Stage One: Safe and Stable
Weeks 1–2 of the Six-Week Pathway to Independence Programme. Full assessment, urgent barriers identified, referrals and support plans put in place.
Main Objective
By the end of Week 2, every participant should have:
- ✓A named support worker or mentor
- ✓A personal progression plan
- ✓Identified urgent needs
- ✓Appropriate referrals in progress
- ✓A clear employment, self-employment or business pathway
- ✓Agreed short-term and long-term goals
Week 1: Understanding the Person and Their Immediate Needs
What We Do
💬 Session 1: Welcome and Initial Conversation
Informal, respectful and non-judgemental. Participants are given time to explain:
- Their current situation
- What they want to change
- What support they already receive
- What has prevented them from working
- Whether they want employment or self-employment
- What worries them most
- What they believe they are good at
We never assume somebody is ready for work simply because they have enrolled.
📋 Session 2: Full Needs Assessment
Each participant completes a supported assessment covering:
🏠 Housing
- Sleeping rough
- Sofa surfing
- Temporary accommodation
- At risk of eviction
- Supported accommodation
- Stable housing
- Housing applications already submitted
- Local authority contact
- Support worker involvement
🌱 Health & Recovery
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Medication
- Addiction or dependency
- Existing treatment
- Rehabilitation needs
- Recovery support
- Accessibility requirements
- Immediate risk or safeguarding concerns
💷 Financial Position
- Benefits
- Universal Credit
- Personal Independence Payment
- Debt
- Rent arrears
- Bank account
- Access to money
- Budgeting support
- Benefits advice required
🪪 Documentation
- National Insurance number
- Identification
- Birth certificate
- Passport
- Proof of address
- Bank details
- Right-to-work documentation
- Email address
- Telephone number
💻 Digital Access
- Smartphone
- Laptop or computer
- Internet access
- Email skills
- Online form skills
- Password management
- Basic computer confidence
- Assistive technology requirements
💼 Work & Business History
- Previous employment
- Qualifications
- Volunteering
- Informal work
- Skills
- Hobbies
- Business ideas
- Customer service experience
- Sales experience
- Previous barriers at work
⚡ Session 3: Immediate Action Plan
Urgent issues are prioritised. This may include:
- Contacting the council homelessness team
- Beginning a housing application
- Referring to emergency accommodation
- Connecting with a rehabilitation service
- Referring to mental-health support
- Arranging benefits advice
- Obtaining identification
- Opening a bank account
- Accessing food, clothing or hygiene support
- Applying for a phone, device or internet access
- Connecting with safeguarding services
We Don't Just Provide Telephone Numbers
Where practical and appropriate, staff help the participant:
- ✓Make the call
- ✓Complete the form
- ✓Prepare evidence
- ✓Attend or prepare for appointments
- ✓Understand letters
- ✓Record the outcome
- ✓Arrange follow-up action
Week 2: Stabilisation and Choosing the Right Pathway
🔁 Session 1: Reviewing Urgent Support
The mentor reviews progress on:
- Housing referrals
- Rehabilitation referrals
- Health support
- Benefits
- Documentation
- Banking
- Communication access
- Equipment
- Safeguarding concerns
Any failed referral is followed up rather than treated as completed.
🌟 Session 2: Skills and Strengths Discovery
Participants identify their:
- Practical skills
- Digital skills
- Communication skills
- Life experience
- Personal strengths
- Interests
- Previous responsibilities
- Informal experience
- Community knowledge
- Creative abilities
- Problem-solving skills
The purpose is to show participants that employable and commercial skills are not limited to formal qualifications.
Session 3: Choosing a Progression Route
Every participant chooses one primary pathway:
Suitable for people who want part-time, full-time, remote, flexible, or supported employment, or a gradual return to work.
Selling a skill or service independently — e.g. virtual assistance, content creation, cleaning, gardening, repairs, administration, design, photography, tutoring, delivery or local services.
For participants with a viable idea, reasonable stability, capacity to deliver, a defined customer, willingness to find clients, and an understanding that income isn't guaranteed.
Recovery, volunteering, routine-building, confidence work, digital skills, supported activity, housing stabilisation, health treatment, continued mentoring. This is still progress — not failure.