Pathfinders Ethos is that we believe that all young people have the right to be supported and the potential to progress positively in their lives. Pathfinders is committed to the delivery of trauma informed support, which accepts the challenges that young people using the service can face. Pathfinders believe that no matter how well the service may be performing, the value lies in the way in which young people benefit from the service and how their lives change for the better. Therefore, it is important to measure and evaluate the service we offer and ascertain the outcomes as perceived by the young person, their social worker and where relevant, their families.

 

Pathfinder’s function is to provide high quality and safe accommodation for all young people and to ensure they are supported consistently in all relevant aspects of their lives. Pathfinders is committed to meeting young people’s needs and providing this safe environment through ensuring that all young people are treated with respect, and that their own cultural and individual needs are met and promoted. One of Pathfinders core aims includes empowering young people to reach their full potential by supporting them to identify and pursue their life ambitions, and ensure their basic needs are met as they learn and develop independent living skills. Pathfinders achieves this through targeted support and specific key work with young people to help them grow emotionally and physically into confident, independent adults. Pathfinders is committed to delivering support which has its foundations in attachment theory, acknowledging that young people benefit from structured and tailored support to ensure they grow and develop.

 

An important aim of Pathfinders is to acknowledge that some young people can struggle and are very hesitant, for historical or contemporary individual reasons, to access with confidence, education, training or employment.  Pathfinder’s aim is to challenge and find a way with the young person to break down barriers and a priority is developing and supporting young people to move from NEET (Not in education, training, and employment) to EET. (In education, training and/ or employment). This status may be achieved through volunteering, paid trial employment, apprenticeships, and work experience. Pathfinders believe that all young people can move into education, training, or employment and that this can be achieved as part of a comprehensive and realistic Pathway Plan which has, at its center, the views, wishes and feelings of the young person. Young people are encouraged to play an active part in their individual Pathway Plans. Above all, Pathfinders strives to ensure Young People understand their value as an individual, enabling them to fully embrace the opportunities of training and employment.