Clothing, Pocket Money and Allowances

1. Introduction

Young people who are placed in residential care (this excludes short break provision) need to be afforded the same individuality in relation to their clothing and personal requisites as any other young person.

Personal allowance includes such things as toiletries, and hair care products but the list is not exhaustive and can be open to interpretation and personal choice. Each Home, within the budget allowance, has the flexibility to negotiate and discuss with the young people what their personal needs are.

2. Personal Allowance

All young people should have clean, good quality clothing available. All young people attending school should have school uniforms which are clean and well maintained. All young people should have their own clothes and personal requisites for their own exclusive use.

All young people are encouraged to exercise choice and independence in the clothes. Some young people may have self-image issues that influence their state of dress. Staff should be attempting to help develop a more positive self-image. The particular ways the young person is helped should be recorded in their Placement Plan including their present approach to personal appearance and clothing.

Particular attention should be paid to supporting and meeting any cultural, ethnicity or religious needs that young people may have, with respect to their clothing and personal requisites.

If any young person is unable or unwilling to choose and purchase their own, suitable and acceptable clothing and personal requites should be purchased on their behalf.

Young people should receive non-judgemental guidance and advice from staff about choice of clothing, cosmetics and toiletries.

Young women should have their own personal supply of sanitary products and should not request it from a central stock.

3. Pocket Money

In addition the young people receive pocket money. The amount should be age related and consistent throughout the Residential Children's Homes - see Section 4, Table - Weekly Pocket Money and Annual Allowances.

Young people will develop skills and emotional resilience that will prepare them for individual living.

Pocket money is recorded on FIN 87 and stored in File.

All young people are encouraged and supported to take responsibility to accumulate savings making use of lockable tins to store valuables including money. Young people are encouraged to open a bank account, learning about how different banks operate and provide a choice of safe keeping and accessing their money.

Additional allowances may form part of a young person's behaviour management plan as reward systems, incentives, etc.

All young people receive an allowance specific to their age for birthdays and to celebrate particular religious event.

4. Table - Weekly Pocket Money and Annual Allowances