Model of Care for Deafway

This page outlines Deafway’s commitment to providing the standard of care which all residents and service users should expect and deserve.

We aim to meet the standards and implement the best practice guidance described within Right Care, Right Support and Right Culture and Transforming Care.

Deafway is a specialist provider of community and residential services to Deaf people whose first language is British Sign Language (BSL). We also provide BSL and Deaf Awareness courses which can be booked by individuals or organisations. Due to the limited provision nationally, our residential services are commissioned by local authorities, probation services and health services across the country. We do recognise the importance of maintaining links with family, friends and communities from which people have moved and we will support them to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to become as independent as possible and return to their home town if that is their preferred choice.

We will translate this into BSL and present it to all residents and service users so that they know what they can expect from Deafway. We aim to facilitate a process of annual feedback in order to influence future care provision and services. All staff will also be familiar with this document and it will be incorporated into future staff inductions so that they are aware of the organisation’s philosophy of care and expectations.

Most of the following practice and services are in place already but some will be in place or firmed up over the next 12 months. This defines Deafway’s future ambition.

Organisational Structure

Deafway is a charity with a Board of Trustees (Directors), who are responsible for governing, financial scrutiny, and supporting the Chief Executive Officer with strategic direction, decision making and resource allocation. The CEO has responsibility for managing the overall operations and resources of Deafway, developing and promoting the service, ensuring that it meets all legal requirements and appropriate policies and guidance are in place.

Each department within Deafway has a lead officer who is a member of the Senior Management Team. The SMT are responsible for making sure all policies are adhered to; services are performing to a high standard and meeting targets agreed by the Board. Also, any complaints or staffing issues are dealt with appropriately and all staff are fully trained and supported in providing the best quality of care and service to our customers.

Staff are expected to complete a number of mandatory courses and specialist training within given time frames, in order to meet CQC standards and deliver the best care possible. They have knowledge and experience of working with people with autism, learning disability and mental health issues, as well as Deaf awareness and BSL / communication skills. All staff are required to attain the relevant QCF qualifications related to their role in order to develop their skills and knowledge.

Regular staff supervision and reflective practice are in place to support learning and the promotion of best practice. All members of staff have a personal development plan which identifies their ongoing training needs and options for meeting these.

Statement Of Purpose

Deafway will support residents using strengths-based approaches which will enable them to develop the skills to live as independently as possible. A strengths-based approach takes into account knowledge, skills, interests and support in addition to the areas they may find difficult.

We offer a range of services including residential care, outreach support and community services. We will tailor support to specifically meet individual needs. The support we offer will be person centred which means that residents will be fully involved, in control and making choices about things which are important to them. We will not only focus on the things that they find difficult but also on their strengths and goals. Deafway will provide information in the residents chosen first language, predominantly British Sign Language (BSL) and respect an individual’s culture and values.

Our Mission

To deliver excellent quality support for adults who are Deaf, Deafened, Hard of Hearing (HoH) and Deafblind. We also support those individuals living with;

A learning disability
Profound and multiple disabilities
Dementia
Autistic Spectrum Syndrome
Complex and enduring mental health needs
Long term health conditions
Acquired brain injury

Our Values

We value all of our residents and service users equally. We aim to provide support which is person centred and respects people’s differences; we will not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We aim to make support and development fun as well as a positive learning experience; treating everyone with respect, dignity and kindness.

We value all of our staff and aim to make working at Deafway an enjoyable experience. We will provide support and training and offer flexibility when possible. We will not tolerate bullying or discrimination and we will support staff who report poor practice. All staff are expected to communicate in all public areas within Deafway using BSL.

Our Goals & Objectives

Our goals are defined to make a positive and long-lasting impact on the lives of those we support. Our goals and objectives include:

Individuals first – people we support are at the centre of everything we do. We will create a support plan with all residents which will enable them to develop independence, make their own choices and improve their quality of life. We recognise that all residents will have different interests, strengths and goals and we will tailor support to meet their individual needs.

Inclusive – we will involve the resident, their family and professionals involved, in order to ensure that we have identified everything relevant in terms of future care planning and goals.

Striving for excellence – we aim to continually improve and expand the services we provide, in order to offer the highest quality of support to each individual. Our goal is to become an excellent provider of quality services supporting Deaf, Deafened, Hard of Hearing (HoH) and Deafblind people with complex needs.

Everyone has basic human rights; the right to be safe from violence, abuse and neglect; the right to privacy, respect, equality and beliefs. At Deafway we support residents in ensuring these rights are upheld.

There are policies and procedures in place to ensure all human rights are protected.
Under the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 you have the right:-

To be called by the name of your choice
To be treated as an individual
To be independent
To make personal life choices
To live your chosen lifestyle
To have personal privacy at all times
To be protected from harm
To look after yourself as far as possible
To take responsibility for your actions and decisions
To invite anyone you wish into your home as long as it is safe to do so.
To have your dignity respected through all stages of your life
To have your own individualised person-centred support plan
To receive anti-discriminatory services that are responsive to your race, religion, culture, language, gender, sexuality, disability and age.
To have access to your personal records and information relating to decisions that have been made affecting your life.
To keep and use your own medication when it is risk assessed and safe to do so.
To manage your own personal finances if you are able to do so.
To be involved in the creation, implementation and reviews of your own support plan.
To have clearly explained what you are advised not to do and why.
To have the opportunity to participate in activities and health care that meets your needs.
To be advised of opportunities to develop your skills and interests
To receive encouragement to participate in making decisions regarding your support and future.
To be supported with preparation and guidance where a condition has been diagnosed and to receive support where necessary.
To be able to express your wishes and feelings in the knowledge that your concerns will be taken into account.
To know how you can make a complaint and know that the complaint will be taken seriously and dealt with properly.

Specialist Services

Deafway will support residents in all the areas they wish to grow and develop with a specific support plan formulated to address each area. This will be identified in the initial assessment in order to support them to return /or aim to live an independent life, find a job or attend further training or education.

Our residential and outreach services employ staff who are Deaf and their first language is BSL or staff who are trained in Deaf awareness and British Sign Language. When attending any external, medical or professional appointments, we will act as an advocate in ensuring residents are provided with the right access to communication, booking registered and qualified BSL/English interpreters as required.

The support plan will ensure a holistic approach to meeting needs either through a residential stay at one of our homes; outreach support in an individual’s own home or care home where they are living. When receiving support in their own home it is important that service users are in control and feel comfortable with the type of support provided in order to develop their skills and achieve positive outcomes. Our outreach service will assist with communication, helping service users to connect with the wider community, arrange practical support and promote confidence.

Supported living at Deafway consists of a number of houses and self-contained flats where residents live alongside a small group of individuals who are on a similar journey; developing the skills required in order to live as independently as possible with maximum choice and control. Some residents will move on to their own accommodation in the community and for some residents Deafway will provide a long-term home into old age.

The homes are surrounded by landscaped gardens and offer peace and tranquillity on the outskirts of Preston, Lancashire. There are a range of shops and cafes within walking distance of the facility and a large shopping centre, cinemas and restaurants a short distance away. The home has a range of vehicles to support with longer trips and days out and can access larger community transport vehicles for specific purposes. We also offer one-to-one support if required.

Positive Behaviour Support

There are many different reasons why behaviours that challenge arise; sometimes it is specific triggers or can be due to high stress levels. When people are Deaf, Deafened, Hard of Hearing (HoH) and Deafblind there are barriers to communication that can result in these challenges occurring. The important thing is to look at the causes of the behaviour using a person-centred approach. As part of our initial assessment, we will work with the individual, family and other professionals to build a picture and identify potential reasons for the behaviour.

A small team of staff will work with the resident to identify triggers and warning indicators of behaviour. We will then develop a support plan which will help minimise these behaviours and replace them with more positive behaviour. This plan will be reviewed and updated each month.

If a resident has dementia, care will be planned with the individual to ensure it meets their needs, taking into account choices and aspirations in a warm and homely environment. We can support them to access group activities, excursions and entertainment. Our environment offers a safe and secure location and pleasant gardens and seating areas to relax. Staff are on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide support and reassurance.

Safeguarding, Dignity & Privacy

Deafway has a zero-tolerance policy on all forms of abuse. Safeguarding and whistleblowing information is available in easy read and BSL formats, alongside details of the local authority and Care Quality Commission (CQC) safeguarding telephone numbers (including text and email). Everyone using the service; their families and staff; are aware of how to make an alert and who to make the alert to. All staff are trained in protecting and promoting the privacy and dignity of everyone using the service.

There is a policy on managing challenging behaviour and staff are trained to manage potential and actual aggression; having the skills to identify the signs and triggers of aggression and de-escalate when faced with behaviours that challenge.

Risk assessments are completed for all residents and they are supported in making decisions and choices. All options and outcomes will be discussed and when unwise choices are made, we will explore the reasons and bring in external people when this is appropriate.

In certain circumstances it may be necessary to use the Mental Capacity Act to determine if the resident has the capacity to make certain decisions and we will support them through the decision-making process.

Health & Safety

Risk assessments will be reviewed monthly as part of the support plan evaluation.
There are emergency plans in place should any emergency take place and you can be assured that all staff are trained in what to do in an emergency situation.

The management team alongside the maintenance team carry out regular checks to ensure all standards of health and safety are in place, this includes services and repairs being carried out in a timely manner.

Deafway has policies and procedures in place regarding all aspects of health and safety. There is a lead officer for medication, who has responsibility for overseeing the safe management of all medication, and ensuring that all staff supporting, (where appropriate to do so), are trained and have completed required competencies. We work closely with GPs, District Nurses and Community Psychiatric Nurses, to make sure that the health and well-being of all residents is closely monitored and medication is administered correctly and reviewed when necessary.

All staff are fully trained in First Aid in case of accident or injury and treatment plans are put in place to support recovery. District nurses are available to support the Deafway team as and when required.

Standards of food hygiene are maintained in line with Food Safety and residents will be supported with maintaining these standards, when cooking and preparing meals in the kitchen areas, to ensure everyone’s safety.

There is an infection prevention policy in place which is strictly adhered to. If an infection or virus does occur, special arrangements are readily put into place to prevent it from spreading. A range of literature and BSL videos are available to keep residents and staff informed about how to manage potential outbreaks with the latest guidance.

Weekly Activities

Residents will have access to information on a wide range of topics, all available in easy read format; one-to-one support meetings with staff, and group meetings to support development and growth. Information on local groups and various courses are also available and can be accessed using BSL.

A programme of activities is circulated each week to residents who can decide what they would like to attend. They are also encouraged to make suggestions for future weeks. Activity Co Ordinator support is available to encourage residents to get involved and develop new skills and knowledge. There are themed events which most residents like to participate in and some even offer support with planning the events.
Residents will have access to a range of facilities both within the community and on site. Within Deafway there is an activity centre where residents can read and play music; play a wide variety of games; develop IT skills; play pool or video games (Play Station & Wii). There is a sensory area to relax; keep-fit equipment, access to yoga and Zumba and afterwards they can indulge in a pamper session to help them relax and feel rejuvenated.

There is an arts and crafts room where residents can enjoy a class, develop a new hobby or simply socialise. There are also opportunities to socialise with peers and other members of the Deaf community in the onsite Deaf club and/or a Deaf club within the local community.

Deafway can offer voluntary work placements for residents wanting to engage in more work-based activities. These can offer regular routine, the opportunity to develop new skills and confidence and could lead to employment opportunities.

Supporting Transition Back Into The Community

Deafway will work closely with each resident’s local Social Care Teams and other professionals involved. They will be supported in transitioning from Deafway into their own accommodation in the area of their choosing, if and when they are able. This includes supporting them with completing –

• all documentation for tenancy agreements, housing benefits etc.
• preparations for their move: – choosing furniture, soft furnishings etc.
• organising payment of bills and setting up direct debits, standing orders etc.
• shopping plans
• cleaning and organisation of the new home
• budget planning
• managing and administration of medication.
• Registering with GP, dentist etc.
• Supporting with hospital passport, skills books etc.

A monthly newsletter is circulated which contains information and updates on all projects and events residents can get involved with, both within the centre and in the community.