Welcome To The Goldcrest House Blog

Whether you’re a family member or friend of a resident, or you’re a social or healthcare professional you’ll find lots of great information and interesting stories her on the Goldcrest House blog.

We will be publishing write-ups of all the great activities our resident’s get involved in both here at the home and in the wider community. Plus, we’d like this blog to become a useful source of information for you on the topics of Autism and Learning Difficulties so we’ll be publishing news and interesting articles about them.

The blog is for the use of everyone in the Goldcrest community so if you have any thoughts or opinions about what we publish please use the comments section to tell us. We’d love to hear from you. Also if you have anything you’d like to contribute to the blog, whether it’s tips, a useful resource or just your own personal story, please contact us.

We look forward to hearing from you and hope you enjoy the blog.

The Team at Goldcrest

 


CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNISES TEAM PLAYER

Goldcrest House service user Peter Holt is recognised by his peers as “Classmate of the Year” during an end of year vote at Goole College.Goldcrest House

Having recently completed a part-time entry level Skills for Further Learning and Employment the final day saw classmates vote on who they thought deserved recognition for their contribution to the class. Peter came out on top with the most votes based on his positive attitude to learning and his fellow classmates.

Peter Holt says: “I’m very happy to receive this recognition. I saw college as a chance to further my qualifications, to gain a better job in the future, and to develop new skills and meet new friends. I’ve now achieved much of what I set out to do.”

Danielle Ripley, co-ordinator for training, quality assurance, service user reviews & clinical wellbeing says: “Our long-term care plans are ultimately about enablement. Peter wanted to go to college to further his Maths and English skills as well as make new friends, we were keen to support Peter with his decision and make it happen for him. He has flourished during his time at the Goole College and the award is very deserved.”

Developing and maintaining relationships, learning new skills, and acquiring new knowledge are all part of the Goldcrest House mission to promote normalization and inclusion.


Exercise can be fun

Exercise doesn’t have to be boring and here at Goldcrest we make sure it is loads of fun.

Exercise is fun at Goldcrest HouseExercise is fun at Goldcrest House

As part of our long-term care plans each individual is supported by a bespoke programme of development that ranges from addressing their right to vote or work, to learning and gaining a qualification, developing life skills such as managing money or going shopping, or physical health through exercise.

Exercise is fun at Goldcrest HouseWe’re all about enablement, every need is catered for and so is the need for fun. Very much looking forward to our next session at the trampoline park


COMMITMENT TO QUALITY IS A FULL TIME JOB

Goldcrest House co-ordinator for training, quality assurance, service user reviews & clinical wellbeing, Danielle Ripley develops her role to enhance the company’s service.

Commitment to quality is a full time job

Commitment to quality is a full time job

Danielle will now be responsible for developing a quality framework encompassing duties such as co-ordinating staff training, maintaining and meeting the Investors in People and Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards, service user reviews and clinical wellbeing.

The role further develops the person centred care already delivered at Goldcrest House by ensuring the correct administration and management systems and procedures are in place to support and safeguard staff and service users whilst addressing individual wants and needs.

Danielle Ripley says: “Developing my position and having the opportunity to not only develop my role but take a lead on quality is more than a job for me. To be able to maintain but strive to improve upon our service delivery is something I very much look forward to.”

Based on Boothferry Road Goldcrest House is a centre of excellence dedicated to addressing the individual needs of adults over 18 affected by Autistic Spectrum Disorder and learning difficulties. It provides residential care, supported living, long and short term respite care, day services and outreach to meet the varied needs of those who access the service 52 weeks a year; its aim is to be the UK’s quality service of choice.


Insufficient attention to the mental health and mental illness of people with autism.

It has been reported that often there is insufficient attention to the mental health and mental illness of people with autism.It has been reported that often there is insufficient attention to the mental health and mental illness of people with autism. The reality is anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias can affect any one of us regardless of being on the spectrum.

According to Mind 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. Of course there are different types of mental health problems, from depression, anxiety, to PTSD and eating disorders, each individual will manifest a mental health problem in a very unique way.

Mind report that 17 in 100 people have had suicidal thoughts, 3 in 100 have self-harmed in their lifetime. 3 to 5 people in 100 have personality disorders, 1 to 3 in every 100 have a bipolar disorder, and 1 to 3 people in every 100 have schizophrenia, it’s clear this isn’t just a spectrum issue.

The National Autistic Society state that research indicates 70 per cent of children with autism develop mental health problems, while 16-35 per cent of autistic adults have a comorbid psychiatric disorder.

Highlighted from research conducted by Mind found that 70 per cent of people with autism are at risk of suffering from depression and severe anxiety. Their consultations with over 120 people on the spectrum confirmed that though the diagnosis helps to make sense of things and understand their situation, specific support is still lacking and information already available is not easily accessible to people with autism.

Providing specialist support for adults with autism is something we are well versed in. Not only have we been aware of the need to care for mental health, quite uniquely we appointed a clinical and residential support worker to lead on the mental health and welfare of service users and staff within Goldcrest House.

Working with a consultant educational psychologist we consult with our service users to develop strategies that support their physical and mental needs and development towards normalisation and inclusion.

Mental hygiene is very important and through our on-going assessments we are able to develop behaviour strategies and support plans to minimise the likelihood of high levels of clinical care.

We are able to monitor and pick up on the issues that can become worse if not addressed amongst those in society that find it incredibly difficult to articulate how they feel.

Mind is keen to point out they are trying to promote that mental health problems faced by people with autism may not be directly linked to their diagnosis. Service providers must be aware of the implications in terms of how the person will interact with the physical environment as well as with other people.

I’d say this is true for any of us not just those on the spectrum, here at Goldcrest House we prefer to look at mental health as part of a holistic programme of person centred care and wellbeing.

The definition of wellbeing is the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy, we support this through physical, mental, social and emotional activities. Feeling happy, relaxed and supported has without a doubt resulted in less anxious and tense service users here at Goldcrest House.

Part of this process is to consider likes, dislikes, ambitions, talent, and skills through consultation and observation which allows for the development of a person-centred plan that nurtures and encourages personal development without overwhelming the individual.

It’s about small steps and gradual progression; no one is forced into a situation they don’t feel comfortable. Our service users are encouraged within the supportive structure of Goldcrest House.


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