Godfrey Barnes Care is delighted to announce the completion of its new self-contained extension added onto the Field House site. As part of the close working relationships we have built with the social worker team in the Staffordshire region a need was identified for a setting that would allow service users to experience a more independent setting whilst still being part of a home where support was available. As we strive to support our service users to ultimately take the step towards completing a transition into an independent scenario this self-contained flat, with its own living area and kitchen is the perfect place to allow us help our service users develop those skills that will be crucial to their independent futures. Although the build process wasn’t without its challenge the end product is every bit what we hoped it to be. Since it was completed a service user has moved into the self-contained extension and started their journey towards a more independent life in the future.

As part of our commitment to delivering excellence in care we work very closely with our training partner NAPPI UK to develop tailored training for our team of carers. NAPPI is a leading provider of training solutions to the care sector and specialise in BILD Accredited training methods. Our partnership has been based around a no standard “one size fits all” approach but rather developing tailored methods that emphasise on Positive Behaviour Support in every aspect of service users day to day activities. On a recent training day held at the Burton Albion Football ground we held a one day special programme with NAPPI UK regional trainer Jason Reece-Sumner and the Field House team. The day was really useful and allowed for some very thought provoking discussions around the challenges that the team face and how we can ultimately deliver excellence in care with our team at Field House.

Tai Cain (Home manager) said “it’s an integral step of the continuous investment we make into the team at Field House that we hold these training days, where we can all have open discussions and share knowledge and experiences that will ultimately help our team deliver tailored care that suits every service user. The team from NAPPI are excellent and there is never a dull moment during these development days!”

Having the benefit of beautiful and diverse settings and our commitment to genuine inclusion at Godfrey Care, during a recent nature walk some of our staff and service users took part in collecting water reeds from the canals.

These were used as part of the weekly craft session that we hold with our service users. The aim of these sessions is to try and develop skills that encourage self-expression through creativity and promote imaginative and independent thinking, whilst promoting personal confidence and growth. The reeds that were collected were interwoven and formed into different shapes. One of our service users, David excelled with this and managed to make some very good shapes as shown in the pictures.

Since March we have been working with all the service users in Field House to plant a variety of vegetables in the garden. Not only has this been a very healthy way of getting the service users to eat some organic and delicious vegetables but it’s been great to get everyone engaged and taking an active role in nurturing their own plants. The service users have been responsible for everything including watering, weeding and making sure there are no pests eating away at the vegetables! Already we are seeing great results with some very healthy looking cabbage greens, lettuce, tomatoes and a wide variety of herbs that have been used in many dishes that the service users have helped cooking. As this has proved to be so popular with the service users there are plans to get several more planters put into the garden and take full advantage of the great weather that we are having and getting everyone out and about doing something that they have all found to be educational and also very rewarding.

As part of our ethos to develop access to new opportunities for Field House service users, the team and two service users went to Blackpool Beach at the end of May. One of the service users had been very keen and mentioned that he wanted to go to Blackpool Beach several times. On  31^st the weather was amazing so we took the service users out on a day trip to the sea side. Sun cream on and sandals ready everyone had a great time splashing in the sea, playing on the arcades and eating ice cream! Not only did the service users get to experience something completely new by going to the sea side but these types of days out really help develop the inter personal relationships of the service users with the staff and one another!