Sheree is an experienced professional in the disability sector, currently serving as the Independent Living Coordinator at CPSN’s first Supported Independent Living (SIL) house in Taylors Lakes. In her role, Sheree oversees the daily operations of the house, ensuring that tenants live independently while receiving the necessary support. Her background as a support worker allows her to empathize with staff and clients, fostering a collaborative and family-like environment. Sheree is dedicated to creating a home that reflects the personalities of the tenants and facilitates meaningful connections between staff, clients, and their families. Sheree has worked in many roles throughout her 24 years in the welfare industry, and Sheree started out in the disability sector as a support worker and did this for many years. Sheree then moved onto working with High-Risk Youth and supported the Youth in DHHS homes for 10 years, Sheree then went back into support work assisting clients in their own homes, age, and disability.
Take us through a day in your life as the Independent Living Coordinator at CPSN?
I’m the independent Living Coordinator at our supported independent living home in Taylors Lakes. Our Taylors Lake home has 3 residents, who are supported with a hand- picked 24/7 support team.
What is your favourite thing about working with the Independent Living team?
CPSN worked tirelessly for weeks in the lead up to the opening of this home to build a truly incredible team of support staff- they are amazing.
It’s like being part of a family, which is what we wanted to achieve with our Supported Independent Living (SIL) offering, we’re not just a disability housing provider, we want to facilitate meaningful connections between our staff and clients.
The staff have all become very close, and as individuals they've all had long standing relationships with at least one of the guys, so the vibe of the team is great, they’re all incredibly supportive of the clients and each other and genuinely enjoy every minute of the hard work they do.
How does this role draw on your previous experiences of working in the disability sector?
I’ve always loved having a strong connection with families and clients so it's great to still have that and use that experience to build close bonds with the staff and the clients.
I’ve worked as a support worker as well, so the staff know I can relate to, and appreciate them. I can recognise and empathise that there are times the job can be hard, so understand just how important it is to call out the incredible job they do. I think it's nice to be recognised by someone who has been where you are.
What have been some challenges in CPSN’s Supported Independent Living (SIL) journey so far, and how is the team working to overcome them?
Support work is typically a fairly independent profession- workers are paired with an individual they work with day to day so moving to a team centred approach has been a challenge for both parties. The clients have had to adjust to multiple people supporting them where this had previously been a one- on- one relationship, and the staff are supporting multiple people and meeting their individual needs.
Our SIL house has been operating for nearly a year now so it has been a pleasure to watch this shift to a ‘team centred’ dynamic that more closely mirrors how a family would operate in a home.
What sorts of things are important when creating an environment in the house that makes it home for the clients?
The guys have decorated their home, and made it their own. It’s inviting because their personalities make it that way!
Our aim going into this was always to give the guys a home that is not clinical, like some other disability housing can be, and truly allow the tenants to be live independently and have the experience of living together with their mates.
All the perks of a sharehouse experience, with the support they need to live independently!
What have been some highlights of the SIL experience so far?
It has been such a joy to witness the guys settle into their home, they’re all very excited to have moved away from home for the first time and be experiencing the same things we all do when we leave the family home. Opening day was a highlight for all the guys and they recently threw a party for one of the clients birthdays which was a raging success! We’re so proud to be able to be the SIL provider for the guys and facilitate experiences like this.
Nick and a furry friend out and about.
How do you think having close involvement of the families has helped contribute to the success of the guys happy and settled that we see now?
Family is SO important to CPSN’s approach as a SIL provider! Our clients may be moving out of home but as with many people, our family is a major support network and stay that way throughout the independent living journey! CPSN operates in a collaborative approach which is different to a lot of disability living solutions, we involve families wherever possible as we’ve seen it can make the transition to supported independent living much easier and assist in decision making where practical.
The guys in the SIL house have described themselves as ‘living the dream’ and this would not be possible without the support of their wonderful families.
Luke seeing the sights of St Kilda
Whilst our Supported Independent Living House in Taylors Lakes is happily at capacity, CPSN are well equipped to act as your Supported Independent Living Provider in any suitable property. We would love to discuss your individual needs further, so please reach out! Find more details here.
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