What we do
The Avenues Trust Community Support Service (ATCSS) offers community based support to over 200 people who have complex needs, including physical disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health issues and autism.
Support is based on each person's individual needs, and can be from a few hours a day to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Our staff are motivated, professional and highly trained. We believe that by supporting staff to continue to develop their skills, we help maintain high standards of support for the people we work with.
We work with people of all ages, from young people of 12 years of age to people in their late 80s. Everyone has a full assessment, before we develop a unique support plan that looks at what people need to manage their day to day lives, including their leisure time, their health and personal development. We support people living in different types of accommodation, from their own flats to shared bungalows, helping them maintain their house, pay bills etc.
ATCSS is committed to offering the highest quality services to people, supporting them to exercise the greatest possible control over decisions which affect them and for that control to develop over time.
Young People's Services
In Avenues young people's services we work with people from the age of 12, to help them to live as independently as possible and to enjoy their lives within their communities. Staff provide varied levels of support, from 3 hours to 30 hours per week, to help young people develop and increase skills, confidence and self-esteem. We help to support individuals through transition into a more independent adult lifestyle and offer respite support and short breaks to families or guardians. The staff teams have high levels of skills supporting young people with challenging behaviour and autism specific needs. For more information contact Adam Taylor at adam.taylor@avenuesCSS.org.uk.
Person Centred Active Support
Becoming involved in interesting activities and having a variety of relationships is very important for the quality of life for those with learning disabilities and complex needs; the quality of support people receive from our staff is what makes sure that this happens.
Person-centred active support is the approach we take to supporting people to take an active part in meaningful, everyday activities, regardless of their disability. Activities might include anything from being involved in making their meal, gardening or cleaning the bathroom to playing golf, going to the bank, visiting the theatre, or getting a job. To make this happen, staff offer support in flexible and creative ways to give people more choice and control over their lives, take part in everyday tasks and become involved in their community.
We began to train staff and implement Active Support in 2006. This has resulted in dramatic increases in the number of activities, the choices people now make and in increased independence. You will see some further information about what this means for the people we support throughout the website.
West Kent Community Support Services
Our West Kent Community Support Services currently support over 100 people with mental health issues, learning disabilities and other complex needs. The services are delivered to people in their own homes and we currently operate in Dartford, Gravesend, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and many more. The registered office for West Kent CSS is based in Underriver, near Tonbridge in Kent.
London South Community Support Services
Our London South community support services supports people with learning and physical disabilities in the London Boroughs of Greenwich, Bromley and Sutton & Merton. The registered office for London South is in Sidcup, Kent.
East Kent Community Support Services
Our East Kent community support services currently provides support for people with physical and learning disabilities in their own homes. The registered office for East Kent CSS is in Westbrook in Kent.
Quality Assurance
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carries out regular inspections to each of the three registered domiciliary agencies, all of which are rated good or excellent. In addition, Avenues has its own quality assurance processes.
Quality assurance in Avenues is not a separate activity done once in a while but a continuous process of evaluation to develop and improve the support we provide. We focus on measuring outcomes with monthly visits by a senior manager, formal observations of staff support, and feedback from people who use the service and other stakeholders such as family members and professionals.
Contact
If you would like to hear more about what we do or would like to discuss how we may help you or a member of your family, please contact the assistant to the Chief Executive of ATCSS, Lisa Claridge on 020 8308 2905 or email Lisa.Claridge@avenuesCSS.org.uk.
