Service Users' Guide
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Life beyond sight loss Blind Veterans UK since 1915 Service Users’ Guide Summary of Purpose Blind Veterans UK is a registered charity established in 1915 to offer assistance to ex-Service personnel with a visual impairment. The name and registered address of the charity is Blind Veterans UK, 12-14 Harcourt Street, London, W1H 4HD. The care services are provided at our Centre at Greenways, Ovingdean, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 7BS and also at our new center in Llandudno. The Charity also has a training centre in Sheffield The Brighton Centre is currently the only care home that is owned by the Charity that caters for permanent residents, however, Llandudno offers respite care services. The Centre was originally opened in 1938 as a training and rehabilitation unit and a holiday hotel for Members. Over the years it has evolved to include long term and respite nursing and residential care. Admission to a permanent nursing home placement at the Brighton Centre follows a set process. Members may apply for a permanent care placement, but applications must be made via their welfare officer and each application is assessed and considered on an individual needs basis by the Admissions Panel. Our Aim The aim of the Charity is to encourage and assist its members to overcome their impairment and maintain the quality of life that they so richly deserve. To meet this aim, the Charity provides: • rehabilitation and training in employment and independent living skills • assistance towards the provision of welfare, medical and housing support to Members, their families and widows or widowers • a nursing and residential care home and training centre at Brighton and Llandudno • a training centre at Sheffield The aim of the Centre is to provide quality nursing and social care based on assessed need in order that residents may live as independently, actively and normally as possible, taking account of their wishes and capabilities. This is achieved through the provision of residential care in a spacious, caring environment; high quality nursing care; expert therapy services; a wide range of activities and well- trained and motivated staff. Blind Veterans UK focuses on seven basic concepts for the provision of quality care: privacy, dignity, independence, security, civil rights, choice and fulfilment. 1 of 8 www.blindveterans.org.uk Life beyond sight loss Blind Veterans UK since 1915 Service Users’ Guide Admission to Brighton Enquiries about accommodation and services are initially made through Blind Veterans UK Welfare Officers. Blind Veterans UK does not accept emergency admissions to Brighton. However, if a member needs to be admitted urgently their Welfare Officer will liaise with us directly as to whether or not we are able to accommodate the member on that occasion. Blind Veterans UK Welfare Officers provide information on all aspects of the Centre. This information is produced in all formats necessary for the visually impaired i.e. audio, Braille and large print. The Welfare Officer will carry out an assessment of the applicant’s needs and liaise with the Welfare Committee and Social Services to seek funding if required. Each application is given careful consideration. A place is offered depending on vacancies. A waiting list system is utilised. Accommodation Blind Veterans UK, Brighton is a registered care home and aims to provide high standard accommodation and care in single rooms for up to 18 nursing care patients and 29 social care patients, although the home is registered to accommodate 38 nursing residents and 37 social care residents. The accommodation complies with the national minimum standards enforced on 1 st April 2002. Permanent accommodation is not offered to married couples unless they are both Members and both have care needs. All rooms are equipped with en-suite facilities and telephones. In addition there are two assisted baths and one assisted shower for every eight nursing residents. We also have two Day rooms on Nursing, a total of 4 Bullnose seating areas, a games room, the Blue Room, Green Room, Main Dining Room and 2 Serveries, a large Lounge and Bar area, a Ballroom, Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, Craft Workshop, Wintergarden Room, all of which are wheelchair accessible. Anyone who is a ‘Member for more than 3 years aged over 18 years, who because of physical incapacities requires help with daily living, is entitled to apply for a place at Brighton. Residents who are mentally infirm or with major psychiatric disorders cannot be admitted as their needs are beyond the scope of our nursing capabilities. Assistance for seeking funding for placement in alternative accommodation can be provided. 2 of 8 www.blindveterans.org.uk Life beyond sight loss Blind Veterans UK since 1915 Service Users’ Guide About the Staff The Manager of the Centre is Lesley Garven, a qualified Social Worker who has a number of years experience in the field of sensory impairment. The Deputy Manager and registered Care Manager is Jacqueline Greer, a Registered Nurse with an MSc in clinical studies and management from Brighton University and a certificate in residential management from Queen’s University Belfast, she has been managing care homes since 1990. Brighton employs 12 whole-time equivalent Registered General Nurses (RGN) and 57 whole time equivalent Care Assistants. Staff are on duty 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Blind Veterans UK is committed to staff development with all care staff undergoing National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) Level 2 in Healthcare, and many other additional training courses are also offered. Caring for Members On admission to Brighton an individually agreed Plan of Care is prepared in conjunction with the resident. This provides the basis on which the care service at Brighton is delivered. Each person’s plan includes: • a description of their preferred daily routine • likes and dislikes in relation to food and any specific dietary requirements • how individuals would like to be addressed • what dignity, respect and privacy means to them in terms of daily behaviour and actions • social interests and activities, including arrangements to attend religious services • contact with relatives, friends and representatives This Care Plan also contains risk assessments and any additional risk management plans required. It includes details of health care needs, medications, GP and community nursing, or other therapeutic services provided or commissioned by the resident. On the social care floors each resident is allocated a member of the care staff to act as a key worker. On the nursing care floors the Senior Staff Nurse is the key worker responsible for the patients. Key workers are responsible for monitoring, reviewing and co-ordinating the service plans for each of their residents. Their duties include preparing residents’ care plans and gathering information for their reviews which are held six monthly or more often if needed. Key workers are regularly supervised by their team leader/supervisor or 3 of 8 www.blindveterans.org.uk Life beyond sight loss Blind Veterans UK since 1915 Service Users’ Guide manager, who shares responsibilities for the resident’s reviews and for communicating with outside professionals involved with the resident’s care. An individual’s daily care programme is organized in response to the individual’s needs, always mindful of the needs of the other residents. Flexible Services Whilst meals are served between set hours, our flexibility means residents can arrange to have their meals either in the Nursing Floor serveries, or in the main dining room. If a resident is unwell arrangements can be made for meals to be served in his or her room. However, all residents are encouraged to socially interact and mix with others in the main dining areas. Vegetarian and special dietary requirements are catered for. There is a total ban on smoking within the building at Greenways, Ovingdean and the two off-site properties (Port Hall and Beacon Hill); also in the area immediately at the front of the building and entrance area, and when travelling in Blind Veterans UK vehicles. Visiting Members and permanent residents may smoke on the 2 nd floor balcony, in the inner garden, or outside in the grounds only. Port Hall & Beacon Hill – Visiting Members may smoke in the garden at both properties and the entrance porch at Port Hall. Smoking is not allowed in the Summer House. Brighton offers a varied activity programme and has a fleet of transport. There are routine buses that run up to three times a day to local areas that residents can use at their convenience. We also organise trips and daily activities. An activities list is circulated monthly. The cost of most trips is included in the fee. A ‘talking sign’ is sited outside the main lounge, which gives the weekly programme in audible form. Blind Veterans UK achieved the Investing in Volunteers award in October 2007. Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for all organisations which involve volunteers in their work. Our volunteers are on hand to sit and talk or read to our Members, or act as escorts on trips and activities. Our facilities There is an in-house gymnasium, swimming pool and craft workshop, which are open between the hours of 9.30am-4.00pm Monday to Friday. 4 of 8 www.blindveterans.org.uk Life beyond sight loss Blind Veterans UK since 1915 Service Users’ Guide A varied supply of talking books can be borrowed. Talking book machines are loaned to residents for use in their rooms. The services of a Chiropodist, Physiotherapist, Ophthalmic Consultant and Dentist are also provided for residents as required. A GP from a local practice visits twice weekly. Patients can retain their own GP by agreement. There is an in-house bar available to all residents, open between the hours of 1100- 1245 and 19.00-22.00 Monday to Saturday and 1200-1245 and 1900-2200 on Sunday.