Welcome to our first edition of the Short Breaks Centre newsletter.

We are delighted to share with you our great news - Ofsted judged us as Outstanding in the Inspection in September 2015. We were praised for providing effective and high quality service for children and young people.

We would like to thank all young people, parents/carers, staff and professionals for contributing to our success.

The new inspection framework, which came into force in April, presented us with new challenges. The entire staff team has been working hard in making a real difference to the lives of children and young people and we were able to show Ofsted the range of activities and the improvements children and young people have made during their stays with us.

In February, children and young people did a large painting to show their work when Ade Adepitan visited the Centre to film the BBC Get Creative programme.

In the summer and half term holidays, volunteers from the National Citizen’s Service (NCS) visited the Centre as part of their Challenge programme. Children and young people joined in photography, sports and drama sessions and fun was had by all.

Ofsted - outstanding

Newsletter December 2015 Issue 1

Ade Adepitan Short Break Centre, Grove Park, Kingsbury NW9 0JY

www.brent.gov.uk ade.adepitan- sbc@brent.gov.uk 020 8937 6701

Ade Adepitan

Short Break

Centre

We hosted seven sports sessions run by the All Active Brent. Children and Young people learnt new games and had a great time.

In the past six months, our young people enjoyed various activities such as arts & crafts sessions, story telling, baking, cooking, yoga and board games. We visited the Camden market, Chessington World of Adventure, Fantasy Island in Skegness, a local funfair, Portobello Road market, the RAF museum, Littlehampton and Hampton Court.

What young people and their families say about our service is important for us as this helps us to improve. Through a number of different ways, we asked people to share with us their views. Our bi-monthly parents coffee mornings have been successful. This offers parents to speak with us, share information and learn from each other. We really hope that even more parents will be able to join us in the future, as we value the partnership working,

We are committed to providing the highest quality of care in a homely environment to children and young people. We are always looking to improve how we communicate with families. We aim to produce six-monthly newsletter to share our news, tell you about the work we do, and celebrate our achievements. Please let me know what you think of the newsletter and tell me about your experience of our service.

With best wishes and seasons greetings from all of us.

Nedra Saparamadu Ade Adepitan Short Break Centre Manager

Page 2 Ade Adepitan Short Break Centre Newsletter

To help children and young people achieve their personal best, their key workers have been setting targets to develop their skills. We work around the children’s abilities and set focused steps to help each child and young person to reach their goals as well as learning new skills.

The targets are specific to each child. For example, this could be to maintain eye contact with someone, express a meal preferences using a full sentence or communicate by using PEC symbols. Progress is monitored during each visit. Every member of staff is aware the targets each young person are working towards, so they can support them to reach their goals.

Developing personal skills

In September and October, a team of coaches from All Active Brent initiative undertook a variety of specially designed activities for children at the Centre. They enjoyed weekly sport sessions, playing a range of games such as ball on a spring, football and especially, the speed and excitement of wheelchair races.

Faye Pearson, Coach said “We play, we laugh and we make new friends all whilst keeping our mind and bodies healthy. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone.”

All Active Brent

BBC – Get Creative In February, children were delighted to meet Ade Adepitan. They showcased their art work when the Centre was featured in the BBC Get Creative programme that Ade presented and now is proudly displayed at the Centre.

Staff, together with the Village School teachers organized two very successful arts and crafts sessions which all the children really enjoyed. This showed that whatever the disability, people can engage in a variety of stimulating and fun activities.

Page 3 Ade Adepitan Short Break Centre Newsletter

Highlight of the event was watching the performance of the Millennium Angels dancing group from the New Millennium Day Centre in Brent for adults with physical and learning disabilities. They really inspired all with their talents and we are looking forward for the next summer to build on this event.

Fun time with NCS Challenge volunteers

This year, the Centre hosted several groups of volunteers from the National Citizen Service (NCS) Challenge program, who organise photography, sports, media and drama activities for the children and young people at the Centre.

NCS is a government-backed programme for

16-17 years old which brings together young people from diverse backgrounds, providing them with skills for life, work, and adulthood.

Tahsin Rahman, one of the young people said: “Our time at the Short Break Centre truly been inspiring as well as eye-opening. Each and every one of the children had captured our hearts and taught us such valuable lessons. They were so kind-hearted and kept a smile on their faces throughout the whole time we were there.

We made a short film of the centre. I was the director of Team Socialise where we just played with the kids. It had been so fun and the atmosphere at the centre had such a positive and vibrant feel to it. It had been such a lovely experience! “

The NCS practitioner said “an amazing centre, organised management and everyone really interacted and had a fun, relaxed time."

Family Fun Day

In August we held a Family Fun Day. NCS volunteers including staff organised lots of activities and games for the children and parents to take part in, from face painting to treasure hunt, sensory, arts and crafts activities.

Volunteers involved children in basketball, challenged people to a tricycle race and had a lot of fun.

“Staff’s partnership working with key internal and external professionals is strong…” Ofsted report September 2015

Page 4 Ade Adepitan Short Break Centre Newsletter

It’s lovely. I like coming here.

Yesterday we went to see Winter Wonderland in Brent Cross.

The staff is lovely!

I like my bedroom.

I love painting nails.

My favorite food is rice and chicken

I have friends.

I do my English homework here.

I talk to the staff

I like climbing and trampolining.

I love going home to my mum.

New experiences and fun

Everyone had a fabulous day at the Southend Fantasy Island. We walked along the seafront, enjoyed an ice cream relaxing in the sun by the sea and went on the Fantasy Island rides. It was great to enjoy something new, to have a day out away from the normal routine. The young people were comfortable and relaxed.

Though at first, some of the children did not want to face their fears of rollercoasters, but by the end of the day they all loved the rides!

The trip helped everyone to become more confident and to improve their social and communication skills.

Laura Kane, Residential Child Care Officer

Several of children took part in the annual children’s charity Variety Club cruise on the river Thames. On a nice sunny day you can't beat getting a boat down to Hampton Court Palace. It was a lovely slow cruise with plenty to see and even a chance for one child to be the captain of the boat!

Hampton Court Boat Ride

“At the centre, young people enjoy new and creative experiences that they do not routinely have access to.” Ofsted report September 2015

Fantasy Island

Why I like my short break Ella Mitchell

Page 5 Ade Adepitan Short Break Centre Newsletter

Throughout 2015, we have received feedback from parents, it’s really important to us and we value what parents tell us.

Whilst it’s great to hear what people like, we also value when people tell us if something might not be quite as it could be.

The feedback we’ve received includes:

The Centre has a very good environment and is located in a very good place; there are lots of bus routes, train stations and supermarkets nearby.

The Centre is very clean and spacious, especially for wheelchair access and activities.

When my child is offered a short break, it really helps me as I get a great opportunity to have a nice break away from all my caring duties.

The Centre caters for my child's needs and all dietary requirements i.e. halal foods and various ethnic foods which she really enjoys.

“They have a very good chef who cooks freshly on a daily basis. My child feels very comfortable when at the Centre and gets on with all the staff. Staff are very friendly and follow all the instructions I give them i.e. administration of medications, activities the likes and dislikes which makes me feel comfortable and safe to leave my child in safe hands and not worry about her. The Centre could benefit from swimming and more outdoor activities although they do have indoor sensory room. The bedrooms are well equipped with TV and

radio.” Mrs Okeye

Parents’ feedback

Feedback given at the coffee morning

Coffee mornings 2016 Date

Day of the

week Time

08/01/2016 Friday 10.30 - 12.30

11/03/2016 Friday 10.30 - 12.30

It took me for a while to agree for the respite. Now I don’t feel guilty. I trust the staff. It is like a family. I brought my mum to show her the Centre

She just loves coming here

She feels at home here and gets very excited. It is nice to see that your child enjoys herself. She even enjoyed putting a little “tattoo” on

He is able to express what he wants

I like that you take her out

She changed so much. It is so nice that things are personal, that staff know what she likes, what she does not like

Page 6 Ade Adepitan Short Break Centre Newsletter

Having fun!

Page 7 Ade Adepitan Short Break Centre Newsletter

Following on from the really helpful consultation with parents, in the summer we introduced a Link Book for every children and young people.

Since we have been using the Link Book, we have continued to receive feedback from parents, and taken on board all the good suggestions parents and staff made.

At parents’ request, we will be changing the layout of the book, to include the parents’ comments in the first section, followed by the daily record of the child’s activities. We are aiming to have the revised Link Book ready in February 2

Short break centre link book

Info kiosk

Here is a few web links that might be of interest: https://www.gov.uk/help-for-disabled-child/overview

http://www.councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/sports-for-all

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

http://www.bild.org.uk/about-bild/aboutbild/

http://www.scie.org.uk/better-care-exchange/

Useful phone numbers:

Ofsted: 0300 123 1231 Wheelchair service: 0845 045 0194, 020 8963 8000,

020 8795 6074 Continence Service 020 8795 6454 or 6452

Season’s greetings

from the team

Laura Kane - staff of the year 2015

Laura Kane always goes an extra mile to make a difference to young people.

The significant contribution Laura has made to the young people and the team’s success was recognised by naming her the Staff of The Year 2015.

The team congratulated Laura and praised her for the work she has done.

Page 8 Ade Adepitan Short Break Centre Newsletter

Painted by young artists

at Ade Adepitan short break centre