We are excited to start a new tradition! We invite all service users and residents to Brierley Park for an afternoon of games and a picnic.
We’ll be using public transport, so feel free to meet up and join us for the journey.
More details will be shared in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Choose the best session for you from 10am – 12pm or 6pm – 8pm.
Cost: £5 per head.
Tracey Green, Director, Autism Specialist Consultant and Responsible Individual
Tracey has over 25 years of experience in health and social care and is up to date with the current legislation and her responsibilities in this area. Tracey has 20 years of experience leading a staff team and providing the required amount of supervision, support and training to ensure a well led service provision.
Tracey has a particular interest in working with children, young adults and their families to offer consultancy, advice and bespoke training in neurodivergence. This includes working with children and young people in their homes and within educational placements to provide consultancy and support with communication barriers, wellbeing strategies and life skills.
Tracey is qualified to MA in Autism Education and has lived experience of the complex education system, health care barriers and social exclusion challenges with having 2 autistic children. Â She also has qualifications in healthcare management and training.
April Parker, Registered Manager and Operations Lead
I have been working for CCT Community Enablement Team LTD for 8 years. I have progressed with the company from the start. I am now the registered manager and the Operations Lead. With a vast knowledge of the care sector, I continue to develop my personal development with ongoing training to support myself and the needs of the business.
I have a duty to provide an excellent standard of care to all the individuals who access the support provided, both in the community and the care home. I oversee care delivery and am a supportive and on-hand manager of the staffing team.
I have a responsibility to engage with external professionals to maintain excellent communication and transparency and ensure that the care and support needs of all the people we support are managed and delivered effectively.
We offer a range of support to people of all ages and disabilities, allowing us to share our knowledge with all our support recipients and their families.
Please complete the form below to register for attendance.
Despite the unpredictable weather, our dedicated gardening club members recently gathered for a fulfilling day’s work! Originally, we planned to plant at the allotment, but we opted to contribute our efforts to the Enablement Care garden instead.
The highlight of our day was constructing a wheelchair-accessible raised bed for one of our members. This new addition will not only facilitate easier gardening but also enrich the outdoor space. Additionally, we planted some strawberry plants and added flowers to the front borders.
A very special thank you to Lisa, who has consistently been an incredible support! Her unwavering dedication and ability to tackle any challenge without hesitation are amazing!
Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed their energy and enthusiasm—it’s your hard work that is bringing the garden to life!
The community hub open day was a lovely, successful event. Throughout the day, we engaged collaboratively with attendees to discuss their preferences for the services provided at the hub. This interaction offered valuable insights and fostered a shared vision for future projects.
We were also pleased to generate ideas for the upcoming summer fair in July. This promises to be an exciting opportunity for further community involvement and enjoyment.
Feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive. They appreciated the calming atmosphere of the hub and expressed enthusiasm for the new projects. Many are looking forward to regular meet-ups, and they valued having a welcoming space available during times of anxiety.
The hub will be open on Wednesdays from the 8th of May 2024.
Introduction and Role Overview
As a Life Skills Facilitator within CET, I am dedicated to empowering service users within the community and residential care settings to lead fulfilled lives by developing essential life skills. My role encompasses guiding individuals to acquire the ten essential life skills as outlined by the World Health Organisation: critical thinking, creative thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, effective communication, interpersonal relationship skills, self-awareness, empathy, coping with emotions, and coping with stress.
By fostering the acquisition of these skills, I aim to support individuals in building confidence, fostering independence, and enhancing their overall well-being. Through personalised interventions and a person-centred approach, I collaborate with each individual to identify their unique needs and strengths, tailoring my support to ensure it connects with and benefits them on their journey toward personal growth and development.
Passion and Motivation
What fuels your passion for aiding individuals in developing life skills? Was there a pivotal moment or influence directing you towards this field?
“Witnessing individuals achieve what they once thought was impossible ignites my passion for aiding individuals with various diagnoses in developing life skills. Seeing their faces light up with joy as they overcome challenges and achieve milestones is incredibly rewarding. This drive was further solidified through personal experiences and a deep-seated belief in the potential of every individual to thrive.”
Challenges and Rewards
Could you discuss some of these challenges and how you address them? What are the most rewarding parts of your work?
“Challenges often arise in helping individuals with various diagnoses navigate social interactions, build confidence, and overcome barriers to learning. However, witnessing their growth, development, and increased confidence is immensely rewarding. Additionally, observing the joy and satisfaction on their faces as they achieve their goals reinforces the importance and impact of my work.”
Personalised Approach
Each individual has unique needs and strengths. How do you tailor your approach to life skills to ensure it connects with and benefits each person you work with?
“I leverage various methodologies to break down complex skills into manageable steps, utilise strengths, and create inclusive learning environments. This ensures that each individual receives personalised support that resonates with their needs and effectively promotes their growth and development.”
Success Stories
Could you share a memorable success story highlighting the positive impact of life skills education on an individual with additional needs?
“One memorable success story involved a young man with autism who initially struggled with anxiety and social interaction. Through targeted interventions he gained confidence and developed leadership skills. Witnessing his transformation from struggling with anxiety to confidently engaging with others and taking on leadership roles was truly inspiring. This success underscores the importance of personalised support and the potential for individual growth.”
Advice for Other
What advice would you offer to educators, caregivers, or professionals who wish to support the life skills development of individuals with various diagnoses?
“Be patient, empathetic, and persistent. Take the time to understand their unique perspectives, leverage their strengths, and utilise evidence-based methodologies to promote their growth and development. Most importantly, approach your work with optimism and positivity, as your attitude can greatly influence their learning experience and overall well-being.”
In our ongoing commitment to foster a culture of recognition and appreciation, we’re happy to announce the initiation of the 2024 Person-Centred Care Awards. This initiative is designed to spotlight and recognise our staff members’ dedication and exceptional work, who are at the heart of providing compassionate and individualised care to our residents and service users.
A nomination box will be present during our staff meetings, inviting each team member to nominate a colleague they believe embodies the principles of person-centred care. This is your opportunity to shine a light on a colleague’s hard work and dedication.
We ask that you accompany your nomination with a few sentences explaining why this person deserves recognition. This could be an account of their compassion, innovative approach to care, or unwavering support of residents, service users and colleagues.
After all meetings have concluded, we’ll tally the votes. The staff member who receives the most nominations will receive a special gift and a certificate in the first phase of the 2024 awards, marking their outstanding contribution to person-centred care.
The Person-Centred Care Awards are more than just a gift; they reflect our collective values and commitment to recognising our staff’s incredible work. By nominating a colleague, you acknowledge their excellence and help us to foster a culture of appreciation and mutual respect.
We encourage everyone to participate enthusiastically in this process. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and compassionate care that define our team.
Stay tuned for updates and the stories of our nominees and winners, which we’ll share in our upcoming blogs, our website, and social media. Let’s make the 2024 Person-Centred Care Awards memorable and inspiring for everyone involved.
We thought getting to know our staff and their job roles would be a lovely idea. We have an incredibly professional and motivated team that inspires us daily. Next up in our ‘meet our staff’ series is Nicky King from Community Enablement Team and Enablement Care.
Q. What is your role with Community Enablement Team and Enablement Care?
Registered Manager of both Enablement Care and Community Enablement Team.
Q. How long have you been working in care, and how did you get into it?
I started working in care eight years ago. I spoke to a friend who had always worked in care, and she told me I would be great in a care role, so I plucked up the courage to change my career path. I have never looked back; it was the best decision ever!
Q. What does the future hold for you? Do you have an area of special interest?
The future is full of positives and much more hard work and studying.
Q. What is your favourite part of your job?
Interacting with the service users and knowing that you have made a difference in their lives somehow or in some way. Working alongside staff and helping and guiding where I can.
Q. What’s the worst part of your job?
That is a difficult one; I would only say that sometimes the hours can be very long, but sometimes it is needed to ensure everyone is happy.
Q. Do you have a funny story to tell?
Most recently, I was talking to a resident; she asked where I was going – I told her I was going out to work in the community, to which she replied, “You’re like dog s**t you get everywhere.” That really made me laugh!
Q. What’s your superpower? I’m pretty sure all carers have one.
I think I am a bubbly person, and I always try to get people to sing and dance with me, no matter where we are, and they do so. I think my superpower name should be Dancing Queen.
Q. What do you think is unique about Community Enablement Team?
It allows our service users to live their best lives, enjoying time doing what makes them happy. Whether that is maintaining their bills and household chores or going to the seaside, disco or archery, there is nothing our team will not be happy to support with.
Q. What advice would you give anyone just beginning their caring career?
Take each day as it comes; no two days are the same. That is the best part of the role.
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Being a carer means that no working day will be the same.
You need to take care of yourself; remember to be patient; everyone is an individual.
Don’t forget to enjoy yourself; this passes on to the service user.
Feel free to ask questions and learn from your mistakes.
Build a relationship! That is the most important aspect of care.
Q. What do you think of the training facilities at CET?
We have exceptional in-house training and have recently moved onto an e-learning programme, allowing everyone to learn as many new parts of care as possible.
Q. What would you be doing if you weren’t working in care?
I would probably still be working in the accounts department of the family business that my husband has built up.
Q. What’s your favourite activity outside of work?
I am a massive Liverpool FC fan, travelling all of England and Europe to watch them. When I am not at work, I ensure I get to as many matches as possible!
Our small and friendly home ‘Enablement Care’ in Sutton in Ashfield currently has vacancies for those looking for residential care. It is not often that our home has rooms available so please get in touch asap if you would like to know more or would perhaps like to have a look around to meet our staff and get a feel for our home.
Things people say about us…
“We enjoyed our visit to see my nan, they were very welcoming, checked who we were, and checked our LFTs and temperature. We wore our masks and enjoyed our visit. It was clear my nan was well cared for, she was smart, clean, cheerful, and warm.”
“On visiting the care home I found a warm welcome from members of the staff. The home was clean and well organised. A room was set aside for our visit so that we could have a one-to-one chat. This is useful as it gave us a quiet space with my mum. We were able to stay as long as we wanted and we did not in any way feel in the way. The staff do an amazing job and look after their every need. A big thank you to everyone for looking after my mum and keeping her safe.”
“My Mum has been treated with warmth and care since the day she arrived. She is 91 years old and has difficulties with social anxiety that make her loathe to spend time away from her room. The staff always make time to be reassuring towards her, encouraging her to leave her room for meals and for short periods of time and they support her in feeling confident to do so. They are always welcoming when I visit and they are caring. I know I can ring and speak to the manager at any time and ideas to address any concerns that I have will be suggested and implemented. Mum can be resistant to accepting help and wants to be as independent as she can be with regard to personal care, this is respected but staff are always on hand to check that she has managed to dress or undress correctly and to remind her about everyday things such as teeth brushing and washing. Mum always looks clean and well cared for when I visit, a hairdresser, chiropodist, and aromatherapist visits regularly and the food is excellent.”
For more information please give us a call on 01623 397750
or email info@challengect.co.uk.
Enablement Care is a small and homely residential setting in Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. We have 23 bedrooms, and 12 of these are ensuite. Our aim is to provide a high standard of genuine care for older people, people that have mental health conditions, and those with dementia and physical disabilities. We promote independence, and self-motivation and always aim to give out residents a high sense of self-worth.
We currently have vacancies within our home, if you are interested in finding out more, please get in touch by emailing info@challengect.co.uk or please give us a call on
01623 397750.
We welcome you to arrange a visit to take a look around at our friendly home.
