Testimonials from Families of service users with learning disabilities

MR & MRS O

Our son was at a very low point when he arrived – conditions at his previous home had deteriorated considerably. He now attends Canto college, goes trampolining, has regular drives or bus trips out and does some cooking and shopping. Also he has regular visits home, supported by staff sharing journeys with family…Staff continuity is good.

THERESA

He is always well cared for and for the first time anywhere, I have been able to step back from helping/intervening

MR A P CALLISTE

Our son is now 50 years old and has been at Richardson Care since the age of 18. In the early years he found it difficult to settle in his new environment but with the inspiration and perseverance of the late Brian Richardson, supported by excellent care staff, he eventually settled well in his new home. The relationship with care and managing staff has grown well, and today we are impressed with the care that he receives.

Our son suffers with severe autism and this affects communication and understanding skills, but with the help and perseverance of care staff, he has managed to effect improvement in oral and reading skills and struggling to improve writing skills.

Today, he has settled well, showing much love and tolerance to all: he would never dream of being violent or aggressive to anyone thanks to the care home staff and managers.”

DR ROBERT SMITH

Our son is 40 years old and has autism and severe learning difficulties. He also suffers from epilepsy, which is controlled by medication. He has been a resident in the Kingsthorpe Grove home over 16 years. He loves being there and both he and we have a very good relationship with the staff and the management who we consider as friends.

In normal circumstances (without Covid) he leads a very full and varied life, engaging in a wide range of suitable activities. He has his own en-suite room to provide him total privacy when that is appropriate. The atmosphere in the home is exactly that, i.e. homely and not in the least institutional.

As we grow older, it is a great comfort to us to know that our son is, and will continue to be happy, safe and well cared-for.”

ANGELA MELIA

My son seems to have a good relationship with everyone. I have no doubt he likes some people more than others, but that seems to be well-managed.

He is much calmer and able to deal with problems, and accepts Richardson Care as his home. He loves all his activities and things seem to be the best they can be during Covid.

Everything always seems lovely within the home. It has made a huge difference to our lives. We have no worries about our son, except when social services say they must move him for economic reasons, which has not happened for a few years.”

MICHAEL & PATRICIA CLARKE

Our nephew, John, has been living within the Richardson Community for the past twenty years. During this time John has blossomed to become a mature adult. When John arrived in your care, he was a frightened and scared young man and had to be drugged to dampen his challenging behaviour. By your caring work, you were able to gradually withdraw drug therapy and allow John’s true personality to emerge.

We would particularly like to highlight how Jackie Mann and her team were able to put a framework of love and care around John. This process has enabled John to become the confident and humorous man we love.”

BOB SMITH

You might remember that I wrote to you all back in April to thank you for the excellent work you were doing looking after my son and all of your other residents during the lockdown.

We are now three months further into this wretched lockdown and I thought it might be time to write to thank you again for the hard work you continue to do looking after our loved ones, keeping them safe and well and providing them with as stimulating a programme of activities as possible during these difficult times. It is very reassuring for us to know that our daughters and sons are such capable and dedicated hands.

I hope that you and your families remain well and I am sure we are all looking forward to a time when we can return to our normal or maybe ‘new normal’ lives.

Thank you again and my very best wishes

Bob Smith (July 2020)

I just wanted to write to you as a parent of one of your residents to say how very grateful I am for the care you are providing for my son and the other residents during these difficult times. I know you are doing your very best, not just to care for our loved ones, but to provide them with as varied and stimulating a time as possible. I know that, like all of us, you are concerned about your own safety and well-being of yourselves and your families and this makes us doubly grateful for the excellent work you are doing.

I hope that you and your families remain well and look forward to being able to resume my regular visits to no. 8.

Thank you again and my very best wishes,

Bob Smith (April 2020)

FRANCES A

The overall experience of the staff and management of the home is excellent, they not only care and look after our daughter, they are very supportive of us as a family. 

ALLAN C

On the several occasions when I visited the care home to see, collect or return my son, I have found the care workers polite and helpful within the limits of their powers/duty. The care home is kept really friendly, clean, tidy and comfortable; and the general environment including personal safety and security arrangements warrants no criticisms.

DR CLARKE

Over a period of ten years, my nephew has presented with very challenging behaviour. Having his time with the Richardson Partnership, his behaviour has improved as a result of excellent care. This consists of reducing the ‘chemical cost’ of reducing drug therapy with a range of behaviour modification and genuine and dedicated care, which we greatly appreciate.

SURVEY RESPONSES

Below are comments from our annual surveys, which are completed anonymously.

The home is superior to most other homes visited.

The staff have always been very supportive to our family.

He is very happy at Kingsthorpe Grove, we wouldn’t wish for him to be anywhere else.

He is more alert because of the time and effort the Manager and staff have worked to cut down on the amount of unnecessary drugs he was taking, which enables him to live his life in an enjoyable and contented way of his choosing.

He has a full and happy life. Everyone seems pleased to work with him. He could not receive better care.

He has been there over 20 years. Quality of life could not be better.

The home is friendly and welcoming, the other residents are pleasant and friendly… They know her so well and it is her second family, and when we visit we are welcomed… She gets help and support from all and she is treated with respect and love… I have no problem recommending your services, they are outstanding.

He has progressed so much this year, being able to go on holiday and attend social events… He realises he is cared for well and that he is valued within his community… He is like a new man, he was very dependent on drug therapy when he arrived at Richardson’s. Your care has enabled him to flourish and grow… the social and psychological stimulation helps him make progress. We would like to thank you for all your highly skilled and sensitive work with him.