Platform Information

135 HADDON DRIVE WOODLEY READING RG5 4LZ

TEL Val on 07906357941 or Paul on 07570628983



Welcome to Platform Care Services Ltd

.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Service Manager Business Manager

Paul Moody Val Bunce

Tel 07570628983 Tel 07906357941

Email paul@platformcareservicesltd.co.uk

val@platformcareservices ltd.co.uk

Website address -

OUR AIM

We aim to provide supported living accommodation plus Outreach support for adults and children with mild to moderate learning difficulties/mental health/ADHD/Autism and associated needs who may need a “

platform

” to reach their personal goal of independent living.

Our support is focused on delivering the best outcomes for our service users with self – directed support and personal budgets. Service users will be treated with respect and dignity and our support is individually tailored to retain and maximise their choice and control and to reflect what is important to them.

To deliver this personalised service we “

listen

”

.

We all have dreams, ambitions and goals and at Platform we believe that the individuals who choose to use our services are entitled to the same rights, responsibilities and opportunities as anyone else; are entitled to be listened to, guided and supported in achieving their dreams and goals, thus enabling them to live independent lives in the community. We emphasise the importance of ensuring that all who use our services are treated equally.

The development of Platform Care Services Ltd is based on our belief that if appropriate packages of support are available to people who would otherwise be unable to live within a family environment then they will be able to do so with us. The support workers are part of the team that supports and sustains placements by identifying and meeting the needs of individuals. Through partnership with others, support workers provide focused, practical input to help sustain placement stability and deliver good outcomes in the key areas of safety, health, enjoyment and achievement, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well – being.



STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Platform Care Services Ltd was established in September 2012 and provides a range of exceptional, quality and value services to adults and children in the community who have support needs, within safe, family orientated group homes or where possible in their own homes.

Platform aims to provide:



High quality care in a family setting for service users placed with us



A commitment to a person centred approach



Stability – to enable a fulfilment of potential



Respect for and promotion of the racial, cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds of all



Consideration for the gender, sexuality, disability of service users when making placement decisions



A commitment to the recruitment of carers from diverse backgrounds so that Platform can offer:



Appropriate placements



24 hour support, 7 days a week – dependant on need



An inclusive partnership based on approach which embraces those placed, their families, local authority/Trust and other agency colleagues



A workforce of managers, practitioners and support staff who are appropriately qualified, registered with their professional regulatory councils and who are supported in continuous professional development



Community based services within national frameworks

A commitment to:



Protection of Vulnerable Adults / Children - Safeguarding



Safe Caring



Managing difficult behaviour



Managing and promoting contact with families and significant others



Promoting positive identity and self esteem



Valuing diversity and promoting equality



High quality recording



First Aid



Health and Safety



Health care of service users



Education and training of service users



Empowering service users



Preparing service users for moving on and independence





We work together with individuals who choose to use Platform to identify what they perceive their needs and goals to be and actively encourage those individuals to make decisions about their lives, thus enabling them to reach their full potential.



We provide professional support with developing social, domestic and financial management skills; assistance with cognitive functions and behaviour management; offer encouragement, emotional support and advice together with supervising and monitoring the health and well-being of individuals in order that they may achieve independence and community integration.



We treat all individuals who live, work at and visit our homes with respect and dignity at all times.



We will always uphold the human and citizenship rights of all individuals who live, work at and visit our homes.



We will always support individual choice and personal decision-making as the right of all individuals who choose to use our service.



We respect and encourage the right of independence of all individuals who choose to use our service.

 We recognise individuals’ need for fulfilment and consult and work with them to produce

Person Centred plans to enable those needs to be met.



We will actively encourage community presence and community participation.



We will provide opportunities to access a wide range of social, educational, leisure and day care activities both at home and in the community.



We will regularly review the way we work in consultation with clients and continually train and develop the staff team.



We actively encourage service users and their families as well as Platform staff to access the Complaints Procedure at any time should any cause for concern or complaint arise.



We will actively encourage access to independent advocacy service.



Service Users ;



Will be safeguarded from discrimination from others and will not discriminate against other service users, staff or visitors to the home, on any grounds including: race, sex, disability, age, religious beliefs or language.



Will have an individual tenancy agreement, statement of purpose, statement of the terms and conditions of the tenancy agreement and prior to taking up a tenancy.



Will be treated with dignity and respect and will be expected to treat others with dignity and respect throughout their tenancy.



Will have their individuality acknowledged and respected.



Will be provided with opportunities to access educational, social and leisure activities both at home and in the community.



Will be provided with the opportunity to practice religious activities and customs according to their beliefs.



Will be actively encouraged to access the Complaints Procedure at any time should any cause for concern or complaint arise.



Will be actively encouraged to access an independent advocacy service.



Will be actively involved in formulating and evaluating their care plans in a Person

Centred approach.

The expectations, desires and goals of service users at Platform Care Services Ltd are of paramount important to us and central to the effective delivery of a quality service.

Employees of Platform are committed to ensuring that we do our utmost to provide a service that meets each individual service user’s choices, needs and aspirations.

This forms part of an on going process which seeks to: inform users of their rights and responsibilities, enabling individuals to make fully informed choices about where they live and the support and care they receive.

BACKGROUND



Platform Care Services Ltd is registered with Companies House in England and Wales

(Registration number 8024887).

The Directors are;

Mr. Paul Moody, 34 Combe Road, Tilehurst, Reading RG30 4NE

Mrs. Val Bunce, 135 Haddon Drive, Woodley, Reading RG5 4LZ

Paul Moody is the Service Manager, he has almost 30 years’ experience working in residential and community care environments. Paul has worked with individuals with a variety of support needs including: learning disabilities, severe and enduring mental health. He has also worked with the elderly and in outreach with children with ADHD and Autism under both Reading and Wokingham borough councils.

Paul was a director of Hope Care Services Ltd providing outreach support for vulnerable adults and children who have dis-engaged plus support for their families. For example a child who has been excluded from school would receive one to one support, working closely with Reading Local Authority Children and Family Team, the LDT team, school and family the child will be supported and assisted to deal with issues that are affecting their ability to engage and build their self esteem and confidence.

Paul has worked at management level for over 5 years and his training has included:

•

Protection of Vulnerable Adults

•

Risk Assessment and Management NVQ level 3

•

Health and Safety training including Fire Safety

• First aid and training with Berkshire police service in restorative justice programme etc.

Being brought up in the care services himself from the age of 9 months he has grown up with hand in hand experience of the care services.

Paul deeply believes that all vulnerable individuals who choose to access our service or any other service, should be treated with respect and dignity, as individuals who are independent and equal to all others.

Val Bunce is the Business Manager with over 30 years’ experience in Accountancy

Practice and business finance, and has taken responsibility for the financial control in various companies, currently supplying book keeping and accountancy servi ces to a range of diverse businesses. Val’s involvement with Platform includes attending placement meetings and decisions on the suitability of potential placements, staff recruitment and staff meetings as well as the business side of managing costings, producing invoices and running payroll.



Both Paul and Val were previously involved with the management of a small SEN school,

Paul as Pastoral Head and Val as School Business Manager. For Paul this involved hands on experience with children with emotional and behavioral needs including assessments and developing individual Behavioural Plans, risk assessments and recording as well as staff management. Val’s role included a review of school policies and procedures, reporting on and chairing Annual Reviews with Local Authorities and other professionals and setting up an induction course for new and existing staff.

Both were involved in recruitment and completed the Safer Recruitment Course as well as the Reading Local Authority Universal Safeguarding Course.



OUR SERVICE

Our home in Woodley, Berkshire provides supported living accommodation for up to 4 tenants and has been open since October 2012.

As an established provider we adopt the person-centred approach for service users, their families and friends and for our staff. We work towards building an open and productive relationship with commissioners, local authority care managers and the community.

We also offer “floating support services” for individuals who choose not to live in our accommodation as well as ongoing support for when the next stage of independent living is appropriate.

We work with service users to identify their individual needs and work towards these needs being met. We are committed to ensuring that our service users are able to access opportunities in the local community.

This includes:



Liaising with Local Authority and independent day centres



Liaising with the local job centres and Connections for employment opportunities



Accessing local colleges for educational, training and recreational opportunities

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Creating links within the community e.g. community groups, community centres and churches



Extending and building upon already existing links for social and leisure activities



Accessing local facilities e.g. Arts workshops, cinemas, bowling alleys, leisure centres, pubs and restaurants etc.

We support individuals to have regular medical ,eye and dental checks as well as regular

GP visits.

All prospective service users referred to Platform will first have an assessment meeting with the Service Manager to explore their individual needs.

Once an agreement is reached a suitable transition plan will be agreed. The prospective service user will be provided with the opportunity to have a day visit prior to taking up a tenancy. A one month trial period will be offered during which time the service user, advocate, manager and relatives will assess future requirements.



All individuals referred to Platform will be:



Between the ages of 16-65 years



Have a mild to moderate learning disability and associated needs



Have mental health conditions with associated needs.



Have a desire and motivation to move on to more independent living

Platform is committed to meeting all the communication needs that individuals who choose to use our services may be faced with.

We recognise that the use of verbal and non-verbal communication is of paramount importance, particularly to those individuals who have communication needs.

As a group home it is extremely important that each service user has a voice in all aspects relating to the running of their home. With this in mind, we will actively encourage feedback in the form of group discussions/suggestion boxes/questionnaires where service users will be encouraged to discuss any issues they may have with the running of their home or other users and staff, plan weekly menus, rotas and activities and put forward any suggestions they may have for improvement. Service users will also be involved in evaluating our services to ensure that we are meeting their needs. We hold regular meetings where service users are encouraged to voice their opinions and actively involve service users in the recruitment of new staff.

Each service user will also have regular opportunities to meet with their key worker to discuss personal issues and review progress with their individual person centred support plans and care plans.

Long Term Placements – a placement that is planned (prior to placement commencement or subsequently) to continue to be available for at least two years

Short Term Placements – a planned placement that is made for any purpose (e.g. assessment, bridging or remand) which is not intended to provide a long term placement

Emergency Placements – a placement that is made within 24 hours of it being requested and where there has been no prior plan. This can last for up to 28 days, whereupon, if the service user is in the same placement it will convert to one of the categories listed above.

Emergency placements can be identified out of the usual working hours.

Short Term Breaks – are available for those people with a disability who require regular short breaks. These will be planned and be with an identified, specifically matched and appropriately trained support worker.



Social Work and Support Service

Each individual placed with Platform should have their own social worker from the relevant Local Authority/Health and Social Care Trust who will maintain contact with them throughout placement, conduct statutory visits and be involved in care planning decisions with and for them. Exceptionally Platform may undertake some of these roles through a specifically allocated social worker where so requested by the care authority.

In addition to the service user’s social worker, a Platform support worker is allocated to support and supervise the placement.

Support workers will:



Maintain contact with the service user in placement



Provide advice, guidance and support to the service user in placement and if required, when they have moved on to more independence



Participate in on call support



Co-ordinate other support services as appropriate e.g. training providers



Liaise with other professional service providers who may be involved and contribute to formal meetings involving care plans



Identify and help respond to the service users training needs



Keep careful records of the progress of placements and achievements of the service user.

The range of services offered includes:



Support to maintain a placement – this could be an educational programme or structured activities where a service user is not attending education or training



Transport for a service user to attend education and training or contact visits



Arranging Day Outings and Holidays



Supervision of contact between the service user and their family



On call duty support in response to crises or emergencies

This list is not exhaustive and Platform will consider all reasonable requests for other support and activities.



STAFF

At Platform we recognize the importance of our staff – the quality of their relationships and interaction with our service users will have a major impact on outcomes. We maintain a person centred culture and are committed to developing and evolving new forms of support.

We believe that all of our employees have the right to be provided with opportunities to progress and develop. All employees will be provided with regular formal and informal supervision and will be encouraged to access on-going training.

All employees of Platform Care Services Ltd will be committed to providing excellent services, highly motivated, committed to person centred practice and able to deliver a high standard of support and care.

Organisational Structure

Director

Service Manager

Senior Support Worker

Team Leader

Support Workers



Equal Opportunities Policy

The recent new Equality Act 2010 which came in effect on the 1 st October 2010 requires all employees who provide services to the public to be aware of the changes to previous legislation.

Platform Care Services Ltd recognise that the new measures are there to protect minority groups and those who are discriminated against and as a small business we are committed to safeguard against discriminatory practices.

 The headings of age, disability (which includes mental health and people diagnosed as clinically obese), race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment

(people who are having or who have had a sex change, transvestites and transgender people), marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity are now to be

 known as 'protected characteristics'.

There are now seven different types of discrimination:

 Direct discrimination: discrimination because of a protected characteristic.

 Associative discrimination: direct discrimination against someone because they are associated with another person with a protected characteristic. (This includes carers of disabled people and elderly relatives, who can claim they were treated unfairly because of duties that had to carry out at home relating to their care work. It also covers discrimination against someone because, for





 example, their partner is from another country.)

Indirect discrimination: when you have a rule or policy that applies to everyone but disadvantages a person with a protected characteristic.

Harassment: behaviour deemed offensive by the recipient. Employees can claim they find something offensive even when it's not directed at them.

Harassment by a third party: employers are potentially liable for the harassment of staff or customers by people they don't directly employ, such as

 a contractor.

Victimisation: discrimination against someone because they made or supported a complaint under Equality Act legislation.

 Discrimination by perception: direct discrimination against someone because others think they have a protected characteristic (even if they don't).

All members of staff working for Platform Care Services Ltd will need to abide by the new policy, taking care not to discriminate against service users in any of the groups

(including families) mentioned above, but to treat service users with fairness and respect at all times.

The management of Platform Care Services Ltd are committed to treating all employees responsibly. At the point of interviews, unnecessary questions must be avoided, particularly if it intimates that person’s disability for example may prohibit them from doing the job.



The management must ensure that all staff are fully aware of how they must operate in the work environment recognising the nature of the service user group we are dealing with to ensure that no-one is treated in a prejudicial or discriminatory way.

Safeguarding

Recommendation 19 of the Bichard Inquiry

Report says: ‘new arrangements should be introduced requiring those who wish to work with children, or vulnerable adults, to be registered. The register would confirm that there is no known reason why an individual should not work with these service users.’

All employees are CRB (enhanced) checked and additional checks are made to ensure that all persons are ‘fit for purpose’. This involves checking passports and driving licenses for proof of address and in some cases checks will be made with the Home

Office for any overseas employees to check they have a right to work in the UK.

Full references and follow up telephone conversations will be held with referees to determine an employee’s suitability. Only written and signed references with the previous employer’s letterhead will be accepted.

The welfare of service users within the care of Platform Care Services Ltd is paramount.

Any concerns regarding a tenant will be discussed and recorded. In an extreme situation the care manager or Social Services will be contacted.

If an allegation is made against any member of staff, this will be reported to the appropriate authority including Social Services, following the Safeguarding Procedures.

If Platform Care Services Ltd has reason to believe that any service user in its care is being abused in any way, this matter will be reported to the Duty Social Worker for

Social Services, Under these circumstances information about individuals will not be kept confidential and will be shared with , Social Services and the Police if requested.

Whistle blowing

Platform Care Services Ltd works to ensure that all service users are supported correctly as we aim to make all referral agencies and tenants to feel comfortable in the abilities of all our staff. It is therefore vital that a transparent culture is promoted where everyone feels able to raise any concerns with any member of staff.

If staff have any concerns regarding the way tenants are being treated or concerns regarding the practice of any member of the team, they are encouraged to report them.

All concerns raised will be taken seriously and fully investigated.



If a staff member feels unable to discuss the matter with the Service Manager Paul

Moody or the Business Manager, Val Bunce then they should refer to the acting Local

Authority.

Information will be readily available in house with contact details of relevant Local

Authority department and CQC if staff or service users prefer.

Platform Information

Welcome to Platform Care Services Ltd

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Welcome to Platform Care Services Ltd

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