A THURROCK
residential care home for learning disabled adults has snapped up two top national awards at a prestigious ceremony in Manchester.
Sunnyside House in Aveley is a residential home for a dozen people that specialise in preparing young adults to move into their own accommodation and sustain an independent life with the use of an educational life-skills training programme and an on-site training flat to practise the skills.
Nominated by Thurrock council, they won the Most effective new approach to service delivery award for its My Learning Independence For Ever (My LIFE) programme and then picked up the Winner of Winners Award from guest presenter Sherrie Hewson at the Skills for Care event.
The nomination highlighted how Sunnyside had developed the My LIFE programme which has changed expectations around transition and independence.
Owner, Andrew Azzopardi, said: “To be selected by Skills for Care is a phenomenal achievement and we are keen to spread the work of Sunnyside and the My LIFE programme further afield.
“We seriously hope to change the face of social care in England so every adult with a learning disability can benefit from a consistent standard of life-skills training and that providers display the honesty required to support those who are ready to become more independent.”
Skills for Care chief executive, Sharon Allen, said: “Sunnyside House thoroughly deserved their Winner of Winners crown as their innovative approach to person centred care beat off fierce competition from all the finalists in the eight categories.
“Everyone at the ceremony was impressed by their absolute commitment to person centred care and thinking differently about service delivery that has completely transformed the lives of the people they work with.”
And a statement from Skills for Care added: “The judges were very impressed by their aim to enable people with learning disabilities to gain knowledge and skills to live independently through the use of the My Learning Independence For Ever programme.
“The programme supports principles of personalisation creating a framework for service users, family carers and staff to achieve realistic outcomes.”
