Blog – Lisieux Trust

You often see people unsure of their career path when they leave school. It can be daunting choosing the path you want to follow for the rest of your working life.

Well, for me, I finally found what I truly enjoy doing at the age of 60, and that was becoming a Support Worker.

My journey began when I visited the Aston Villa Jobs Fair last year to find out what job opportunities were out there and to help me to decide what I might like to do next.

My life circumstances had changed at home, and I needed something to occupy my mind that I would enjoy. However, I understood it might be challenging to find the right opportunity.

I have spent most of my working life in the travel industry. I have also worked in a Bank, a Job Centre, and as a Civil Enforcement Officer, so I had a lot of transferrable skills, but I didn’t know what the next move I wanted to take.

As I browsed companies and vacancies at the Jobs Fair, I got into a conversation with a lovely lady from Lisieux Trust. She asked if I had considered being a Support Worker. In all honesty, I wasn’t even sure what a Support Worker was. I asked questions and the role was clearly explained to me.

I was handed a job description and an application pack which I could fill out and return if I wanted to be considered for the role.

I quickly realised I liked the idea of the job. It was something completely new to me and I got a positive impression of both the role and the company.

What did I feel I could offer? Firstly, I like people. I would consider myself a people person. I also naturally like helping and supporting others where I can, and I believe I am a good communicator. Having read the job description, I felt those were some of the key attributes required.

If I completed the application process this seemed like a positive step to take. The company offers lots of ongoing training from induction. As well as being able to work alongside experienced colleagues who are friendly and supportive in helping you gain the experience required.

Enthusiasm for doing the job was the only other thing I needed, which I knew I had already, and the rest quickly fell into place.

Twelve months on from joining Lisieux Trust. I’ve gained so much knowledge and experience and love every minute of every day. We all work together as a team in our house and support each other with what needs to be done. Everyone is an equal and we are passionate about supporting our tenants and residents.

No two days are ever the same. We support tenants and residents to make their own choices and to live as independently as possible. One day we may be out on the town, at the cinema, or supporting with the domestic tasks at home. Every day brings something different.

Helping others has become the most rewarding thing I feel I can do. Long may it continue and thank you Lisieux Trust for giving me this life-changing opportunity.

Want to learn more about a career with Lisieux Trust?

With care homes and supported living schemes across Northeast Birmingham – including Sutton Coldfield, we provide a place for adults with a learning disability or autism to live, learn, and laugh together.

Discover more about a career with Lisieux Trust at https://www.lisieuxtrust.org.uk/work-for-us/

This month we celebrate Learning Disability Week. The annual event which runs from 19th to 25th June is dedicated to raising awareness and creating a better understanding of what life is like with a learning disability.

Every year there is a specific theme for the week and in 2023 the focus is on showing the world the incredible things that people with learning disabilities achieve as a way of breaking the stigma.

As you know our team here at Lisieux Trust provides care and support for adults with learning disabilities or autism, so we are passionate about using our platform to raise awareness and celebrate individuals with learning disabilities in the hope of promoting a greater understanding.

Understanding Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities affect the way that individuals process, acquire or retain information effectively. It could be anything from difficulties with reading, writing, math, attention, memory, or organisation.

However, it’s important to remember that learning disabilities are not indicative of intelligence, as individuals with learning disabilities often possess many talents and strengths in other areas.

Celebrating Achievements and Talents

Our focus at Lisieux Trust is on providing the environment for our tenants and residents to thrive, helping them find their passion, showcase their talents, and share their incredible personalities.

Many of our residents have incredible talent and abilities. We have lots of sports stars covering everything from Boccia and table tennis champions to dressage competition winners or keen fishermen.

Sporting achievement isn’t where it ends, we also have lots of tenants and residents who like to write poetry and rap and others who enjoy music, dancing, and a whole variety of other activities.

With all this incredible talent it’s our responsibility to create the environment for individuals within our community to enjoy themselves, develop new skills and learn more about themselves.

Empowering Potential

It’s important to break down any barriers around what people with learning disabilities can do.

Many people with learning disabilities live the most active and fulfilled lives. Lots of our tenants go to work every week or are enrolled in educational programs to expand their knowledge and skills.

With the right mindset and environment that encourages growth, anyone can unlock their potential, pursue their passions, and achieve everything they want in life.

Our focus will never deviate from doing just this.

Learn more about Lisieux Trust

With homes and supported living schemes across Northeast Birmingham – including Sutton Coldfield, we provide a place for adults with a learning disability or autism to live, learn, and laugh together.

To discover more about the support we provide take a look at our what we do page.

Here at Lisieux Trust, we provide 24-hour residential care for adults with learning disabilities and autism. Just like supported living, it is an important part of the support we provide.

We currently have three care properties located in Sutton Coldfield and Erdington dedicated to this residential service, which currently home around 30 of our residents.

In this blog, we are going to talk about some of the benefits of choosing this form of care for your loved one and provide you with a greater understanding of this type of support.

Specialised Care

Our residential support focuses on individuals with learning disabilities or autism who require round-the-clock support.

Everyone in our care will typically have their support and accommodation paid for by a local authority adult social service.

The level of support required will vary from person to person, but can include everyday tasks such as personal care, taking medication, and helping with household chores, through to empowering people to enjoy their favourite hobbies, activities, and spending more time in their local community.

A meeting will take place with a social worker before moving in where the residents’ requirements will be assessed before an agreement is reached between the person, social service, and our Trust detailing exactly what individual support we will need to provide for that resident.

All our homes are run by experienced and friendly registered managers who will be responsible for ensuring that the right support is available to meet aspects of our residents’ daily needs and wellbeing.

Increased Independence

Our focus has always been on creating opportunities for our residents to thrive and lead more independent lives.

Alongside the required support, we look to provide the opportunity for residents to develop and build many of the skills needed in their day-to-day lives such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, personal care and financial management.

Every resident also has access to a programme of activities, volunteering or education based on their interests and skills that we hope will help encourage them to build and maintain relationships with the people around them and engage in new experiences.

For example, we host a gardening club at our head office every week and regular activity mornings where our tenants and residents can get together and socialise whilst enjoying a fun activity that brings an opportunity to develop key skills. We love doing what we can to help residents thrive.

Safe and Secure Accommodation

All our residents are provided with accommodation that includes their own private bedroom, access to shared living areas and a garden.

When a resident moves in they are provided with a furniture pack that includes a bed, mattress, chest of drawers and wardrobe and they can choose to decorate their bedroom as they wish and put their own personal stamp on it.

Residents also have all their meals prepared by our team and are given the choice of what they would like to eat and when bringing more independence and choice over their own lives.

We also love seeing our residents’ family members come to visit our residents and see more of the Lisieux Trust community.

Learn More about Lisieux Trust

Find out more about the support we provide on our website at https://www.lisieuxtrust.org.uk/what-we-do/

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that impacts more than 1 in 100 people in the UK.

By raising awareness and encouraging people to learn more about autism, we can help create a society that is more inclusive and accessible for everyone, providing experiences for all to enjoy.

As April is National Autism Awareness Month, we wanted to share why it is so important for places to be autism-friendly, as well as highlight some of the places championing inclusivity by offering ASD-friendly experiences and days out in the Midlands right now.

Why it is so important for places to be autism-friendly?

1) Sensory Processing

People on the autism spectrum can often have hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli where loud noises, strong smells, and flashing images can cause anxiety and physical pain. Removing these obstacles can massively build an individual’s confidence and overall positivity. This may have further positive impacts in the future where they feel more comfortable trying new things.

2) Crucial for well-being

Activities and attractions offering autism-friendly events helps to eliminate anxiety and dread over day-to-day things, such as going to the supermarket or the cinema. It also allows for crucial socialisation which can have a massive positive impact on mental well-being.

3) Promotes Awareness

Holding autism-friendly events allows staff members to be taught how to deal with certain situations and spread an understanding this way. They also help to create an understanding for visitors seeing the advertisements, who might be unaware about autism and what it means for an individual.

What can places do to be more autism-friendly?

1) Sensory Maps

Having maps for the senses, such as a map of lighting, touch, and sound, can mean the difference between an anxious and distressing experience, and a calm and confidence-building one.

It allows people to prepare for changing sensory experiences, breeding a sense of confidence within an unfamiliar and alienating space. It is an extremely simple idea, yet it has the potential to make a massive difference to the community!

2) Specific Quiet Times/Having a Quiet Room

Having specific quiet times or a designated “quiet room” can provide a safe space for guests. This provides reassurance and creates a more pleasurable experience for people with autism.

3) Create an inclusive and supportive environment

Having support at events can be crucial to provide a sense of familiarity and calm on days out. Training staff at events is very important so that they know how to deal with situations constructively and helpfully. Allowing carers to accompany people with autism can also be crucial.

Autism-friendly activities in Birmingham/Midlands

1) ODEON autism-friendly experiences

One Sunday each month, ODEON hosts an autism-friendly film screening.

This includes keeping the house lights on throughout the showing, with lower audio volume to reduce any sensory overload. They remove the preceding advertisements and trailers for this reason also.

The cinema doors are also opened earlier than usual to allow guests to explore and familiarise themselves with the venue ahead of the screening.

2) Birmingham Hippodrome relaxed performances

The Birmingham Hippodrome offers relaxed performances designed for people with autism, learning difficulties, and other sensory and communication disorders. They offer more freedoms such as walking in and out of the auditorium during performances as well as being allowed to make noise throughout the performance.

It is also SEN friendly, offering adapted staging, maybe a simpler version of the script, raised house lights, and bright lights and loud noises removed. There is also a nearby calm space in cases of distress or unease with beanbags, sensory toys, and bubble lights.
All front-of-house staff are also trained in advance of all relaxed performances.

3) Rush Trampoline Park SEN sessions

Rush Trampoline Park offers a great opportunity for people to explore the joys of trampolining in a more relaxed and accessible way.
These sessions include a capped capacity, no music, and reduced lighting to avoid any glare. Carers are also welcome to accompany visitors into the arena free of charge.

4) National SeaLife Centre Birmingham ‘Quiet at the Aquarium’

On selected dates, the National SeaLife Centre offers a ‘quiet’ experience before regular opening times. This is aimed at creating an SEN-friendly experience that is quieter and more relaxed than usual, involving switching off the centre music and turning televisions down to minimal volume.

About Us

Here at Lisieux Trust, we believe in empowering and supporting adults with learning disabilities and adults on the autism spectrum.
Our goal is to create independence and opportunities for our community to create awareness. Whether that’s within our provided care and accommodation or through our work.

Learn more about the support we provide or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to stay up to date with many of the activities our tenants and residents get up to.

Tuesday 21st March saw the global celebration of World Down’s Syndrome Day, as a way of raising awareness of Downs Syndrome and empowering the millions of people around the world affected by it.

Around a third of the people we support have Down’s Syndrome, so this is always an important day for Lisieux Trust.

2021 and 2022 saw big leaps in the representation of people with Down’s Syndrome in the public eye. George Webster started presenting on Cbeebies, Ellie Goldstein became the face of Gucci and Adidas and high-street brands in the fashion industry started using models with Down’s Syndrome in their advertising.

We loved seeing this happen and we hope it helps other people with Down’s Syndrome to feel that they are important and valuable members of society.

Every year there is a different theme to the awareness day, with the 2023 theme – ‘With Us Not For Us’ focusing on how people with Down’s Syndrome have the right to make their own decisions about their own lives; rather than other people telling them how they should and shouldn’t live.

We are incredibly passionate about this at Lisieux Trust. We know all too well just how often adults with Down’s Syndrome and other learning disabilities, or autism are told what they should and shouldn’t do by others.

We believe in supporting each adult to understand what their options are and to make choices that they feel comfortable and confident about.

People with Down’s Syndrome and other learning disabilities and autism are often expected to live ‘perfect’ lives where they make no mistakes.

However, adults without disabilities make mistakes or make choices that other people would consider ‘unwise’ everyday; they might shout, swear, sit and eat a whole pack of biscuits in one go, they might go out and have too much to drink, they might date the wrong person, they might take a job that isn’t right for them.

These are the kind of ‘mistakes’ or ‘poor choices’ that teach us about ourselves and life; they can be an invaluable part of learning what is important to us and feeling more confident about how to achieve it.

Yet adults with learning disabilities are often expected to avoid these scenarios because they are considered too ‘risky’.

At Lisieux Trust, we believe everyone we support has the right to make informed choices; our job is to ensure our residents and tenants have as much information as possible about each option open to them and to support them to make their own decisions.

If they turn out to have made a mistake or a poor choice for them; we’re there to help them understand and learn from it. And if they need to be angry, have a cry or need a hug, we’re there for that too! We believe this is what real adult life looks like, and everyone has the right to it.

Residential care and supported living at Lisieux Trust

With 11 homes situated across Northeast Birmingham – including Sutton Coldfield, we provide a place for adults with a learning disability or autism to live together, learn together and laugh together.

Find out more about the support we provide here – https://www.lisieuxtrust.org.uk/what-we-do/

Supported living allows adult with learning disabilities or autism to live life with greater independence while receiving the extra physical or mental support they need in their day to day lives.

It is a massive part of what we do here at Lisieux Trust. We currently manage eight dedicated supported living properties located across Erdington and Sutton Coldfield.

There are several benefits of choosing supporting living for your loved one and in this blog, our team are going to run through some of the key ones so that you can gain a greater understanding of how it works.

Enjoy more independence

Supported living provides the opportunity for your loved one to live a more independent life in their own home, with support tailored to their specific needs.

It is a great option to consider, whether they are leaving their parents’ home, living independently but require more support, or even transitioning from child to adult services.

Our support is personally tailored towards each person. It could be the case that a tenant may be independent enough to only need a short visit from a support worker, or it may be that a tenant needs 24-hour care.

Many of our supported living tenants also have fantastic opportunities to integrate within the community and attend places of work, volunteering roles, and higher education, as well as go out on lots of fun trips around Sutton and Birmingham.

A home tailored to their requirements

Each person we support has a tenancy agreement that grants them legal rights over their room in one of our shared properties and awards them the opportunity to have more independence in their lives.

They will be responsible for things like paying bills and the upkeep of their home which will help teach valuable life skills, but also provide a space to relax and call home.

Specialist assistive equipment will be available in each property depending on the individual needs and requirements of the tenants, including call systems, hoists, and automatic doors.

We know it’s really important to be surrounded by people you enjoy spending time with, so we support our tenants by finding suitable housemates with similar lifestyles and interests.

Our supported living homes are also set in the heart of their communities, meaning easy access to local amenities and attractions, along with having transport links close by.

The chance to create a home they love

One of the most fun parts of moving into your own home is being able to decorate it to your liking, and it is no different in our supported living properties.

This is another great opportunity for independence and can really help to bring back those home comforts that might be missed from no longer living with family members.

Tailored care and support

Whilst we encourage a greater independence for our tenants, we also ensure that any and all required support is always present. This covers lots of different tasks, including personal care, medication, and help managing finances.

Care is tailored to the needs and wishes of each tenant. Each person will receive a detailed assessment before placement to determine the level of support needed.

In some cases, tenants may be highly independent in some areas of life, but more dependent in others. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if that is what a tenant requires.

Support from a team of trained support workers

Just like in residential care, our support workers are professionally trained, and their focus is on helping to improve the lives of the people around them, while ensuring that tenants are always treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Personal qualities are also vital for our support workers and team members. When we recruit, we look for candidates who have important qualities such as kindness, honesty, good organisation, reliability, and who are excellent listeners.

Discover more about Lisieux Trust

Find out more about the support we provide on our website at https://www.lisieuxtrust.org.uk/what-we-do/

A career in supported living is an extremely rewarding area to work in. As a support worker, you will play a crucial role in supporting and encouraging our tenants and residents.

Supported living is a different form of care that gives the residents and tenants you support the freedom to make lots of their own decisions and lead more fulfilling and independent lives.

Interested in finding out more about supported living? We’ve answered some of the most-asked questions.

What is supported living?

Supported living services enable people with learning disabilities, autism and other needs to live happy and fulfilling lives, both independently and safely in their local communities.

When a person goes into supported living, they have their own home with a tenancy agreement and at the same time, receive the support and varied care they need, which can vary from a couple of hours a week to one-to-one support, 24 hours a day.

What are the main duties of someone who works in supported living?

No day is the same in a supported living role. It is incredibly varied, challenging and rewarding.

Our support workers are at the heart of everything we do. On a day-to-day basis, you will support those with autism or learning difficulties for different periods of time, and the level of care you provide may change depending on the resident or tenant.

It’s a telling sign of the enjoyment of the job when a team survey found 97% of our employees said they were happy to work for us.

Some days, you may be asked to help with their creative projects, go on trips to see attractions around Sutton and Birmingham, or take part in communal sports activities. On others, you may be responsible for booking health appointments or carrying out important personal care duties.

What qualifications do I need to work in supported living?

Our focus is on providing the best support and experience for our tenants and residents. As a result, we focus on personality and transferable skills when adding to the team in support positions.

We look for candidates who are kind, honest, reliable, organised, and good listeners – experience in a care environment is beneficial but not essential.

What we do ask of people, however, is a willingness to work towards a Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care, to ensure that everyone upholds the highest of care standards. On top of this, you will also be subject to an enhanced DBS check as part of the hiring process.

Why choose a career in supported living?

There are very few careers out there more rewarding than care, especially supported living. It’s undeniable that it can be hard work at times, but the reward of seeing the tenants and residents happy and thriving far outweighs everything else.

The work you do will directly better the lives of others. You can see first-hand the effects of your care, learn new skills, adapt to any situation, and enjoy developing new professional and personal relationships.

You can help our tenants and residents achieve their goals, dream bigger, and live life to the fullest. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, what’s stopping you?

Get in touch

If you want to find out more about a career in supported living, you can learn more on our work for us page and find out if you could be the perfect fit.

Alternatively, you can speak to someone at our Head Office to talk through your options by emailing info@lisieuxtrust.org.uk or calling 0121 377 7071.

Finding the right care services for your loved one can sometimes feel like a stressful task, as you focus on ensuring your family member is cared for in the best way.

In this blog, we will look at some of the key considerations you should make before deciding to ensure your choice is informed.

Make Sure the Home Provides All the Support they Need

The most important factor to consider when finding a house for your loved ones is ensuring their requirements can be met.

On top of ensuring they receive the right care, tailored support, and comfortable accommodation, you should also consider the opportunities for independence and development.

It is important that residents get opportunities to integrate within the community, build relationships with the people around them, attend places of work, volunteer, learn and take part in regular activities based on their interests.

Check if the Home Currently has Vacancies

The earlier you start the search for the right residential home, the better chance you have of finding the perfect place for your loved one.

Talk to the residential home you are interested in about their availability. You can also check the status of vacancies on sites such as ‘CareUK.’

Do not be disheartened at hearing a home is full. You can be placed on the waiting list until there is space to accommodate your loved one.

Check Their Website and Speak To Members of the Staff

You can never do enough research when making important decisions about residential care.

We recommend you get multiple perspectives on life at residential homes. Look at the website, check out brochures, speak to someone on the phone and arrange to look around the place.

Finding out about the experiences of existing residents will also help to give you even more insight into the care and support provided.

Find Their Most Recent Home Inspection

By checking the CQC website, you can find the most recent home inspection information for any residential home you are interested in, including Lisieux Trust.

It provides an impartial viewpoint on the residence, helping you to understand how they operate.

Discover More About Lisieux Trust

With 11 homes and supported living schemes across Northeast Birmingham – including Sutton Coldfield, we provide a place for adults with a learning disability or autism to live, learn and laugh together.

Find out more about the support we provide on our website at – https://www.lisieuxtrust.org.uk/what-we-do/

Down’s syndrome is a genetic disorder associated with physical growth delays, characteristic facial features, and mild to moderate developmental and intellectual disability.

Most people are born with 46 chromosomes. However, someone born with Down’s syndrome will have an extra chromosome. This occurs roughly once in 700 babies.

The care requirements of individuals with the condition vary from person to person, with intellectual and developmental issues varying from mild, moderate or severe.

In this blog, we are going to focus on the support we provide for people with Down’s syndrome and answer some of the key concerns family members may have about how their loved ones may be affected.

How can Lisieux Trust help my loved one become more independent?

Our focus is on supporting adults with learning disabilities to live independent and fulfilled lives. People with Down’s syndrome often live well into their 70’s and 80’s.

Like everyone, the level of physical ability and agility of someone with Down’s syndrome varies from person to person, but there is no aspect of their condition that will impact their ability to take part in regular activities.

Many of our supported living tenants with Down’s syndrome have fantastic opportunities to integrate within the community, attend places of work, volunteering roles, higher education, and take part in regular activities.

We also support adults to develop and build skills in the home, such as cooking, cleaning and laundry.

How do you approach the care of an adult with Down’s syndrome?

Everyone receives a tailored approach to their care. A detailed assessment before placement, to determine the level of support needed because we understand that tenants might be highly independent in some areas of life but require more support in others.

How is the care funded?

In the current cost of living crisis, we understand that it may be a struggle to fund the care of a loved one privately.

Those in our care are often eligible to apply for a range of welfare benefits including housing benefit. These can be used towards help pay for their rent, utilities, groceries and activities. Where required we can provide support to anyone in our care to apply and manage their benefits.

Donations also help enrich the lives of the people in our care. For example, when we receive £15, it can fund a course for a resident or tenant, £30 could help towards nurturing hobbies and £50 helps fund social opportunities for our people.

Residential care at Lisieux Trust

Find out more about the support we provide on our website at – https://www.lisieuxtrust.org.uk/what-we-do/

Being a support worker is not like a corporate role, as there isn’t a set day-to-day routine – each day varies. Some of our support workers are only at our properties part-time during the day for our supported living homes, whereas some of our support workers may spend the night at a home for our 24/7 care residents.

The role of a support worker varies from person to person, as each tenant and resident has different needs. However much or little support is needed, our support workers are always there to help.

We have numerous support workers who assist our tenants and residents across our 12 homes, and we want you to get to know a couple of them by finding out more about what they do.

Meet Maryam

Say hello to Maryam, one of our Support Workers for Lisieux House.

Maryam has been working at Lisieux House for only 2 months, but she has already developed great relationships with all the residents there. She assists our residents with various tasks, from personal care to accompanying our residents when going out shopping.

When asked about what she likes most about her role, Maryam said, “I enjoy working with the residents! At first, it can be a bit challenging as they get to know you, but once you have formed that connection, they become your second family.”

Maryam’s advice to anyone who is contemplating becoming a care worker is, “It’s not an easy role, but it is very rewarding. You must have a true passion to care for others and do it from your heart.”

Meet Richard

We also interviewed Richard who has been a support worker at our charity for 12 years.

Richard has previously spent 7 years working with the residents at Francis House, but he is now based at Lisieux House, supporting the residents with their day-to-day activities, and doing what makes them happy. Richard’s role also involves helping the residents with personal care when needed as well as accompanying them when they go into the community.

We asked Richard what he enjoys most about his role, and he said, “It’s honestly good fun and extremely rewarding as the residents here are amazing to be around.”

Join our team

Being a support worker is very fulfilling, and we are searching for caring and passionate individuals to join our team. We are currently recruiting several support workers to help assist our wonderful residents and tenants.

Interested in joining us? Contact us on 0121 337 7071 or email info@lisieuxtrust.org.uk.