The Fun Time Consultation

 

Disabled Children and Young people who currently use residential care based in Leeds were invited to give their views on the new units being planned for disabled children in a Fun Time afternoon at Spring  half term. LiLAC the preferred bidder, had several stands. This included their builders (Jack Lunn), the maintenance team (Gleesons)and the architects (Halliday Clark).

Visitors were able to try on hard hats and high visibility jackets, just like they will be able to if they visit the building site.Some people wanted to keep their hats forever! There were pictures to show how the sites are now, and how they will be if the buildings are built to the plans we have at present.

The architects had done lots of work making a model bedroom. It showed how each room is really spacious and has its own ensuite bathroom with a shower. There was a carpet and a pretend bed and pretend desk and you could sit down at the desk and do some colouring. Everyone liked the bedrooms, and ideas were shared about how the bathrooms must be safe, and how some young people prefer baths. One person wanted to know where the vacuum cleaner would be so they could vacuum their room.

We marked out a space showing a sensory room. The Leeds Inclusion Scheme Toy Library lent us lots of equipment you could use in a sensory room, to touch and feel with lights. Cherie and Steven from the Childrens Learning Disability Nursing Team were helping there and they found the young people who played in it really liked the sensory equipment.

We invited young people to have a wish list of what else they like to play with. The list showed they really liked going on the trampoline we had! We will make sure there are good links to the local swimming pools in our new units – both of them are planned near new swimming pools. We are looking into music systems and there will be the ability to use computers all through the new buildings.We will be looking to get some really comfy (and hard wearing) chairs and sofas.

As well as this we had workers from Speech and Language therapy, the Children’s Community

 

 

Nursing Team, the Adult Independent Living Project and Children and Young People’s Complaints Team there. Parents particularly were interested in these stands.

 

 Entries for the name of the new units were received. 

There will be another consultation event soon.

All the young people who attended the Fun Time and their parents  received certificates showing they helped with the consultation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new units,en-suite bathrooms and design

In the new units each bedroom will have an ensuite bathroom, but the rooms have been designed so that if the young person using the room did not have the skills to use the bathroom , or be left in charge of it without supervision, the bathroom can be locked off. This makes the bedrooms more adaptable to young people with a variety of needs. Although the new short break unit will have 12 beds, just like Broom Court, the accommodation will be much more accessible and suitable for the disabled children and young people using it, and will help them to gain skills and independence not possible within Broom Court.

Consultation with staff 13/9/07

Questions asked – and answers given

1. Will there be permanent beds or shared care beds?

The short break unit will have 12 beds for children and young people, which each can use for a few day each time, so over 100 children will use the unit in the course of a year. The 14-18 unit it will be for young people who are staying for a year or more, so the unit will become their home for up to 4 years.

2. What will happen with emergencies?

Neither of these units are expected to be used for emergencies, because they are for planned care.

3. What specialist input will there be?

Specialist nurses, doctors , psychologists, speech therapists, etc will be available as they are at present. We are going to write a clear plan for the care services, and will consider in this process what specialist staff might be needed.

4. Will the short break unit  provide support for children with learning disabilities?

Yes.

5. Will the short breaks unit  provide  support for children with no learning disabilities but severe physical disabilities?

Yes.

6. Are there any other cities that have created a 14-18 unit for young people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour already?

I am still researching this.

7. How will you replace  the independent flat at Broom Court?

Three beds will be set aside to be a self help unit, with their own kitchen, lounge and entrance.

8. From a staff point of view, how will personal security of non-car users on the night shift be ensured?

These issues will be addressed through the process Human Resources uses when a workplace moves.

9. Could service design be improved through more daytime and teatime visits when introductions are made?

This can be addressed through the planning for care services, and this is a helpful suggestion.

10. What is the division between those with physical disabilities and learning disabilities?

In planning short breaks for young people there will be the intention to enable groups of young people who can enjoy each others company to share time together, matching for issues such as age and interests.

11. Will the service include the flexibility to move 17-18 year olds to adult provision?

The 14-18 provision will be part of a planned pathway to adult services, and will enable the young people have a well planned timely move on.