Live-in Care
Live-in care can provide constant, flexible care and companionship that enables your loved one to remain as independent as possible in their own home. Live-in carers offer a very personal and tailored level of support. From housekeeping duties such as meals, cleaning, laundry and shopping, to the provision of additional care services for more complex needs. These may include dementia care, specialist feeding, and physical health needs such as hoisting and managing medication. It is also extremely beneficial during end of life care to have that constant supportive presence, enabling people to live out their final days in their homes according to their wishes.
Live-in care can be used on a short-term basis as an alternative to respite, allowing family members or carers to take a break. It’s also available for a short period of recovery after returning home from hospital.
We match and introduce carers to the people they’ll be caring for because it’s important that service users feel comfortable and at ease with them.
Live-in care doesn’t have to be every day of the year. If a family member provides one week of support in the month, then we can provide live-in care for the remaining three weeks.
Challenging Behaviour
Challenging behaviour can be a barrier to leading a full life. Our care staff support individuals to socialise in their community safely, and reach their day-to-day goals in life. We understand that when caring for individuals with challenging needs in the community, care needs are never static; they change and evolve as the person grows and develops. Progress doesn’t happen in a straight line. With that in mind, we plan for ups and downs, and we explore and find different ways of working with individual needs.
A collaborative approach is employed when managing risk with the service user and – where appropriate – their family.
Approaches Used to Manage Challenging Behaviour:
All staff are trained to manage challenging behaviour. Care givers and service users are matched by similar interests, and personality type. Any requirements specified by services users, such as age or gender will also be taken into account.
Risk Management Strategies:
Positive Behaviour Support planning is our main strategy for managing challenging behaviour. Additionally a detailed risk assessment is created which incorporates a risk management plan. The plan will identify:
- The appropriate intervention or response to use should the service user be at risk of becoming unwell. These may include 1:1 therapeutic time, or removal to a quiet space,
- Triggers that result in a behaviour response, this could include specific words or actions,
- Identification of early warning signs prior to the risk behaviour becoming apparent.
Learning Disabilities
We support individuals who have learning disabilities to be as independent as possible and to meet their personal goals. Our staff are there for people on work placement, providing them with that extra level of support required to enable them to work. We help people to access the community by providing the care they need to remain safe. Support is tailored to the individual’s needs; we can, for example, provide assistance to individuals needing help to access mainstream community activities.
Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome
The importance of routine and working with a small team of carers who get to know the individual, is crucial for those with autism or Asperger’s. It’s important to build trust and develop a therapeutic relationship. It is also vital in the management of identified risks. We use an approach based on Positive Behaviour Support planning.
What is Positive Behaviour Support?
‘Positive Behaviour Support is an understanding of the behaviour of an individual. It is based on an assessment of the social and physical environment in which the behaviour happens, includes the views of the individual and everyone involved, and uses this understanding to develop support that improves the quality of live for the person and others who are involved with them.’
Taken from the BILD Positive Behaviour Support Jargon Buster, available at: www.bild.org.uk/pbs
Those Affected by Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Unlike other care agencies, we have full-time, reliable and specifically trained staff to offer consistent care and support to those who value and respond well to continuity. We strive to encourage service users to widen their life experiences through our bespoke social inclusion visits. Our staff understand the importance of communication and have the skills to manage what others may deem as challenging behaviours.
This confident approach ensures that service users are actively encouraged to access life-enriching activities in a safe and well-managed environment. Our care and support packages reflect the needs of the service user. We understand that these needs are always subject to change, but we are able to be responsive in a timely manner, which promotes empowerment for those in our care.
Mental Health
We specialise in supporting people with serious and enduring mental health problem such psychosis, schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, bipolar affective disorder and personality disorder. This includes those who may also have a dual diagnosis or coexisting condition, such as autism. Our expertise extends to those who may also have a history of non-engagement with services, pose an increased risk to themselves or others, or who may have substance misuse problems.
Services we provide :
For those with challenging behaviour, we can provide 24 hour support to enable them to live in their own home in the community - instead of expensive inpatient and specialist care
Support with medication management including dealing with side-effects
Monitoring of service users' mental health or other conditions, and help to manage symptoms
Effective management of the negative and positive symptoms associated with psychosis, such as self-neglect, an inability to self- motivate, self-isolation paranoid ideation, persecutory thoughts and anti-social behaviour
Support from specialist rehabilitation workers to assess functions and promote skills acquisition, for example, employment-seeking skills
Deep cleaning sessions to enable individuals to live well or move back home from hospital
Respite – We can provide as little as half an hour to enable carers to take a break
Assessing and managing risk across all areas including environmental
Assistance with personal care such as dressing, bathing and eating
Support with social activities and companionship such as attending clubs and meetings
Support with accessing community resources and services such as a GP
Support with practical activities including paying bills and preparing and cooking meals