Our recruitment procedures & training

We do not employ psychiatric nurses, we employ people from a broad range of backgrounds, who have the qualities and characteristics that provide the environment to implement the Community’s philosophy. Their skills and knowledge are developed through a programme of induction and ongoing training, to include the Care Certificate, regular updates and ongoing nationally recognised QCF qualifications. Employees come from both graduate and non-graduate backgrounds and often move on to careers in nursing and social work as well as post-graduate study.

Appreciation of and an ability to balance the particular and changing needs of individual’s care is guided through the process of care planning, with ongoing monitoring and assessment.

The Community uses both internal and external resources for the training of its staff, providing, where possible, externally recognised qualifications to the requirement of Skills for Care, Skills for Health and Health Education England.  All staff complete the Care Certificate, receive regular update training and have the opportunity to work towards nationally recognised QCF qualifications.

The Community’s commitment to the training and development of its staff has received external accreditation from the Investors in People award, a national quality standard for the effective investment in training and developing of staff.

The Community has a strong, settled and cohesive residential staff team of around 80 people. The Community has a high staff to resident ratio, to meet individual needs and ensure that support is uninterrupted and consistent.

Where appropriate, specialist services are secured from relevant professionals to support the assessed needs where required.

Our Structure

The Community operates within a management structure with clear lines of communication and accountability. The various departments within this structure arrange for the provision of care and support systems, allocation of and management of staff teams and arrangements for staff recruitment, training and supervision in accordance with relevant government guidance and management practice.

The extended shift system operates a rota where staff live in alongside residents, sharing in all domestic and recreational activities for two to three days at a time. We find this system provides the unique dynamic between staff and residents where usual categorisation between groups is diminished and the therapeutic advantage of relating to individuals as equals is created.

The Community does not employ psychiatric nurses but employs people from a broad range of backgrounds, who have the qualities and characteristics that provide the environment to implement the Community’s philosophy. Their skills and knowledge are developed through a programme of induction and ongoing training, to and above the requirements of  the nationally recognised Care Qualifications. Employees come from both graduate and non-graduate backgrounds and often move on to careers in nursing and social work as well as post-graduate study.

The Community works with a specialised client group in an innovative and creative way. Staff receive a thorough training in the practices of the Community and a knowledge of disabilities and specific conditions, which enables them to meet individual needs and deal with the broad range of associated behaviour, including understanding physical and verbal aggression and self-harm. Appreciation of and an ability to balance the particular and changing needs of individual’s care is guided through the process of care planning, with ongoing monitoring and assessment.

The Community has a strong, settled and cohesive residential staff team of around 80 people. The Community has a high staff to resident ratio, to meet individual needs and ensure that support is uninterrupted and consistent.

Where appropriate, specialist services are secured from relevant professionals to support the assessed needs where required.

The Community operates a thorough recruitment procedure based on equal opportunities whilst ensuring the protection of residents. New staff are confirmed in post only after the Community have received references and on completion of satisfactory Disclosure Barring Service checks (DBS). All staff receive training on issues of Safeguarding.

Residents are involved in staff selection and their feedback on the care provision is encouraged and supported.

How we ensure consistent support to residents

The Community operates a thorough recruitment procedure based on equal opportunities whilst ensuring the protection of residents. New staff are confirmed in post only after the Community have received references and on completion of satisfactory Disclosure Barring Service checks (DBS). All staff receive training on issues of Safeguarding.

We do not employ psychiatric nurses, we employ people from a broad range of backgrounds, who have the qualities and characteristics that provide the environment to implement the Community’s philosophy. Their skills and knowledge are developed through a programme of induction and ongoing training, to the requirement of TOPPS certified training programme and the nationally recognised Care Qualifications. Employees come from both graduate and non-graduate backgrounds and often move on to careers in nursing and social work as well as post-graduate study.

Residents are involved in staff selection and their feedback on the care provision is encouraged and supported.

How to make a referral

A formal written referral is accepted by the Community from your Consultant, together with your full case history and assessment of needs.

Your Consultant would be expected to retain overall responsibility for your care for the duration of your placement and attend regular reviews. Your Care Manager/Care Co-ordinator is also expected to remain involved throughout.

All prospective residents are given a copy of our Service User Guide, setting out our aims and objectives and the services and facilities available to you.

The Community would undertake a full assessment of your needs in order to assess that we can match them and this would form the basis of your Service User Plan (we refer to it as your Care Plan) and Terms and Conditions of Placement.

Informal interviews would take place with yourself and your Care Team in your current setting. This would also be your first opportunity to meet us and ask any questions you might have. We also try to bring lots of photos for you to get an idea of the place and the people.