Learning Disabilities Services
Milestones Trust provides a range of learning disability services that include residential and nursing care options, specialist provision (behaviours that challenge, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, transitional services), supported living, short breaks (respite) and day care services, all delivered through Person-Centred care plans. We currently provide care to over 400 people in the Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire areas.
We accept out of County placements and currently provide services to people funded by Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Swindon and Wiltshire.
We encourage service users to be facilitators, interviewers, planners and decision makers, helping us to shape future services and make necessary changes to existing ones. We focus on self-empowerment and aim for equality and inclusion.
With a strong commitment to staff development and team work we aim to continually seek to improve and be responsive to the changing needs and wishes of the people we support, enabling people with learning disabilities to turn their life choices into reality.
All our managers, co-ordinators and support staff are experienced and receive further development training and are supported in their continuing professional development.
Some of our homes are owned by Spectrum Housing Group who we work in partnership with.
Residential Care and Nursing Homes
Milestones Trust provides residential care services for people with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire areas. All of the homes are well established within the local communities.
Most referrals are made via Social Services departments, some people are referred by their friends or family. All homes are registered and inspected by CSCI and comply with The Care Standards Act 2000.
The purpose of these homes is to provide an environment and support that best meets the needs of the person. Each home emphasises individuality and promotes involvement from people who live there, where they can be themselves and build a life as part of the community.
Our Nursing Homes have a Registered Nurse on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and our staff have specialist training in Autism, managing behaviours that challenge and medical conditions such as Epilepsy, Diabetes and PEG feeding.
All the staff teams embrace the Person-Centred approach to care and involve residents on the day to day running of the homes and work with individuals to develop and pursue their own personal choices and goals.
The long term commitment, experience and skills provided by the Trust are highly valued by the people who use the service enabling them to make choices and decisions to turn their life choices into reality.
Individual home brochures are available that describe the qualities and services of each home.
For information on those homes where there are vacancies for learning disability service users please click here or contact Louise Chambers, Area Manager on 0117 970 9332 or e-mail LouiseC@milestonestrust.org.uk.
If you are interested in staff vacancies at our homes please see the Work for Us page or contact our HR Department on 0117 9709355.
Supported Living
"Supported Living is about enabling people with learning disabilities to live in their own homes through opening up a wider range of housing options along with the provision of individualised personal assistance". Ken Simons
The Trust has a long history of supporting people in a way that makes sense to the individual. Over the years we have supported scores of people, some only needing a few hours of help to those requiring round the clock support.
Our supported living team work with local housing associations, private landlords and social services departments to secure packages of support that meet the persons needs. Funding can be achieved from a number of funding sources e.g. Supporting People, Independent Living Fund, Social Services and private funding.
What sets us apart?
- Years of experience working with a wide range of people.
- a Commitment to Person-Centred Planning. We employ a Person-Centred Planning Coordinator across Aspects services.
- Good relationships with stakeholders, family and carers.
- Unique and creative support packages to help people achieve their dreams. See Larry's Story on the Latest News page, read about Larry's success in "Get me to fair good Erin" or watch an overview of the full length film made about Larry's move here.
- A dedicated and enthusiastic Supported Living Team who "go the extra mile".
- Our Supported Living Team have a proven track record of helping individuals forge and maintain their own supportive social networks.
| To find out more please contact: |
Linda Phelps 0117 958 9925 |
Learning Disabilities Respite Services (Short Breaks)
For adults with learning disabilities our respite or short breaks facilities can provide a chance to have a break from their carer or family environment, for a holiday and a new experience.
The service provides overnight stays and support away from home, enabling people to maintain their own way of life. Our short breaks help promote independence.
For a more detailed description of our respite homes please click on the links below. If you wish to book or find out about availability of a respite stay please click here or contact Sheila Jolly on 0117 970 9300 for more information.
Learning Disabilities Success Stories
We will continue to develop new services and innovative approaches to the work we do. The following stories illustrate the many and varied ways in which our specialist learning disability services are developing, and truly do embody, the values of independence, well being and choice.
Just click on the titles to read the stories.
2007
Get
Me to Fair Good Erin - Larry's Life in Ireland
Jamie
Makes his Mark
Mayo
House success for Jonathan
Steven's
Job Well Done
Video Stories
Kate's
Continued Independence
Larry
O'Brien's Journey - Walking in Rhythm with Me
2006
A
Whole New Life and New Experience
Life
is Good for Me Right Now
Robert
and Maxine's Activity Weekend
World's
Biggest Coffee Morning
Please also see our Annual Review section and click on the pdf links to read.
Current Projects
Milestones Trust regularly consults with colleagues, commissioners, staff and clients in order to develop new areas or schemes to help motivate, stimulate and encourage staff to help clients to regain self confidence, gain skills and become active members of the community. Our current projects are:
Quality Network
The Quality Network is a joint National Development Team/British Institute of Learning Disabilities project which worked with the Trust to help carry out a ‘guided self review’ at the beginning of 2006 looking at what life is actually like for people who use the service. The Trust wanted to assess whether our efforts to move toward more person-centred ways of working had been successful. Were people having real choice in their day to day lives and being supported to build community links and real relationships?
Our Quality coaches Anne O’Bryan and Bill Heron took us through the three month review process following which we had a presentation to thank everyone who took part, met with our stakeholders to share our findings and issued a public statement.
The review highlighted all the things that the Trust was doing well, as well as showing us the areas we need to work on. Our priorities over the next year are to help service users to broaden opportunities to be included in “my community” and achieve more decision making opportunities, “particularly about who I live with”.
Inspirational Speakers
We all need the inspiration that comes from fresh ideas from time to time. In the past year, the Trust held two ‘inspirational’ conferences for our staff, each presented by respected consultants from the USA.
David Pitonyak's practice is based upon the simple idea that difficult behaviours result from unmet needs. David used story-telling, audience participation and comedy, to help us to explore the difficulties people experience when suffering from ‘loneliness’. He focused especially on people with learning difficulties and how their life stories often get forgotten. However, David was able to get us all thinking about our own families, the time we give to them and to ourselves. At times there was a lot of laughter and then David would hit home on a point and bring us close to tears.
Lynne Seagle from Hope House Foundation joined us for the day in February 2006. Lynne is one of the leading consultants in Organizational Development and Supported Living Services and consults widely throughout the US, UK and Asia. Lynne focused on the art and challenge of leadership. It was an inspiring day and one which many people said was thought provoking and motivating. It was great to hear of her experience and staff took away many useful techniques and approaches to use back in the work place.
The Meeting Place
The Meeting Place was set up by service users for service users and meets on a regular basis so that everyone can get together for coffee, discussion, games and general social gatherings. A committee of service users run and manage funds gathered and debate future events.