Progress Report for 2003 - 2004

This has been an extremely busy year for Point House. We have worked towards giving our service-users as much independence as possible. We have purchased a new washing machine & tumble dryer and a new cooker so that our service-users who are able can learn new skills that will be necessary if they wish to move into supported living. The service-users devised a plan of when they would like to cook and what, which has been a great success. Many have decided to do their own washing and ironing with support of staff. We feel this is a very positive step forward for the service-users of Point House.

One of our service-users moved into supported living in January of this year and receives support from the carers of Point House who are working on our trial outreach programme so they can continue to receive continuity of care. We have carried out a service-user/family survey with good results.

Training has been high on our agenda this year with numerous courses. We have four carers who have almost completed their NVQ level 2 in care. All Staff are trained in moving and handling and six members of staff have undertaken a course as trainers in moving and handling. All staff have been trained in first aid and also fire safety.

One member of staff is about to complete a course to become a communication co-ordinator between any outside agencies and service-users of Point House; she has also taken a course in abdominal massage.

Two members of staff have completed NVQ assessors course, six members of staff are undertaking a basic food hygiene course. Ten members of staff have been on a nutrition course. Six other staff have been on courses for challenging behaviour. There have been improvements in our record keeping we now have more comprehensive information on staff and clients. We have also started our appraisal of staff, regular monitoring and supervision.

Environment - to give the home a more friendly atmosphere we have repainted the lounge, dining room, foyer, all corridors and stairways this year. We have also had new carpet fitted on the old section stairs and the downstairs corridor. A new roof has been put on the smoke room and the guttering replaced. Two toilet fixtures and fittings have been fitted one upstairs and one downstairs. We have also had a security lock system fitted to the inner lounge door to deter any unwelcome visitors. This also gives protection to service-users and staff alike. Two doors have been replaced upstairs and a broken lock repaired as recommended in the last inspection report.
Entertainment has also featured highly on our agenda we have had several disco evenings, which are enjoyed by all, service-users and staff alike. We have bought a karaoke machine so clients can make their own entertainment at any time. Beside this we have bought a new 44 inch screen television with DVD recorder so service-users who are less energetic can enjoy watching television or films, we also bought for these service-users numerous board games of their choice. We have a day service programme where service-users are taken to places of interest such as the castle museum, shopping trips where service-users are responsible for making their own purchases and many other activities both inside and outside the home.

Progress Report for 2006

This has been an incredibly busy year for all of us at Point House. We have made many changes which include:

Dining Room having two new sofas, new electric light fittings and shades, new radiator covers. The chairs had a revamp and the room repainted.

The lounge was also repainted, new electric light fittings and shades, also new radiator covers, and the walls painted.

The staff room has new lockers, one for medication and the rest for staff to lock away any valuables.

All shower rooms have had new curtains. All toilets bathrooms and shower rooms were fitted with towel rails and fitted toilet roll holders, but unfortunately one or two of the service-users decided that they didn't like the new fittings including the bath plugs and during the course of four weeks systematically pulled every one of them off causing considerable damage that resulted in extra repairs having to be carried out.

Four bedrooms have had skirting boards replaced, been plastered and the whole room repainted. One bedroom has had flooring replaced. Two bedrooms have had new curtains. One bedroom has been completely refurbished including new floors.

The laundry/smoke rooms have had new flooring and the water tank in the laundry has been boxed in.

Two new computers have been bought for the office.

To the exterior there have been repairs to the patio and gravel laid throughout the whole area. The front of building has been pointed up, the front door repaired and the old grating has been replaced outside the main door. This is just some of the work carried out this year. This is a continuing process to ensure that the Point House is kept to the highest possible standards for our service-users group.

As from last year most of our service-users have taken over their own finances this has been very successful and we continue to encourage all service-users to be responsible for themselves in every way possible. We continue to ensure that our staff are well trained and have had various courses throughout the year including an abuse course for all staff.

We have three members of staff undergoing their NVQ level two training, as well as the staff who already have their NVQ 2’s .

So it has been a very productive and busy year which we have all enjoyed.