Catherine Care provides services for adults with learning difficulties and mental health needs who live in Cannock, Walsall and the surrounding areas of South Staffordshire. They have three supported living services and a vibrant day opportunities community access programme.
We talked to Louise, Head of Services and Louisa, Service Development Manager who manage the Day Opportunities service, and also Alison who manages the Catherine Care supported living homes.
Louise said: We are all about supporting learning and meaningful activities for anyone with mild to profound and multiple learning disabilities from age 18 upwards. We run a wide range of different activities to meet all needs, interests and abilities for people who join us each day. Our main hub is Jerome Road, where we have about 70 to 80 clients coming in every day. We also have two satellite sites, the Cabins, which are smaller and quieter and have about 5 or 6 visitors per day.
Louisa added: We run bespoke activities for individuals that are tailored around their interests, encouraging skill building and independence. Sessions include developing communication skills, life skills, money management, developing meaningful relationships, community safety, personal hygiene and more! We have a number of different sensory rooms to explore, our own rebound trampoline with trained practitioners on site, and we can enable clients to take part in physiotherapy programs to focus on physical wellbeing, as well as social and emotional wellbeing. We have a focus on supporting people to live their best lives.
Louise continued: We are big on drama activities at our day programme – with at least two drama shows every year – the summer show and Christmas show! Everyone gets involved in every aspect of the show. From developing the scenes, learning lines and routines, and working together to showcase our performances, the shows bring joy to a lot of people. Woodworking sessions make props and scenery for the shows, and these are decorated in the arts and crafts session. Seeing the team work together collaboratively to create something meaningful that we are all proud of is truly magical.
Louisa added: We also have a fantastic tea room here at Jerome Road, with an amazing afternoon tea! Clients are fully involved in planning menus, shopping for ingredients, taking orders, meal prep and cooking, serving food, and managing the customers' money. Sometimes we even use the produce from our Catherine Care allotment to make the food!
Louise commented: We are looking forward to being part of Choice Care and the staff and clients are already planning the acts they want to enter into Choices’ Got Talent!
Louisa continued: We are excited to be joining the Choice Care community, and look forward to meeting and getting to know other members of our new team.
Alison said: Catherine Care has three Supported Living houses, with residents who have a mix of different abilities. Nearly all of them go to the day programme and take part in the activities. We’ve got a wonderful team of staff who support in each of the houses.
Mark Luce, West Regional Director, Choice Care said: We are really excited to welcome all of our new Catherine Care colleagues to Choice Care! The Supported Living and Day Opportunities are led by a really experienced Management Team and a wonderful group of support staff, not to mention the amazing people they support. I have a feeling Choice got Talent will have some brilliant new entries in the future!
We are excited about getting to know the wonderful team and people they support at Catherine Care.
