Mahdlo Youth Zone

Attending with a young person as a PA or support worker

Information for support workers and personal assistants

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Inclusion

Thank you for supporting a young person to access Mahdlo Youth Zone, and welcome to our inclusive environment, which supports young people to be independent

As we cannot offer 1:1 support/personal care for young people, we welcome appropriate adults to assist young people requiring additional support to access sessions at Mahdlo Youth Zone.

A Personal Assistant (PA) may be supplied by a health/social care agency, employed by the family or be a family member above the age of 18.

Mahdlo Youth Zone offers a varied activity programme which is adapted, modified or specific for young people with additional needs. We aim to enable all young people to maximise their potential and support them to be as independent as possible. To ensure we maintain a youth-focused environment and enable staff to concentrate on the delivery of quality activities, we ask that any personal assistants who do not need to stay with their young person wait in reception.

Our inclusion team will provide a one-to-one induction for new members and their parents, carers, and/or personal assistant, where we will discuss any additional support needs and discuss the young person’s level of independence during our sessions. Support may be reduced or increased at any time. During the induction you will be given a copy of our Safeguarding Policy, and you will be given a health and safety tour of the building.

We ask all our visiting PAs to:

  • not eat or drink hot drinks whilst working.
  • follow our no touch policy; to ensure we establish and maintain professional boundaries with young people we do not allow any inappropriate touching with young people. E.g. no hugging. Please encourage ‘high 5’s’ instead.
  • wear the Mahdlo visitor badge and ensure it is visible at all times.
  • wear your company ID badge if applicable.
  • only use the designated adult toilets on the top floor
  • not use your mobile phone for personal use whilst supporting your young person.
  • not smoke or use of e-cigarettes
  • not swear or use inappropriate language.
  • not talk to staff members for long periods of time as you may be distracting them from delivering activities to young people.
  • hand any medication to the lead worker on arrival and complete the necessary paperwork. This is so we can ensure medication is stored in a safe place whilst your young person is in the building.
  • respect the Mahdlo team and other young people
  • speak to lead workers regarding any changes affecting your young person.
  • make a member of the Mahdlo team aware if you need to leave your young person at any time (such as a toilet break)

Code of Conduct

Our Code of Conduct sets the standard of conduct expected of Personal Assistants.

The standards have been developed using the ‘Skills for Health’ framework which applies to all social care support staff. It outlines the behaviour and attitudes that we should expect to experience from Personal Assistants signed up to the code. It helps you to provide safe, guaranteed care and support. 

  • You will supervise the young person under your care/you key work at all times during your visits at Mahdlo.
  • Provide a copy of an up-to-date DBS check / DBS number for Mahdlo’s records. (This will not be required from parents / family members supporting the young person)
  • Be accountable for your young person by ensuring you are providing suitable and appropriate support to the individual.
  • Establish and maintain clear and appropriate professional boundaries in your relationships with your young person, other young people, Mahdlo staff members and other visitors.
  • Always act in the best interests of your client / young person, putting their needs, goals and aspirations first.
  • Promote your young person’s / client’s independence.
  • Always maintain the dignity of your young person / client.
  • Report any safeguarding concerns you may have to a lead worker.
  • Recognise and respect the roles and expertise of the Mahdlo team and work in partnership with them.
  • Work openly and cooperatively with the Mahdlo team and other professionals you come into contact with.
  • Communicate effectively with the Mahdlo team about any changes in medical or social needs which affect the young person accessing Mahdlo.
  • Treat people with respect.

If the Mahdlo team identify any concerns with a Personal Assistant, in relation to the Code of Conduct, or the Policy, including the Mahdlo rules, we will raise these with the Personal Assistant, or their employer to ensure best practice is followed. 

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