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We are happy to have initial enquiries
* from service commissioners
(generally local authority social services commissioning managers or care managers)
* from families or
* from individuals.
We can respond to these best if they
come to -
Tel 0118 931 0143 fax 0118 931 1937
2 Chalfont Court, Chalfont Way, Lower Earley, Reading, Berks RG6 5SY
E-Mail: lisa.storey@kingwood.org.uk
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It
is important at this stage for
us to provide some background information
about the Trust’s work for
people with autism and learning disabilities.
This can clarify if we may be the
right
kind of service provider to meet
the individual need. You are more
than welcome
at this stage to give us a call on
0118 931 0143 for an informal talk.
We should explain that we are a provider
of support services rather than of
housing services. Our experience is
based in working very successfully
alongside housing providers (often
housing associations) to support people
in their own independent home in the
community. We are not however in the
best position to undertake to find
and finance this housing.
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If the commissioner, family or individual
feel they would like to go further, our
experience shows that we need together
to find out two things -
* What broadly is the support need?
* Is funding available for the support service we could provide?
The
best format to achieve this is a
meeting involving the family
members,
the individual if he or she wishes,
the individual’s identified care
manager or service commissioner, and
the Kingwood Trust. In preparation
for the meeting any existing community
care assessment and a "pen portrait" of
the individual will help the Trust
to more quickly assess how it may
be able to help.
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At
this meeting it may be decided –
*
That the Trust may be able to put
together a service to meet the
individual’s
needs and that there is scope to
fund such a service. Normally
this would
be need to be followed by a more
detailed assessment of these
needs. or
* That the Trust is not the best fit with the support needs of the individual
or
* That funding is unlikely to be available for such support as the Trust might
be able to provide
We feel strongly that this view should
be taken as promptly as possible, to
avoid a situation in which families
and individuals are left in a period
of uncertainty.
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If the first applies the Trust can
then arrange to do a more detailed assessment,
working with the individual, family,
care manager and any health professionals
whose advice and knowledge of the individual
may be important. This should enable
an agreement between the care manager,
family and the Trust on the level of
support needed.
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The Trust can then provide expected
costs for the support service.
The commissioning manager and/or the
family can then take a firm decision
as to whether the Kingwood Trust is
their chosen support provider
A
support service agreement will be
drawn up – generally this
will be between the Trust and
the local
funding authority. If direct
payments are involved it may be between
the
individual/family and the Trust
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After formal agreement on the support
service the Trust will arrange a transition
plan which will introduce the support
service and may involve the Trust in
supporting the individual in a move into
new housing. The support service then
starts!
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