A plan that starts with you.
Your support plan brings together the needs and goals you identify with your worker. It gives your conversations a focus and helps you see what you are working towards.
You can ask your worker to explain what has been recorded and how it relates to your priorities. If a goal feels unclear, too big or no longer relevant, say so. A useful conversation might cover:
- What would make the biggest difference to everyday life?
- What can you already do confidently?
- What would you like help learning or practising?
- What is a manageable next step, and who will help?
- When will you talk about how it went?
A useful question
“Can we break this down into a smaller step and agree what help I need?”
Our goal planner can help you prepare your thoughts. It is an optional working sheet and does not replace your support plan.
What a weekly session can cover.
Aspect's support programme includes weekly meetings with your allocated worker. These are a chance to discuss current issues, work on agreed goals and ask for support.
Before you meet
Check the time and place. Think about any questions, letters or tasks you want to discuss, and tell your worker if you need help taking part.
During your session
Talk about what has happened since you last met. Explain what is going well, what is difficult and what feels most useful to focus on today.
Before you finish
Check that you understand the next step. Agree what you will try, what help your worker will provide and what to return to next time.
Between sessions
Try the agreed action where you can. Make a note of questions or changes you want to discuss, and contact staff if you need help.
If you cannot attend an agreed session, contact your worker or the office as soon as you can to explain and discuss arrangements. If you missed a session, get back in touch rather than waiting until you have everything sorted.
Support for everyday life.
The published programme and handbook describe help with a range of practical matters. What you work on depends on your needs and your support plan.
- Managing your home: routines, household tasks and preparing for independent living.
- Money and paperwork: understanding letters, budgeting and getting help with benefit-related tasks.
- Appointments and services: preparing for appointments and finding the right organisations to contact.
- Learning and work: English language skills, education, training and employment opportunities.
- Community life: finding your way around, building connections and exploring activities.
- Moving on: preparing for future housing options and applications.
Some needs are best met by another organisation. Your worker can discuss an onward referral with you. Use our external support directory to explore the services and their current access guidance.
Aspect's accommodation is not a 24-hour staffed care setting and does not provide nursing or personal care. Ask the team to explain the support available if you are unsure whether it meets your needs.
When something needs to change.
You can raise new needs, ask for additional support to be considered or explain that an agreed action is not working for you. Tell your worker what has changed and what would help. You do not need to wait until you feel you have achieved a goal to talk about it.
Reviewing progress can mean recognising a small achievement, changing the approach or deciding that another issue needs attention first. Ask when you will next review your plan together.
Understanding information and decisions
Ask for unfamiliar words to be explained and tell staff if you need help communicating. You can ask what is being recorded, how information will be used and who to approach with questions about your support records. More detail is available in the privacy policy and resident handbook.
If you cannot reach your worker.
Contact the office using (0121) 792 5342 or info@aspecthousing.org.uk. Explain that you are a resident, who your worker is if you know, and the help you need. The contact page provides office and out-of-hours information.
If you are unhappy with your support
Tell your worker what has happened and what you would like to improve. If you do not feel comfortable speaking to them, contact the office and ask to speak with the Support Manager. You can also use the complaints and feedback route.
The handbook describes professional boundaries, including using agreed work channels rather than staff members' personal social-media accounts. Ask a manager if you are unsure about a contact or interaction.
