Care provider links up with schools to fill gap in local autism care

Craegmoor Healthcare, a leading provider of specialist care and support to people with learning disabilities, mental health illnesses and older people, has opened a new purpose-built Autism unit at its Turketel Road Care Home in Folkestone in Kent after linking up with local schools to assess the need for more locally-based Autism care and support.

The new unit forms part of Craegmoor’s ongoing programme to help address the UK-wide shortfall in specialist care for those with Autism as part of the company’s commitment to the development of a National Autism Strategy.

Before developing the new unit, Craegmoor got in touch with both mainstream and special needs schools in Kent and the South East to survey how many of their pupils with Autism and learning disabilities nearing the end of school did not have specialist care and support places available to them close to where they live. After assessing the local need Craegmoor decided to develop Turketel Road to provide accommodation for six young adults aged 16-25 years with Autism and learning disabilities. The unit is designed to support young adults in developing everyday life skills, including social skills and the ability to live as independently as possible.

The service has been tailored to meet the needs of young people with Autism who want to undertake activities geared to their age group. As such, the service will promote lifelong learning and assist the young people who live there with the transition to adulthood, one of the biggest challenges that young people with Autism face. College attendance across a range of subjects and social activities within the local community will also be part of everyday life for people living at Turketel Road and participation in initiatives such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme will be encouraged.

All staff will be trained in order to ensure that they have a detailed understanding not only of Autism as a condition but also the broad range of treatment options available. As a result, people at Turketel Road will be offered uniquely specialist care on a one to one basis by staff committed to listening, understanding and making things possible for the people concerned.

Ted Smith, Craegmoor’s Chief Executive Officer, said today: “Craegmoor is fighting to ensure that all people with Autism receive the support that they need, where they need it. This is precisely why we chose to open a specialist Autism unit at Turketel Road and we hope to emulate the service elsewhere.

We recognise that structure and routine are very important to people with Autism and this will be fostered through continuity in staff provisions and the subsequent establishment of long-term relationships between staff and service users.”