Best Practice Grants

In 2007 the Office of Housing offered funding under the Best Practice Grants to DHS-funded family violence services or youth support services. The purpose of the grants was to demonstrate service system integration and/or how services have achieved successful housing and support outcomes for clients.

A total of nine "Best Practice products" have been produced by agencies that successfully submitted for and received funding. These documents are now available as a resource for youth homelessness services and programs. Some are useful in the mainstream service context and could be shared and distributed across service sectors. Some agencies have undertaken their regional distribution.

Here you will find a short description of each of the documented outcomes of the Best Practice Grants, with links to the full documents. Note that some have multiple documents.

Family Access Network – 'Alsorts' Project

The ‘Alsorts’ project is a partnership between FAN and the ALSO Foundation, a specialist organisation that works with Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) communities. Such a partnership acknowledges the combined areas of specialist expertise, experience and skills that are needed in order to develop and maintain an appropriate response to Same Sex Attracted, Transgender and Intersex (SSATI) young people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The Project documents the first tailored and sustainable supported housing model to target SSATI young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Victoria.

The Project also includes:

information on how to do a SSATI-friendly organisational audit
a description of FAN’s unique organisational portfolio staff development model, which provides the opportunity for staff to be involved in annual project planning, development and delivery.

Click below to view the 'Alsorts' Project.
fan-alsorts-final-report-july-08.pdf (PDF, 213.77 KB)

Brayton Youth and Family Services – Good Lives Model

brayton-training-notes-byfs-package-august-2008.pdf (PDF, 215.81 KB)
byfs-learning-guide-august-2008.pdf (PDF, 324.18 KB)
byfs-program-doc-2-august-2008.pdf (PDF, 317.84 KB)

The Good Lives Model (GLM) is a comprehensive, therapeutic case management and staffing model written by a psychologist and developed by Brayton using PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy) and attachment theories in the context of youth homelessness. The GLM provides a holistic response to young homeless people with multiple risk factors in a transitional setting.

The Program Document provides the fundamentals and framework of the GLM. Two other accompanying documents have been produced to assist workers to become proficient in the GLM and to enable agencies and organisations to implement the model within their own service contexts. The documents can be used to provide structured training with a qualified, experienced trainer.

The Learning Guide Training Notes (12 pages) provide notes for six one to two hour blocks of training delivery. The design is based on adult learning principles and assumes a wide variety of learning styles and minimum level of education standard.

The Learning Guide (58 pages) is designed to facilitate learning in a variety of contexts. It provides extensive overviews of:

GLM at BYFS
attachment theory and PACE practices
the GLM, attachment and homelessness
the 'attachment state of mind' for reflection and consideration from the worker’s perspective

The Learning Guide can be used within a group setting, with scope for discussion about each learning point. The Learning Guide is also designed to cater for one on one learning where staff are trained individually with an appropriately trained mentor. Alternatively, the Learning Guide could be utilised as a reference during supervision.

Lisa Lodge – Grampians Youth Hub Information Guild: A Guide to Brokerage Services for Young Homeless People

In a combined effort between the four Creating Connections Youth Hub partner agencies in the Grampians region, this document provides comprehensive, easy-to-read information on where to find brokerage assistance in the Grampians region. It also has a Resources and Useful Websites section. The format could be replicated by other regions.

Click below to view A Guide to Brokerage Services for Young Homeless People in the Grampians Region.
lisa-lodge-draft-brokerage-resource.doc (DOC, 764.5 KB)

Melbourne Citymission – Step Ahead: Case Practice Model

Melbourne Citymission’s Step Ahead program was the first program based on the Foyer model to be developed in Victoria. It works with young people aged 16-25 years who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and are dislocated from mainstream supports. This document describes the model by discussing its culture of practice, which informs how caseworkers work with each young person, as well as their practice methodology, key practice tools and the role of case practice in service system integration.

One of the features of the Step Ahead program is an in-built living skills program. The second of the documents produced by MCM is a Resource Manual that can be used by agencies to develop their own living skills program.

Click here to view:
Step Ahead: Case Practice Model (PDF, 272.08 KB) and
Step Ahead Living Skills Course Resource Manual (PDF, 342.61 KB).

Uniting Care Harrison Community Services – Providing an Integrated Service Response in Supporting Young People

This document describes a person-centred approach to case management that emphasizes the development of support and planning based on the client’s perspective. Person-centred planning is a basis for problem-solving and negotiation to mobilize the resources necessary to pursue a young person’s aspirations. Specific worker skills and the stages of the case management process are described.

Click below to view:
Providing an Integrated Service Response in Supporting Young People (DOC, 216 KB)
Client outcomes and Current situation spreadsheet (XLS, 26.5 KB)

St. Vincent de Paul – Private Rental Brokerage (PRB) Program

This comprehensive set of eleven documents provides Case Manager Guide and Program Guidelines for workers wishing to access the PRB Program on behalf of their clients in the NorthWest Metropolitan Region. It includes application forms, case study examples, complaints and appeals process and leaflets, as well as suggestions for workers on how to develop living skills with young people using the brokerage. The package also includes an Evaluation Framework and Evaluation Consent Forms to assist with effective PRB Program evaluation processes and outcomes.

Click below to view the full set of 11 documents.

vinnies-evaluation-consent-forms.doc (DOC, 34 KB)
vinnies-final-acquittal-form-280308.doc (DOC, 38 KB)
vinnies-final-application-form-280308.doc (DOC, 125.5 KB)
vinnies-final-case-manager-guide-280308.doc (DOC, 131 KB)
vinnies-final-case-studies-280308.doc (DOC, 52.5 KB)
vinnies-final-program-guidelines-280308.doc (DOC, 91 KB)
vinnies-final-roles-and-responsibilities-280308.doc (DOC, 35 KB)
vinnies-prb-complaints-and-appeals-steps-31.3.08.doc (DOC, 41.5 KB)
vinnies-prb-flyer-purple-1.pdf (PDF, 88.95 KB)
vinnies-private-rental-brokerage.pdf (PDF, 246.51 KB)
vinnies-svdp-prb-evaluation-framework.doc (DOC, 44.5 KB)

Mallee Accommodation and Support Program (MASP) and Mildura Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) - Mentoring Program

This partnership Program is an example of indigenous and non-indigenous services coming together in a regional centre. MASP is the major provider of SAAP services in the Mildura area. MAC approached MASP to implement a Mentoring Program in order to assist, mentor, train and share expertise and knowledge with its new SAAP worker. The document summarises the development of the partnership and offers an initial model for skills development in youth SAAP case management and mutual learning between the two agencies.

Click below to view the document Mallee Accommodation and Support Program (MASP) and Mildura Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) Mentoring Program
masp-final-report.doc (DOC, 49.5 KB)

Time for Youth – Adolescent Violence towards Parents: leaflet

This 11 page leaflet is a comprehensive information and referral resource for parents, young people, teachers, youth workers and social workers and those working in a wide range of youth and family support and family violence service settings. The leaflet explains adolescent violence, why it happens and what to do about it.

While four of the eleven services suggested on the page “Where to go for help” are specific to the Barwon SouthWest Region, the remainder are generic services.

Click below to view the leaflet (note: 11 pages)
adolescent-violence-towards-parents.pdf (PDF, 452.98 KB)

St Luke’s - Early Intervention and Homelessness Worker Practice and Resource Manual

St Luke’s Homelessness and Early Intervention Program identified a need for staff to access up to date information, practice wisdom and client resources using unique software called MindManager pro 8. At the touch of a key board workers have access to:

key practice frameworks
key commitments
worker role clarity
client resources
additional resources
links to websites and key documents

This project is an example of how software can be used as an organisational tool for staff to have easier access to information, resources and organisational processes. Knowledge is therefore retained within the organisation and built on over time.

The MindManager program presents information in a pictorial, 'intranet' style, and is easily created and updated by a key worker within the program. MindManager works using the scientifically proven method of Mind Mapping®, a way of presenting complex information visually to ensure maximum memory retention and understanding.

Click here to go to MindManager 8 to learn about the software.