SUPPORT
Our dedicated and passionate staff provide 24/7 support in cosy, comfortably furnished homes and out in the local community with a focus on independence and making choices. Life skills - such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting - are taught to the best of service users' abilities and importance is placed on individuals understanding their health and medication needs as much as possible.
SUPPORTING YOU WITH
COOKING & CLEANING
Mealtimes start with a planned weekly menu, decided by service users with help from staff. During meal preparation and cooking, the level of support staff offer depends on the ability of the service user. Individuals are always encouraged to do as much as they are able to incrementally increase their skills. For less able service users, staff will use ‘hand-over-hand’ during tasks such as chopping and peeling vegetables. Those more able will be verbally supervised with tasks modelled for them. Service users are never left unattended whilst using appliances such as the oven and hob, and the highest levels of health and safety are always observed.
Each service user has responsibility for keeping their bedroom clean, dusted and hoovered and their bed changed often. Staff are on hand to support, and service users are encouraged to help keep the communal areas of kitchen, dining room and living room tidy.
SUPPORTING YOU WITH
SHOPPING & BUDGETING
Once the week’s menu has been chosen, service users will take stock of ingredients in the kitchen. They sit with staff to construct a shopping list, including any toiletries and other items they may require. Lists will either be handwritten by the service user, typed or symbolised to ensure maximum readability and understanding. Shopping is carried out at the supermarket of their choice and is supported on a 1-1 basis. Service users will check use-by dates and appropriate quantities of each item, then complete self-service checkout or pack their shopping at the till.
SUPPORTING YOU WITH
SOCIALISING & HOLIDAYS
When a service user expresses a desire to go on holiday, their ideas and wishes will be listened to regarding where they’d like to go and activities to do once there. In recent years our service users have been on trips to Tenerife, Spain and France; beneficial for experiencing different cultures, trying new foods and very importantly – enjoying some warm weather! Example activities include visits to water parks, wildlife parks, local markets and boat trips. For those who aren’t well-versed in flying, and for when larger groups would like to go together, we will endeavour to visit somewhere like Centre Parcs (as was a recent trip) to enjoy kayaking, aerial adventures, swimming, bowling, boating and crazy golf.
SUPPORTING YOU WITH
TRAVEL TRAINING
Some of our service users travel independently to their day centres, work experience or into town via the bus, an achievement made possible through careful travel training undertaken by staff. For the individual to understand which bus to catch, the route and the appropriate stops, staff accompany them on the several instances of a journey until they are comfortable and happy to complete the trip alone. This routine occurs every time a service user expresses a desire to venture somewhere new. Some of our service users also find it helpful to download the local bus timetable to their phone to find information such as distance, stops and duration. Travel training is a great way for individuals to grow in confidence, independence and belief in themselves and their abilities.
SUPPORTING YOU WITH
HEALTH & COMMUNICATION
Service users are always included in discussions regarding their health, in their preferred style, be it verbal or visual. Staff support the individual when attending appointments and will encourage the service user to think of any questions beforehand. After appointments staff will revisit information given to support their understanding. Whilst staff always observe medication being taken, service users are given varying levels of prompts to support them in being aware of when their own medication is to be taken. If a service user needs more support, all staff are trained to administer medication.
SUPPORTING YOU WITH
WORK & PLANNING
YOUR FUTURE
To aid each service user in planning for their future staff listen and chat to them individually about their interests, likes, dislikes and aspirations. Along with this information, the individual’s level and type of support are considered. The aim is to allow the service user to be successful, motivated and as independent as possible. Outside agencies are fully utilised to provide the biggest number of options available. Whilst some service users have embarked on paid employment others have been successful in voluntary roles. Service users are regularly encouraged to give feedback regarding what they are or are not enjoying in their working environment.
