Sunbeams - Special Care Unit and Nurture Group

The Special Care Unit is for 6 children with complex multiple disabilities who attend for 5 days a fortnight (3 days one week and 2 days the next). They must be referred by medical professionals usually from the Child Development Team based at Windmill Lodge, Ealing Hospital. Their disabilities mean that they need a lot of adult support, often 1 to 1, for feeding, dressing, toileting as well as with making their needs known as they often have speech and language difficulties.  Many children also have physical difficulties and need adult help as well as the use of specific equipment such as wheelchairs and standing frames. Staff are well trained, very experienced and are able to carry out techniques such as naso-gastric tube feeding and administering medication such as rectal valium.Staff is supported in their work by a range of health professionals (physiotherapist, occupational therapist and speech therapists). They visit weekly to give advice about specific teaching techniques and devise therapy programmes which the staff carry out during the child’s day. We provide a range of play experiences for the children to aid their development, including exploring with their senses. To help with this we are fortunate to have a large multi-sensory room (Moonbeams) which is used by all the Centre, not just those in the Special Care Unit. The Nurture Group operates on the 5 days a fortnight opposite the Special Care Unit. The 6 children in this group need less physical help from adults and equipment but still need a lot of support with their learning and communication. They have the same input from therapists and the same staffing ratios (1 adult to 2 children) as in the Special Care Unit.

Star Room (for children on the Autistic Spectrum)

Star Room caters for 6 children (they must also be referred) and has a ratio of 1 adult to 2 children, enabling the staff to give children a lot of support with their learning, especially with their speech and language skills. In Star Room and Sunbeams, staff use Makaton sign language and symbols and also a method of communication called P.E.C.S - Picture Exchange Communication System. They also use these pictures to create individual visual timetables so staff can communicate with children about what is happening and, once children learn how it works, they can communicate with staff as well. These staff is also supported by an occupational therapist and speech therapists who give advice about specific teaching techniques for autistic children and devise programmes which the staff carry out with the children. All children in the Centre with special needs have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) which includes input from parents, staff and therapists and are generally reviewed 3-6 monthly. All children also have a 6 monthly Care Plan review, involving other professionals who work with the family.We work closely with the Pathfinder Trust for Children with Disabilities and some of the staff are designated keyworkers for those children with complex needs and are responsible for liaising with other professionals about the child.