About this location
Cherrywood House is located in Weston-super-Mare, in North Somerset. Our home offers residential support to 11 adults who are on the autism spectrum or have a learning disability.
Set in its own grounds surrounded in woodland, the service is located in a quiet neighbourhood, within easy reach of the beach and local amenities.
Our team provide just enough support to enable people to live as independently as possible. We promote choice, focusing on the wishes and goals of each individual we support, within a happy, safe environment.
We can also support those who have:
- Angelman syndrome
- Difficulties with communication
- Mild to moderate behaviours that challenge
- Epilepsy
Services at a glance
There are a total of 11 bedrooms at the site. Of these:
Map
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About our service
Our facilities and environment
Cherrywood House is set within a large detached Georgian property on its own grounds. The accommodation is set out across four floors. On the ground floor there is a variety of communal spaces, one en-suite bedroom and one self-contained flat on the lower ground level. There are an additional seven bedrooms on the first floor, some of which are en-suite rooms, two self-contained flats and communal bathroom facilities.
In summary, we offer:
- A large lounge with plenty of seating
- Kitchen and dining room
- Utility room
- Quiet room
- Conservatory/art room
- Communal bathroom
- Laundry room
We also have a very large garden, complete with:
- Secure fencing
- Lawn
- Patio
- Communal seating
- Shelter
- Sensory items
- Shed
Our bedrooms
All of our bedrooms are comfortable, welcoming and can be personalised to individual tastes. Our bedrooms have features such as:
- En-suite facilities, containing either a shower, a bath or a wet room
- Activities of daily living (ADL) kitchenettes
Our approach to support
Everybody who lives at Cherrywood 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 Cherrywood House include positive behaviour support (PBS), delivered through our in-house practitioner. 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 Cherrywood House can be short-term or respite, medium or long-term residential, depending on the needs of each person.
Activities
Everyone who lives at Cherrywood 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
- Individuals who are not on the autism spectrum or who do not have a learning disability
- Individuals with mental health needs
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.
Our team
Our highly experienced team consists of:
- Service manager
- Deputy manager
- Support workers
- Senior support workers
- PBS practitioner
- Housekeeper
- Cook
Our team receive specialist staff training, designed to meet the needs of each individual we support. This includes:
- Epilepsy awareness training
- Diabetes management
- PBS training
- Dysphasia training
- The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism
- Caldicott Guardian training
A message from our site leader
At Cherrywood House we want people to feel reassured that their loved ones will be treated as individuals, and with dignity and respect. Our ethos is to provide a service we would be happy for our own loved ones to live in. We take pride in supporting people to live their best lives, promoting independence, and always aiming for the highest quality of care
Cherrywood House’s site leader
Comments from our residents and their family and friends
The staff here really listen to what I want. They help me achieve the things that are important to me
Inside Cherrywood House
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Family and friends FAQs
How does home leave work?
We support the people who live at Cherrywood House to retain connections with their family, and are happy to facilitate their attendance at family events or on visits to 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.
Can friends and families visit?
Family, friends and loved ones are welcome at our home. We do ask that we are informed in advance of all visits, as some of the people who live here may become stressed or anxious when unknown visitors arrive.
Will I be involved and kept up to date with the progress of my loved one’s care and support?
Providing the individual has consented to sharing information about their care, we will be happy to provide regular updates to loved ones. We welcome the views and input of families and loved ones, and will establish family support meetings. We can also arrange more regular catch-ups if you’d prefer, either in person or via telephone, to ensure you are kept informed.
Will my loved one be able to have a phone or call me?
Staff are on hand 24 hours a day to facilitate calls with loved ones, this may include WhatsApp, FaceTime calls and virtual calls.
What are the bedrooms like?
Bedrooms are all furnished, and many of them have en-suite facilities with a shower. Our self-contained flats also have their own bathroom facilities, as well as a lounge/dining area and ADL kitchenette. Residents are supported to personalise their spaces to suit their needs and wishes; if people would like to purchase their own furniture we will support and encourage this.
Are external doors kept locked?
The main door is kept locked for the safety of our residents, there is a keypad system in place which staff members have access to. Some of the people who live here may have agreed Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) in place as part of their ongoing support and safety plans.
What do residents eat and how do meal times work?
Residents are encouraged to choose their menu and input in to the meals provided. Residents discuss what they would like on menu as part of ‘Our Voice’ resident meetings. We also encourage residents to help with shopping and provide group dinners for events. For example, a resident may help prepare a meal for movie night at the home.
How does laundry work?
Residents are encouraged to do their own laundry where possible, staff will support and encourage people where required. There is a communal laundry in the service, and individuals in the self-contained flats have their own washing and drying facilities.
Who does the housekeeping and domiciliary tasks?
Most of our residents will, with support, maintain their own personal spaces. Individuals are encouraged to undertake domiciliary tasks such as cleaning, loading the dishwasher, and helping out around the rest of the home, depending on their support plan. Cherrywood House also has a housekeeper who maintains the communal areas, with support from staff.
Is there anything they can’t bring or have?
Each resident will have an inventory in place and we are able to keep certain items in our on-site safe. 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?
Every Individual has a tailored activities planner which is bespoke to the needs and wishes. This 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 the resident can have an input into the planning of activities.
How will residents be supported with their behavioural needs?
We use the PROACT-SCIPr-UK® framework, which means we are committed to reducing restrictive practices. Care plans which include restrictions, such as protocols for pro re nata (PRN) medication, are assessed frequently, and eliminated, where possible. Individuals will have their own PBS plans in place, should they need this, delivered by Cherrywood House’s PBS practitioner, and staff all receive training in PBS.
Do residents and families have an input into the care plans?
We work with social workers, family members and residents to develop care plans which are in the best interests of our residents. We use a variety of communication tools and work with health professionals to aid each resident in having a say about every aspect of their care. Care plans are regularly reviewed, and family members will be asked for their input, where it is appropriate to do so.
What are the car parking facilities?
Cherrywood House has limited parking, however there is a driveway and also parking on the main road, within a 30-second walk of the service.
What is the smoking policy?
We do not permit smoking inside the house. Our home has a shelter outside where people can smoke or vape, should they wish to do so.
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.