Better Outcomes for People with a Learning Disability


Quality Network Public Statements

   
Organisation  Home Farm Trust
Type  National Charity
Services included  Residential and day service in Oxfordshire
Contact name  Colin Waters
Tel.  01235 0827601
Email  colinw@hft.org.uk
Public Statement  2002      

HFT is a national charity, which provides a range of services for people with a learning disability.
HFT Oxfordshire provides a variety of services to 100 people.

The Service Review
The service review took place between 9th October and 5th December 2002.
The following services were reviewed:

• ‘Rockholme’, Banbury
• Lavender House, Banbury
• 34 Victoria Road, Abingdon
• The Cherries, Milton Heights
• 3, Milton Heights
• Day Options - Milton Heights

The Review Team consisted of 11 members including 2 service users, a parent, the Assistant Regional Director (South/East), HFT Social Worker, Assistant Service Managers, Senior Project worker, Day Options Manager, Team Manager and a Support Worker. A total of 9 service users were visited as part of the review.


Findings
What was going well for the people visited?

• People exercise choice and control over their lifestyle, with a variety of ways available to them of making their preferences known
• People make decisions about their day service. Attending the ‘Keeping Safe’ group was important to people
• People felt that staff treated them with respect and listened to their views
• There was lots of evidence that there was meaningful occupation and involvement in everyday activities
• Some service users benefited from paid employment; others were involved in unpaid employment and others were being supported to actively seek work
• Positive relationships with people who shared houses
• There were a number of activities in the local community
• Families’ views were listened to and families and friends were involved in person centred approaches to planning
• Excellent attention paid to service users health needs
• People felt safe from bullying and abuse

Issues that need to be addressed

• Some people had little involvement in where they lived or whom they lived with
• Some people felt that parental involvement sometimes restricted individuals aspirations
• Need to increase the opportunity to make friends outside of the organisation
• Need to find out in more detail what is important to individuals


Action Plan

• Working with relatives on ways to support individuals to obtain their aspirations
• HFT to address issues of parental support and guidance in partnership with support staff.
• Involvement with local advocacy groups
• Continue work with PCP and work on Person Centred Teams
• Use information technology in a way that is more user friendly
• Look at ways of people forming natural friendships more obtainable


When will this be done?

Target date for working with these issues over the next 14 months.

For more information contact:

Colin Waters
Service Manager – HFT Oxfordshire
Milton Heights
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
OX14 4DR
Tel: 012350827601
email colinw@hft.org.uk