Smugglers Barn is set within four acres of land where gardening, animal husbandry and general outdoor pursuits are actively supported and encouraged. Additionally there is an on-site Activity Centre where individuals can enjoy various pastimes including art, karaoke, reading and more.

Below is an example of how the work we do at Consensus enables individuals to achieve positive outcomes and personal fulfillment.

At Consensus, our philosophy is to support every individual to achieve Opportunity, Choice and Success.

Harry’s Story:
* names have been changed to protect privacy

In 2004 Harry moved into Smugglers Barn with a variety of challenging behaviours and diagnosed Epilepsy. Since the age of six Harry had either been in hospital or special needs schools and had grown up with tendencies towards violence; these outbursts were aimed towards his mother and generally anybody who came into close contact with him. Harry has always been very verbal and would often verbally abuse individuals through frustration. Aside from the physical and verbal abuse Harry was extremely challenging in that he would not do what was asked of him; he would refuse to get up to take his medications, would not take part in any of the organised activities and when going out into the community he required 1:1 support at all times.

A support package was created to ensure Harry’s various needs were met and since Harry is very articulate he was able to contribute to his support plan, along with his mother and the support staff at Smugglers Barn. Harry’s main goal was to be able to go out into the community on his own. This was a big undertaking for all concerned, however, a relevant support plan was put in place to enable Harry to gain the confidence, understanding and the awareness required for him to achieve this level of independence.

Harry was involved in the entire process which included putting together a risk assessment for both himself and staff to follow. It was agreed that the local garden centre was an ideal location for Harry to visit and support staff began talking with him about the route and how to get there, road safety, developing his knowledge of using his mobile phone and educating him with the skills required to manage a small amount of money to spend at the garden centre. Harry also assisted with the development of an information card for him to carry on him with his relevant personal details should he have a seizure whilst out on his own.

Harry’s first successful journey to and from the garden centre was two years ago: He followed all the guidance -even bought himself craft materials and enjoyed refreshments in the café. On this route to the garden centre Harry met a friend; to this day they remain friends and regularly visit eachother offering him fulfillment and independence away from the service.

Harry now aspires to visit the local pub on his own without support staff and we are currently in the process of drawing up a support plan and risk assessment in order for us to assist Harry in achieving his new goal. This will involve negotiating a busy road with other obstacles but with the correct support from the team at Smugglers Barn we are sure that Harry will achieve his goal and gain further independence in order to achieve his positive outcomes.

To contact us for more information click here

To find out more about Smugglers Barn click here

Alternatively, email enquiries@consensussupport.com or freephone 0808 166 1420 to find out more

This supported living service offers individuals appropriate personalised support in order to gain control over their lives and greater access to opportunities for inclusion within their community. Direct support at home and in the community is offered along with access to our “Resource Centres” enabling a comprehensive and flexible support package aimed at helping individuals achieve their personal aspirations.

At Consensus, our philosophy is to support every individual to achieve Opportunity, Choice and Success.

Below is an example of how the work we do at Consensus enables individuals to achieve positive outcomes and personal fulfilment.

 Norman’s Story:
* names have been changed to protect privacy

Norman has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome which is a difficult-to-treat form of childhood epilepsy and is characterised by frequent and different seizure types. As is often the case, Norman’s disability is accompanied by developmental delay with psychological and behavioral problems.

Norman arrived at Norwich Road having become withdrawn and unhappy in his previous accommodation to which he was unsuited. Norman had suffered weight loss and muscle degradation as a result of his previous environment. Requiring full support, the team at Norwich Road were keen to support him to improve his independence and quality of life whilst supporting him to put on some weight and increase his muscle strength.

Although Norman is non-verbal he is able to point at things he wants and he can indicate when he is happy, sad or angry.

Staff worked with information from past plans and assessments at Norman’s previous placement and communicated with Norman and his family to develop a comprehensive support plan that was put in place. Over time, these plans have been modified and developed in order to give Norman the confidence and independence he so desires.

Staff carried out intensive interactive training with Norman to assist with his communication. Norman responded well to this interaction and this positively enhanced his relationship with the support team. In addition, Norman was encouraged to walk in his flat for short distances on a daily basis and to move around in his room. In order for Norman to be able to do this in a safe environment, the Service Manager organised for his room to be padded. Norman now appears to have become stronger and enjoys the freedom he has within his room. Importantly, Norman has also gained a little weight!

Feedback from both Norman’s parents and his Occupational Therapist confirm Norman’s personality has returned and he is now much happier within himself.

Norman will always need full support however he now has more independence and is able to make decisions. Consensus has given Norman his own space which allows him the freedom to be himself and to make the most of his environment.

To contact us for more information click here

Alternatively email enquiries@consensussupport.com or freephone 0808 166 1420 to find out more

How long have you been the manager at Aldeburgh?

I have been managing Aldeburgh House in West Mersea since I joined Consensus in July 2011.

Can you give some details of your background?

I have been working in Health and Social Care for 10 years and my experience has been focused on working with Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities and/or Physical Disabilities.

My passion for supporting individuals started when I worked at a school as a teaching assistant supporting individuals aged 16-19 years old. Following this I became a team leader in a residential home providing support to 18 individuals. Once I felt I had the experience I decided to take the challenge of managing a service where individuals were supported to live in their own homes. My position prior to moving to Consensus was managing 4 supported living services across Essex.

Download the full article here.

What would you say your key skills are?

I believe my leadership qualities are one of my main strengths and feel that leading by example is one of the key reasons why as a team we have achieved somuch since July. I ensure the team I work with provide excellent standards of care and support whilst working with a person centred approach.

Good working relationships with colleagues, external professionals and parents are crucial to our success.

I ensure that I manage my time effectively to develop good relationships with all stakeholders and like to think our parents feel able to talk to us about anything that is on their mind before it becomes a concern. This open dialogue ensures my staff team are pro-active in their approach to care and the outcomes that have been delivered are a clear indicator of this achievement.

“I think Dean is an excellent Manager. He is supportive and makes me feel like a valued member of the team and is always available to speak to when I have a question.” Support Worker – Aldeburgh House

What qualifications do you have?

I have the following qualifications and am constantly working on personal development;

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care

• Technical Certificate in Health & Social Care Level 3

• A1 Assessors Award

• NVQ Level 4 in Care

Have you completed any other training?

Yes, training is a key aspect of my job and I ensure my training is as up to date as possible.

Download the full article here.

Tell me about your team at Aldeburgh House and how you have been so successful?

At Aldeburgh House we have 2 Team Leaders and 11 support workers/night support workers and 3 bank support workers.

Each day is planned and organised by the team leaders according to what our service users are doing throughout the day/week to provide support to the individuals where and when they need it.

I hold monthly team meetings which we use to share the highs and lows of the month and to enable us all to learn from each other and support each other as a team.

All staff attend mandatory training and are also offered the opportunity to attend specific training around epilepsy, autism, communication and any other training that may be useful in their job role.

I ensure that during supervisions personal development is discussed to ensure my staff team are happy and encourage them to discuss their feelings and thoughts openly.

How do you support the individuals using the service?

Individuals are supported in a person centred way ensuring the service is developed around each of the people we support.

Each individual is offered the choice of a key worker and a team leader who oversees and supports. This is regularly monitored to ensure the key worker is the right one for each of our individuals to help them get the most out of each day. Each individual is supported to attend college, day centres and activities of their choice. The key worker will work with the individual to write support plans and risk assessments and carries out a monthly meeting to discuss key areas such as support plans, new goals and talking about concerns.

Download the full article here.

Building strong relationships with external stakeholders is clearly important to you, why?

It is an important part of our work to ensure that we build good working relationships with external professionals. We want to have an open honest relationship with stakeholders, being proactive regarding our service rather than reactive.

We also recognise the importance of using the knowledge and experience of health professionals and other stakeholders to support us in the work we do with each individual.

What are your plans going forward for Aldeburgh House?

We will continue to work with the person centred approach and support individuals to be involved and have presence within their local community as much as they choose. We work on outcomes – ensuring our individuals achieve the goals important to them. We will continue to support our individuals to achieve their own personal goals enabling them to see for themselves their progress and achievements.

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To find out more about Aldeburgh House please click here.

Since Jennifer’s arrival at Aldeburgh House the team have been supporting Jennifer to work on her anxiety levels which benefits her confidence and independence. At a person centred planning meeting 6 months ago, Jennifer requested she receive additional support to further her independence in the community and in particular travel training, proving to staff her confidence had grown significantly.

Achieving Success

Given the enormity of Jennifer’s goal, the support team decided not to add unnecessary pressure by adding a timeframe to Jennifer achieving her goal. The team started by supporting Jennifer in finding bus timetables within the local area in order to plan her route always giving encouragement and praise. Jennifer’s confidence started to build gradually and was soon looking to further her achievements.

With support, Jennifer began to travel from Aldeburgh House to College and after two months of Jennifer successfully completing this journey, Jennifer’s key worker discussed the next step – enabling Jennifer to take this journey alone. Support Staff explained to Jennifer that during the first month they would still travel on the bus for support, gradually reducing the support and increasing the distance between Jennifer and the support staff. This was extremely successful and with regular encouragement and praise for her achievements, Jennifer gained confidence in her ability to succeed.

Facing an Unexpected Challenge

In January 2012 Jennifer was faced with a challenge when the bus she normally takes had to terminate unexpectedly at a different location. This did not phase Jennifer and she found another bus to Colchester, calling staff to let them know what had happened. Her elation when she arrived home that day was clear to see, and staff felt Jennifer really had achieved the results she was hoping for.

This is a huge success for Jennifer and she is already looking forward to the next phase of her new found independence!

Key to Success

The approach the team took enabled Jennifer to feel confident in her ability to manage on her own, always having the level of support needed at the right time in case she felt anxious. This along with praise for her achievements empowered Jennifer to see how far she had come and has given her the self belief to begin looking at other aspects of her self development. Jennifer has expressed her desire to work in a voluntary capacity and the staff team are now looking at ways to help Jennifer achieve her next goal.

Consensus are sponsoring and also presenting at:
The Westminster Health Forum Keynote Seminar: Social care reform and the Dilnot review

Timing: Morning, Thursday, 9th February 2012
Venue: Wellcome Trust Lecture Hall, Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG        

Please click on the icon below to download a draft adgenda

At Consensus, our aim is to help individuals achieve greater independence. We are passionate about the work we do and are proud of the support we deliver and the difference it makes to an individual’s life.

Ty Hendy
Level of Learning Disability: Mild, Moderate and Severe
Specialism: Challenging Behaviour, Early Onset Dementia and Cognitive Decline
Location: Hendy, Carmarthenshire
Number of Bedrooms: 8 bedrooms, 5 self-contained flats and a respite facility catering for 4

Ty Hendy offers accommodation for individuals with learning disabilities who may also have early onset dementia. Ty Hendy provides a self-contained unit with eight en-suite bedrooms, each with direct dial telephones and specifically designed dementia features including memory boxes, open fronted furniture and sensor operated bathroom lights. In addition, there are also five self-contained flats with en-suite facilities, a kitchen, direct dial telephones and internet access.

The service also offers respite accommodation for four individuals in a self-contained facility located on the same site.

 Rebecca’s* story:

*Names have been changed to protect privacy

Rebecca suffered a brain tumour at the age of 3 ½ years old which resulted in her having a learning disability, sight impairment and epilepsy. Rebecca has also recently been diagnosed with diabetes and after an assessment, it has also been reported that she is in cognitive decline.

On 22^nd September 2010, Rebecca made the transition into Ty Hendy’s respite unit after being cared for by her parents all her life. Rebecca had been admitted into hospital with an UTI infection and dehydration on two occasions. It was also suspected that she had suffered a stroke. When Rebecca moved to the service she was very weak and had lost her mobility and needed hoisting; Rebecca’s parents are elderly and could not manage this situation at home.

Support staff at Ty Hendy worked with the physiotherapist, occupational therapists, social care worker and community nurse to put together support plans for Rebecca to help manage her physical needs and to support her to take advantage of social opportunities within the community.   

As Rebecca’s health improved and she became stronger, support staff at Ty Hendy no longer needed to use a hoist as Rebecca could now weight bear and use a steady eddy for support. Through stimulation with arts and crafts that Rebecca enjoys, her responses have improved and so has her interaction with other service users and staff at Ty Hendy.  

Rebecca has achieved in continuing to support herself with the assistance of using mobility aids and is accessing the community to go shopping whilst making her own choices on what she wishes to purchase. She attends a weekly club, enjoys going to the theatre and has recently chosen the colour scheme for her bedroom- purples and pinks with butterfly accessories!

Rebecca’s verbal skills have improved dramatically but the most noticeable achievement is the increase in Rebecca’s confidence. Staff at Ty Hendy support Rebecca to ensure she can take part in anything she wishes to do.

By working with Rebecca and her family, the programmes the staff team created have enabled Rebecca to overcome obstacles she previously faced when she first moved to Ty Hendy.

To make an enquiry or to contact us for more information, please contact us on 0808 166 1420 or email enquiries@consensussupport.com

Located in Hendy, Carmarthenshire, Ty Hendy is a unique innovative specialist resource for adults with learning disabilities who may also have early onset dementia. The resource is located in two acres of beautiful landscaped grounds in Hendy, Carmarthenshire, close to Llanelli, Swansea and Carmarthen.

Ty Hendy provides three distinct services located on the same site delivering an innovative support service.

• A self-contained unit with eight en-suite bedrooms, each with specifically designed dementia features including memory boxes, open fronted furniture, sensor operated bathroom lights and direct dial telephones
• Five self- contained and well appointed flats with en-suite facilities, large lounge/bedroom area, a well equipped kitchen, direct dial telephones and internet access
• A respite facility offering large bedrooms with en-suite facilities and spacious well appointed communal areas that are able to provide short term support for up to four individuals at any one time     

The service supports individuals to pursue their own hobbies and interests. Therapies are provided such as yoga, aromatherapy, music therapy and reflexology through qualified practitioners. Individuals using the service enjoy a variety of activities such as life story work, gardening, animal husbandry, games, discos, karaoke, barbecues, cinema visits and swimming. The support team at the service are trained in PBM (Positive Behavioral Management) and Intensive Interaction. Ty Hendy also benefits from input from Consensus’ behavioral specialists and our Head of Dementia Care; Rose Magowan.   

Meet the Manager:

Fiona Bush has been the manager at Ty Hendy since May 2011 and brings with her, over 12 years experience in supporting individuals with complex needs.

Formerly having worked in a variety of different services, Fiona has years of knowledge and experience in supporting individuals providing personalised and outcome focused support for individuals with learning disabilities, challenging behaviors and dementia.

Working closely with our own and MDT (Multi Disciplinary Team) behavioral specialists on a day-to-day basis, Fiona reports and records the ongoing behavior of individuals supported at Ty Hendy. This is then analysed so that any potential changes in need can be detected early; this proactive approach is typical of the support Fiona and the team provide at Ty Hendy.

Fiona and her team support individuals from various backgrounds and pride themselves on delivering the highest standard of bespoke person-centred support for each individual they support at Ty Hendy. Fiona is passionate about delivering high quality care and support to ensure that the support offered at Ty Hendy is consistently outstanding. Fiona says ‘I believe in nurturing my staff and providing them with the best possible training results in a positively skilled team. Being a specialist unit, we have to do what we say on the tin!’

As part of the tailored support offered at the service, Fiona works tirelessly to ensure every individual has involvement in their say on, not only their own care, but also how Ty Hendy is run. In order to achieve this, Fiona runs regular ‘resident’s forum meetings’ to ensure everyone is included in discussions.

Building close working relationships with external agencies and Health Care Professionals is central to the support ethos at Ty Hendy and over the course of her career, Fiona has developed positive and lasting relationships with Llanelli and Carmarthen Community Teams for Learning Disabilities. Fiona involves all external agencies in the regular team meetings organised at Ty Hendy.

Fiona has huge enthusiasm about the exciting future for Ty Hendy; she has just secured funding for the development of a sensory room and, in keeping with the ethos at Ty Hendy, the individuals we support will be fully involved at every stage of the development.

On the 2^nd February 2012 you will have the opportunity to meet Fiona and the team from 11am-3pm at Ty Hendy. A buffet lunch will be provided. RSVP 01633 883 500 or email enquiries@consensussupport.com  

At Consensus, our aim is to help individuals achieve greater independence. We are passionate about the work we do and are proud of the support we deliver and the difference it makes to an individual’s life.

Vyrnwy Academy:

Level of Learning Disability: Moderate to Severe
Specialism: Autistic Spectrum Condition
Location: Llansantffraid, Powys
Number of Bedrooms: 5 and an additional self-contained flat

Vyrnwy Academy offers a specialist transition service for young adults with autistic spectrum condition and learning disabilities. This large detached property is situated in a small rural village over-looking the river Vyrnwy. As well as providing 24 hour residential support, Vyrnwy is also registered as an accredited learning centre with AgoredCymru.

Billy’s* story:

*Names have been changed to protect privacy

“Billy’s life has been transformed since he moved to Vyrnwy. He is much happier, calmer and is a real pleasure to have around”

Billy has autistic spectrum condition and severe learning disabilities. Before Billy made the transition to Vyrnwy, he displayed extreme physical challenging behaviours with limited Makaton vocabulary and relied heavily on his family for all his support needs. Billy also had an unpredictable sleeping pattern.

Billy’s challenging behaviour came from his frustration in not being able to communicate effectively. When Billy arrived at Vyrnwy, he would use one sign which was an adapted version of the Makaton sign for ‘please’. Billy was able to communicate that he wanted something but he could not communicate what it was.

Through initial needs assessments and consultations with family, friends and previous staff teams, support staff at Vyrnwy determined that initially it would be beneficial to work on helping Billy achieve a predictable sleeping pattern as fluctuating energy levels would be a further obstacle to learning and a catalyst for his challenging behaviours.  To do this, a sleeping plan was confirmed including set times for recreation, bathing, supper and bedtime. Lights were turned down at set times throughout the evening so Billy could prepare for sleep and he was encouraged to turn the television off at the same time each evening. Eventually, Billy established a regular sleeping pattern which had a positive impact.

Support staff at Vyrnwy worked with Billy and his family and put together a learning programme accredited by the Open College Network: this enabled Billy to understand a picture and symbol communication system which support staff used to communicate with him. This new level of understanding has reduced Billy’s frustrated and he is much happier.

By working with Billy and his family, the programmes the staff team created have enabled Billy to overcome obstacles he previously faced when he first moved to Vyrnwy. Billy has gained independent living skills which he can take with him when he makes the transition to supported living accommodation next Summer.

Support worker Sarah * says;

“Billy’s life has been transformed since he moved to Vyrnwy. He is much happier, calmer and is a real pleasure to have around.

We are all delighted by his progress and, even though we will be sad to see him leave, we are delighted that next summer he will make the transition to supported living”

The competition was a huge success with lots of entries of all shapes and sizes! The Calendar has now been printed and looks excellent. Each of the winners have received 5 calendars to give to friends and family, a certificate and some gift vouchers. Everyone within our services has also received their own calendar to keep or give to a loved one.

The winning artwork can be seen on the homepage and I think you will agree we have some great artists in the making!

If you would like to receive one of these coveted Calendars, please contact us with your details.

Congratulations to all our wonderful competition winners!

• The Panorama programme on Castlebeck’s Winterbourne View service was truly shocking
• The programme has rightly prompted a review of how providers and local authorities ensure that people with learning disabilities are protected from abuse
• At Consensus we are committed to delivering the highest standards of support and we have carried out a comprehensive review to further ensure that the policies and procedures we have put in place for safeguarding the people we support are completely robust
• Our review found that Consensus’ policies, procedures and organisational structure ensure the risk of a similar scenario arising in Consensus services is absolutely minimised
• Nevertheless, we will remain vigilant to ensure such a scenario cannot develop and will continue to review on a six-monthly basis
• We are passionate about enabling people to achieve the very most through opportunity, choice and success, and we will continue to review our services to ensure they deliver the highest standards of support

Statement from Paul Hill, Managing Director of Consensus Support Services

 Paul Hill, Managing Director of Consensus Support Services commented:

 “As a provider that is passionate about providing the very highest standards of support to the people in our services, we were shocked and appalled by the abuses exposed in the Panorama programme on Castlebeck’s Winterbourne View service in Bristol.

 “In response to the programme we commissioned a thorough review into Consensus’ policies, procedures and organisational structure to further ensure that we have robust safeguarding procedures in place for the people we support.

 “This review found that the risk of a similar scenario arising in Consensus services is absolutely minimised. The health and wellbeing of the people we support is always our number one priority and we will continue to review these practices on a six-monthly basis, to ensure we consistently deliver the best possible support both now and in the future.”