Better Outcomes for People with a Learning Disability

Quality Network Public Statements
   
Organisation Lewisham Nexus
Type Not for Profit Organisation
Services included Supported Housing Services 
Contact name Wendy Francis  
Tel.  
Email  
Public Statement   1998
 2002
  2003  
 

Review 1998

Lewisham Nexus Service provides support services to people with learning disabilities in the community. The services are based on a holistic approach with emphasis on John O'Brien's Five Accomplishments philosophy. The services are designed to endeavour to meet individual needs which will empower them to shape their own lives in the community.

The service review

The review was conducted from 1st - 15th October 1998. The review looked at services at:-

Coopers Lane Churchley Villas

Hillside House lnchmery Road

Maroons Way Thomas Dinwiddy Road

Kingfisher Mews

Seven Service Users were involved in the review process.

The review team members included:-

1 .Tom Bird Lewisham Partnership (Service Commissioner)
2. Mike Williams Management Committee (and parent)
3. Andrew McIntosh Independent participant (with Learning Disabilities)
4. William Amo Support Worker (Lewisham Nexus Service)
5. Nevin Raif Project leader (Lewisham Nexus Service)
6. Charan Singh Service Manager (Independent Service Provider)
7. Ben Boateng Project Manager (Lewisham Nexus Service)


Findings

What was going well

    1. Families views are encouraged and valued in the organisation.
    2. Staff demonstrates very positive interaction and respects the people they support.
    3. Service users are supported to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
    4. Most of the people have access to different places and engage in a range of activities in the community.
    5. Staff are highly skilled in supporting people with non-verbal communication.
    6. There are systems in place to ensure that users are safe from abuse. 

What we need to improve

1. How can staff empower service users to initiate their own routines to enhance participation and make choices?

2. How can we encourage and engage people with complex needs and communication problems to have a say in key decisions that affect their lives.

3. How can we support people to extend their network and also maintain their existing relationships?

4. How and what would it take to assist people to have real work.

 

 

For more information, contact:

Name: Ben Boateng
127 Rushey Green
Catford
London SE6 4AA

Date: 05 February 1999

 


 
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Review 2002

Lewisham Nexus Service provides community based services to people who have learning
disabilities. Services are flexible and comprehensive so as to meet the needs of individuals,
empowering them to shape their own lives with the support of experienced and motivated staff.
The services reviewed include 24-hour supported housing and outreach.

The Service Review

The review took place between 23rd January and 20th March 2002, and covered the following
services: -

Coopers Lane, Hillside House, Maroons Way, Churchley Villas, Inchmery Road, Thomas Dinwiddy Road, Kingfisher Mews, Slaithwaite Court, Shardeloes Road, Sandhurst Road, Outreach

Eleven Service Users were visited by the review team, which included: -

Olu Ojeyemi, Support Worker (Lewisham Nexus Service); Sharon Edwards, Support Worker (Lewisham Nexus Service); Marcia Denton, Senior Support Worker (Lewisham Nexus Service); Elaine Moore, Project Manager (Lewisham Nexus Service); Wendy Francis, Training and Quality Manager (Lewisham Nexus Service); Mandy Grierson, Executive Director (Lewisham Nexus Service); Tom Bird, Service Development Manager (Lewisham Partnership); David Slater, Director (Entelechy Arts); Dele Fakoye, Service User, supported by Jacqui Shepherd, Service Manager (Lewisham Nexus Service) ; Carol Cuss, Family member; Sarah Pink, Management Committee Member.

Findings

What was going well for people
  • Many people are living full and active lives
  • Individual personal profiles have been introduced for all people
  • Everyone spends time involved in activities within their local community
  • Staff are supporting people consistently and positively during difficult times
  • Everyone is supported to have regular health checks, and staff are aware of peoples’ health needs

Important areas where the service needs to change

Sometimes people are part of group activities and outings rather than receiving an individualised service

More people need to be supported to establish and maintain friendships with their peer group

Some people with more complex needs had more limited opportunities to be involved in activities, largely because of a lack of services and facilities

Some people lack coordination between the different components of their life.

For more information, contact:

Wendy Francis
Training and Quality Manager
Lewisham Nexus Service
127 Rushey Green
Catford
SE6 4AA
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Review 2003

 

Our Services

Lewisham Nexus Service provides community-based services to people who have learning disabilities. Services are flexible and comprehensive so as to meet the needs of individuals, empowering them to shape their own lives with the support of experienced and motivated staff. The services reviewed include 24-hour supported housing and outreach.

The Service Review

The review took place between 7th May and 8th July 2003, and covered the following services, visiting 10 service users: -

Coopers Lane; Hillside House; Outreach; Churchley Villas; Inchmery Road;
Thomas Dinwiddy Road; Kingfisher Mews; Slaithwaite Court; Shardeloes Road;
Sandhurst Road

The Review Team

Vinette Haughton Support Worker (Lewisham Nexus Service)
Noella Smith Support Worker (Lewisham Nexus Service)
Edith Amadi Senior Support Worker (Lewisham Nexus Service)
Ravin Ramtohul Project Manager (Lewisham Nexus Service)
Nalan Salih Project Manager (Lewisham Nexus Service)
Mandy Grierson Chief Executive (Lewisham Nexus Service)
Tom Bird Service Development Manager (Lewisham Partnership)
David Slater Director (Entelechy Arts)
Sarah Stevens Service User, supported by Wendy Francis, Training and Quality Manager (Lewisham Nexus Service)
Debbie White Service User, supported by Wendy Francis, Training and Quality Manager (Lewisham Nexus Service)

Findings

What was going well for people

• People we support are making choices using a range of communication systems.
• Staff across the organisation show respect for service users and their choices
• Staff teams have found ways to provide people we support with a wide range of opportunities within the resources available to them

Important areas where the service needs to change

• Good practice in communication needs to be shared across all projects
• We need to develop a system for responding quickly to changing needs.
• We need to take the initiative in finding new opportunities and supporting people to change.
• Some people have had their rights infringed in pubs and banks.
• Few people have friends outside of family and staff
Achievements since the last review (March 2002)

• We worked in partnership with a local leisure centre to establish a base for a new group of young people with complex support needs to access during the day.
• We introduced an Internal Quality Alert process to enable service users and staff to ensure that good practice in services is shared, and that the Management Committee and Senior Management Team is alerted to difficulties that staff teams have not been able to resolve themselves. Our Quality Assurance Group monitors Internal Quality Alerts and progress in resolving difficulties.
• We developed communication books for all the people we support as the first stage in implementing person centred planning. We started person centred planning in 2 projects.


For more information, contact:

Wendy Francis
Training and Quality Manager
Lewisham Nexus Service
127 Rushey Green
Catford
SE6 4AA

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