Download Aster Lodge information leaflet

Aster Lodge, 119-121 Wendover Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP21 9LW
12 Bed Transition Service for young adults aged 18-25
Aster Lodge is a new transition service for young adults with learning disabilities/difficulties,
physical disabilities, mental health needs, sensory Impairment and other complex needs such as
autism and asperger’s syndrome aged between 18-25.
The aim of this service is to work in partnership with the local authority, families and other
stakeholder to safeguard and help young people to maximise their daily living and social skills,
whilst they transition into adulthood and step down to independent accommodation within the
local community.
Each potential customer will be assessed individually to ascertain whether we are able to meet
their needs and manage their risks within this service. We will also carry out a compatibility
assessment in terms of other residents living at the service as well as our staff skill set. Once
funding is approved, we will discuss the transition plan with the customer and relevant
stakeholder to agree the move in timescale and date.
If customers require support before moving to Aster Lodge, to help with a smoother transition we
will provide this through our outreach support service.
Aster Lodge is located within walking distance to the Aylesbury town centre and has good public
transport links to local amenities and neighbouring towns. Customers will be encouraged and
supported to utilize all community activities as well as engage in voluntary and paid work.
Aster Lodge offers 3 levels of support High, Medium and Low needs within one building.
The High needs service is based on the ground floor and offers support to customers that are able
bodied but have mobility needs, challenging behaviours and other complex needs.
Within this service, customers are supported to continue their learning from college or school, in
terms of education and daily living skills. They will also be supported to manage their tenancy,
practical living and social skills. Whereby they will eventually be able step down to live as
independently as possible and maintain safe relationships, as well as engage in community
activities and further education or employment.
The ground floor comprises of 6 en suite bedrooms, communal bathroom, living room, dining
room, sensory room and communal front and rear gardens with parking for up to 6 cars.
The core staff are based at the home 24 hrs a day with waking staff at night and customers are
able to purchase any additional 1:1 support which will provide the active support required to
enable them to carry out tasks on a day to day basis from Comfort Care Group or a provider of
their choice.
The Medium needs service is based on the first floor where the core staff also proved 24 hrs
support per day with waking staff at night and customers are able to purchase any additional 1:1
support which will offer the active support required to enable them to engage in activities in or
outside of the home.
Customers living in this service will already have some independent living skills such as, basic
cooking skills, semi/independent travelling skills, budgeting, shopping, already engaging in some
community activities and have awareness of positive and negative relationships. These customers
will have a basic understanding of risk management and how to safeguard themselves and others.
The medium needs service comprises of 5 en suite bedrooms, communal bathroom, kitchen/diner,
lounge and front and rear garden with parking.
The Low needs service is a self contained flat with its own entrance, kitchen, lounge, bedroom and
bathroom. This service will be offered to customers that can demonstrate good practical living and
social skills, i.e. managing their medication, money management and are able to maintain their
tenancy. The customer living in this service will receive a minimum of 10hrs of support per week +
24hr on-call service, whilst preparing to transition into their own accommodation i.e. social
housing or private housing sector.
The Comfort Care Group of Companies (CCG) comprises of (Regent Housing) housing company,
Comfort Care Services Ltd (social support), CCS Homecare Services Ltd (CQC registered domiciliary
care company) and Positive Steps Ltd (social enterprise). Comfort Care has been providing
Supported living services for almost 30 years specialising in Mental Health services. However over
the past 10 years we have build up our wealth knowledge, experience and qualifications to
support vulnerable adults that have learning difficulties, physical disabilities, and other complex
needs and the staff team working at Aster Lodge have over 50 years of combined experience
ranging from special needs children services to CTPLD adult services.
Our housing partners Redwood Building Services and Regent Housing have decorated the property
to a very high standard, providing fully furnished bedrooms, and communal areas. Residents are
able to bring small personal items to personalize their bedrooms. However if they have specialist
equipment or would like to bring their own furniture this can be agreed at the time of accepting
the offer of the placement. If customers wish to change paint and re-decorate their bedroom than
this will be agreed at an additional cost which will also include charges to make good upon the
customer moving on from the service.
The support charges will be met by social services or direct payments and housing benefit would
normally cover accommodation costs. However the individual customer will be required to
contribute £18.20 towards utility bills per week as well as pay for their food and personal
expenses.
Additional Services offered
Comfort Care will work with Regent Housing to support customers to apply for benefits, such as
ESA, PIP’s, housing benefit and any other benefit entitlement.
Our sister company CCS Homecare Ltd will be able to offer support to customers that require
personal care as this is a registered domiciliary agency with CQC
Our social enterprise partner Positive Steps can offer services that allow personal budgets to be
stretched for residents that want to engage in group or work based activities, where customers
can choose from a range of activities on offer that may include, swimming, bowling, fishing,
disco’s, eating out, animal husbandry etc...
Regent Housing Ltd will also provide an employment service where their employment officer can
meet with individual customer to discuss their interests and potential opportunities to engage in
voluntary or paid work.
For further information, please contact Muryum Choudhry on:  01628 600412  07711 038 434
 [email protected]  www.comfortcareservices.com