Better Outcomes for People with a Learning Disability

Quality Network Public Statements
   
Organisation  Home Farm Trust
Type  National Charity
Services included  Five units on the Old Quarries site
Contact name  Martin Healey
Tel.  01453 832201
Email  martin.healey@hft.org.uk
Public Statement  2004      

 

Our Services

 

HFT and the HFT - South Cotswolds scheme, provides a range of services catering for the needs of adults with learning disabilities, including residential and supported living services, day services, supported employment and advocacy.

 

 

The service review

 

The review took place between November 2003 and January 2004.

The services that we concentrated on were those provided at our Old Quarries site, in Avening, Gloucestershire.

 

During the review, six Service Users were visited from different units on site

 

 

The review team members were:

 

Michael Gadd – Unit Manager, HFT - South Cotswolds

Martin Healey – Assistant Service Manger, HFT - South Cotswolds

Rosie Lane – Supported Employment Advisor, HFT – West Region

Ray Paul – Day Services Manager, HFT – Severn Vale

Tracey Price – Supported Living tenant, HFT – South Cotswolds,

supported by Cynthia Webb – Service Manager, HFT- South

Cotswolds

Nannette Smith – Support Worker, HFT – South Cotswolds

 

 

Findings

 

What was going well for people visited

 

Nearly all service users felt supported to make choices and to choose how they spent their time and money.

 

Most people felt that they were able to make important decisions about their lives although only one person visited actually made the decision themselves, to come and live at Old Quarries. 

 

Everyone felt respected in all aspects and settings and all service users felt that their views were taken into account and that their privacy was respected.

 

All service users visited said that they were participating in activities that they chose to attend including horse riding, swimming, college course etc.

 

Most people visited said that they had good relationships with the people with whom they lived and that they were successfully supported in these relationships.

The majority considered the people with whom they live and the staff who work with them amongst their friends.

 

 

What we need to improve

 

We need to encourage people to try new things rather than to only do the things that they have always done.

We need to provide opportunities for individuals to do activities that aren’t currently available on the day service timetable, i.e. car washing and woodwork.

 

We need to raise awareness of what respect really means, including helping people to do things for themselves and not just solving people’s problems for them.

Service users said that they were unable to attend all of the of activities that they would like to, due to the rural location and a lack of transport.  We need to explore further transport opportunities in and around the local community to enable this to happen.

 

We need to encourage friendships and other relationships with other people.  That is people who live in the wider community.

 

 

Action plan

 

 

That people have more opportunity for joining communities of people (outside Old Quarries) based on their beliefs, interests, hobbies, faith etc & meeting people who share their interests.

 

 

  • We hope to encourage both residential and day services staff to feel that they all have something to offer and to create an ethos of shared responsibility for providing activities and opportunities, both at Old Quarries and within the community, taking into account the varied and valuable skills that staff have.

  • We will aim to look at the staff shifts to identify time for interested staff to spend time participating in activities that service users highlight. 

  • We will use PCP, (Person Centered Planning), to help identify interests that service users have, as and when they begin to use this process.

 

 

More people have a chance to contribute (& be recognised for their contribution) including real, paid jobs

 

  • We aim to make use of the skills that service users already have in pottery and other crafts, looking at the possibilities of supplying local fairs/markets, exhibitions/ebay and the Craft shop at Frocester Manor.

    •

  • We will identify ways of encouraging work opportunities on site, e.g. Post sorting/Stapling/FDM/Car-washing

  • Through the Job Club, which started earlier this month, we hope to look at the opportunities that are available for offsite volunteering and paid work opportunities in the local community.  This will also give people the opportunity to learn about the responsibilities of work.

  • We also recognise the importance of home management skills that service users already have and we aim to recognise these as skills that people can feel valued for.

  • Transport for individuals who access the local community is often difficult.  Within the next six months, we will explore the opportunities that exist within the local community, such as car sharing, voluntary drivers, car pooling, etc.  This would also enable the transportation of products made by service users, for sale.

  

For more information, contact:

 

Martin Healey

 

HFT – South Cotswolds,

The Old Quarries,

Rectory Lane, Avening,

Nr Tetbury,

Gloucestershire,

GL8 8NJ.

 

Tel:  01453 832201

 

email address:  martin.healey@hft.org.uk

 

Date issued : 29th March 2004