Care Home for Children with Special Needs & Learning Disabilities

Getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood

Admission Criteria

The care home provides accommodation for 6 children with complex learning and /or physical disability between the ages of 8 and 16 year olds. This accommodation and care is available 52 weeks a year.

Admission to the home will be planned referrals and will only be considered following an in depth multi agency assessment of needs undertaken to include health needs and health promotion , physical and emotional , cultural , religious, language and racial needs, care needs to safeguard and promote the welfare of the individual child / young person in line with statutory requirements.

The assessment will involve the child /young person and parents wherever possible. We believe children and young people should be involved in decisions made about their lives whatever their level of communication. On receipt of the referral the unit manager will give careful consideration as to whether the home will be able to meet the individual child / young person’s need this might include a period of assessment within the home.

Emergency admissions can be accepted if a room is available. However, the decision for an emergency placement is made on the information available at the time. Full referral / assessment information should be available in line with statutory requirements.

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We work in partnership with the child their family and other professionals working with the child /young person. The home provide care for children who have a learning or physical disability with complex / enhanced needs. The local community health team will meet the nursing needs and in some instances, we will have arrangements in place for community paediatric nurses to administer some forms of medication. . Staff will be trained on a different health needs including the management of epilepsy and will receive training in invasive medical procedures provided by a specialist clinical procedures nurse. Each child / young person will have a written health plan within their placement plan which has their medical history and needs recorded including hearing, dental, optical, physical, emotional or mental health.

The care home manager will only agree an admission to the home if she/he is confident the home has the requirements to fully meet the individual child / young persons need.

Prior to/on admission a holistic child focused care plan tailored to meet the individual child / young persons needs will be in place. The placement plan will be consistent with any plan for the care of the child / young person including transition into adulthood and preparation for leaving. The placement plan and care plan contribute to the pathway plan and any transition plan for a child / young person with disabilities and special educational needs. All plans relating to a child / young person will be monitored by their key-worker throughout his /her placement.

We view consultation with the child / young person to be vital in all aspects of their lives within and outside of the home including choice of key worker and the content of their placement plan. We have systems in place to ensure any child / young person with learning and /or communication difficulties is able to make their feelings or wishes known in relation to all aspects of his or her life. These systems include access to various adults with a clear knowledge of how the child / young person communicates. Training for the staff group in the use of and the purchase of specialist communication packages including Makaton and Pecs. Each child / young person has a copy of his / her own care plan. The staff team are fully committed to maintaining dignity, confidentiality and privacy to all the children and their families within the home and make every effort to enable choice and self determination at all times.