Better Outcomes for People with a Learning Disability


Quality Network Public Statements

   
Organisation Kingston YMCA
Type Care Foundation
Services included 2 registered care homes 
Contact name Thora Ray
Tel. 0208 390 0148 x 2109
Email  
Public Statement   1999  2002    

Our services

The Kingston YMCA Care Foundation provides small group residential care services for people with learning disabilities

The service review

The review took place during September and October 1999

The review looked at the services provided at Langdown and Rodney Houses

Eight service users were visited.

The review team members were:

Edith Brenchley
Penny Haddaway
Chris Mahoney
Harry O'Sullivan
Thora Ray
Sally Reardon
Diane Spencer
Phil Taylor

Findings

We found that many things were going well for the people that we visited:

1. People are able to make choices and are helped to understand what is

involved in making choices.

2. There are high standards set for respectful practice and residents are also expected to treat each other with respect.

3. Residents have a wide range of activities.

4. Where residents have the opportunity to be involved in the community positive friendships are being made.

5. People who can go out independently have opportunities to be part of the local community.

6. A few people have jobs and more are joining the Employability scheme to develop the skills that they will need to get a job.

7. People are fully involved in the review process.

8. Family members attend reviews and staff work with them to help residents maintain links and promote the residents' voice.

9. Policies are in place to reduce harassment and abuse.

10. People are having regular health checks

11. Some people are self medicating

12.People are encouraged to make healthy eating choices.

 

We found important areas where the service needs to change:

1. People need information and support so that the 'quality 'of their choices and their range of options can improve.

2. Communication and planning with the residents' day services needs to improve

3. Some people have to go out in groups or cannot access everyday experiences because staff are not available to support them. More innovative ways of using staff resources need to be found which include ensuring that things still happen when agency staff are employed to cover gaps in rotas.

4. Some activities are not very 'adult' and should be reviewed.

5. The majority of adult education classes and social clubs used by residents are segregated

6. The service needs to find more people to support residents who wish to take part in integrated activities.

7. Staff need to develop clarity about 'where we want to be' and share problem solving strategies across the teams to achieve this.

8. Staff need to understand how the Employability scheme works so that they can support people taking part in it.

9. People need to know that there are real jobs when they have developed the skills through the Employability scheme.

10. Health care information may not be user friendly

11. Staff need to have information about how to keep people healthy, especially in relation to gender issues.

 

For more information, contact:

Thora Ray
Kingston YMCA Care Foundation,
49, Victoria Road, Surbiton,
Surrey KT6 4NG

 

Service Review 2002

We provide two residential care services. 20 people with learning disabilities live at Rodney House and 28 at Langdown.

Our review took place in February and March 2002.

We looked at Rodney house and Langdown. We visited 7 people.

Our review team was:

Sheila Banks, Edith Bletchley
Christine Buckingham Kathy Cross
Gary Eve Adrian Lambert
Dawn Lambert Fiona Riley

Findings
We found that many things were going well for the people that we visited:


· People are treated respectfully
· People are safe from abuse and harassment and know what to do if someone upsets them.
· People make everyday choices
· People have activities to take part in.
· People are given guidance on healthy eating, keeping fit and healthy lifestyles
· Staff support people to look after their health.

We found important areas where the service needs to change:

· People do not make major life decisions; for example “Who do I want to live with?” “Where do I want to live?”
· People need help to connect with other people who share their interests and enthusiasms.
· People cannot chose where they go to make friends. They often only go to activities for other people with learning disabilities
· It is hard to keep old friends and make new ones.
· People do not have the information they need to make important choices and decisions.

For more information, contact:
Thora Ray
Kingston YMCA Care Foundation,
49, Victoria Road,
Surbiton,
Surrey KT6 4NG
0181 399 5427