedroom but we will ask you to leave your door open..
Will you come with me to an appointment?
We may be able to attend some appointments with you, depending on what other duties the YIM has on that day but we will always try and encourage you to build confidence to be able attend your appointments by yourself. This will be part of your independence program.
Are we allowed overnight guests?
No, we do not allow overnight guests.
Can you help me come up with ideas for meals?
Yes, of course. Staff will be happy to support you by coming up with some meal ideas together and writing a shopping list for the ingredients. This will be part of your independence program.
Do I have to buy my own laundry detergent?
Yes, you will have to budget for and buy your own laundry detergent and your own toiletries. However, your welcome pack to the house will contain these items in order to get you started.
Will I be able to come and go from the house?
Yes, you will have your own front door key, from 07:30 to 23:00 you can come and go as you please, we do ask that you let the team know you are going out in case of an emergency.