Short breaks and crisis care for adults with learning disabilities

The Council runs 3 services to support adults in need of short term support:

• Castle Dene for adults with profound learning difficulties and complex needs
• Welford Centre, a day centre, for adults with profound learning disabilities and complex needs
• Shared Lives scheme for adults with a learning disability for help to socialise in a family setting, in a community and night time supervision.

Castle Dene

Castle Dene is a service in South Gosforth for adults with profound learning disabilities and additional complex needs.

The service aims to support people on a temporary basis. It is purpose built single storey accommodation for 8 people with:

• bedrooms
• accessible showers and bathrooms
• toilets 
• TVs, music equipment and portable sensory equipment
• a full ceiling track hoist system through the building
• large sensory garden.
• lounges and common areas with adapted furniture so people with different needs can access our facilities

Staff at Castle Dene

Alayne, manages Castle Dene and the team. She has over 23 years of experience working with adults with complex needs and is committed to providing a high quality, person centred service.

All our care staff are fully trained in working with adults with learning disabilities and complex needs. We can support you with:

• positive behaviour
• verbal and non-verbal communication
• taking prescribed medications
• physiotherapy
• soft diets and stomach tube feeding
• managing challenging behaviour

Staying at Castle Dene

We will plan your stay with you to meet your individual needs. There is lots to do during your stay and our staff can work with you to try new things and take part in different activities including:

• meeting new people and making friends
• arts and craft activities
• making use of our sensory equipment
• cooking, or helping with daily living tasks
• getting outside, including into the community if you want to

Accessing Castle Dene

New service users must be referred by a Health or Social Care professional following an assessment of your needs.

Council staff will discuss possible financial charges with you. How much you pay depends on your financial circumstances. For more information please read see our Charging Policy.

Meals at Castle Dene

We cook a variety of meals and can meet your dietary requirements such as:

• diabetes
• food intolerances
• low-fat
• multicultural diets

What to bring for your stay

Where possible, please bring with you:

• enough clothes for your stay clearly marked with your name. We offer a laundry service but if you prefer your relatives or carers to manage your washing, please inform a member of staff on arrival.
• toiletries / personal hygiene products. If you use effervescent tablets, such as Steradent denture cleaner, we have to keep them in a locked cupboard. You may prefer to bring a toothbrush and toothpaste.
• a small amount of money for social outings, taxi fares, personal expenses, hairdresser, or newspapers. This should be secured in our safe, otherwise we cannot accept any responsibility for any losses.

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Welford Centre

The Welford Centre is for adults over the age of 18 who have learning disabilities and additional complex needs. It is a large ground floor building. It is fully accessible to wheelchair users. The building has four large main rooms with more rooms for activities. There is a large accessible garden with a wild life pond and raised flower beds.

The building is fully equipped with a range of resources including:

• communication aids
• physiotherapy equipment
• specialist moving and handling equipment
• rebound therapy room
• sensory room
• pottery room
• meeting rooms
• adult changing rooms with overhead hoists
• large dining room
• shower rooms with specialist shower trays
• kitchens for cookery
• art and craft room

Staff at the Welford Centre

Louise, manages the Welford Centre and the team. She has over 30 years of experience working with adults with complex needs and is committed to providing a high quality, person centred service.

All our care staff are fully trained in working with adults with learning disabilities and complex needs. We can support you with:

• positive behaviour
• verbal and non-verbal communication
• taking prescribed and rescue medications
• physiotherapy
• soft diets and stomach tube feeding
• Epilepsy
• swallowing and eating difficulties
• Rebound Therapy

Meals at the Welford Centre

We cook a variety of meals and can meet your dietary requirements such as:

• diabetes
• food intolerances
• low-fat
• multicultural diets
• soft or pureed food

What to bring for your stay

Where possible, please bring with you:

• spare clothes for your stay ,clearly marked with your name. We do not have a laundry service. Your dirty clothes will be returned to you.
• toiletries / personal hygiene products
• a small amount of money for social outings, taxi fares, personal expenses, hairdresser, or newspapers. This should be secured in our safe, otherwise we cannot accept any responsibility for any losses.

Accessing the Welford Centre services

New service users must be referred by a Health or Social Care professional following an assessment of your needs.

Council staff will discuss possible financial charges with you. How much you pay depends on your financial circumstances. For more information please read see our Charging Policy.

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Shared Lives

Shared Lives is a service aimed at adults with a learning disability who need overnight support and supervision. Shared Lives helps people to develop or maintain independent living skills, friendships and roots in their community.

The support allows people to live life to the full in their communities, without having to live alone or in a care home. Adults who need support are matched with a compatible Shared Lives carer who agrees to share their home and family (or community) life with that person. They will either move into their own room in the household or use the home as a base.

This can be longer term, with arrangements lasting for years, or short term, providing holidays or short breaks for family carers.

Watch the Shared Lives film.

Accessing Shared Lives

A needs assessment is required to find out if this service is suitable for you.

We ask people to make a financial contribution towards food, fuel, rent and personal care costs. For more information please read see our Charging Policy.

Become a Shared Lives Carer

Email SharedLives@newcastle.gov.uk for more information or ring 0191 211 5378

Making a Complaint

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