Situation:
The aim / objectives of Avondale Hub is to provide a day opportunity for adults with a Learning Disability & Autism. Through Transformation of day services, we involve service users and carers in our programme to provide meaningful community based activities. We encourage expression of their needs, wants, desires through an advocacy group to ensure we are enabling and maximising their full potential.
We introduced Lifestar-(outcomes star) which is a suits of evidence based tools for service users & staff to identify and measure meaningful change. The outcomes star is based on 3 processes,- service user empowerment, collaboration and integration.
Task:
To work alongside s/users to ensure they have a variety of activities on offer to meet their needs / choices whilst maximising their independence, enhancing skills and developing new ones.
Action:
We identified key staff and facilitators.
We met with service users to formulate a timetable of their choice.
Implemented s/user, carer and staff feedback allowing us to review the service and practice.
Created an Advocacy group.
Instilled core values including-care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment.
Working together
Respect / dignity
Commitment of quality care
Compassion
Improving lives
Everyone counts
Result:
We feel it has made a difference to our/users and families.
We have created meaningful activity and provided opportunities to learn news skills while forming new friendships.
We have empowered s/users.
We support / coach and mentor.
We enable s/users to access and integrate into the community.
We have created partnership with other stakeholders and providers.
We have raised awareness of people with a learning disability.
S/users have had opportunity to access services and participate in activities such as
Educational trips:- in conjunction with local council, health promotion, Stormount, PSNI and independent travel.
Recreational: Drama, choir, dance, Disability Sports NI, Football coaching & Arts care.
Well-being:Community nurse input, yoga, chair exercises, physical training, healthy eating & mental health.
Avondale Hub has enabled more s/users to access and be involved in the delivery of day opportunities.
Increased community interaction / engagement.
Provided meaningful activity independent travel and keeping safe.
Created partnership working.
Potential for job sampling / employment.
Set up an Honesty cafe to create opportunity to learn new skills and community links.
Extended evening service / youth club / drop in.
other comments:
Many thanks for allowing us to be part of this project. We as a group felt we were encouraged and treated with respect / dignity throughout the process and the panel members were very attentative and made us feel very much at ease.
