Our Safe Care Policy

Seven points we regard as being of utmost importance, where safe and responsible caring for
people with special needs whom we look after is concerned:

We recognize that every person we invite into our home is an individual, with his or her own ways to manifest this fact according to likes and dislikes, abilities and characteristics. We are acutely aware that children, and people of any age with a learning difficulty are particularly vulnerable to misunderstandings and possibly even abuse, because of thoughtlessness and/or difficulties with communication.
To counteract that, we start off any relationship with any person in our care by requesting as much information as possible, and by providing only the most necessary boundaries (but those firmly!) to safeguard everyone’s safety – physical, mental, spiritual and emotional.

To put our guest at ease, we would spend as much time as possible just being with him or her, observing, walking, playing (in a non-intrusive way), and generally listening to what is being told to us, with or without words.

In the case of children, we ask the parents what rules they want us to keep up, and how they’d like us to do things, for example: routines for snacks & meals, help with personal care, etc.

We ask what names the child (and his or her body) is given - and we use the same; how much affection (and how) - and follow suit; what games, treats, outings and challenges are considered appropriate – and keep to them.

We endeavour to give care in calm & happy surroundings and atmosphere, indoors or out, in a structured and predictably stable (but never boring) way.

We maintain our own & our guest’s privacy in the bathroom. Where personal care is needed, it is given with respect; to the more able it is never forced upon, only ever offered. To safeguard ourselves, we try to be at home together for as much of the bathroom routines as possible, all of which are anyway always undertaken with the total approval of the main carers.

We aim for the general behaviour between us to be never compromising or confusing to our guests whatever their age, gender or ability.

We embrace every individual with his or her own desires and needs. We try to provide perfectly-fitting, tailor-made respite, which leaves everyone involved with a feeling of peace and wellbeing. We always look for ways to improve stimulation, comfort and contentment, and are always open to suggestions!