Introducing BlueSalmon

1. Introducing BlueSalmon • A new online self-assessment and portable support planning tool for vulnerable people • Empowering service users and finding out what they really want from life • Developed by Lemos&Crane working with service users from homeless agency Thames Reach www.bluesalmon.org.uk

2. How BlueSalmon works • Organisations subscribe to BlueSalmon on behalf of their service users for a one-off fee • Any number of service users can then register to use BlueSalmon and create an ‘account for life’ • Accounts give service users 24/7 access to: • Structured interactive modules on Identity, Relationships, and Family and Friends • A personalised action plan to define goals and component steps for sharing with support workers • BlueSalmon is easy-to-use, safe and confidential www.bluesalmon.org.uk

3. Benefits for service users • Service users are empowered to describe for themselves how they want their lives to change • Service users are encouraged to think differently about themselves as people with potential not just problems • Service users are motivated to ask for practical support from support workers or family and friends to meet their goals and aspirations www.bluesalmon.org.uk

4. Benefits for support providers • Support planning meetings are revitalised with a focus on addressing service users’ priorities • Online working improves the efficiency of the support process - face-to-face time can concentrate on taking action and reviewing progress • Ideas and insight for developing new services are generated based on service user input • BlueSalmon’s aspirational approach produces genuinely person-centred outcomes for service users that can be demonstrated to commissioners www.bluesalmon.org.uk

5. Demonstration www.bluesalmon.org.uk

6. Once they’ve logged in service users have the the option of working on modules addressing Identity, Relationships, or Family and Friends. Or if service users have already completed work on any of the modules they can then go straight to their action plan. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

7. At the beginning of each module, an explanation is given about its purpose and intention, and what service users can expect to achieve from the module. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

8. In the first section of the ‘Identity’ module, service users are asked to identify five key turning points in their life and, from the drop down boxes, say whether they were positive or negative experiences www.bluesalmon.org.uk

9. The next section encourages service users to think about positive plans for the future. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

10. A graph then shows the ups and downs from the past, as well as goals for the future. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

11. Based on input so far, service users are now able to select goals for their action plan by clicking on the cream circles and turning them blue www.bluesalmon.org.uk

12. The service user is awarded a medal for completing the first quarter of the identity module as acknowledgement of their work to date and as an incentive to complete the rest of the module. At any stage they can take a break and BlueSalmon will save their answers so they carry on where they left off at the next session. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

13. Once one or more of the modules have been completed the service user then has the option of looking at their action plan The service user is shown at the centre of the action plan Goals from each module can be viewed by clicking on the circles. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

14. The module selected then becomes the centre point of the diagram Arrows point to some of the goals that the service user wants to achieve. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

15. This option from the action plan menu allows the service user to make further progress with the action plan e.g. adding new goals, marking goals as complete, or deleting goals. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

16. Service users can also specify the kind of support they need to work towards a particular goal They first select the goal that they would like some help with They can then write a brief description of the type of support that they want www.bluesalmon.org.uk

17. This additional support is then shown in the main action plan www.bluesalmon.org.uk

18. The service user also has the option at any time of sharing their action plan, by entering the email address of the person they would like to share their action plan with – this could be a support worker, friend, partner or family member www.bluesalmon.org.uk

19. The Relationships module contains a series of activities that are designed to help people think about improving relationships with current partners, or improving the chances of meeting someone new www.bluesalmon.org.uk

20. For example, this colour-coded self-assessment about personality type is followed by questions about current or possible partners. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

21. This leads to suggestions for improving interaction with partners, based on a better understanding of different personality traits and potential sources of harmony or conflict. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

22. The Family and Friends module contains several questions designed to help people think about family members and friends they’re close to or want to get back in touch with. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

23. In this first section, service users are asked to identify key family members. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

24. Service users are then asked to consider how close they feel to family members and how often they’re in touch with them. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

25. The 'family circles' diagram summarises the input so far into the module, showing family members' relative importance and distance from the service user at the centre of things. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

26. Service users then need to think about who they want to see more or less of, which generates suggestions for their action plan. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

27. As with the Identity section, activities from the Relationship module generate goals for the action plan that can be accessed by clicking on the Relationships circle www.bluesalmon.org.uk

28. And activities from the Family and Friends module also generate goals for the action plan www.bluesalmon.org.uk

29. What service users think about BlueSalmon Three Thames Reach service users - Adrian Hillary, Darren Augustin and Meshach Mills (pictured) - carried out peer research with over a hundred Thames Reach clients during the development of BlueSalmon. The quotes that follow are taken from some of the feedback they received during this research. www.bluesalmon.org.uk

30. What service users think about BlueSalmon • "Gave me insight, confidence and self-esteem" • “Can definitely help to bridge the barrier gap between service users and staff" • "Changed my thinking, found it very enriching...would take my action plan to the support worker " • "I'm impressed with it. I need to learn computer skills so it's a good incentive. I’ll enjoy using it." • "It's a very smart project...helps people to reach inside" www.bluesalmon.org.uk

31. What service users think about BlueSalmon Follow this link to watch a video with more feedback from service users about BlueSalmon: http://www.bluesalmon.org.uk/helpothers.php5?stage=7 www.bluesalmon.org.uk

32. Feedback from organisations Since March 2008, BlueSalmon has been used by over 80 organisations representing a wide range of service user groups – ranging from ex-offenders to people with mental health problems to women fleeing domestic violence. Here is some feedback from these organisations… www.bluesalmon.org.uk

33. Feedback from organisations • “Interesting and fun way for people to explore personal issues they might not otherwise address” (Blackpool Coastal Housing) • “Offers a more dynamic way for support workers to engage with service users” (Bolton at Home) • “The action plan is a great way for people to manage their goals and think positively about the future” (Calico Housing) • "The perfect tool to break the ice..." (Gloucester City Council) www.bluesalmon.org.uk