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I couldn't picture myself going anywhere else

Posted By Johcn66

"I couldn't picture myself going anywhere else"

About: Adult Disability Services / Woodlawn House Short Breaks

(as a service user),

I've been coming to Woodlawn House since it first opened in 2011. I have really enjoyed my many stays here as it gives me and my family a break. This place gives me a homely feel as I've been in other places that have been a very clinical setting. Woodlawn is kept very clean and tidy and the staff take pride in the cleanliness of the environment. The food is very tasty and the staff always takes into account of my likes/dislikes and always give me a choice of what I would like to eat and drink.

 I feel that the nursing assistants are very supportive and help me to meet my full potential and nothing is ever a bother for them to help me - big shout out to them. The nurses here do a great job at making myself and other service users feel safe. I want to mention the manager Chanele, she does a spectacular job at making sure the running of Woodlawn is running smoothly and she never fears away from having a conversation with myself and other service users and she is a credit to the place.

One of the two issues I have with Woodlawn is that firstly there is no WiFi in the building. For Woodlawn being a trust facility and there being many service users (including myself) that use WiFi everyday and there not being any here it baffles me how there isn't any in it yet. I've had to buy my own portable WiFi for my stays here with my own money which I only use here. I just think that with it being 2024 there really is a need for it nowadays for not only myself but for other service users also.

Secondly I've noticed since the covid pandemic began there has been a decrease of activities done with myself and other service users. The care staff do try their best to work with what staff they have on to see if it is possible to do activities whether that is on the bus or even in the building. I would just like to see an increase in staff levels in order to get the right staff numbers to do activities.

All in all I do enjoy my stays here even though it's a bit of a travel with me but I couldn't picture myself going anywhere else.

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Responses

Response from Chanelle Crawford, Nurse Team Lead, Woodlawn , Mental Health and Disability Directorate, Mental Health and Disability Directorate, Southern Health and Social Services Trust 10 months ago
We are preparing to make a change
Chanelle Crawford
Nurse Team Lead, Woodlawn , Mental Health and Disability Directorate,
Mental Health and Disability Directorate, Southern Health and Social Services Trust

Submitted on 12/08/2024 at 23:39
Published on Care Opinion on 13/08/2024 at 07:35

Thank you for taking time to provide feedback. It is lovely to hear all of the positive things about short breaks which I will be sure to share with the Team at Woodlawn House at our next staff meeting.

It is also good for us to hear where we can improve especially from yourself who we provide a service for:

WiFi: this is something we continue to raise as a need for our service users who rely on devices for communication and entertainment purposes during their short break with us. We hope this is something we can provide in the very near future.

Activities: we currently have a QI project team working on improving the service and activities is an area we have identified we need and want to work on. We hope you start to see an improvement over the next few months and we will welcome your feedback on how this goes.

We really look forward to seeing you on your next short break and value your feedback.

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Response from Bernadette Marshall, Carers Consultant, Learning Disability, Mental Health and Disability Directorate, Southern Health and Social Services Trust 10 months ago
We are preparing to make a change
Bernadette Marshall
Carers Consultant, Learning Disability, Mental Health and Disability Directorate,
Southern Health and Social Services Trust

Submitted on 13/08/2024 at 11:16
Published on Care Opinion at 11:33

Good Morning

I really enjoyed reading your feedback on Woodlawn House short break Service.

It is wonderful to hear first hand how the staff and manager are doing an excellent job in supporting you during your short break in that facility and that your experience there is a good one.

I am so glad that both you and your family look forward to your shortbreaks in Woodlawn House as it supports you both to have a break.

Thankyou for submitting your ideas and suggestions for developments regarding lack of wifi available and need for more activities.

These are 2 areas that the QI Project Team are currently taking feedback on and your comments will support the need for improvements in both these areas.

I hope you continue to enjoy your shortbreaks in Woodlawn and appreciate your comments on the service.

Thankyou

Bernie Marshall

Carers Consultant LD

Mental Health and Disability Directorate

Southern Health Social Care Trust

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Response from Chanelle Crawford, Nurse Team Lead, Woodlawn , Mental Health and Disability Directorate, Mental Health and Disability Directorate, Southern Health and Social Services Trust 6 months ago
We have made a change
Chanelle Crawford
Nurse Team Lead, Woodlawn , Mental Health and Disability Directorate,
Mental Health and Disability Directorate, Southern Health and Social Services Trust

Submitted on 20/12/2024 at 17:00
Published on Care Opinion at 17:02

Hello,

I just wanted to pop on and share some developments in Woodlawn House.

WIFI: We went live 18/12/2024!! Some of service users in on their short break have already begun to avail of the WIFI on their iPad and communication devices. It is lovely to see this much needed resource finally in place. I am sure you will look forward to this on your next short break?

Activities: The QI project continues to work on activities. Our speech and language therapist is helping us review our annual survey and how we make this accessible to all of our service users. We are working on developing individual activity plans. Most exciting of all is with the support of the QI team some of our staff and service users applied for some funding through the Dragon's Den initiative and were successful in securing all of the funding! 2025 is sure to be great with developing the enclosed outdoor space at Woodlawn House with this funding.

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