Our Adults

ISIMUL Group Ltd provides services for adults with learning disabilities and associated diagnoses such as challenging behaviours, communication difficulties and complex needs. All of our residential care homes are registered with the Care Quality Commission and are regulated under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. We also supply 24-hour support and management services via our registered domiciliary care agency – An Darach Care.

Continuity and Consistency of Care

Kisimul School has provided quality care, support and education to young people for over 40 years. We pride ourselves on our ability to consistently demonstrate success in our positive approach to challenges that face the individuals that use our services. In the continued development of our services we ensure the requirements for the provision of services to people with a learning disability and/or autism are in accordance with “Registering the Right Support” and “Building the Right Support”.

Kisimul Group is working alongside the Transforming Care initiative in offering services that will enable people with a learning disability and challenging behaviour to live in whilst receiving 24-hour care and support within local communities without the need for hospital admissions.

As a provider we recognise that there is continued need to drive forward in developing new opportunities as too many people remain in hospital services despite the Winterbourne view case and the Transforming Care agenda. People with learning disabilities have the same intrinsic rights to live where they choose, receive health support in their local community and get treatment as and when they need it.

Introduction

Kisimul Group is a company that provides both education and care for children up to the age of 19, along with registered residential care and supported living services for adults aged 18 – 65. We provide services to both males and females with a diagnosis of learning difficulties and challenging behaviour. Our principal aim is to provide education and support in identified services that best meet the need of individuals within the community in which adults can be assisted to reach their full potential and to live as rich and rewarding a life as possible. We offer placements in our services for as long as is required within the parameters of our registration and as such people are supported to build their lives in confidence where continued need of funding is recognised and agreed.

Our regulated activities as defined by the Health and Social Care Act 2008 are Accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care and for our Domiciliary care service is Personal Care.

Kisimul Group has a number of high level objectives which remain constant and which form the essential elements of its principal aim. These objectives are to:

• Provide our adults with a relaxed, friendly and safe environment at all times, where they will feel valued and secure.
• Develop the our adults’ social skills and relationships both within their home and within the wider community.
• Increase and maintain our adults’ independence skills.
• Provide the help and support which will enable our adults to make informed choices and realise their full potential within the context of their individual plans of care.
• Ensure that our adults individual needs are always met and that their care plans are developed or adapted to quickly meet changing needs.
• At all times provide the best carers possible who are highly trained, motivated and committed to our adults.

Kisimul Group

The original Kisimul School was established in The Old Vicarage in Swinderby, in 1977. Pronounced “kishmul”, the name comes from Kisimul Castle which overlooks one of the safest harbours in the British Isles. Like their namesake, Kisimul School is a safe haven, providing care and protection for their pupils whilst preparing them for the journey ahead. The original school building still accommodates many of the children of our Lower School.

Kisimul Group went on to develop further schools in Lincolnshire, Surrey and Shrewsbury.

A need was identified to provide care on a longer term basis for our young school leavers and in response to that need Kisimul Group expanded their services to provide care and residential accommodation for service users aged 18-65. We are now in a position to offer a high-quality, tailor-made service for individual school leavers or for groups of school friends to share a home.

We currently have nineteen residential adult homes in the communities of North Scarle, Heckington, Gainsborough, Washingborough, Faldingworth, South Hykeham, Hayton, Croydon, Tadworth, Epsom and Glinton in Peterborough offering a total of over 140 residential placements. The company has plans to further increase provision due to the large demand for these services.

In 2004, we opened An Darach Care, our own domiciliary care agency. Currently we have services providing an exceptional level of care and support in specially designed individual properties in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. We have 39 available tenancies across the identified geographical areas. People living in these properties own their own tenancy and we provide personal care support.

Our domiciliary care agency An Darach Care provides services to service user band 18-65 years old.

The registered office for our An Darach Care domiciliary care agency is located at:

The Old Vicarage
61 High Street
Swinderby
Lincolnshire
LN6 9LU

The close relationship between the Adult provision and Kisimul School means that our adults will always have access to the resources available within a larger organisation. Kisimul Group Ltd is a nationally recognised centre for ASDAN and offers ASDAN ‘Toward Independence’ modules having gained Validated Centre Status in October 1999. Our individual homes have recently become accredited centres for ASDAN, and the residents will be working towards the ‘Personal Progress’ modules.

High quality of staff training is an essential aspect in providing the quality care which we set out to achieve from day one.

The Kisimul standard means:

• Respect for individual needs
• Caring for and supporting each other
• Qualified and experienced staff
• First-class living accommodation
• A relaxed, homely atmosphere
• Family-style group living
• Effective language programmes and therapies
• A comprehensive service provision – from school to adulthood

The Kisimul Group Philosophy of Care

These are the basic criteria that Kisimul Group encompasses. We work on the principle that …People with Learning Disabilities have the same intrinsic rights as anyone else in society and therefore have the right to develop and make informed choices about their lives…. In line with this residents are encouraged to integrate within the community and are supported to reach their full potential. Within this is the need to have underlying principles and guidelines but also to recognise that our adults must be allowed to develop themselves with the necessary support and help of the care team.

Mission Statement

It is the mission of Kisimul Group to have an embedded provision culture that promotes proactive and positive behaviour support.

It is our pledge and ethos to deliver the least restrictive practice which underpins our values of reducing and preventing the need for restrictive interventions for the people we support.

Positive Behaviour Support Approach

Kisimul Group’s key aim is to deliver Positive Behaviour Support throughout our entire adult provision by way of understanding behaviours that concern or challenge families, staff and services.

This is achieved by understanding the message that a behaviour presents, enabling us in the recognised adjustment of the environment, our responses to the behaviour and by teaching new skills to give people better ways to access the things they need.

We firmly believe that the right conditions need to be created, maintained and promoted so that people can achieve the quality of life that they both want and have the right to.

Positive Behaviour Support drives our culture and ethos, supporting people proactively to meet their needs and promoting individual person centred care. Kisimul Group believe that each person has the right to achieve and we look to provide the people we support with a platform to engage in meaningful activities and lifestyle choices to enhance their quality of life and wellbeing.

Within the care field a recognised set of accomplishments is often referred to – “O’Brien’s Accomplishments”. Kisimul Group endeavours to achieve these whilst ensuring that our adults lead a happy and fulfilling life…

Community Presence – The right to be within the community and take part in all it has to offer. Using the same facilities as all other members of the community both in ‘work’ and when at leisure.

Relationships – To have relationships with a range of people – living in a house in the community isn’t enough. Our adults need to be encouraged to mix with everyone – with disabilities and without, from neighbours and friends to shopkeepers and other service givers.

Choice – An important feature of everyday life is to be able to make choices, however small. Our adults are encouraged and helped to decide what to wear, eat, etc., whatever their personal level of ability.

Competence – Help and encouragement is given to all so that they may develop skills and the competence to perform useful and meaningful activities, thus leading to greater choice and independence.

Respect – Everybody has the right to be treated with dignity and respect and to be valued in their own right.

Privacy – Everybody has the right to privacy and have their individual rights to privacy respected and adhered to. Privacy will be maintained through bedroom and bathroom doors being shut as appropriate, and all windows have blinds or curtains in place to maintain dignity and privacy. All staff will act in line with the personal and intimate care policy and procedure.

Kisimul Group constantly monitors the quality of the service offered to our adults so that we can reach, maintain and improve upon the standards laid down by regulatory authorities and to ensure that they are provided with the opportunity to lead as independent a lifestyle as possible.

Accommodation

Places are available for adults of either sex. The majority of our bedrooms have been provided with ensuite facilities, or an adjacent bathroom. Bedrooms are provided on both ground and upper floor levels in the individual homes. The ground floor of our properties usually consists of a kitchen, dining room, various living rooms, laundry facilities, a staff room and an administration office.

Our houses are traditionally brick built buildings with all the facilities necessary for independent living. All areas of our houses are centrally heated and double glazed. The houses provide parking facilities and good size gardens, usually with a patio and barbecue area. The size of the outside space varies with each individual property.

Delivery of Service

Referrals to Kisimul Group are normally made via the local Social Services or Health Department accountable for the referred person’s welfare.

The principal criteria before Kisimul Group can consider a referral are that the referred person has a learning disability and/or communication problem and/or autism, and also has some form of challenging behaviour. A Care Needs Assessment will then take place to ensure that Kisimul Group is the most suitable agency for the person’s needs. On acceptance a contract will be drawn up between the placement authority and Kisimul Group.

Kisimul Group does not provide nursing care facilities and is not intended to provide facilities for sensory impairment or profound physical disabilities such as paraplegia. Staff undertake training in Makaton sign language and the PECS communication system, which can each be offered to clients with limited or no vocal communication skills. Normally, those clients would be pre-schooled in some form of signing skills, however, specialised therapy can be provided and this is agreed at pre-contract stage.

Kisimul Group has access to speech and language therapists and aroma therapists.

We are unable to accept any emergency care arrangements.

Raising a Complaint or Concern

As a group providing care services we endeavour to provide the best possible package of care at all times for every individual within our homes. However we do recognise that there may be times when those individuals or their family, carers or care managers may wish to complain about the service we are providing or tell us about an issue or concern they have. We fully promote an individual’s right to complain and react quickly and effectively to any complaint. This ensures we are continually improving our service as well as the care we provide to any individual.

As well as accepting complaints to the service via our complaints procedure, concerns can be raised via the Care Quality Commission. We also promote the use of advocacy services in order to ensure individuals in our care services are heard and are properly represented.

Individual Day Activity Plan

Kisimul Group homes are not large units and are not designed to be. The principal advantage behind living in a home in the community has to be the normality of the situation.

Our residents participate as fully as possible in the day-to-day running of their home. With the help of residential support workers they are expected to adhere to a budget, shop, cook, and do their share of the housework.

The residents, together with the support workers, are responsible for utilising their leisure time in the best way possible, for example short and long walks combined with a picnic in some of the local parks and stately homes/estates, full days exploring cities and towns with particular attractions, visits to the cinema, the local pub and the bowling alley. Being closely linked with Kisimul School gives opportunities to share resources such as the swimming pool at The Old Vicarage and the animal husbandry facilities at Acacia Hall.

Independence skills are an important part of everyday life for our adults and the ambition of all involved is to enable our residents to maintain, develop and extend skills already acquired within the school setting.

Kisimul Group is non-denominational and normally does not provide or attend religious worships. Specific requests by residents would be accommodated as far as practically feasible within the residents own capabilities or specific arrangements agreed at pre-admission stage or as appropriate.

Individual Plans of Care

A key worker system is in operation, which allows support workers to develop a close awareness of each resident’s individual needs, both emotional and social.

The key worker and other members of staff take an active part in developing, monitoring and revising the resident’s Individual Plan of Care (IPC) where appropriate, and wherever possible report to and attend case conferences and reviews.

The system in operation within the home ensures that after an initial assessment period an IPC is developed by the care team, headed by the manager, for each individual resident with the resident’s input. They are developed to promote the needs of the resident and take into account the wishes of parents/persons with parental responsibility and the requirements of their own authorities in charge of placing residents at Kisimul Group. IPC’s are discussed at reviews and amendments made where necessary.

Services Provided

Although Kisimul Group is primarily a home for our residents, a total skills approach is adopted. This involves many activities which together enhance the quality of provision and help our adults to gain maturity by valuing and supporting them at different times of the day and in many different circumstances.

All of our residents are individuals and are treated as such. Their progression with these skills will inevitably take place at different rates.

The individual staff/resident ratio ensures carefully planned progression takes place which enables our residents to consolidate existing skills and achievements.

Kisimul Group is a validated assessment centre for ASDAN.

The under-mentioned are some of the skills that are focused on…

Personal Care and Health
Personal hygiene
Dress
Exercise
Use of community health services
‘Looking good’
Healthy eating
Awareness of own body and self-image
Awareness of adult status

Mobility/Travel
Getting around the house/village/community
Use of public transport

Creative and Expressive Arts
Performing music/dance
Arts and crafts
Listening to music
Visiting the cinema
Going to the theatre

Leisure and Recreation
Introduction to various activities – making informed choices
Use of community facilities and sports
Awareness of opportunities
Foreign travel

Functional Numeracy, Communication and Literacy
Counting
Identifying numbers in order to:
– Tell time
– Handle money
– Weigh
– Identify correct clothes sizes
Use of computers and telephones
Listening to and interpreting speech, Makaton signs and communication skills

Developing Domestic Skills and Responsibilities
Planning and preparation of food and drink
Housework
Safety within the home
Gardening

Social Skills
Living with others
Expressing own needs and wishes
Respecting the needs and wishes of others
Appropriate behaviour in various social setting and in private

Management and Staff

Kisimul Group Ltd. has a management team that comprises:

Margaret Hill joined Kisimul School after a reorganisation which brought with it reinvestment by two major investors, thus securing the future of the company. Margaret used to be the Operations Director at Craegmoor Healthcare, managing 116 facilities in the North West, and is therefore very experienced in managing services similar to Kisimul’s. Margaret has 26 years’ experience in managing children and adults with learning disabilities. Her background is in accountancy originally.

Donna Varley-Turner has worked in the care sector for 20 years – 15 years in management and 8 years in senior management. Donna started working for Kisimul Group in June 2015 as an Assistant Director and progressed to Operations Director in June 2016, prior to moving into the Chief Operating Officer role in December 2017. Donna has NVQ L4 in Care, NVQ L4 in Management, ILM L5, A1 Assessors Award and is currently working towards L7 in Strategic Management.

Emma Sanderson was appointed Director for Education in September 2018. She joined Kisimul from her role as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors for Ofsted. Emma is a qualified teacher, with a background in maintained primary, secondary and independent special schools. Emma has held various senior leadership roles within organisations, leading on quality assurance across schools. She has also led on school-to-school support, with a particular focus on outcomes for pupils with SEN. Emma has a Masters-level qualification in Autism and is a lead inspector for Ofsted.

Andrew Stevens joined the organisation at the start of 2018. Andrew has worked in most types of local government including the emergency services, managing large, multi-professional property departments. In recent years he established a new company to deliver a range of architectural and building services to the public sector.  This experience has been supplemented by positions in the private sector both within the UK and abroad.  Andrew has specific experience in asset management planning and property development.

Andrew Murrell joined the company in September 2008. Andrew is a qualified ACA having worked previously at Price-Waterhouse (now Price-Waterhouse-Coopers) and Ernest Young, where he was a director. More recently Andrew was Finance Director at Coffee Point plc until its sale to Bunzl plc. He is a director and the company secretary.

Jayne Starkie joined the Company in December 2009 as Group HR Manager, and has progressed to a director role. Jayne is a CIPD qualified HR professional with over 20 years’ experience in various senior HR positions. Previous experience includes HR Manager roles in the public sector and education, along with experience of working in private financial services organisations.

All our properties have a Registered Manager who is suitably qualified and experienced, and has been registered with the Care Quality Commission.

On a day-to-day basis our services are run by the Registered Manager, who report into the identified area managers for the service. The area manager role reports into two group operational managers that are based geographically in the North and South of our provision. The group operational roles report directly in to the Chief Operating Officer on a daily basis.

Carly Stannard is the group operational manager for the North area of the provision. Carly is responsible for registered services that are located in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Cambridgeshire, and oversees the supported living services registered under our An Darach Care supported living registration. Prior to joining Kisimul Group, Carly worked in the care sector for 22 years, 19 years in management and 14 years in senior management. Carly holds NVQ L4 in Care, NVQ L4 in Management, A1 Assessors Award, along with a V1 Internal Verification Award, PTTLS (adults teaching qualification) and a Med in Autism and Special Education.

Helen Lavers is the group operational manager for the South area of the business. Helen is responsible for registered services that are located in Croydon and Epsom in Surrey. Prior to joining Kisimul Group, Helen worked in care and support services for over 25 years, 19 years in management roles with the last 16 years in senior management roles. Helen holds an NVQ L3 in Developing Independence, NVQ 4 in Management, A1 Assessors Award and Registered Managers award. The majority of Helen’s career has been working with adults with learning disabilities diagnosed with behaviours that challenge.

Angie Black is the Nominated Individual for the Adult provision. On a day-to-day basis Angie reports to the Chief Operating Officer. Angie joined the company in August 2002 and has held senior positions in both the school and adult areas of the company. Angie moved into the role of Group Homes Development Manager in December 2017.

All staff recruited to work in our homes have been selected via a rigorous recruitment and selection process which includes the uptake of references and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with Safer Recruitment Guidelines 2006.

All staff receive training in NVQs/Diplomas and all staff undertake the Common Induction Standards/Care Certificate as well as our own internal induction programme during the first six months. Staff undertake regular training sessions covering a range of topics such as Mental Capacity & Deprivation of Liberty, Behaviour Management, Communication, First Aid, Physical Intervention, Basic Food Hygiene and various other courses needed to fulfil their roles.

Kisimul Group has built a reputation for training staff to the highest levels possible.

Registration

Kisimul Group is registered under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and as such it is regularly inspected by local CQC inspectors.