An 11-strong staff team that supports two people with complex learning and physical disabilities has been shortlisted for a national award.
The team at Old Dover Road in Folkestone has been shortlisted in the Nutrition and Hydration category of the Great British Care Awards. The service is run by national not-for-profit organisation Dimensions, which supports people with learning disabilities and autism.
The team supports two individuals with profound learning and physical disabilities to live in their own home. Each staff member promotes choice and control for these individuals, who also require complex food and nutritional support.
Staff members have developed a vegetable patch in the garden of Old Dover Road so the residents can grow their own healthy fruit and vegetables. This created an organic diet for those being supported and had a huge positive impact on their relationship with food as well as their understanding of the food process.
A social enterprise, selling excess fruit and vegetables to family, friends and neighbours, has also been set up. In addition, the two individuals were supported by their team to attend Nutrition and Healthy Eating training.
Sinead McHugh, Dimensions Operations Director for Kent, said: “Their commitment and dedication to working positively and creatively is inspirational.”
Nationally, a number of Dimensions employees have been shortlisted for awards in different categories.
Dimensions Chief Executive Steve Scown said: “I am thrilled that so many Dimensions employees have been shortlisted in these prestigious awards. Their hard work and dedication to personalise support for people with learning disabilities and autism allows people we support to lead the life they choose.”
The team at Old Dover Road will now face a judging panel before attending an awards ceremony to find out the winners of each category in the regional final.
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For further information or to request an interview, please contact Kayley Worsley, PR and communications officer at Dimensions, on 0114 241 2112 or 07983477838.
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Dimensions is a specialist not-for-profit provider of support for people with learning disabilities and autism. It supports around 3,000 people across England and Wales. www.dimensions-uk.org
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The Great British Care Awards are a series of regional events throughout England and are a celebration of excellence across the care sector . The purpose of the awards are to pay tribute to those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work.
