Better Outcomes for People with a Learning Disability

Quality Network Public Statements

Our Service

Dyson’s Wood Trust provides residential and day services on the Berkshire and South Oxfordshire border to adults on the Autistic Spectrum.
The site comprises of a large Victorian house and a newer house called Courtyard & Gables. The service is registered for fifteen adults with Autism or Asperger’s syndrome.
Additionally, currently there are four community houses located in Caversham, Sonning Common and Maidenhead with plans for a fifth in 2003.
The day service is approximately two miles from the main site and serves both Dyson’s Wood Trust service users and people from other organisations or the community. Outreach support is in place for a service user in Maidenhead.

The Service Review

Dyson’s Wood Trust were part of a pilot scheme run to develop the Quality Network Audit tool for people on the Autistic Spectrum .The review took place between October and December 2002. The pilot scheme looked at services provided for five people who live in Maidenhead, Sonning Common and the main site at Dyson’s Wood, Nr. Reading.

The review team consisted of: a support worker, a service user supported by a senior support worker, a home manager, the divisional training co-ordinator, two parents and the Unit General Manager. The external quality coaches were Anne O’Bryan from Quality Networking and Martin Connolly from Kent Autistic Trust who supported us through this process.

What is going well for the five people included

• Lots of people are making and taking lots of choices.
• Most people have positive relationships with staff, service users and family members.
• There is a really strong feeling of respect between people at Dyson’s Wood Trust.
• There are a variety of activities and resources to access both within the day service and within the community.
• One service user who participated in this pilot scheme has recently taken the opportunity to gain work experience in order to build up his C.V. His goal is to eventually access supported employment.

What we need to improve for the five people who participated

• We should regularly review the range of choices and everyday activities for each individual. Taking into account whether they would like to improve their skills and build upon existing experience.
• Regular six monthly reviews of how a person’s life is evolving with the Care Manager from Social Services. To develop strategies that encourage Care Managers to participate in Dyson's Wood Trusts review programme for the service user.
• Introduce long term planning that encourages an individual’s participation in making choices and achieving their aspirations.

Action Plan

We have prioritised the following actions for Dyson’s Wood Trust:

• To develop additional ways to increase and expand the involvement and contribution of families, relatives and other stake holders by communicating regularly about how a person’s life is progressing. To support families in working in partnership with purchasers in order to bring about desired life changes for the Service Users.

• Develop strategies to ensure each person’s life is progressing and continuing to grow and develop. Regularly review the range of choices and experiences offered for each person. Focus more on long term planning and regular reviews based on each person’s hopes for their life.

Summary

The Quality Network review has enhanced person centred plans that are currently in place within Dyson’s Wood Trust. It also compliments an existing accreditation review (NAS) which has taken place earlier this year. It has encouraged, in our Autism division, a desire to continue with the Quality Network Accreditation for all it's services, looking not only at systems and procedures but also the lifestyle outcomes for all of individuals who use our services.