Residential Services

DCLS is continually developing innovative ways to support community living for persons with a developmental disability. We believe that decisions about where to live and with whom are important personal choices.

To meet the varied needs, desires and expectations of the people we support, we offer a range of community living options adapted to individual needs and preferences. Whatever residential option is chosen, trained and dedicated care providers ensure the highest quality support services.

How we provide our residential services

• Application - Currently, any individual wishing to receive services from DCLS must first be approved by the Ministry for Children and Family Development. Once approval for funding has been received and a detailed personal and medical history has been established, DCLS meets with the applicant and his or her personal network of parents, siblings, and involved friends to discuss residential options and tour DCLS facilities. If everyone involved agrees that DCLS is the appropriate service provider, all reasonable residential options will be explored.
• Personal Life Plan (PLP) - Once a residential choice has been made, DCLS works with the individual and his or her personal network to develop a written PLP that reflects the person's goals and desired lifestyle. This plan serves as the benchmark for ongoing monitoring of how well DCLS responds to the individual's needs and aspirations. Members of the personal network are also encouraged to express their concerns and wishes for the well-being of their loved one in the care of DCLS.

Group Homes - David lived at home with his parents until they were in their 80s and unable to look after him. He made a very successful transition to a group home before his parents passed away. People with complex needs may live in group homes with up to four housemates and permanent rotating staff. DCLS currently manages seven group homes throughout Delta. No more than four residents live together, sharing common areas of the house and each enjoying privacy in a room that is arranged and decorated according to his or her taste. Teams of two caregivers rotate in shifts to provide around-the-clock support. Staff provides assistance as required with daily routines. Meals are planned according to a dietician's recommendations and prepared together. Each group home has a van for transportation. Activities, excursions and celebrations are shared as much as possible.

Semi-independent living - Ted rents his own apartment. He has a part-time job and does volunteer work in the community. A number of people we support manage to live alone or with a roommate in an apartment with some supervision. This residential option is suited to individuals who require only minimal support to live on their own within the community, who have mastered basic life skills and express the confidence and desire to live independently. The kind of support offered depends on the wants and needs of the individual. DCLS assists the individual in finding an apartment and negotiating the rental contract. Training in life skills such as cooking, maintaining a home, managing finances and so on may be part of the individual's ongoing support. Semi-independent living is best suited to people who are quite autonomous in organizing opportunities to socialize, who are well established in their community and benefit from a very involved personal network.

Intensive Adult Care - This specialized residential option supports individuals who exhibit extremely challenging behaviour and need an environment that is controlled, safe and secure. We make every effort to gain a deeper understanding of the individual's needs, because we believe that challenging behaviour occurs when support systems do not have the capacity to respond to those needs. DCLS's support systems include sufficient highly skilled staff and a home designed to maximize the individual's ability to be able to live with others. Residential services are provided on our rural setting in the community. The long-term goal is to provide a safe, environment where individuals can have quality of life in a community residential setting.

The Individual Care Network (ICN) - Richard lived in a group home but wanted a greater sense of belonging to a family, something he had never had. He was thrilled to move in with a loving couple who have made him part of their family. Where possible, moving people out of group homes into family care brings them one step closer to normalization. The ICN provides an opportunity for people to live as a valued and integral member of a natural family.

DCLS began the ICN in 1989, with the placement of two individuals with significant challenges in family homes. Since then, ICN has grown rapidly; now over 40 individuals live in the community with ICN families who provide full-time residential services under contract with DCLS. ICN care providers must be able to make a long-term commitment to providing residential support for an individual. They are often selected from those who have provided us with respite care for some period of time.

To ensure a successful long-term placement, compatibility is imperative; we select caregivers whose lifestyles, interests and personalities blend harmoniously with those of the person being placed. All individuals living in ICN families receive the same high quality care as in the group homes. ICN caregivers undergo a rigorous screening process, including a Criminal Record Check and a very detailed home study, with questions about lifestyle, community mindedness, conflict management, personal support systems and family dynamics. Only families that share the values and principles of DCLS are eligible.

As members of the Family Services team of independent contractors, our ICN care providers have access to the collective knowledge and experience of a large group of people, some of whom have done respite care for a long time. The Family Services Manager and team help care providers connect with professionals in the community who can provide assistance in meeting the needs of the individuals in their care and accessing support, advice and information regarding other community resources.

Contact: For more information about DCLS's Residential Services, please contact Sharon Farrish, the Residential Services Manager, at 604-946-9508.