New beginnings at Weston Villa - Consensus Support
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New beginnings
at Weston Villa...
A new manager is proving a
‘breath of fresh air’ at Weston
Villa, the flat-based residential
specialist Prader-Willi Syndrome
(PWS) service in Kettering,
Northants.
Meet Kylie Burgess
The team at Weston Villa is in the Service Manager
celebration mode – they’ve just
heard that they’ve retained their
at Weston Villa
‘good’ rating from the CQC.
The report, published in early
June, is a great outcome for the
hardworking team.
“I took the helm at Weston Villa
and next-door service, Henson “While I’ve managed supported like type 2 diabetes and massive
Court, in mid-March, two weeks living services and outreach weight gain, so the food of each
after the CQC inspection, and services, and I’ve had hands- person who we support must be
since joining the service I’ve on experience of working with carefully managed,” she explains.
been working with the team to individuals with PWS, this was a
empower them to do even greater wonderful opportunity to come in “PWS is a rare genetic disorder
things. as a new Manager and help further and often associated with
shape a specialist service.” other cognitive, emotional and
“Weston Villa is a fantastic and behavioural challenges, which can
unique service that’s focused on “I wanted to work for Consensus range from a mild to moderate
supporting people with some very because of its reputation learning disability through to
complex needs,” Kylie explains. for delivering high quality, severe mental health problems.
personalised and innovative Weston Villa has been designed
care services. It also has four to accommodate this complex
‘outstanding’-rated PWS services combination of challenges.”
and I’m keen to make Weston Villa
its fifth!” laughs Kylie. Individualised design,
superb training
What makes Weston Villa
“While Consensus services are
unique? all about giving each person
choice and control in their living
“PWS is characterised by an environment, this approach has
insatiable appetite, so individuals been adapted to the specific
have a constant desire to eat more. needs of the people we support at
Obviously, if left unchecked, Weston Villa,” Kylie says.
this can lead to health problems
www.consensussupport.com
0808 223 5320
enquiries@consensussupport.com
“We support four individuals behaviours that challenge and
who live in their own flats, but makes each person’s everyday life
there’s a communal lounge and more fulfilling.”
garden. Each person has one-to-
one support from a dedicated Supporting the team
support team and a big part
of this is support with food While that might be enough for
management and related anxieties many managers to cover in their
so that individuals can live as first few months, Kylie has gone
independently as possible but further. She explains, “Focusing
be supported to maintain their on recruitment and retention,
health and wellbeing. All food is we now have ‘new starter leads’
kept in a locked area onsite and and a buddy system to help new
at mealtimes, the support team team members settle in and gain
measures out the ingredients for the skills they need. And our two
that specific meal and delivers senior support workers are also
them to each individual at their our health and safety champions.
flat. The individual can then A new staffing model ensures that
prepare their meal on their own or each shift always has four team
with support.” members working and the right Victoria celebrates
level and combination of skills,
plus a team leader to provide reaching her
senior support. target weight
“We’re also giving team
members flexibility about their
learning pathways. They can do
apprenticeships and diplomas
as well as their care certificate.
What’s wonderful is that they’re “Consensus has some
supporting each other through
their training. It’s inspiring
incredible expertise
everyone to focus on developing in PWS – which is
their skills.”
why I wanted to
Creating positive join the team.”
outcomes
behaviours from two men in the
“Consensus has some incredible Kylie has also been focused on service due to changes in their
expertise in PWS – which is part empowering the team. She says, food management. They now
of the reason why I wanted to “They have some great ideas – decide their own recipes and cook
join the team,” says Kylie. “We’ve from enhancing the garden to their meals. Kylie has worked with
been working with Myles Kelly and taking individuals on fun trips of them to find healthier alternative
Kathryn Clarke, the Consensus their choice and discussing the ingredients and they’re now
PWS Strategic Leads, as well as things they want to achieve – proactively making healthier
Karina Carvell, a very experienced and they’ve been making these choices.
PWS trainer, who has been training happen. And we’re enabling the
the team on creating new menus. people we support to achieve “One of the people we support
With Positive Behavioural Support some fantastic outcomes.” would like a dog, but has never
skills, the team is supporting had a pet, so we’ve talked to him
individuals to learn strategies to One lady has just reached about what’s involved,” Kylie says.
distract them from thoughts of her target weight – a huge “He’s decided that he’ll start small
food and to focus on meaningful achievement – and there has been with guinea pigs. If he’s still keen,
interests and pursuits. This reduces a notable reduction in challenging we’ll look into enabling him to get
www.consensussupport.com
0808 223 5320
enquiries@consensussupport.com
a dog. He’s keen to do an animal “I have a clear vision for
welfare course at college and Weston Villa: I want us to be
volunteer at an animal shelter too.” an ‘outstanding’-rated service,”
concludes Kylie. “I want to enable
“A breath of fresh air” the people we support to achieve
their goals, to have greater control
over their menus and over their
With so many positive things
lives, so they can live as fully as
happening at Weston Villa,
possible.”
Kylie is gaining some fantastic
feedback from parents of
supported individuals and even
the Consensus CEO! “One parent
“With so many positive
called me a ‘breath of fresh air’ things happening at
which was lovely,” Kylie says
with a smile. “I’m very proud of Weston Villa, Kylie is
everything we’ve achieved over
the past few months. We’ve
gaining some fantastic
tackled challenges as a team – feedback from
working together and supporting
each other. parents of supported
individuals and even
the Consensus CEO!”
Wicksteed Park
Kettering
www.consensussupport.com
0808 223 5320
enquiries@consensussupport.com
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