Link Up - West Berkshire Mencap Work skills project for adults with LD

Last updated: 01/06/2023

Link Up is a work skills project for adults with Learning Disabilities.  Service users learn skills and knowledge for work, develop individual basic skills and awareness of responsibility in a work situation doing a variety of jobs for customers that include mail shots, packaging, light assembly and shrink wrapping.

Link Up also has a tutor who delivers Bespoke Courses and Open College Network courses that are accredited.  The courses provide an education element to Link Up by offering training on a variety of subjects that are tailor-made for our service users.  Funding comes from a variety of sources.

Link Up can offer ad hoc support learners in work placements in the community. 

Who to contact

Contact Name
Jane Hall
Contact Position
Deputy CEO
Telephone
01635 778120
E-mail
ads@wbmencap.org
Website
West Berkshire Mencap
Parent Organisation

Where to go

Name
Link Up, The Slater Centre
Address
Link Up, Unit E
Hambridge Road
Newbury
Postcode
RG14 5SS
Notes

Link Up is registered with Support with Confidence.

Time / Date Details

When is it on
9.30am to 3.00pm Monday to Friday
Time of day
Afternoon
Morning

Other Details

Costs

Table of costs
Table of costs
AmountCost Type
£66.30 per session
Details
Half days available
Transport not offered
Cost implications for personal care and 1:1 service.

Availability

Age Ranges
18-25
26-49
50+

Inclusion Information

Dietary Needs

Has Provision
Yes
Details
Service users provide their own food

Local Offer

SEN Provision Type
Specific Literacy Difficulties, Speech & Language Difficulties, Behavioural, Emotional & Social Difficulties, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Physical Disability, Hearing Impairment, Moderate Learning Difficulties, Visual Impairment
Local Offer Age Bands
19 plus
Needs Level
Medium
Low

General Provider

Is your service accessible? (consider in general terms how you make your service accessible, in addition to any specific premises issues)

Fully accessible, disabled toilet with changing bed and Oxford Hoist. Please feel free to contact us directly to discuss any issues or concerns you might have regarding accessibility

What are the eligibility criteria for your service? (please include any age restrictions, types of need catered for etc)

Eligibility depends on the individuals ability and desire to attend and take part in the service, able to show ability to learn and develop skills to partake in the work. Link Up offers a free taster session to potential new members. New members are then placed on a six week assessment to see if the service is suitable for their needs. Link Up is unable to provide personal care to individuals on a regular basis, a Dom Care service would have to be an additional funding on top of the Link Up placement cost.

How are referrals/applications made to your service? (include details of who can refer/apply and referral and application process)

Funding can be through

Funding can be through Social Services Locality Teams, Personal Budgets or self funded. Referrals and applications can be made by: •Self referral •Care manager referral •Application form on request. Funding needs to be inplace before placement can start and all paperwork completed, with Care Plans and information shared with placement.

What is your service standard for responding to referrals/accessing services? (include timescales for responding to referrals and accessing services)

Applications and enquiries are acknowledged as soon as they are received. Individuals will be invited, at their convenience, to visit Link Up and see if they would like a free taster session (if appropriate and organised, this can be at the same time).

Who provides / funds your service?
Local Authority
Are children, young people, parents / carers charged for your service?
Yes
Details of charges, whether any help is available with costs

 Absences are charged for, everybody is allowed to book four weeks holiday over the year

Inspection outcomes/quality awards

Link Up is registered with Wokingham and West Berkshire's 'Support with Confidence' Scheme

Feedback and complaints procedure

The service conducts an annual customer satisfaction survey which provides an opportunity to provide feedback and comments on the service. However, we are keen to ensure that any issues are addressed by ourselves at the earliest opportunity and complaints and compliments should be addressed in the first instance to the manager of the service verbally or by phone / email as follows: Name Telephone Email Should the complaint relate to the manager of the service (or dissatisfaction with the way an existing complaint has been handled) then complaints should be addressed to the  CEO as follows: Sara Vaughan - West Berkshire Mencap The Mencap Centre Enborne Gate Enborne Road Newbury Berkshire RG14 6AT Tel. 01635 41464 sara.vaughan@wbmencap.org 

How will I know my child will be safe using this service?

Individual Risk Assessments are completed for everybody who attends the service, all activities are risk assessed and all staff are fully trained in a variety of subjects on a regular basis. Health and Safety Awareness, Fire Awareness, Safe Guarding, Medication / Personal Care, Epilepsy, PRICE, First Aid, Equality and Diversity, Managing Challenging Behaviour. West Berkshire Mencap complies with all Health and Safety requirements and all associated legislation. Link Up fully supports best practice and provides annual training refreshers to staff, instead of the three yearly recommendation for training

Quality checks

  • Assured Care and Support
  • DBS check

West Berkshire Council do not promote or endorse any of the services listed in this Directory. For more information on this please read our disclaimer.

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