Developing Opportunities for People with Learning Disabilities

1. Developing Opportunities for People with Learning Disabilities London Care & Support Forum Tri Borough, Hammersmith Town Hall Wednesday 17th July 2013 Buko Esegbona

2. Solutions Social Care • CQC registered • Registered with Recruitment Employment Confederation (REC) • Member of London Borough Ealing Learning Disability Forum • Experience of providing day opportunities, outreach services and personal care • Experience of working for local and national charities • Provider of value based training - currently working towards National Skills Academy Social Care training accreditation

3. Personalisation • “every person who receives support, whether provided by statutory services or funded by themselves, will have choice and control over the shape of that support in all care settings" – Department of Health, 2011

4. Aims of Day Opportunities Services • To develop social, practical and life skills • To promote a Person Centred Approach • To deliver a wide variety of activities • To provide high calibre support staff • To welcome feedback from the people that we support, carers Expertise in supporting people with autism, learning disabilities and complex needs • Focused on adults and school leavers ( 18 – 24 years old) • Experience of sourcing excellent calibre of support staff

5. Purpose of activities • To maximise independence • To promote opportunity and community engagement • To create new experiences and opportunities • To develop self – esteem and positive behaviour • To develop special interests

6. Worker Profiles • Skills needed • Special interests & shared interests • Matching profiles • Detailed profile • One page profile • Qualifcations

7. Personalisation • Currently supporting over 20 individuals • Personal Budgets / direct payments • Individual Budgets (council managed) • Diverse individuals (severe learning disabilities, physical disabilities and moderate learning disabilities) • Main referrals are those with complex needs e.g. behaviours that challenge, self injurious behaviour and individuals with learning disabilities and mental health issues

8. Day Opportunities • On Your Marks Project • Cycle safe project • Fishing • Bowling • Music workshop (listening & participation) • CV writing • Travel Training • Rambling group • Gardening project

9. Strengths & Opportunities • Able to recruit staff with good value base & are passionate • Bespoke service • Links with other providers and charities • Lots of opportunities to maintain activities and develop new ones • Good local knowledge • Part of learning disability forum • Sharing of good practice • Competitive • Risk Assessments support plans • Resourcefulness

10. Threats • Transportation – hire & reward, currently exploring pooling resources • Reduction of allocation of monies • Funding • Lots of providers competing for the same work • Larger providers • Generic term of support work and support staff

11. Contact details • www.solutionssocialcare.com • Tel: 020 3603 0166 • E-mail buko@solutionssocialcare.com