About this location
Blair House is located in Billinghay. Our home offers residential and nursing support for 27 males and females with a primary learning disability diagnosis. We are in a semi-rural location, surrounded by beautiful countryside.
Our team are dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of the people we support, helping them to achieve positive outcomes. We want to help each person we care for to have a healthy, happy and independent life, within a safe and welcoming home.
We can also support autistic people and those who may have:
- Difficulties with communication
- Mild to moderate behaviours that challenge
- A forensic background
- Epilepsy
- Physical health care needs
Services at a glance
There are a total of 27 bedrooms at the site. Of these:
Map
Click here to enable this content
About our service
Our facilities and environment
The main detached, communal house has lots of space and offers a relaxed, homely environment. It is a Victorian property, split across two floors, with a ground floor extension. The main house has seven bedrooms, and there are a further 20 rooms in the extension.
In summary, we offer:
- A large lounge with plenty of seating
- Kitchen and dining room
- Well-equipped activities room
- Quiet room
- Communal bathroom
- Communal wet room
We also have a very large garden, complete with:
- Lawn
- Patio
- Communal seating
- Summer house
- Shelter
We also have specialised equipment within the home, such as hoists. In addition, we have a mobility-adapted site vehicle to help us to meet the needs of the people we support.
Our bedrooms
All of our bedrooms are comfortable, welcoming and can be personalised to individual tastes. A total of 17 bedrooms have en-suite facilities and a further 10 have hand wash basins. Our ground floor rooms provide wheelchair access.
Our approach to support
Everybody who lives at Blair House has their own person-centred care plan, which is co-produced with input from the individual, their family members and professionals involved in their care. We aim to help everyone in our care to make their own choices about the support they receive. This may include support in a number of areas, such as going out in the community, personal care, cooking and cleaning, and maintaining family relationships.
Our support approaches at Blair House include positive behaviour support (PBS) and nursing, which are delivered in-house. We also have support from an external multidisciplinary team, to provide extra support, such as psychology, speech and language therapy (SaLT), occupational therapy (OT), and physiotherapy. In addition, we use tools such as the Outcomes Star™ to support our residents to achieve their goals.
The lengths of the placements that we offer at Blair House can be transitional, short-term, medium-term or long-term residential, depending on the needs of each person.
Activities
Everyone who lives at Blair House has their own personalised activities planner and are encouraged to take part in activities which are meaningful and fulfilling to them. Our dedicated team organise a variety of activities at the home, as well as out in the community.
We focus on supporting our residents to grow their independence. For some people, this may mean developing their daily living skills within the home. For others, this could be accessing work or educational opportunities in the local community.
Exclusion profile
- Those who pose a risk to others in communal living areas
Pathways
Through our network of healthcare, residential and supported living facilities, we provide unique care pathways which help the people we support to progress towards greater independence. Every individual we support is provided with a bespoke pathway plan, tailored according to their individual needs.
We aim to ensure that each person is supported to live a fulfilling and active life in the community. We support our residents to move into their own home in the community through our supported living services.
Our team
Our highly experienced team consists of:
- Service manager
- Deputy manager
- Support workers
- Nurses
- Activities co-ordinator
- Housekeeper
- Cook
- Maintenance worker
Our team receive specialist staff training, designed to meet the needs of each individual we support. This includes epilepsy training and diabetes management training.
Comments from our residents and their family and friends
Staff always listen and support me to achieve what I want to do
Family and friends FAQs
How does home leave work?
We support our residents to attend family events and visit their family homes. We will work with the resident and their relatives to ensure possible risks are managed and that everyone is supported. This may mean the individual’s key worker will come along on the visit. For those who are unable to visit their family home, we can support your loved ones with video calls.
Can friends and families visit?
Family and friends are welcome to visit. Visits are usually planned in advance to support individual needs. Unfortunately, family members cannot stay overnight.
Will I be involved and kept up to date with the progress of my loved one’s care and support?
Yes, we strive to keep the loved ones of our residents involved in their care. Every month families are invited to a meeting at the home, where they will meet with the residents’ support team and hear about recent happenings at the home. We can also arrange more regular catch-ups either in person or via telephone, to ensure families are kept informed.
Will my loved one be able to have a phone or call me?
Everyone who stays with us are supported to call their loved ones any time, via phone or video call. Family and friends are also able to call as often as they like. In addition, we can support our residents to get their own mobile phone, where appropriate.
What are the bedrooms like?
Bedrooms are all furnished and residents are supported to personalise them to suit their needs and wishes. Some of the furniture has been purchased to suit the needs of our residents.
Are external doors kept locked?
Not all of our external doors are locked. The main door has a button to release the door and we have a keypad on the side door. We have a large garden area and courtyard where residents can freely exit and enter the building.
What do residents eat and how do meal times work?
Residents are given a choice of two options each meal time which our cook will make for them. However, if they don't like the choices, an alternative is provided. We also accommodate all dietary needs, in line with nutritional recommendations.
How does laundry work?
Residents are given help to do their own laundry, as part of promoting independence. Our staff are on hand to offer support if and when it is required. Our team will ensure that residents always have access to clean clothes and bedding.
Who does the housekeeping and domiciliary tasks?
We have a housekeeper onsite who looks after all the cleaning duties. However staff do support some of our residents to undertake domiciliary tasks, for example, cleaning their bedrooms.
Is there anything they can’t bring or have?
Residents are not allowed to bring illegal substances onto the premises. We would also ask that people do not bring high risk personal items into the house. We may place restrictions on some items where the risks cannot be appropriately managed, such as non-approved drugs and medications, solvent-based products and lighters.
How do activities work?
Activities are planned according to our residents’ choices and interests. Thorough risk assessments are conducted before any activity. Everyone has a tailored activities planner, which will include both in-house activities as well as visits into the community. Their key worker may use a variety of communication tools to ensure they can have an input into the planning of activities.
How will residents be supported with their behavioural needs?
We focus on proactive strategies, rather than physical intervention, when dealing with behavioural needs. Our care plans which include restrictions are assessed frequently, for example procedures for interventions such as PRN medication are regularly reviewed and removed, where possible.
Do residents and families have an input into the care plans?
Yes, we encourage families and extended support providers to be involved with the care plans. We use a variety of communication tools to work collaboratively with the person we care for to co-produce the plans so they are tailored to their needs. We value this important input from others where appropriate.
What are the car parking facilities?
We have on-site parking for up to 10 vehicles.
What is the smoking policy?
Residents can smoke by the designated smoking area in the back garden, which has a shelter. We don’t permit smoking inside the building, and this includes vapes. Residents are able to buy cigarettes and vapes at the shops, if this is what they choose.
What are your fees and how are they funded?
Our fees can vary, and are based on an assessment of each individual's needs. Many people are eligible for financial help towards the cost of support, and this funding can be accessed by contacting your local authority. Once funding has been agreed, we will work with your local care team to put together a bespoke package of care. Please note, referrals for NHS or Local Authority funded services must come from a referring organisation.
How to make a referral
Our service provides high quality support to people with varying levels of need. Referrals can be made through the individual’s social care team or, if relevant, their local health authority. If you are a professional looking to make a referral, please call us or fill in our enquiry form.