Latest news with #learningdisabilities
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Jersey charity breaks ground on complex needs facility
A charity which supports people with learning disabilities in Jersey has put the first spades in the ground at its new will start work on Monday to turn a property in Trinity into a five-bedroom nursing and complex needs site at La Rue de Bechet will help islanders who have additional needs access nursing said the project, which is due to be completed in July 2026, will cost £3.5 million. The scheme comes after a previous development by Les Amis for a specialist long-term nursing home was stopped due to commissioning Findlay, managing director of Les Amis, said he was confident the new project would be completed as it was smaller and most of the required funding was already he said it was a complicated project which meant costs were higher than other housing developments. "Internally, it will have to be clinically sound, just as the new hospital will have to be… it means the bill costs are higher than your normal domestic build." He said the centre would enable the charity to continue to care for those it support when their nursing needs became more complex."That includes end-of-life care, something that's not possible in our group residential homes. "Les Amis is often the only 'family' that some of our elderly residents have because we've supported them for most of their adult lives," he constable Philip Le Sueur said it has been "a great joy" to work with Les Amis."It is an island-wide facility," he said. "The setting here and the backdrop into the valley will provide a beautiful, peaceful, calming place which is just right for the people who will be living here."Les Amis chairman and trustee Leslie Norman MBE said the start of the project was "the perfect way to celebrate our 50th anniversary year".
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Isle of Man learning disability care reform needed, review finds
The normalisation of restrictive practices and and mismatch of accommodation were among issues identified in a review of care for adults with learning findings have been published in an independent review by specialists Cordis Bright into the residential care services provided on the Isle of review was commissioned by Manx Care after a number of safeguarding concerns were raised in the autumn of executive Teresa Cope said the report identified "significant areas for improvement" but the organisation was "fully committed to supporting adults with learning disabilities". In the wake of the review the organisation would "work with partners across the system to build a strategy for the future", she report found that in some cases people cared for in residential homes faced restrictive measures such as lack of access to the kitchen because other residents risked hurting themselves if if allowed to use the facilities, for example by drinking from a kettle. 'Inappropriate workarounds' In a limited number of cases residents who could not safely spend time together were sometimes restricted to their own rooms to avoid contact, the review said. It also found restrictive practices put in place for extended periods of time to maintain the safety of residents were were often in response to staffing key challenge identified was that people were placed into one of the 17 residential homes based on availability rather than suitability. This, the review said, meant that there were people who were living together whose support needs were "very different".That could lead to those with high needs contending with people who are more able than them, and those with lower needs may be placed under "undue restrictions", the review homes had also been "poorly maintained or had become shabby", with some having issues such as persistent damp or leaks, or needing repairs, the review some cases, "inappropriate workarounds" became the norm, the review said, with one home still without from the report included ensuring greater variety of options for support, and reducing the current "over reliance on residential care", better engagement with family members, and a property strategy to improve accommodation options. Another key recommendation was the creation of a workforce strategy to address issues of low morale, ensure appropriate training and meet the need for a greater variety of care, the review added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Aberdeenshire social care cuts see families 'face uncertainty'
Cuts are to be made to services for adults with learning disabilities in projects will close as part of efforts to find £17m of savings at Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) this centres will stay open, but fewer people will be eligible to attend, while social care transport is to be cut almost board overseeing AHSCP said services would not be removed until alternative provision was found, but families said they were faced with uncertainty. Aberdeenshire Integration Joint Board (IJB) said changes had to be made or it risked the financial stability of AHSCP. The Accounts Commission warned earlier this year that the financial position of all Scotland's IJBs was "precarious".During a meeting in Aberdeen on Wednesday, Aberdeenshire IJB decided to end the use of buses and taxis to take people to members also halved the number of activity hubs for older people and opted to outsource the vast majority of at-home care. Families gathered outside the meeting to protest against the Anderson Coltherd, whose 18-year-old daughter Erin attends a day centre in Fraserburgh, said: "Even though we've been told she'll keep her place, we're quite apprehensive about what that place will look like because we don't think that is going to be the same as it is now. "She really thrives there.""It's been really stressful. We can't sleep at night. What kind of service is going to be left for them?" Saddiq Ahmed's son uses day services in the Crimond area."Alexander is 36 years old, he's autistic," he Ahmed claimed families were being treated with "utter contempt", and said services were being "stripped" from vulnerable added: "I took early retirement eight years ago when my wife was ill with cancer, she passed away, I'm his only carer now."If he was to lose his place, and his transport of course, I don't know what I would do." Inez Kirk, Aberdeenshire branch secretary of the public services union Unison, said staff cared "deeply" about communities and the services they said: "Staff are absolutely heartbroken, angry, fed up."Communities are losing a valuable resource, and people are losing their jobs and careers, and seeing the work they have dedicated their lives to being undervalued."I know budgets are bad, but I would like people to work with the staff and find ways to go forward, save money, do things better." Families were given assurances adults with learning disabilities would not have their services removed until alternative provision could be the meeting, Aberdeenshire IJB chairman John Tomlinson said the gap between how much services cost and the money available to deliver them needed to be closed "urgently".He said: "We have heard several speakers describe the fears they have about how the decisions we have made today may impact on them and their loved ones. "None of us take this responsibility lightly, there has been some sober and reflective discussions in the room today and we are assured that officers will proceed with sensitivity and compassion as we make the changes we must."Mr Tomlinson added: "Unfortunately, the fundamental fact is that we must make savings now, if we do not, we risk the financial stability of our funding partners and the knock-on impacts that would have on wider public services across Aberdeenshire."
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Oxford charity 'deeply disappointed' by office vandalism
A charity that helps people with learning disabilities and autism has been left "deeply disappointed" after one of its sites was Submarine said two glass doors at its Oxford café and office had been smashed over the bank holiday charity, which also has a site in Witney, said it was "exploring options" to repair the damage and had reported the incident to the shared images of the vandalism on social media, it said it had been "overwhelmed" by the support from the community. In a statement, the charity said: "We returned to our Oxford Café and Office after the bank holiday weekend to find that two doors to our location had been badly vandalised."Being next to a busy public path we were concerned about security of the location, further damage and most importantly the safety of our staff, trainees and the general public." It said it was "deeply disappointed" by the damage, adding: "Despite the vandalism to our Oxford location, our incredible members continue to be our top priority."Yellow Submarine offers a variety of services to those with learning disabilities and autism including social clubs, activity days, residential holidays and a traineeship - often at its flagship site on Park End Street, in a post on its Facebook page, the charity said it had been "overwhelmed by community outreach"."Lots of our supporters and local businesses have been in touch both with kind words and offers of support," it added. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plans for new child care home submitted
Plans have been submitted to Peterborough City Council to convert a residential house into a specialist care home for children. Good Seed Care Ltd hopes to accommodate up to four children, aged between seven and 18, who will either have been diagnosed with learning disabilities or have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The property on Eastfield Road in Peterborough is a five-bed detached house with four off street parking spaces to the front and a garage to the rear. If approved, the home will be registered with Ofsted as a four-bed children's home, with the children expected to live there long-term and prepare for life outside of care. The planning documents said the home would seek to replicate a "normal family environment" to help children who had "not had good parenting in their early years". Two carers would work at the home at all times on a rota basis, providing 24-hour care and sleeping overnight. The plans said the home would "provide a therapeutic approach with a high level of individualised care". It also states the company aims "to provide an environment that reflects as realistically as possible, that of a genuine and nurturing family environment". "Some of our young people will have experienced several placement and relationship breakdowns, which have further entrenched the disadvantage and trauma they have experienced," the company says. "We aim to provide a home in which children and young people feel secure and valued." City council planners will make a decision on the planning application at a later date. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Former recording studio could become care home Send school plans rejected over poor accessibility Peterborough City Council
