Voyage Care are a specialist provider with 30 years’ experience. They support people with learning and physical disabilities, autism and brain injuries right across the UK.
In October 2017, Voyage Care launched their autism specialism. This focuses on equipping their staff with enhanced knowledge and resources to achieve excellence in supporting autistic people.
Best practice
It involves working with best practice frameworks, including SPELL and Positive Behavioural Support. It also involves keeping up to date with the latest government recommendations and research outputs.
Alongside the launch, they committed to achieving NAS (National Autistic Society) accreditation for an additional 33 care homes and community support hubs.
They will join three care homes and a day centre that have already achieved this prestigious accreditation. In addition, Voyage Care introduced their own internal autism quality mark that all of their managers are working towards.
To gain the specialist mark, care homes and community support hubs must implement a range of specific procedures.
Excellent care and support
Micheala Blanche, Risk and Governance Manager at Voyage Care, explains: “The purpose of having an internal quality mark is to recognise the excellent care and support provided to autistic people in our services.
“Voyage Care recognises that each person is an individual whose autism is an integral part of who they are and we acknowledge their unique qualities, abilities, interests, preferences and challenges.
“To achieve the internal quality mark, the support teams are required to deliver meaningful activities using a range of tools to meet individual needs. They must also demonstrate the achievement of outcomes, as identified in their support plans, as well as develop and maintain a ‘local autism information hub’ and many other tasks.
“Achieving the mark is evidence that a service has adopted Voyage Care’s good practice framework and guidance. This facilitates positive support and engagement with autistic people in all aspects of day-to-day living.”
Real difference
Since launching the autism specialism, Voyage Care have seen a real difference for a number of the people they support.
Paula, a resident at of one of their care homes in North Yorkshire, has very limited communication abilities. She is non-verbal and exhibits challenging behaviours as a way of expressing herself when frustrated, angry or upset. Before the launch, Paula would remain in the dining room for much of the day as she never wanted to access the communal lounge.
After conducting an autism-specific environmental assessment, Kelly, the home manager, adapted the lounge area. Paula now independently chooses to spend time in the room.
Kelly said: “I have reassessed Paula using the tools and have thought of so many new methods of communication we can use to enhance and enable her to have control over her own life.
“I feel so inspired by the new guidelines, they break things down and are perfect for Paula. My staff team are completely on board with implementing things on a gradual basis so as not to overwhelm her.”
‘I’m so thrilled!’
Most recently, Voyage Care’s South Highnam care home in Hartlepool has received the internal autism quality mark.
“I am over the moon! I’m so thrilled! It’s nice to get some good news as it’s helped the home so much already and really improved the lives of the people we support,” said home manager, Carole.
