Film of Ricky and his team trekking in Sweden
The inspiring video of Ricky and his team trekking across Sweden. #sofatosweden
Read more about Ricky’s amazing adventure here.
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Ricky and his team win Best Team in Plymouth 2018!
We are over the moon for Ricky and his team. On Saturday night they won the Team of the Year award 2018. The award was given as part of the Celebrating Excellence in Care Awards, organised by the Quality Assurance and Improvement Team at Plymouth City Council.
Click on the photos to make them larger and read about how it all happened below the photos…
Nomination
It started with the nomination back in August where we dared to start believing that we might have a winning chance. We knew the great work the team was doing but we also knew the competition would be strong and the awards were to be judged by an independent panel, how would we be able to convince them?
However, we knew we had to be “in it to win it” and so we put forward our nomination for Team of the Year for the work that Ricky’s team has been doing with him around the #SofatoSweden trek. We were inspired by the story and we hoped the judges would be too.
Judgement Day
22nd September at the Crowne Plaza the evening was upon us, where should we meet, what should we wear? We did ourselves proud though and everyone had their finest outfits on. Ricky looking sharp in his suit. We started to believe we had a real chance.
The Awards
And so, it was time for the winners to be announced, a lot of worthy winners for each category and it was clear the judges had their work cut out trying to pick just one from each. The anticipation was mounting but then there it was, Beyond Limits were called out, we had won it, Team of the Year Award to Ricky’s team for their inspiring support. A fantastic moment and everyone went up to the stage and the award was presented to Ricky.
Thank You
Thanks to Ricky’s team for the fantastic work they have done and continue to do. Thanks to Ricky’s family for trusting us with the support of Ricky every day. Thanks to the judges from the independent panel for recognising the work of the team and for voting for us.
The Last Word
And finally, the last word from the Director of Beyond Limits, Doreen Kelly, “It continues to be an honour and a privilege to do this work, Ricky’s team have proved what can be done when you dare to dream and have aspirations for someone. The work they do every day to support Ricky to have a meaningful life is incredible, I am so proud of them and delighted they won the award for Team of the Year, they really do deserve it”.
Transforming Care: Louise’s Story
Louise’s Story is a video produced by NHS England as part of their Transforming Care series.
In the video you hear from Louise, and those who helped make her dream of moving home after spending over 15 years in hospital, a reality.
Louise’s story captures how hospitals are not homes, and Transforming Care is working to change the lives of people with learning disabilities, autism or both, for the better.
This short film explains how health and social care partners planned for and successfully moved Louise into her own home in spite of seemingly insurmountable barriers.
They achieved this through strong partnership working, good communication, flexibility and determination, and the film highlights the impact of these qualities on Louise’s wellbeing, while also celebrating the tenacity and creativity of those seeking to bring her home.
Beyond Limits purchased the property, but importantly, Louise’s tenancy is protected because the house was handed over to a housing association. This means that if Louise wants to change her support provider, she can do so and still remain in her home.
To find out more about the Transforming Care Programme visit NHS England’s website.
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
- We reward our staff with competitive salaries
- We offer an Award Winning Pension Scheme
- We have a company sick pay scheme
- Excellent annual leave allowance, including top up pay
- Critical Illness cover, reassurance when you need it the most
- Life Insurance, reassurance for your family when they need it the most
- A really good mandatory induction
- Ongoing high quality training
- Career development opportunities
- 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 £12.10 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.
An introduction to Beyond Limits
This section of our website tells you about Beyond Limits: our values, our history, how we are funded and who works for the organisation.
Beyond Limits started in 2011 to support people with learning disabilities, mental health issues and other support needs in Plymouth and throughout Devon.
We were set up with the support of Partners for Inclusion, a pioneering and award-winning personalised support organisation in Scotland. Our Director Doreen Kelly was the founder of Partners for Inclusion and its Director, then CEO, from 2000 to 2015.
Our mission is to change the face of services for good, and to provide tailored support to people who are vulnerable due to circumstance or disability, or at risk of exclusion.
Our main experience is in working with people leaving institutional care, such as hospitals, group residential care, special educational establishments and people said to have challenged conventional services.
Our aim is to provide truly tailor-made support, designed so that everyone we work with can have:
- a home to call their own, which might be living with family
- a real place in the community
- control over their life and their future.
As well as providing services Beyond Limits is a catalyst for change. Through our consultancy for change we aim to work with others to transform the face of social care for good, starting in the South West.
Links
Link to our most recent CQC assessment page
Link to Beyond Limits Values page
How we support people
On this page we describe how we keep Beyond Limits support focused on the person we are supporting. How we don’t just talk the talk…
Everyone we support has:
- their own budget for their support – usually in the form of an Individual Service Fund (ISF) – it’s not mixed in with other people’s money
- tailor-made support – this means no two support services are the same
- their own staff team – support staff matched to what they need and are interested in
- their own home – which they can choose to share with someone else if they want.
Our support is based on careful and detailed individual planning. An overall Individual Service Design (ISD) sets out how we will support someone. A Working Policy (WP) sets out how to respond in difficult times when, for example, the person’s behaviour tells us we’ve got something wrong.
The plan
The Individual Service Design is worked out in a person centred planning meeting with the person, people close to them and professionals. The person must agree who is at the meeting.
The Working Policy is developed mostly by speaking to people who have supported the person previously, finding out about all the issues and challenges the person has presented, reflecting on this and working out what worked and did not work in the past. This leads to a set of policies and staff guidelines that describe in detail how to support the person when things are not so good. All staff are required to work according to the WP, to ensure consistency of support.
Respect
By individualising the services we provide we are immediately treating people with respect and giving them control over how they live their lives. This in itself goes part way to reducing any so called challenging behavior. All behavior is communication, and challenging behaviour is a method people use to tell us they are not happy.
Beyond Limits won’t provide group or shared support unless people with learning difficulties or mental health issues ask for it. In practice this rarely happens. In our experience group services often cause ‘challenging behaviour’.
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
Beyond Limits founder
A short biography of Doreen Kelly, Director of Beyond Limits
I started my career as a mental health nurse but soon moved to work in the voluntary sector, I have worked in the voluntary and independent sector since 1986 to help people become full and active citizens since. I have been involved in setting up several small, person centred organisations in both England and Scotland. These organisations were developed to support people to get a full life that makes sense for them and where they can be all they can be as opposed to institutional care and support which can often further damage vulnerable people.
I was the Chief Executive of Partners for Inclusion (www.partnersforinclusion.org) which we set up in 2000. Partners for Inclusion provides support that is tailor-made rather than trying to fit people into services that often don’t suit. The organisation was set up on the recognition that services were often mediocre and just good enough, but they did not put the focus on the individual. We wanted to do something different, to provide support that just wasn’t okay, but was first class. I left Partners for Inclusion in April 2015 to move to work at Beyond Limits full time.
I am the Director of Beyond Limits which is based in South West England. We support people who have labels of being challenging and complex to support. We work with people using a tailored approach and Individual Health Budgets (IHB’s) in the form of an Individual Service Fund (ISF).
An ISF is where the organisation, in this instance Beyond Limits, has the money paid directly to them but the money is ring-fenced for the person who gets support. The person and their family where appropriate and if they wish, are fully involved in how this money is spent. The money is used to get the person the life and support that they need or want. Beyond Limits supports people, who due to their perceived behaviour have been placed ‘out of area’ often far away from their homes, communities and families. We support people to come back home, take up their rightful place in their community by offering the tailored support that people need to do this successfully.
Doreen is also a board member of Manavodaya International UK as well as in Control Scotland.
Doreen is a Fellows of the Centre for Welfare Reform and contributes to development and research with other Fellows to increase social justice, promote citizenship, strengthen families and enrich communities.
UK consultancy – helping others change
On this page Doreen Kelly, Director of Beyond Limits, talks about Beyond Limits consultancy services.
I have been working in health and social care services since the early 1980s.
In that time I have learned two important things:
- tailor made is better than off the peg
- stay small, emulate big.
Tailor made
Services only work properly when they are designed to ‘fit’ people, taking into account their needs as well as their hopes and ambitions for themselves. If you want to design a service that really works and is truly person centred, you have to learn about the person you are being asked to support. Find out from them and people close to them what they like, what they want to do with their lives, where they want to live, and then plan a service to respond to what they’ve told you. It’s like buying a suit or a dress.
If you go to a tailor you can tell them what colours, style and fabric you like. They listen to what you want, take your measurements and make something that fits well, which you feel comfortable in, and which can, if you wish, last a lifetime. That’s the approach we take to service design. It’s better for the person supported, because they get what they want, and it makes sense financially because the chances of costly placement breakdowns are virtually eliminated.
Stay small, emulate big
In today’s competitive market providers have to find a way of staying small and responsive, while getting the economies of scale of bigger organisations.
Small organisations tend to be less procedure-bound, more flexible and more approachable. This is crucial in social care, because you have to be ready to change how you do things to meet the changing needs and demands of the people you support. Often if an organisation is unable to do this it leads to expensive placement breakdowns, which have both a financial cost and a potentially serious human cost.
Even so, bigger organisations have economies of scale, which can give them more influence and power. Our approach is to get the best of both worlds, by forming networks of small, person-centred organisations that can share functions like finance and HR support, and office premises. So we can stay small and emulate big.
We have lots of evidence that this approach works, both here in Devon and in Scotland. An example is the 2105 Award we received for our work with Plymouth Community Healthcare team.
If you are interested in the Beyond Limits approach I am available to talk with you about how you can make it real in your organisation. Please get in touch.
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
Beyond Limits Southwest Service Leaders
This page is about Beyond Limits Southwest Service Leaders. Service Leaders manage 3-4 teams of Support Workers who provide support for people. The Senior Service Leader is the registered manager.
Kathleen Griffiths, Senior Service Leader and Registered Manager
I started working within the social care sector in the 1980’s in Scotland as a support worker with the Fred Martin Project this set up by Professor Jim Mansell to support young people from institutional hospitals to live in their own home. I then moved on to work within the Drug Rehabilitation and Homeless sector. the 1990’s I decided to take some time out and became a holiday representative travelling all over Europe and further afield.
In 1996 I decided after 6 years of travelling to return home to Glasgow and return to work within social care as a Training and Employment Manager and then back to a Service Leaders post at Partners for Inclusion in 2007. I have recently moved to Plymouth from Glasgow to join the Beyond Limits Team. I love the outdoors especially skiing and camping and I recently took up paddle boarding. I also enjoy concerts and music festivals.
Julie Fildew, Service Leader
My name is Julie Fildew and I have two grown up children. I was born and educated in Plympton and I trained as a Nursery Nurse at the college in Plymouth . I have devoted my career to working with children and young adults. Initially I started my working career in a nursery and then childminding when my children were young. As my life moved on I decided to study a degree in childhood studies, this was a challenge but also an amazing experience at the same time.
After my degree I was unsure what I wanted to do with my career and so I worked for an agency in a variety of schools and nursery placements. In 2011 I did some supply work in Cann Bridge Special school and I knew then that this is what I wanted to do. I have worked in Cann Bridge for 10 years with young people with complex needs and I also provide respite care for many students. I feel very passionate about young people with complex needs having the opportunity to experience everything they want to. I would describe myself as a down to earth person and approachable. I enjoy walking my dog, reading and meeting my friends.
Fiona Emm, Service Leader
Hi, I’m Fiona and I live in the countryside in Somerset, I was a farmer for many years and worked in the agricultural industry. I have two grown up daughters but when they were young I worked with adults with Autism and found that I really enjoyed that work. As my children got older. I spent many years working in a local school as a special needs assistant. It was enjoyable and rewarding work. I really believe in people with disabilities living an independent fulfilling life and this is what made me want to work for Beyond Limits. Outside of work, I am sociable and enjoy spending time with my friends, I love walking and being outside and I am also quite good at DIY.
Beyond Limits Admin team
This page introduces the Southwest administration team.
Esther Coules – Office Administrator & Mental Health First Aider
I’ve worked in an office environment for most of my working life. I started out as an Office Junior with a local firm of Solicitors before working my way up to becoming a legal secretary.
I worked as administrator for Broadreach House, an alcohol and drug rehabilitation service, but unfortunately, after nearly 5 years with them, the house was forced to close and I found myself out of work for the first time in 17 years. Luckily for me, I saw the job to work as part of the admin team here at Beyond Limits and the rest, as they say, is history. I feel lucky to work with such a friendly team and love working here at Beyond Limits. I really feel that I’ve found my niche here.
At home, I love reading, listening to music, visits to the cinema and theatre and also spending time with my family and friends. With my husband, I enjoy taking long walks around the coast or visiting various National Trust properties where I indulge my hobby of photography.
Edyta Piekarska – HR and Office Manager
I have always been interested in group dynamics and this led to me studying Sociology in Poland. Experiencing and observing various working environments sparked my interest in HR Management and I have been working in HR since 2014. I really believe that HR is there to help teams to support the culture of engagement, trust and purpose and I am a strong believer in Servant Leadership. I have been with Beyond Limits since 2018 and I have never looked back since. The values of Beyond Limits are aligned with what I strongly believe. Since starting in 2018, my role has expanded and I have been given the opportunity to grow professionally and personally. I have great pleasure on working alongside dedicated teams of people who go above and beyond every day. When not at work I like to immerse myself in gardening and spend time appreciating the beautiful scenery of Devon and Cornwall and surrounding areas.
Cody Dann, Receptionist/Administration Assistant
My name is Cody Dann, since joining Beyond Limits in 2014 as office junior I have been supported by Beyond Limits to develop within my job role. I had the opportunity to go to Scotland and have training with Partners for Inclusion and I am currently being supported to a Level 3 in Business Administration. It’s really great to be part of an organisation that supports you through training and personal development.
A bit of history
Beyond Limits provides personalised support. Personalised Support means we provide support to people with complex and challenging needs to live their own life, on their own terms.
Personalised support?
Personalised Support was developed in Scotland, in 1996, to provide support to people who were leaving institutions and moving into their own homes. It was and continues to be a radical step forward from the inflexible support often provided by Community Care services.
The first service to use this model was Inclusion Glasgow, followed by Partners for Inclusion, C-Change for Inclusion, Support for Ordinary Living (SOL) and other organisations who collaborate through the federation Altrum.
From Scotland to the South West…
Doreen Kelly, Director of Beyond Limits established Partners for Inclusion in Kilmarnock, Scotland, in 1996. For a detailed account of Partners’ work and history download Personalised Support, a book about Partners by Julia Fitzpatrick.
Download: Personalised Support 2012.pdf
Partners’ philosophy is to keep the organisation small. This ensures communication between those receiving support, friends, family and staff remains uncomplicated and efficient. When the number of people being supported by Partners got to 40, another organisation, Just Connections was established. This has been followed by other initiatives providing smaller amounts of support and the successful contact and dating project, DM2. Following this Beyond Limits was established.
Doreen set up Beyond Limits in 2011 and left Partners in April 2015 to focus on the work of Beyond Limits in the South West and England. Beyond Limits holds the same values and approach as Partners, providing truly personalised, innovative and creative support with the aim of helping all people leave institutions and enabling them to live full lives in their community.
Driving Up Quality
Beyond Limits is committed to the “Driving Up Quality” code, we are an organisation which has the people we support at the centre of everything we do. We strive to support people to grow and attain ordinary lives towards achieving what Simon Duffy from the Centre for Welfare Reform calls “the keys to citizenship” (2014).
We are constantly looking to spread the word and share our way of working and learning with other organisations in the hope that we can “change the face of services forever”.
We will seek to uphold the fundamental elements of the code and will work in a way that demonstrates the following:
- We will deliver support that is focussed on the person
- We will support the person to have an ordinary life, that is, a life that makes sense for them
- We will provide support that focuses on the person being fulfilled and having a good quality life
- We will seek to promote a good organisational culture
- We will support each other to run and lead the organisation well and we will promote leadership in every area of our organisation
Beyond Limits in Cornwall
We are supporting people in Cornwall with learning disabilities, mental health issues and other support needs. This page has details of Job Fairs and Try Before You Apply events in Cornwall. You’ll also find Beyond Limits News and Stories from Cornwall.
Contact Beyond Limits Cornwall
Link to the Beyond Limits Southwest contact page
Beyond Limits Southwest staff
Follow this link to view Southwest Service leader profiles.
Vacancies Beyond Limits Cornwall
Beyond Limits in Somerset
We are supporting people in Somerset with learning disabilities, mental health issues and other support needs. This page has details of our current vacancies in Somerset.
Contact Beyond Limits Somerset
Link to the Beyond Limits Southwest contact page
Beyond Limits Southwest staff
Follow this link to view Southwest Service leader profiles.
Vacancies Beyond Limits Somerset
Follow this link to see our vacancy for Specialist Team Leader
Follow this link to see our vacancy for Specialist Support Workers
Beyond Limits Dumfries & Galloway
Beyond Limits has been working in Dumfries & Galloway for several years. On this page you will find our contact details, policies and procedures information and staff profiles.
Beyond Limits Dumfries & Galloway website
Contact Beyond Limits Dumfries & Galloway
Link to the Beyond Limits Dumfries & Galloway contact page
Dumfries & Galloway News and Stories
News and Stories on the Dumfries and Galloway website
Dumfries & Galloway staff
Staff profiles on the Dumfries & Galloway website