First year celebrations

Published by Barbara H for Invicta Telecare in Housing and also in Communities, Education, Environment, Health

Birthday celebrations got off to a great start at Mary Magdalene House in Tonbridge as a group of residents with learning difficulties laid on a party to mark the first anniversary of moving into their new home.

A year ago, under a new initiative between Invicta Telecare and Kent Adult Social Services, three adults with learning difficulties were given an exciting opportunity to move into their own home at Mary Magdalene House after an ex-scheme managers house became available.

Sonia Hicks, Invicta Telecares Care and Support Director said: When the house became vacant it provided the perfect location to offer supported living accommodation for the first time to adults with a learning disability. Initially our support officers provided many hours of support, helping them to set up home and learn essential everyday skills to move onto living independently. The project has proved so successful that those hours of support originally deemed necessary have already been significantly reduced. The house is fully equipped with the latest Telecare equipment linking them directly to our fully trained operators so help is still always close at hand and should they need someone to come out in an emergency our mobile response team will attend in person.

The three residents invited family, friends and others who have been instrumental in helping them take the first steps to living by themselves to celebrate their first year.

Sonia continued: One of the group, has made such progress he is now working towards moving on to his own home later this year. This is a fantastic result and we are extremely proud of his achievements. We hope the success of this scheme will act as a springboard to develop in partnership with Kent Adult Social Services other innovative and successful initiatives that fulfill a real community service.