Fact File
- Kingwood enables people with autism and Asperger's to live in their own homes and enjoy full and active lives in the community.
- Kingwood was established in Henley, Oxfordshire by the parents of a young man with autism and became a registered, not for profit, charity in 1994. Registered charity no: 1041924.
- We provide approximately £3.6m in services each year and are committed to discovering pioneering ways of improving life opportunities for people with autism and Asperger's.
- Kingwood employs around 130 skilled team members, most of whom work in people's homes in the areas in which we operate.
- We are proud to be accredited by Investors in People.
- All support staff are required to demonstrate they have the knowledge and skills required by Skills for Care and the Care Quality Commission in the Common Induction Standards. Staff are also supported to gain higher level qualifications such as QCF Awards, Certificates and Diplomas.
- We are a provider of specialist support services as opposed to housing services.
- Kingwood's vision is that adults with autism will be valued by and contribute to society.
- In the autumn of 2012 Kingwood will open its first purpose built full-time education facility aimed specifically at providing services for young people with autism aged between 18-25.
Frequently Asked Questions
Subject Areas
About Kingwood
About Autism & Asperger's
Kingwood Services (including Kingwood College)
Kingwood Research
Kingwood Team
Using Kingwood Services
Download this section as a pdf
About Kingwood
About Kingwood - Answers
How many people does Kingwood support? How many people have autism, how many have Asperger's?
At present we provide specialist support services to approximately 45 individuals across the areas in which we operate. Eight of the 45 people we support are diagnosed as having Asperger's, with the remaining number having a diagnosis of autism. In response to frequent requests for additional support, we plan to expand our activities on a gradual basis in order to meet this demand whilst continuing to ensure the quality of the service we deliver is maintained. Back
In which areas do they live?
Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley area. Kingwood is currently investigating opportunities to provide support to individuals and their families in adjoining counties and possibly further afield. Back
What is the age range of people Kingwood supports and the ratio of men to women?
Age varies although our clients are between 20-58, of whom approximately three quarters are men and a quarter are women. Back
Does Kingwood intend to work with younger people in the future?
Yes, this is an important area for us and we recently announced plans for Kingwood College, which is scheduled to open in the autumn 2012. Kingwood College will provide full time education and training to a small group of young people between 18 and 25. The curriculum will focus on life skills and vocational training which will equip them for paid work in a variety of occupations according to their individual wishes and abilities. The College will initially be established close to our head office in Reading and plans for similar facilities are already under consideration. More information will be available on our website soon. Back
What is your strategy?
The person we support and their family is at the heart of everything we do and this year we aim to retain our existing contracts whilst gradually increasing the number of people we support in a planned and sustainable way in order to meet the increasing demand for new and expanded services. This will be achieved through continued focus on the quality and breadth of person-centred services which deliver increased independence, improved quality of life and best possible value to budget holders and service commissioners. In the medium term the charity plans to introduce specialist services for young people and individuals with Asperger's. Kingwood aims to be the provider of choice for autism services across the areas in which it operates. Back
What is Kingwood's annual income?
In 20010/11 Kingwood's income was approximately £3.6million. Back
Where does your funding come from?
Funding comes from a number of sources including local authority and individual budgets for the provision of core services, and from grant making bodies and charitable donations for action research and innovative programmes that extend the opportunities available to people we support. To make a donation to Kingwood, please click here. To donate to our Buy a Brick appeal, raising money for Kingwood College, please click here. Back
Does Kingwood produce an annual report?
Yes we produce a report every year in July. The report presents the organisation's mission statement and aims, supplemented by a summary of the previous year's achievements, including full financial accounts. It also details the organisation's strategic and business intent for the coming year. Back
Which initiatives is Kingwood involved with at present?
Kingwood supports World Autism Awareness Day, a global initiative set up by the United Nations to create greater awareness and understanding about autism and to promote equal enjoyment of life choices and opportunities. We are also committed to on-going action research into developing new ways of supporting people with autism and Asperger's achieve their potential. Back
In Kingwood's view, what are the main challenges facing people with autism and Asperger's today?
At Kingwood we always focus on what a person can do as opposed to what they can't. In order to put this into practice society needs to recognise that people with autism and Asperger's have the same rights to lead purposeful, independent lives as anyone else, without having to deal with negative attitudes from both individuals and society as a whole. Once this happens the potential for transforming lives is considerable.
What about the challenges in their day-to-day lives?
This will vary from one person to another. Autism is a spectrum disorder which means the condition affects people in different ways. Back
What do you think will be the main impact for the people Kingwood supports of the government's strategy on autism launched earlier this year?
Initially greater awareness about autism and Asperger's, together with a better understanding of what this actually means for sufferers. The strategy is based on the recognition that people with autism and Asperger's need assistance to help them live independent lives and find employment and is being supported by an underlying change to the way public services are delivered. However in order for the strategy to be a success, commitment will be needed from everyone concerned and for the right level of resources to be provided. Unfortunately the cuts in public spending that are taking place are making it very difficult for Local Authorities and health services to fund the necessary service changes and developments. Back
What are the main steps members of the community and business can take towards helping a person with autism or Asperger's lead an independent and fulfilling life?
By treating people with the same courtesy and respect you would show towards anyone else you meet can have a tremendous effect on enabling people with autism and Asperger's to build their self confidence and help them achieve what they want for themselves in life. Simply by being a good friend, neighbour and employer who understands the anxieties faced by people with autism and Asperger's, and listens to what individuals want can help open the door towards making this happen.Back
What does Kingwood say to an employer considering employing a person with autism or Asperger's?
Go ahead and do it! People with autism and Asperger's are no different from other members of society and want to work and make a contribution to the communities in which they live. They have a wide range of skills to offer and Kingwood can provide specialist advice as to which types of roles and situations are best suited to the individual in question. Back
What are the main challenges facing Kingwood over the next 5 years?
There is general agreement that the economic situation facing the nation is serious. This will inevitably impact on the amount of money available to support services such as those provided by organisations like Kingwood. Our challenge is to consider how we can best deliver services more cost effectively whilst maintaining and extending what we do within the resources available. Kingwood is committed to ensuring the people we support can continue to lead purposeful, independent lives so it continues to be important for Kingwood to look for innovative ways of working and providing support that's affordable. It is also likely that the organisation will need to try to raise additional charitable funds to support the services the Government no longer funds. Back
If I make a donation to Kingwood, how will my money be spent?
Kingwood operates a policy of accountability and transparency. In the last financial year to 31 March 2011, monies raised have been spent on a number of key projects. Please see our Annual Report for more information about how money donated has made a difference to the lives of individuals we support. Back
What proportion of my donation will go to projects involving the individuals concerned, as opposed to administration?
In the financial year 20010/11, just under 7% of Kingwood's income was spent on administration costs. This means that approximately 93 pence in every £1 donated is used to provide services to the people we support and specific projects. Back
About Autism and Asperger's
About Autism and Asperger's - Answers
What are the causes of autism?
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen in his book Autism and Asperger Syndrome states the following: "There is no longer any doubt that autism spectrum conditions are biological in origin. The strongest evidence supports the genetic theory. Heritability of autism and Asperger's syndrome is not 100%. This means there must be some environmental component too in all likelihood interacting with the genes. We do not know what the environmental factors are. There is not yet a biological marker with which to diagnose autism spectrum conditions, but research into the biological aspects is being accelerated. Evidence points to atypical brain development pre and post-natally, particularly affecting processing of social information." Back
How does Asperger's differ from autism?
Asperger Syndrome shares two key features with autism – social communication difficulties and narrow interests and repetitive actions. However it differs in two key ways – IQ is at least average and there is no language delay (Ref: Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Simon Baron-Cohen). Take a look at the About Autism section of this website to find out more information about autism and Asperger's. Back
Why is it that men tend to have autism or Asperger's more than women?
Autism spectrum conditions are far more common in males than females. Classic autism occurs in four males for every one female, and Asperger syndrome occurs in nine males for every one female. The finding that in a general population males naturally have more autistic traits than females suggests that the number of autistic traits a person has is linked to a sex-linked biological factor – genetic or hormonal or both. (Ref: Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Simon Baron-Cohen). Again take a look at the About Autism section of our website to find out more information about autism and Asperger's. Back
Kingwood Services (including Kingwood College)
Kingwood Services - Answers
What form does the support Kingwood provides typically take?
Kingwood supports people with autism and complex needs in their own homes where out team of highly skilled, committed professionals help them develop interests and skills though which they may begin to gain self confidence, lead more independent lives and reduce their need to challenge. Back
How do services provided for Asperger's differ from those for autism?
Many of the services and interventions used are similar for people with autism and Asperger's, however they often have a different emphasis. An example of this is in relation to speech and language therapy. In autism there is inevitably language delay. Speech and language therapy aims to minimize the size of that delay. Speech and language therapists also help however with the social use of language which is of particular relevance to people with Asperger's. It is important to emphasise that Kingwood structures it's approach to the particular needs of the individual whether they have a diagnosis of autism or Asperger's. Back
What can Kingwood provide that many other providers can't?
In addition to our specialist services, Kingwood is recognised for being the organisation which asks "where is the evidence that this is the right thing to do and how can we spread good practice nationwide?" Where no evidence exists, Kingwood endeavours to undertake action research to discover what the right thing to do is. We always concentrate on the individual and not the condition they come to us with. Back
How much of a difference can working with Kingwood make to an individual?
The difference can be substantial. Working with individuals to develop skills for daily living leads to a greater degree of independence, whilst encouraging a broad range of interests helps unlock potential. The result is that individuals with autism and Asperger's can enjoy a quality of life their families previously may not have thought possible. Back
How much of your work is outreach and how much is working with individuals in their own homes?
Most of the support we give is to people in their own homes. We are happy however to provide support in the setting the person feels most comfortable with. Back
What are Kingwood's most effective strategies for supporting people with autism?
Unfortunately there is little research at present as to what interventions are most effective for adults with autism. That is why Kingwood is supporting a programme of action research to extend the knowledge base about what practices are most effective. There is however strong evidence that very structured approaches to working focused around an agreed person-centred plan are the most effective way to support a person with autism. Back
How do you assess what an individual's needs may be?
The relevant Local Authority undertakes a full assessment to determine the scale of a person's needs and how much resource should be allocated to meet those needs. Once Kingwood is asked whether it could provide the assessed support, we undertake an internal assessment to determine whether we have the right resources and skills to provide appropriate support to that person. It is also an opportunity for the person and their family to check out whether they are happy with the approach to support that Kingwood uses. Back
How do you develop your services?
Kingwood's view is that the experiences of people we support are essential to designing and delivering services, so every process and policy we create is developed in partnership with representatives of the people we support. Every person Kingwood supports has a personal support plan, developed jointly with the individual concerned. Each plan contains all the essential information that staff need to provide quality support in the way the individual wants and needs. Kingwood is committed to making information accessible, using the communication methods each person prefers. The people Kingwood supports have also helped us create a set of rules as to how they would like their support staff to be when they are at work. Back
How does Kingwood monitor an individual's progress?
There are monthly, six monthly as well as formal annual reviews of each person's plan at which there is a discussion with the person being supported and their families about any changes that may be required. The plan is then modified to take account of the suggested changes. Back
How does Kingwood ensure the quality of its services is maintained?
As well as undertaking regular internal monitoring of our services, Kingwood receives Quality Monitoring visits from the Care Quality Commission and Local Authorities. In addition, through the Looking At Us Project, individuals supported by other local care providers are trained to undertake Quality Monitoring visits to our services and we reciprocate by providing trained individuals we support to visit other services. Back
Does each person have an individual support worker allocated to them?
Each person we support has a key worker responsible for their overall care and support. However particularly if we provide a full 24 hour service seven days a week there will be a team of people who provide support. Back
What is the main role of each support worker?
The main role of a support worker is to work alongside people we support to enable individuals to participate in society through a lifestyle based on personal choice and to work in a way that is respectful to them and to place their needs at the centre of all work undertaken. This means working creatively and appropriately with individuals, continually encouraging them to seek opportunities that are of interest to them, and to support individuals in achieving the goals they have set for themselves. This also means that the support worker has to support individuals to exercise their rights and responsibilities and to make their own choices. Back
What activities are available for the people Kingwood supports?
Again this depends on individual choice. Current activities include horticulture, fishing, swimming, horse riding, drama and video production to name a few. We cover a wide range of sports, hobby-related, education, volunteering, training, work and living experience interests and always do our utmost to ensure an individual is able to enjoy what interests and matters to them most.
Recently some of the people we support have enjoyed participating in a pilot programme that's being run in association with Dogs for the Disabled. Having first been properly introduced to a specially trained dog, individuals not only gain additional confidence when leaving their home, they also discover an incentive and motivation to go out and try something new.
As active members of the community, Kingwood encourages the people we support to find voluntary or paid employment in a role that's right for them. Back
Do you provide 24 hour service where necessary?
Yes, full and part-time support is provided as required. Please contact us to discuss the services you may need as a Commissioner or as a family. Back
Does Kingwood provide residential care for short breaks?
No, Kingwood does not provide residential care for short breaks, although we would be happy to direct people to where and who they should approach to find such support. Back
What is Kingwood College?
Kingwood College, Reading will open its doors to our first students in autumn 2012 when it will provide education and training services for a small group of young people aged between 18-25. The model for Kingwood College is transferable to other locations and will be adapted as a blue print for similar establishments elsewhere. At present ;we already have plans to open a further college in Oxford in 2013. For more information about Kingwood College, please click here. Back
What will the curriculum cover?
As with everything Kingwood does, the curriculum will be tailored specifically to suit the wishes and abilities of each individual and support them to achieve their full potential. The emphasis will be on developing a range of skills and interests which assist students to achieve greater independence and participate in paid employment. Back
How many students can attend Kingwood College?
Kingwood College, Reading will provide placements for five students when the College will operate as a campus style environment with private, communal and outdoor facilities. Back
Can my son/daughter attend the College?
If you wish your son or daughter to attend the College, please contact Sue Osborn, Chief Executive on telephone number 0118 931 0143. Arrangements will then be made for a senior staff member to undertake an assessment to ensure that the College can provide appropriate support for your son or daughters' needs. Back
What will Kingwood College cost?
Housing and basic care costs will be met by Local Authorities and the education costs by the Young Persons Learning Allowance. Back
Who can I contact about Kingwood College?
Please contact Sue Osborn at Kingwood headquarters should you wish to discuss admission to the College.
If you wish to support Kingwood in its fundraising activity, please contact Keith Hasted or Lauraine Jones. The telephone number for contacting Kingwood headquarters staff is
0118 931 0143. Back
Can I make a donation to help build Kingwood College?
Yes, your contribution will be gratefully received. Plans for Kingwood College, Reading are well underway but it's vital for us to raise £892,000 to cover the capital costs for design and construction. If you would like to make a donation, please click here. Read more about the campaign on our facebook. Back
What is Buy a Brick?
Buy a Brick is our on-line fundraising campaign to raise £892,000 to cover the capital costs of building Kingwood College. Every £1 donated to buy a brick will enable us to provide the facilities to prepare students with autism for adult life. Please visit our facebook and website pages to find out more. Back
I'm interested in talking to Kingwood about providing services for a member of my family but notice you don't yet operate in the area in which we live. Can you still help?
Kingwood plans to grow in a slow and measured way in the coming years. Please contact us and we will discuss with you whether we can offer a service to your family member.
Kingwood Research
Kingwood Research - Answers
What do you mean by 'action research'?
Action research is a process by which strategies, practice and knowledge of the areas in which we practice our work are investigated with the purpose of developing new and better ways of doing things. Back
What is the Kingwood lecture series and when do lectures take place?
Since 2009 Kingwood has organized a series of lectures concerning research and practice, delivered by some of the UK's leading researchers and practitioners in the field of autism. They are intended for families, professionals and service commissioners and interested members of the general public. Everyone is welcome to attend and entry is free. Please refer to the Events section of our website for details of our next event or call Lauraine Jones on 0118 931 0143.Back
Do you think sufficient research is carried out into autism?
No, unfortunately more work still needs to be done if we are to discover better ways to support people with autism to achieve what they want from their lives. Where no evidence exists, Kingwood endeavours to undertake research to discover what's right. Kingwood supports Autistica, a sister charity to increase the amount of money allocated to research into autism and Asperger's. Back
What are your current research priorities and where can I obtain a copy of your research papers?
The research programme is focusing primarily on two key areas – providing an evidence base for the design of homes for people with autism and the development of interventions in community settings for adults with autism which will allow them to live more fulfilled and purposeful lives. Copies of research papers can be downloaded from the Our Research section of this website and can also be obtained by contacting Lauraine Jones at our office in Reading. Tel: 0118 931 0143. Back
Kingwood - Our Team
Kingwood - Our Team - Answers
What are the entry qualifications for a member of your team?
We encourage people from a broad range of backgrounds and work experiences to apply to join the organisation. What is most important is that we recruit people who have an understanding of disabilities and the right kind of values. Having recruited someone we have an extensive training programme to ensure newly appointed staff have the right skills to provide the required support. The training, where possible, is undertaken with input from the people we support. Back
What training do Kingwood support workers receive on autism?
Training starts with a comprehensive induction programme on autism which continues throughout a support worker's career. The programmes focus on autism specific issues as well as areas such as epilepsy and diabetes. Until December 2010 all support staff were required to gain the nationally accredited Learning Disabilities Induction Award. From 2011 new support staff are required to demonstrate they have the knowledge and skills required by Skills for Care and the Care Quality Commission in the refreshed eight Common Induction Standards. Staff are also supported to gain higher level qualifications such as QCF Awards, Certificates and Diplomas which have superceded the National Vocational Qualifications. Back
How does Kingwood monitor team performance?
All support staff are reviewed on a monthly basis. We also hold regular meetings for the people we support and their families to come together and present us with feedback on our performance. Back
What languages can the Kingwood team speak?
Kingwood employs staff who speak a wide range of languages. However if English is not the first language of one of the people we support, we work with their family and key professionals to develop a plan that will make communication effective and easier. Back
Would you like to join the Kingwood team? Please apply here.
Kingwood - Using our services
Kingwood - Using our services - Answers
What does Kingwood think is the most important question for a family to ask when selecting a support service?
Can this organisation meet the very specific and special needs of my family member? Back
What is Kingwood's overall philosophy and how does this manifest itself in your daily work?
We believe that people with autism and Asperger's can develop, make choices and be valued, active and contributing members of the community. We also believe the people we support are entitled to a personal service in everything we assist them with. This starts with the creation of a personal development plan (developed jointly with the individual concerned) and continues through every step they take towards increased independence and improved quality of life, hopefully leading to paid employment. It's the people we support who make the decisions and we support them with what they want to achieve. Back
What does Kingwood think is the most important step towards independent living?
Believing that everyone, however profound their disability, can live a purposeful and fulfilled life, including undertaking paid employment. Back
What is Kingwood's most important consideration when meeting an individual for the first time?
We always consider the individual first and not the diagnosis they come to us with. We then work with an individual and their family to develop a person-centred plan which focuses on their aspirations and preferences. It's all about the people we support and tailoring our services to meet their needs. Back
Do you work in association with other organisations?
Kingwood works very closely with service Commissioners, such as County Councils. It also works with colleague providers to share services if this is in the interests of the people we support. We have also built up strong relationships with many community services organisations to ensure that the people we support have easy and ready access to services and facilities. Back
How do you keep families up-to-date about an individual's progress?
There's a number of ways this happens, including regular meetings for the people we support and their families to present us with feedback on our performance. There are at least 3 formal meetings with families as a group every year, and a survey is circulated to all families once a year. However we are always mindful that these processes must not impinge on the rights of the people we support. Back
How do you work with local authorities?
Local Authorities are responsible for assessing a person's needs and then putting in place the processes by which a service is provided. This is usually done by offering a contract to a service provider such as Kingwood. Having contracted with a provider to deliver the required services, Local Authorities then undertake a number of review processes to both ensure the service purchased continues to meet that person's needs and that it is being delivered to the right quality. Back
In what ways can technology help in providing assistance to the people you are supporting?
The use of new technologies, such as door alarms and communication aids allow Kingwood to both reduce costs and improve service quality. The new generation of hand-held computers also offers an opportunity to both streamline the necessary administrative systems and to allow communication aids to be available for the people we support in all settings. Back
In what ways does the service you provide represent good value for money for both individuals and families and local authorities?
Kingwood is a specialist provider and employs skilled staff that can best meet the needs of the people it supports. Kingwood staff collectively attended almost 900 days of training in 20010/11 to ensure that appropriate new skills were learnt and existing skill levels were maintained. We held three staff conferences which were attended by all permanent staff and staff from our Bank of relief staff. Providing a specialist service costs more, however Kingwood is always looking for ways to reduce costs without reducing the quality of services provided through, for example, more effective head office systems and the use of new technologies where appropriate as described above. Back
Is there anything Kingwood is unable to do when supporting an individual?
Kingwood develops plans that are centred around the people we support and their wishes and desires. However should the person or their family wish us to support them with a practice which has not been proven to be in the best interest of the person being supported, or would result in an unacceptably high level of risk, we would discuss this with the people concerned and hopefully agreement could be reached on a mutually acceptable way forward. Kingwood does however reserve the right to refuse to undertake practices which it believes are not appropriate or in the person's best interests, or present an unacceptably high level of risk. Back
Who makes the final decision as to whether Kingwood's services are employed?
The Commissioner of services makes the decision about whether a contract is entered into with Kingwood. The Commissioner of services can either be the Local Authority or the family if they have taken on responsibility for the budget. All the Local Authorities we work with involve the family in the decision making process about who should provide services to their family member. Back
How do you go about working with Kingwood?
Please contact us at the details provided below when we look forward to talking to you. Kindly be aware that Kingwood is a provider of support services rather than of housing services. Back
