135 HADDON DRIVE WOODLEY READING RG5 4LZ
TEL Val on 07906357941 or Paul on 07570628983
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
Paul Moody
Tel 07570628983
Email [email protected]
Business Manager
Val Bunce
Tel 07906357941
[email protected]
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.
135 HADDON DRIVE WOODLEY READING RG5 4LZ
TEL Val on 07906357941 or Paul on 07570628983
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:
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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:
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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
135 HADDON DRIVE WOODLEY READING RG5 4LZ
TEL Val on 07906357941 or Paul on 07570628983
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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.
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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.
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We treat all individuals who live, work at and visit our homes with respect and dignity at
all times.
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We will always uphold the human and citizenship rights of all individuals who live, work
at and visit our homes.
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We will always support individual choice and personal decision-making as the right of all
individuals who choose to use our service.
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We respect and encourage the right of independence of all individuals who choose to use
our service.
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We recognise individuals’ need for fulfilment and consult and work with them to produce
Person Centred plans to enable those needs to be met.
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We will actively encourage community presence and community participation.
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We will provide opportunities to access a wide range of social, educational, leisure and
day care activities both at home and in the community.
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We will regularly review the way we work in consultation with clients and continually
train and develop the staff team.
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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.
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We will actively encourage access to independent advocacy service.
135 HADDON DRIVE WOODLEY READING RG5 4LZ
TEL Val on 07906357941 or Paul on 07570628983
Service Users;
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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.
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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.
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Will be treated with dignity and respect and will be expected to treat others with dignity
and respect throughout their tenancy.
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Will have their individuality acknowledged and respected.
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Will be provided with opportunities to access educational, social and leisure activities
both at home and in the community.
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Will be provided with the opportunity to practice religious activities and customs
according to their beliefs.
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Will be actively encouraged to access the Complaints Procedure at any time should any
cause for concern or complaint arise.
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Will be actively encouraged to access an independent advocacy service.
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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
135 HADDON DRIVE WOODLEY READING RG5 4LZ
TEL Val on 07906357941 or Paul on 07570628983
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:
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Protection of Vulnerable Adults
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Risk Assessment and Management NVQ level 3
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Health and Safety training including Fire Safety
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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 services 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.
135 HADDON DRIVE WOODLEY READING RG5 4LZ
TEL Val on 07906357941 or Paul on 07570628983
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.
135 HADDON DRIVE WOODLEY READING RG5 4LZ
TEL Val on 07906357941 or Paul on 07570628983
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:
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Liaising with Local Authority and independent day centres
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Liaising with the local job centres and Connections for employment opportunities
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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
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Extending and building upon already existing links for social and leisure activities
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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.
135 HADDON DRIVE WOODLEY READING RG5 4LZ
TEL Val on 07906357941 or Paul on 07570628983
All individuals referred to Platform will be:
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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.
135 HADDON DRIVE WOODLEY READING RG5 4LZ
TEL Val on 07906357941 or Paul on 07570628983
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.
135 HADDON DRIVE WOODLEY READING RG5 4LZ
TEL Val on 07906357941 or Paul on 07570628983
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
135 HADDON DRIVE WOODLEY READING RG5 4LZ
TEL Val on 07906357941 or Paul on 07570628983
Equal Opportunities Policy
The recent new Equality Act 2010 which came in effect on the 1st 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.
135 HADDON DRIVE WOODLEY READING RG5 4LZ
TEL Val on 07906357941 or Paul on 07570628983
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.
135 HADDON DRIVE WOODLEY READING RG5 4LZ
TEL Val on 07906357941 or Paul on 07570628983
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.