Chantelle visits Pennywell Farm

It was a lovely day recently and a real sign that Spring is on the way.

Chantelle decided to take advantage of the nice weather and booked tickets to go to Pennywell Farm. Chantelle loves animals, she quite often attends her local horse riding centre and enjoys feeding and grooming the horses. Pennywell Farm has a wide range of animals and Chantelle loves to get involved in feeding and petting them.

The miniature pigs are a real hit and Chantelle took real care of these and enjoyed having a piggy cuddle.

Photo of a smiling lady cuddling a piglet in a blanket.

The goats are mischievous and quite greedy and nearly enjoyed a piece of Chantelle’s jacket on more than one occasion.

Lunch and a walk around the rest of the farm looking at the other animals completed the day and Chantelle is already looking to book tickets again for another visit soon.

Visit the Pennywell Farm website for more information and to book tickets.


www.pennywellfarm.co.uk


We’ve updated our Recommend a Friend scheme

Finding the right quality of care staff is a major challenge. It’s important that we don’t just fill the vacancies we have but that we fill them with the right people.

The right people are people like you, people who are already working here. That’s why we have launched our new and improved Recommend a Friend scheme because we know that you know the very next person you want to fill that vacancy in your team.

It’s why we are now offering bigger incentives than ever to make sure that we get the right people and you get the person you want. For each person that you recommend and that we hire, you will receive £150 once that person has completed their induction. We also know that sometimes having a new person join your team can be difficult and unsettling. Some of you might be asked to spend extra time with them showing them the ropes. We recognise it’s a team effort and so the biggest reward goes to the whole team. £500 will be paid when the person passes their probation and you can let us know how you want to use your reward to celebrate.


If you already have someone in mind please, get in touch.


Beyond Limits is a partner in the Small Supports programme

Beyond Limits has joined C-Change, NDTi, Positive Support for You and the Local Government Association to help develop and promote the Small Supports programme. The programme is generously supported by NHS England.


Visit the Small Supports page on the NDTi website


We are working with local areas to help them create the best environment for small supports to emerge and flourish and with existing and emerging small supports organisations to develop and share great ways of working. The partners are not seeking to establish or grow their own support activity.

Below is some background information about Small Supports


What are Small Supports?

Small Supports organisations have a lot in common. Small Supports organisations share nine key characteristics.


Background to Small Supports Activity

Small Supports activity is about thinking and working with people with learning disabilities and/or autism who have ‘hefty reputations’ (to borrow a phrase to describe people who are burdened by the reputations they have been given because of behaviours, reactions, support requirements and large funding packages).


Small Supports Networks

There are a couple of networks associated with our Small Supports programme: one for providers and another for commissioners.


 

Stay Safe Online – protect yourself and the people you support from cyber-attacks

Cyber security might seem scary and complicated but it doesn’t have to be, it is really just about protecting the devices that we all use on a daily basis (smartphones, laptops, tablets and computers) and the services we access both at home and at work from theft or damage. We must make sure that we are protecting ourselves and the people we support  from cyber-attacks by following some simple rules.

Here’s a great video that helps you understand Cyber Security.

Limit your personal information

Not everyone needs to know your relationship status or your home address. You wouldn’t hand out personal information to strangers so don’t hand it out to millions online.

Here’s some Internet Privacy Tips from ‘TechSafety.org‘.

Be careful what you download

Criminals will try and trick you into downloading malware (malicious software) apps or programs that carry malware can steal your personal information. Do not download apps that look suspicious or come from a site you don’t trust.

Here’s a good guide to help you work out what’s safe to download produced by wikiHow.

Choose strong passwords

Select passwords that are harder for cybercriminals to demystify. A strong password is one that is unique and complex – at least 15 characters long, mixing letters and unique characters. Use a password manager tool to help you manage your passwords so you don’t forget them.

Read about what password managers offer in Wired magazine.

Here’s a link to a password generator, there are lots of others to choose from on the web.

Make online purchases from secure sites

Cybercriminals are keen to get their hands on your credit card and bank details. Only supply this information to sites that provide secure, encrypted connections. Always check that the address starts with https: (the S stands for secure) and look out for the padlock icon next to the address bar.

Keep your antivirus program up to date

It’s impossible to protect against every threat but internet security software will detect and remove most malware. Make sure it is up to date.

Beyond Limits Employee Assistance Programme

We have launched an Employee Assistance Programme through Health Assured, the UK and Ireland’s largest independent and award-winning employee assistance programme (EAP) provider.

The Employee Assistance Programme offers cover for Beyond Limits staff and their immediate family, 24hours a day on a range of issues including legal information, bereavement support and medical and health support.

Advice is available:

  • via telephone support
  • face to face counselling
  • a wellbeing website portal
  • a mobile wellbeing app called Health e-hub.

Beyond Limits understands the importance of health and wellbeing. Sometimes balancing everyday life with the requirements of home, family and work creates pressures for all of us. It’s crucial that we all maintain good health. Health Assured is the commitment from Beyond Limits to support our workforce to ensure a productive healthy environment conducive to a healthy lifestyle.

You can contact Health Assured by:


Visiting the website: www.healthassuredeap.com


Telephone: 0800 028 0199


Download the Health e-hub app on your mobile phone.


GOOD HEALTH EVERYONE !

We have our Restraint Reduction membership!

Beyond Limits are delighted to have had our pledge approved and accepted by the Restraint Reduction network. We understand that supporting people, especially those individuals who at times may present behaviours that cause concern, requires a commitment to place people at the centre of everything we do.

Restraint Reduction network logo

We vow to continue our work in this regard with people and their families and work with their best interests. Restrictive practice will only be used as a last resort, in an emergency to maintain safety and in circumstances where there is immediate or imminent harm and where alternatives cannot be used or have failed.

Under no circumstances…

Under no circumstances will any restrictive practice which is considered degrading or abusive ever be used and restrictive practices will not be used to enforce rules or to punish or coerce. We will continue our work, supporting people to be all they can be, having lives that make sense for them, free from restrictions and institutional living.


To learn more about the Restraint Reduction Network and their work, visit their website: www.restraintreductionnetwork.org


 

Time for a change?

If you’ve found yourself at a turning point in your career we may be able to help. Without the need for government quizzes and assessments, Beyond Limits could retrain and retain you. We’d love to hear from you if you’re someone who…

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” ― Leo F. Buscaglia

Drop us a line and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible.

We will contact you by email unless you provide us with your phone number.
Add your phone number if you'd prefer we called you.
Web addresses are not allowed in the message field of this form.
Previews of some pages from the first edition of our newspaper

Beyond Limits launches a Newspaper for the new decade

As part of our celebration of the great work our staff do, the people we support and their friends and families we have produced a printed newspaper.

There are stories from our support workers, trainers and people connected to Beyond Limits plus information about new staff benefits. Our aim is to produce two or three editions a year so we have started collecting stories for the next edition already! If you would like to share a story or recommend somewhere to visit we’d love to hear from you.

Contents of edition 1

  • Chantelle at college / MacMillan fundraiser
  • Recommend a Friend scheme is changing / Health & Social Care Diploma
  • BILD Training for Hamish and Georgia / Ian’s holiday
  • Welcome Austin / Southwest Wordsearch / Useful information
  • James attends the End of Season Cricket dinner / Plymouth’s new cineworld
  • New places to visit / A simple soup
  • Kayleigh’s three day advednture
  • Planning days / Ricky has found a new love, his tandem
  • Job Fairs around the South West
  • Talking shop – training staff / Team working with Lou Close
  • New Employee Assistance Programme / Work for Beyond Limits

On page 5 we have a Wordsearch, if you’d like the answers please click here.

Below is a link to a PDF of the whole newspaper. If you’d like a printed copy please contact the Beyond Limits office.

Heather’s pasties are a ‘proper job’

Heather really fancied a pasty but with everything closed Heather and her team decided to make their own Gluten Free Pasties.

The photos below show Heather’s pasty making, start to finish.

Thank you for all your hard work

As a Central Team, we wanted to show our immense gratitude and recognise how hard you have all been working during this very unsettling time.

We wanted to find some small way of showing our appreciation for all that you do every single day, a way of saying “thank you” to each and every one of you.

And so we came up with an idea that has taken us a couple of weeks to put together, please watch our thank you video, from us to you, we had fun making it and we hope it puts a smile on your face.

We need to give a special shout out to Claire Bennett for her artistic creation of the poster we have used and to Val Alekseenko-Simpson for taking the time to create the video.

Thank you all and please stay safe.

Ricky’s story has made it into a podcast!

PBS Matters is a podcast from The PBS Special Interest Group. This is a group that brings together practitioners, educators, researchers and students interested in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). PBS are part of the UK Society for Behaviour Analysis.

Hamish O’Brien and Georgia Mitchell are the PBS leads for Beyond Limits and they attended a Positive Behaviour Support conference where they came across Paddy Behan who was presenting at the conference. They got chatting and inevitably the conversation turned to the work they have done with Ricky. Their work epitomises PBS (getting people a good life) and Paddy invited them, along with Ricky’s Nan, Carol, to go on the show and tell Ricky’s story.


Follow this link to listen to the podcast or search for PBS Matters in your favourite podcast player.


For more information about PBS Matters visit their website.


 

Support worker with personin wheelcahir on the beach

Ten reasons to work for Beyond Limits

There are more than ten good reasons to work for Beyond Limits, below are some of the main ones…

Ten Reasons

  1. We reward our staff with competitive salaries
  2. We offer an Award Winning Pension Scheme
  3. We have a company sick pay scheme
  4. Excellent annual leave allowance, including top up pay
  5. Critical Illness cover, reassurance when you need it the most
  6. Life Insurance, reassurance for your family when they need it the most
  7. A really good mandatory induction
  8. Ongoing high quality training
  9. Career development opportunities
  10. A real chance to make a difference to someone’s life

Benefits

We know money makes the world go round which is why we offer competitive rates. We also know our employees are our most valuable resource which is why we look after you. We provide Critical Illness cover (subject to terms) a vital benefit paid to you when you need it the most. As a responsible employer we also recognise the impact on families when life events take a difficult turn and so we pay Life Insurance, 2 x your basic salary paid out when your family need it the most.

But when you join Beyond Limits you get more than good terms and conditions, you also benefit from being part of a ground breaking organisation that helps free people from restricted lives in institutions, supports them to re-connect with their families and most of all, that helps them get the good lives we all deserve. But we can’t do any of this without you…

  • Minimum hourly rate £11.00 including overtime
  • Minimum £70.00 per night for sleepover
  • Up to 4% Employer Contribution to Award Winning Pension Scheme
  • 7 weeks holiday a year (pro rata) including top up pay
  • Company Sick Pay Scheme
  • A Comprehensive Induction and Excellent Training Calendar
  • Reflective Support and Supervision.
shark apple

Staying safe and Staying healthy

We have added a new section to our website called Useful information.

We think part of providing good support is giving the people we support information to help them stay safe and stay healthy.  We have started the Useful information by adding some pages about bad people who pretend to be friends. Soon we will be having pages about health checks, healthy food with recipes and activities to keep you fit.

Follow this link to visit Useful information

 

Our first pages are:

Keeping safe from loan sharks

Mate crime – how to spot it

Information about Cuckooing and County Lines

How to deal with cold callers

What to tell the police when calling 101 or 999

Keyboard showing a complaint key.

Complaints and feedback

Thank you for getting in touch with Beyond Limits.

We value all feedback and take complaints very seriously. We will try to resolve your complaint as quickly as possible.

Please give us as much detail as possible to help us resolve your complaint.
Please add your phone number if you would like us to telephone you.
Two ladies looking at each other affectionately. Photo: Sean Kelly

Working with families

This page is dedicated to the families we work with, a place where we can share stories of hope and keep you informed of our developments.

Download the Charter

We are delighted to share with you our recently launched Family Charter, a series of statements which outlines our commitment to you and where we hope you will hold us to account.

Thank you for your involvement, we couldn’t do the job without you and thank you for being in the life of Beyond Limits and travelling the journey with us.


Download the Family Charter: Beyond-Limits-Charter-to-Families.pdf


Speech balloons graphic

What people say about Beyond Limits

We really value all the feedback we receive. Below is a mix of feedback from the people we support, family members, staff and professionals.

If you have feed back about any aspect of our work please get in touch.

“Thank you from our hearts”.

Michelle, Jim and family, Family members

“You’re the best thing to happen to Lucy and the family, many thanks”.

Zara, Family member

“Being included and listened to is something very special. Your Family Charter does what it says on the tin. Hands up to Beyond Limits for your far reaching views”.

Trisha Searle, Family member

“Beyond Limits is breaking the mould and is brave for writing the Family Charter. The proof of the pudding is that it works. You have given my daughter her life back. Communication is key. Thank you”.

Michelle Beattie, Family member

“Two guarantees, no day is the same at Beyond Limits and making a difference to someone’s life will make you feel happy inside”

Darren Simmons, Support Worker.

“My mum always used to worry about me because its not very nice been institutionalised in hospitals because you want to have your own life and your own freedom, my mum isnt worried about me so much at the moment the whole time Ive been with BL my mum stopped worrying and basically Ive got my confidence and independence back”.

Hannah, Supported by Beyond Limits