Working Here
A unique atmosphere
Innovation
Although residents are referred to the Community because of the reputation it has developed over the past 30 years, the crucial element in our success is the input of our staff. Ultimately it is their enthusiasm, motivation and caring which creates the atmosphere at the heart of the Community.
During our inspection we observed some nice interactions between people and staff. There was much laughter, chatting and friendly banter exchanged. Staff clearly knew people well and people responded to staff in comfortable and friendly ways. For example, one person approached a member of staff when they were talking to us, put their arm around the staff member and said “This is my little friend here”.
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.