Priory Stable Cottage

We support our residents to visit home and attend family events. We will work with the resident and their relatives to ensure possible risks are managed and that everyone is supported, based on family need and preferences. Following a risk assessment, we are able to drop residents off at home and pick them up after the visit, in order to meet the resident and their family’s needs, and support positive contact.

Family and friends are welcome to visit and participate in activities on-site. We do ask that we are informed in advance of all visits as some of the people we support may become stressed or anxious when unknown visitors arrive. Unfortunately, we are unable to cater for visitors to stay overnight.

At Stable Cottage, we strive to keep the loved ones involved in our residents’ care. We provide updates when needed, for example, following medical appointments or to share positive stories about our residents. These updates will be arranged by the resident’s key worker or a senior member of staff on duty. Loved ones are also able to email or telephone us at any time, for updates. We are open, clear and transparent with all family members and professionals within Stable Cottage.

All residents have access to the phone lines to ensure they can maintain contact with loved ones. Most residents have their own device to contact loved ones. This can be done with or without support, depending on the person’s needs.

Our bedrooms are of a standard size and are painted in a magnolia and gloss finish. We also provide furnishings. After they have been with us for 3 months, residents can choose their own colours to decorate their bedroom if they wish to, in order to make this more personalised. Furnishings can also be added or removed, depending on the needs and preferences of the resident.

We follow least restrictive practice so if we can avoid locking doors without imposing risk, we will. We do lock the external doors at night as a security measure. Any doors that need to be accessed during these times can be, with the support of a staff member. There are doors that are locked for safety reasons, when there is no need for residents to access these areas.

Residents are encouraged to choose their own food and, when feasible, participate in meal preparation. Our mealtimes are fully staffed and managed to minimise any risks for the people we support. Our rolling 4-week menu provides options and controlled selections, aiming to foster healthy diets and overall wellbeing. We also provide nutritious snacks to all of our residents.

For residents who have restricted access to the kitchen, due to known hazards, our staff take charge of meal preparation. For others, we proactively uphold their preferences in a safe manner. We’re here to assist residents with any mealtime concerns, for example, around purchasing or making food. In conjunction with families and professionals, we also ensure that we meet our residents’ dietary needs and implement person-centred risk management plans. In addition, we collaborate with external catering agencies and a speech and language therapist (SaLT) to address concerns like choking risks and dysphagia.

We have our own utility room within the property which residents are able to use independently or with support from our staff, depending on their level of need.

We encourage residents to engage in their daily living skills, as far as they are able to. Any household tasks that are beyond a resident's ability are managed by our staff in order to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. All of our residents are different, so we create unique objectives and aim to foster as much independence as possible.

We handle and store all the food and drinks right here on the premises, tailored to the requirements of our residents diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome. As a specialist service, all of our residents need some level of assistance with storing and acquiring food. Consequently, our staff manages access to eating and drinking areas, and we keep the food storage areas locked to minimise the risk of theft, overeating, and potential harm to our residents. This approach is in line with the principles of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

We collaborate closely with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (PWSA) for advice and guidance. Our staff also undergoes training on the methods and reasons behind our support approach. While some regulations may seem restrictive, they are proportionate to the risks involved for our residents.

We kindly request that residents refrain from bringing valuable items like family heirlooms to our facility, as we cannot assure their safety. Certain items such as non-approved medications, products containing solvents, lighters, and potentially hazardous ornaments, might have restrictions imposed due to safety concerns for people with behaviours that challenge or those at risk of self-harm. We carefully manage and assess the risk associated with any items brought in, and we assist in inspecting all packages and deliveries to mitigate potential risks. For instance, if a resident tries to order items online that could endanger them or others. In some cases, it might be necessary to restrict or prohibit access to specific items, but such decisions are based on a person’s history and risk factors.

Additionally, we recommend that residents keep important or valuable items in their own rooms to prevent damage in communal areas. Each resident has a key to their room, allowing them to secure their personal belongings. Our staff holds a master key and, when necessary, may enter rooms based on individual needs and safety assessments.

When planning activities for our residents, we engage in conversations with our activities co-ordinator. This helps us arrange the most fitting activities based on each individual's requirements and preferences. We include our residents in this planning process, using their preferred method of communication to guarantee clear understanding and the ability to make well-informed choices. Residents have the autonomy to decide whether they want to take part in these activities, taking into account how they’re feeling each day.

Residents who have a history of behaviours that challenge may receive PBS. This will be taken into consideration at the point of referral, and is based on the individual. This allows us to formulate a care package that meets the needs of the resident and reduces risk. We have close links to the local intensive support team, as well as psychology and psychiatry input in Herefordshire, to ensure a joined-up approach.

We use the PROACT-SCIPr-UK® framework, which means we focus on proactive strategies, rather than physical intervention. We require our care plans which include restrictions to be assessed frequently, for example, procedures for interventions such as pro re nata (PRN) medication are regularly reviewed and removed, where possible.

When making best interest decisions and compiling care plans, we seek input from all professionals and family members, as well as the resident themselves if they have capacity. This is so we can gain the best picture of the resident’s needs, and ensure that we can provide person-centred care in the least restrictive way. We also hold monthly ‘Our Voice’ meetings with the people we support, in order to gain personalised opinions and feedback on the service they receive, and use this information to enhance the service we provide, where possible.

There are two separate car parks for staff, professionals, visitors and residents. The car park outside Tithe Barn is larger so we ask staff to park their vehicles there, to allow easier access for entry to Stable Cottage, if necessary. We do ask visitors to Stable Cottage to use the Stable Cottage car park during their visit.

We have a designated smoking area situated near the car park, for residents who choose to smoke or vape.

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.