Inclusion and Involvement

We have a dedicated team of Participation Officers who work across our organisation to ensure that the voices of our service users are heard and that they are actively involved in how we deliver services. We provide training and offer a range of support to the people that use our services to support them in their roles.

Focus groups

Focus groups inform various aspects of the business and help us to reach decisions. One focus group informs our recruitment process whilst others evaluate service delivery and feedback to our business committees.

Forums

Our forums undertake a range of tasks from service user consultation to organising social events - such as our Christmas Party (a large and boisterous annual event!)

Task groups

We train and support people to undertake specific roles, for example, we have a team of people who are involved in delivering our innovative group interview process and work with candidates to assess their suitability by involving them in work related tasks.

Work shadowing

We provide the people that use our services with opportunities to gain experience by working alongside us in our central offices. Playing a central role within our departments, they carry a work load and are supported to gain real skills and valuable experience.

Events, Activity Groups and Social Events

Our activity groups include Drama, Gardening and Music. We also hold large annual events, including the annual Christmas Party and ‘Outwards Got Talent’ - a much loved talent show based upon the famous TV programme.

Accessibility

We make sure that all we do is accessible. We produce regular newsletters that contain pictorial information and are designed to reader friendly. We also have a dedicated signposting website for people with Learning Disabilities, www.wherecani.org

Shared home ownership

This scheme enables people to buy part of their own home and choose where they want to live. For more information visit our Shared Home Ownership page.

Community Involvement

We recruit, train and support part time volunteers to better engage people with the communities in which they live. Our programme supports older people, young people at risk and people with learning disabilities towards better social engagement. A nominated volunteer provides support in undertaking everyday activities such as attending appointments, food or clothes shopping, or simply going out for coffee.

Independent Living

Delivered by full time volunteers working alongside professional staff, the programme engages people with aspects of everyday social, recreational and vocational living towards the development of life skills. The programme is very successful both for the people that use the service and the volunteers themselves. Many of our volunteers go on to build a career within the social care sector, whilst service users become more confident in undertaking tasks or activities.

Employability

Our employment programme for people with learning disabilities includes workshops, workplace volunteer support and ongoing mentoring. It is delivered in partnership with local employers and was initially implemented as a pilot in The London Borough of Waltham Forest.