Our Care
In general terms, Cavendish House, Bruntsfield House and Heathcot Houses, operated by Florijn Care Ltd and registered / regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have, for nearly 10 years, provided specialised, medium to long-term, enhanced social care for people aged 18-64 with learning disabilities; generally compounded by enduring mental health needs and challenging behaviour, who require individually tailored packages of assessment and care.
​
Florijn Care aims to integrate and rehabilitate service users back into the community by facilitating personal growth and development that empowers them individually, whilst also benefitting the wider community. The service is based on the principle that this can be achieved by valuing both the individual and those within their personal and social networks. We acknowledge the positive contribution that service users with learning disabilities, mental health needs and, where applicable, behaviour perceived as challenging, can make to their local community and society in general.
Often, this may involve collaborative working with Social Workers, Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPN), Clinical Psychologists and Consultant Psychiatrists, whether from Community Learning Disability, Specialist Mental Health and Behaviour Support teams, or the Essex Community Offenders Service (ECOS); effectively, the forensic learning disability service for Essex.
Our aim is that service users make measurable, good progress in many routine aspects of life, in terms of developing generally positive, empathic, interactions with staff and fellow service users. Also, acquisition and development of daily living skills, including assisting staff in the kitchen. Florijn Care also work to promote and maintain peoples’ personal living spaces, as active consideration always being given to an individual potentially transferring from the residential part of our service to a more independent, supported living scheme.
All staff recruitment, training and supervision reflects these fundamental principles and the need for continuity of staff and approach. Consequently, since the inception of the company, nearly years ago, Florijn Care has never once used agency staff.
The service provided combines a diverse range of in-house activity and access, supported as appropriate, to the extensive local educational, recreational and other facilities and resources available subject to applicable COVID related restrictions. Reflecting any framework constraints and professional input applicable to each individual, and based on available information about the past, care staff develop risk assessments and associated care plans with service users, led by management and allocated key workers.
We recognise that contact with family, carers and friends can be of utmost importance and mutual visits can be arranged, after appropriate assessment and agreement, reflecting the individual circumstances in each case. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these visits have been have conducted in accordance with applicable Government and public health restrictions.
The Care Team
The team follow a social/ recovery model of care, with high staff-to-service user ratios, to ensure that service users receive sufficient support to develop confidence in their own skills and ability to thrive in the community living environment.
​
Russell Channer is the Registered Manager at both services, being a highly experienced, dual qualified and currently Registered Learning Disability Nurse and Social Worker, whilst the majority of Care staff have achieved or are working towards Health and Social Care Diplomas at appropriate respective levels.
​
The level of care delivered will reflect the individually assessed and agreed needs of each service user, in conjunction with respective Community Multi-Disciplinary Teams, e.g. Enhanced Support Team, Essex Community Offender Service (ECOS), Specialised Psychosis Team, Community Learning Disability Team. Our approach is based on principles and practice of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).