New lives begin at Forest Lane

Friday 30th of August 2024

12 people with learning disabilities began a new chapter in their lives recently as Avenues took over the running of ‘Forest Lane’, three bungalows on a previous NHS hospital site in Hertfordshire.

All the people have lived in a hospital-based environment for most of their lives, for some as much as 60 years. They have a range of complex needs and disabilities. The Avenues team’s ambition is to create a more community-based life for the people living there.

The project began in July 2023 after Avenues was awarded the contract from Hertfordshire County Council. A team of around 30 people were brought together across Avenues to manage the extensive project, including experts in setting up new services, managing behaviour, training and human resources. There are also several local health authorities involved.

Mickey Gray, Regional Director of the London arm of Avenues, who is overseeing Forest Lane said, “The scale and complexity of this project is huge. In the face of the challenge that this presents, there has been fantastic collaboration from all involved. Everyone has been pulling together in the same direction to build better lives for the people living here. We have been united by this shared vision.”

Adapting to a new team and space

A large part of the project has been supporting individuals to adapt to a new team and space, ensuring it is as smooth as possible for them, physically and emotionally. This involves regularly talking with their families to find the best ways of it being as least disruptive as possible.

The new team in place has been working incredibly hard to build rapport with the people supported. The fruits of this relationship-building are already apparent. According to Senior Operations Manager Darren Pillay, “It’s small wins, but people have been taking the bus and buying their own clothes and toiletries. For some, this might be for the first time in their lives as they have spent the majority of their lives in long-stay hospitals where everything was being done for them,” says Darren.

Personalised homes

The people supported are also being encouraged to personalise their previously plain-looking rooms, a new initiative. “We’re helping people choose bedding, pillows, and even paint colours for their walls. Many are becoming actively involved. One individual has been baking cakes and setting the table. It’s all about engaging people in daily activities, building self-worth, and encouraging independence,” says Darren.

The Forest Lane team is looking forward to the future and what it offers for those they support. Darren adds: “The individuals we support are actively engaging in community-based activities every day and appear to be managing the various changes remarkably well. Their adaptability and enthusiasm have been truly impressive. In light of their positive response, we are now exploring the possibility of organizing a holiday trip for some of them towards the end of this year. This would provide an additional opportunity for enjoyment and personal growth, and we are excited about the potential benefits this experience could offer.”

The take-over of Forest Lane has resulted in the creation of around 50 new jobs at Avenues. The recruitment process continues to build a strong team to support the individuals and their needs across the three bungalows.

Work with us at Forest Lane

If you are interested in working at Forest Lane in Hertfordshire:

• visit our careers site
• or contact our friendly Recruitment team on 0203 535 0509.

We look forward to hearing from you.