Stepping Out Blog

Being a parent can be difficult, especially when your kids near puberty, own mobile smart-devices and spend time out of the house with their friends.

However, those same mobile devices can actually help you keep your children safe – wherever they may be. We’ve compiled six of these apps that help you communicate, keep track of and protect your children.

So, you can essentially permit your kids access to technology and seem like the cool parent , although in reality, that same technology will keep them safe and sound, should anything go wrong.

1. F-Secure Child Safe

With the F-Secure Child Safe you can ensure that your child does not see harmful content when browsing the web. You can define what type of sites your child is allowed to surf and deny access to specific content categories, e.g. violence. To ensure safe surfing use the F-Secure Child Safe browser yourself and, more importantly, guide your children to access the web only with this browser.

Free on iOS & Android.

2. Sygic Family GPS Tracker

Sygic Family keeps your family safe by allowing you to check the real-time location and the battery levels of your family members’ smartphones. You can also track your children’s whereabouts, or have them check-in periodically to let you know where they are and if they have arrived at their destination safely.

The app also has an in-built messaging system which lets you send messages for free over an Internet connection. You can also set Safe or Unsafe zones – a notification will be sent to you when they enter or leave these zones. There is also an SOS button available in this app, which lets you send out your exact location at the tap of the button. You never know when you might need it.

Free on iOS & Android.

3. FBI Child ID

This free app provides a convenient place to electronically store photos and vital information about your children so that it’s literally right at hand if you need it. You can show the pictures and provide physical identifiers such as height and weight to security or police officers on the spot. Using a special tab on the app, you can also quickly and easily e-mail the information to authorities with a few clicks.

The app includes tips on keeping children safe as well as specific guidance on what to do in those first few crucial hours after a child goes missing. Links to additional resources for families and victims are provided as well.

Free on iOS & Android.

4.. iEmergency ICE Family

iEmergency ICE Family PRO (or ICE Family for short) is the family version of the top downloaded iEmergency+ application. It has been designed specifically for families.

This is the ultimate “In Case of Emergency” applications. Not only does it have contain your medical information but also the information for your family. Such information, including allergies, medical history, etc, can be vital when travelling or in cases of serious emergency.

Free on iOS & Android.

5. Sex Offender Search

Sex Offender Search keeps your family protected by letting you know where sex offenders are in your neighborhood. This app uses the most up-to-date information from the National Sex Offender Registry.

By knowing the threats in your area, you can warn your family, and also prepare for any travelling you may do.

Free on iOS & Android.

6. KidsTube

Worried about your children seeing inappropriate content online? KidsTube is a secure, child-friendly video player app that kids of all ages can use to save and play their favorite (pre-approved!) YouTube videos.

Getting your children used to surfing KidsTube will deter them from searching out other online media websites, keeping them content, yet safe.

Free on iOS & Android.

Do you have any useful Parental Guidance Apps which you use along with your children? Share them in the comments below!

Very recently, The Guardian published an article discussing how the lack of innovation in social care was a big threat to care providers everywhere. Here at Stepping Out, we couldn’t agree more. Author Sara McKee mentioned in particular that:

“In the existing model users of residential care are treated as recipients instead of customers. We need turn to turn this on its head with leaders who inspire and staff who are genuinely committed to ensuring the customer gets to make the decisions, keeps control and continues to contribute. This can be achieved by focusing on smaller numbers of people and enabling staff to be close to their older compatriots. That way “person-centred” care and other useless jargon can be thrown away as real relationships are fostered.”

The numerous local authorities who have already worked alongside Stepping Out will know that this was an issue seen by the company some years ago, and actioned upon accordingly. For example, almost all of our semi-independent living homes are deliberately homes fit for the average family in terms of size. In other words, our homes are designed to promote a healthy living environment by creating a more personal approach to care. Less young people in need of support under one roof – as Sara McKee indicates, simply makes for better results.

How Else are Stepping Out Innovating?

Our innovative mindset doesn’t stop there. Stepping Out have been working hard over the last few months to bring creativity to the table, at the “highest” and “lowest” ends of the company spectrum. For example, new computing software, hardware and modern technology are all being implemented into our offices, and into our general staff training. With this, the technicalities of running a successful, result-driven support environment is becoming more streamlined by the day. What’s more is, Stepping Out staff are constantly gifted the opportunity to speak out about their ideas relating to how support is delivered. Regular staff meetings in particular allow this to be done within a more public platform, so ideas can be discussed and absorbed by other members of the company. So, when it comes to innovation in social care, Stepping Out realise the importance, and are doing everything they can to lead the line against aging practises which are simply counter-productive and counter-creative.

According to the National Autistic Society, Autism – or Autism Spectrum Disorder, “is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways.”

Yet, despite Autism affecting many different people in many different ways, that fact hasn’t stopped those diagnosed with the condition to reach lofty heights in society and even history.

To prove it, here are six highly successful people with Autism.

1. Susan Boyle

World renowned singer and Britain’s Got Talent superstar Susan Boyle confirmed that she was relatively recently diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome – which is a form of Autism.

The Scot has sold millions of chart-topping albums across the globe.

2. Dan Harmon

Mr Harmon is the creator and writer of the hit TV show Community. He also has Asperger’s syndrome.

Whilst he was developing one of the characters for his show, Dan Harmon began researching Asperger’s syndrome and realized that he had extremely similar traits. Dan shares his self-diagnosis of Asperger’s in a revealing interview, stating that: “I started looking up these symptoms, just to know what they are. And the more I looked them up, the more familiar they started to seem. Then I started taking these Internet tests.”

3. Mozart

Even in history, Autistic greats can be found. Mozart, one of the best composers to have ever lived, had Autism.

It has been said that Mozart had repeated facial expressions and was in need of constant motion of his hands and feet. His hearing was also extremely sensitive.

4. Tim Burton

It was actually Tim’s wife, Helena Bonham Carter, diagnosed him Tim Burton with Asperger’s syndrome. While she was researching Asperger’s syndrome for a film she soon realised that many of the symptoms and traits were similar to those carried by her husband.

Tim’s wife commented, saying that, “We were watching a documentary about autism and he said that’s how he felt as a child. Autistic people have application and dedication. You can say something to Tim when he’s working and he doesn’t hear you. But that quality also makes him a fantastic father, he has an amazing sense of humour and imagination. He sees things other people don’t see.”

If you would like to know how Stepping Out can help with young people and adults diagnosed with Autism, visit our autism care page.

Any social care provider – especially those offering semi independent living services, will understand the importance of keeping social care settings functioning, safe and friendly.

Young people and adults receiving care and support in the same house or setting can be difficult to control at the best of times. For that reason, it’s vital to keep everybody cooperating and

So, to help keep things in check, here are six ways to keep social care settings friendly, and productive.

1. Regular Tea & Coffee Breaks

Make it a point to facilitate tea and coffee time within the social care setting.

Set out some biscuits, sit down with the residents, and start a conversation. These informal meetings don’t need to be scheduled for specific times in the day or week, but making a habit of a tea break can really help build friendships within the living environment.

2. Play Games

Board games, card games, Chess, and all other similar activities are brilliant for creating a pleasant environment.

Ask the residents which games they would like to play, and try to get everybody involved. A simple game can turn into some good, productive fun, where residents can get to know each other a little better.

3. Group Outings

If the residents regularly take it upon themselves to go shopping or visit events, it may be a good idea to go as a group.

Supervised group outings to museums, sporting events, the cinema, and so on, will all work wonders when it comes to building friendships.

4. Movie Nights

Everybody loves a movie, but you don’t need to venture out in order to enjoy them.

Renting or buying some DVDs for the social care setting will enable you to sit everybody down to enjoy something – together. Ensure you buy or rent movies which everybody can enjoy. Asking about the resident’s favourite films beforehand will undoubtedly make this activity more worthwhile.

5. Take a Step Back

As a care worker, you may have the urge to oversee and supervise every aspect of the residents life. But that can be counter-productive when it comes to building friendships.

Allow residents to converse freely, make up their own activities, and enjoy each others company in a healthy manner. Don’t lose track of what they’re up to, but don’t become over-bearing either.

So there you have it, five great ways to help establish a friendly, positive atmosphere within almost any social care setting.

Do you have any tactics of your own? Share them in the comments secton below.

When it comes to caring for young adults, the phrase “Social Care” is usually associated with gloomy service backed up with mundane activities. That is, if there are any activities in the first place.

For young people in care, the prospect of being under supervision whilst inside their public living space can be daunting – unless the service is of a standard equal to what Stepping Out is offering.

We believe that making life easy for our service users is in everybody’s best interest. A happy service user will treat staff appropriately, local authority workers respectfully, and will also be less likely to offend the community at large.

More importantly, healthy activities will begin to aid the service user when it comes to addressing their personal issues. This of course naturally helps them gain eventual independence.

What do Stepping Out Offer in Terms of “Fun”?

Here at Stepping Out, we’re always opening up opportunities for our service users to attend free local events, visit tourist hot spots, and so forth. We even provide our young people with tickets to events such as Football matches, where we allocate staff members to attend with them to enjoy the match.

On top of these outings, our semi-independent living projects are filled with board games, chess sets, books, DVDs and more. In-door activities can help build bonds and relationships between them and the staff, leading to amicable outcomes of improvement.

Whats more is, we organise annual in-house BBQs for each of our semi-independent houses, along with celebrations throughout the year for whichever event the service user wishes, with cakes, cards and so forth.

To find out more about our semi-independent living projects, or to ask us how else we engage our service users from across the UK, contact us.

What ideas do you have for making social care more fun? Let us know in the comments below!