How Caremark (Milton Keynes) Uses Outcome Stars to Support Children • Caremark

Initial Assessment

The first step in providing care is a comprehensive assessment using the My Star tool. This involves sitting down with the child, their family, and any other relevant parties to discuss the child’s current situation. Caremark’s approach is child-centered, which means the child’s voice is always at the heart of the assessment process. The support worker and the child discuss each of the eight areas covered by My Star, marking where the child feels they are on the five-point scale.

For instance, a child might indicate that they feel confident and safe at home (green or blue zones), but they may struggle with friendships or education (red or orange zones). This detailed discussion helps Caremark identify the most pressing needs and areas for improvement.

Personalized Support Plans

Once the assessment is completed, Caremark develops a personalized support plan based on the child’s specific needs. The My Star tool serves as the foundation for this plan, ensuring that it addresses the key areas where the child needs help. Support workers collaborate with the child and their family to establish achievable goals, while also providing them with the tools they need to succeed.

For example, if a child has difficulty with feelings and behaviour, the support worker might introduce emotional regulation strategies, such as mindfulness exercises or engaging in structured activities that help the child feel more in control. Over time, the child’s progress is reviewed, and their My Star score is updated to reflect improvements.

Continuous Review and Adaptation

One of the key advantages of using My Star is that it allows for ongoing review of the child’s progress. Caremark conducts regular check-ins with the child and their family to reassess their My Star scores, adjusting the support plan as needed. This ensures that the support provided is dynamic and responsive to the child’s changing needs.

If a child shows significant improvement in one area, like self-esteem, but starts to struggle with another, such as physical health, Caremark can quickly adapt the care plan to ensure all aspects of the child’s well-being are being addressed.

The Role of the Buckinghamshire Threshold Document in Tailoring Support

While My Star provides a structured way to track a child’s progress, the Buckinghamshire Threshold Document ensures that the level of intervention is appropriate to the child’s needs at any given time.

Universal and Additional Support (Level 1 and Level 2)

Children at Level 1 and Level 2 generally have lower-level needs that can be met through early help or single-agency support【14†source】. For example, a child who is dealing with mild behavioural issues or school-related anxiety might benefit from additional support at school, alongside regular check-ins with a Caremark support worker. My Star would be used to track the child’s progress, while Caremark might liaise with teachers or other professionals to ensure that the child is receiving consistent support.

For a child in Level 2, who may show early signs of social isolation or low self-esteem, the use of My Star allows Caremark to develop a targeted intervention plan. This plan could include one-on-one mentoring, confidence-building activities, and positive reinforcement techniques to gradually help the child build stronger relationships and improve their confidence.

Complex and Acute Needs (Level 3 and Level 4)

Children at Level 3 and Level 4 require more intensive, coordinated intervention due to their complex or acute needs【14†source】. In such cases, Caremark collaborates with other agencies, such as social services, mental health providers, and educational professionals, to develop a holistic care plan.

For a child at Level 3, who might be facing multiple challenges, such as chronic health problems and emotional difficulties, Caremark uses My Star to identify all areas of concern and track progress. The Threshold Document ensures that Caremark involves all the necessary agencies to provide comprehensive support, coordinating with social workers, doctors, and educators to address the child’s needs.

For children at Level 4, who are at risk of harm or neglect, Caremark follows the statutory intervention processes outlined in the Threshold Document, working closely with child protection services. In these cases, My Star can still be a valuable tool for monitoring the child’s well-being throughout the intervention process, helping support workers and agencies stay aligned on the child’s progress and areas of concern.

Case Study: Tom’s Journey

To illustrate how My Star and the Buckinghamshire Threshold Document work in practice, consider the case of Tom, a 10-year-old boy referred to Caremark for support due to social anxiety and difficulties at school. When Tom first met with his Caremark support worker, he was struggling in several areas of his life. His confidence and self-esteem were very low (red zone), and he had difficulty forming friendships (orange zone). However, Tom felt relatively safe at home (green zone) and had a supportive relationship with his family.

Assessment Using My Star

During his first My Star assessment, Tom and his support worker discussed each of the eight key areas of his life. Tom rated his feelings and behaviour as particularly challenging, describing how anxious he felt at school and how he often avoided talking to other children.

Creating a Support Plan

With this information, Caremark developed a personalized support plan for Tom. His plan included weekly sessions with a Caremark support worker, where they would work on social skills, practice coping strategies for anxiety, and engage in activities to help boost his confidence. His My Star ratings provided a clear baseline, allowing both Tom and his support worker to track progress over time.

Tracking Progress and Adapting the Plan

After three months, Tom’s progress was noticeable. His confidence had improved, and he felt more comfortable talking to classmates (his score in the confidence and self-esteem section had moved from red to orange). His family also reported that Tom seemed more relaxed at home.

However, as Tom’s social anxiety lessened, new challenges arose—specifically, he began to experience frustration and anger in certain situations, such as during school group activities. Caremark adapted Tom’s support plan to focus more on emotional regulation techniques, while continuing to build his social confidence.

Collaboration with School and Parents

Tom’s case was categorized at Level 2 in the Buckinghamshire Threshold Document, indicating additional support was needed beyond universal services【14†source】. Caremark coordinated with Tom’s school to ensure his teachers were aware of his progress and to discuss strategies for supporting him in group settings.

By the six-month mark, Tom’s My Star assessment showed significant improvement in feelings and behaviour as well as confidence and self-esteem, indicating that he was on a positive trajectory. His case remained at Level 2, with Caremark continuing to provide targeted support in collaboration with his family and school.

Conclusion

Caremark (Milton Keynes) offers a comprehensive approach to supporting children by combining the Outcome Star framework with the Buckinghamshire Threshold Document. By using My Star, Caremark provides a structured, visual way for children to track their progress, while ensuring that the level of intervention is appropriate to their needs, as outlined in the Threshold Document. Through personalized support plans, ongoing reviews, and multi-agency collaboration, Caremark helps children like Tom overcome challenges and move toward healthier, happier futures.

Contact us to find out more:

Caremark (Milton Keynes)

01908 372 376

Suite 5 Douglas House, 32-34 Simpson Road, Milton Keynes. Buckinghamshire, MK1 1BA