Stuck for accessible activity ideas?

If your mind has gone blank and you just cannot think of something accessible to do in and around Plymouth, take a look at the AccessAble website.

Working with Plymouth City Council, AccessAble have put together a list of accessible Cafes and Coffee Shops, Leisure Centres, Libraries, Parks and Gardens, Pubs and Bars, Restaurants, Sports Grounds and Stadiums, Swimming Pools, Theatres and Tourist Attractions.

You can choose from any of the list above and each activity has a set of accessibility symbols.

Who would have thought there were so many accessible things to do!

Follow this link to visit the AccessAble Plymouth website.

Support Worker for Anna

Support Worker for Mike

With Mike, work doesn’t need to feel like work. One day you might be pottering around the garden sowing seeds, the next you might be off looking for pirate treasures and bottles washed up onshore.

Photo of Susannah Caunter, a Beyond Limits Support Worker

Susannah’s “Reasons to become a support worker”

We were really pleased when Susannah Caunter, one of our support workers, sent us her 10 reasons to become a support worker. We hope you find them inspiring.

You’ll get a huge sense of job satisfaction

Being a Support worker is incredibly rewarding. For many, the relationships they form with the people they work with and the sense of personal achievement from helping them live their life to the full is the reason they get up in the morning.

You’ll make a difference

Being a care worker means making a difference. Making a difference to the lives of the people you provide care for and your community. Making a difference to yourself and leading a fuller, more compassionate life.

What You Do Really Does Count

Working for us is far more than just a job it gives you a sense of purpose as your work is important and you are valued by the people you support and their families.

No day is the same

Being a Support worker requires you to work in the home of the person you are supporting (not in a care home). Much of what a support worker does depends very much on the person you are supporting, its individualised. Not only could you be supporting them with their daily needs, you have the opportunity to support them to achieve any goals and ambitions they have and where possible we try to match people up if you have the same or similar interests…it makes it so much more fun!

It’s Fun!

This job is so much FUN! When working with a wide variety of people you’ll hear tons of interesting & heart wrenching stories.

The work is flexible

You can work the hours that suit you best. With full-time and part-time roles available, we can offer block hours or shifts depending on your availability.

You’ll have job security

With a demand for support workers that’s set to increase as Britain’s population ages, the social care sector offers good job security.

You’ll better yourself

As a support worker, you’ll learn a huge amount. Not just from the training but from the people you work with and the people you work for. Being a support worker is an eye-opening experience, and with the chance to work with people from all walks of life with varying needs of support.

Career path and progression

Social care is a rapidly growing sector, and the opportunities for career progression are varied. You’ll have the chance to build a career and by becoming a support worker that would be the first step to a rewarding career in social care. You’ll learn transferrable skills and gain training, and with ambition, you can go right to the top. With experience, you could take on more responsibility as a senior support worker or manager. You could also train as a social worker. With the right attitude and motivation, you can choose where to go next!

Why be a Support Worker

WHY NOT ???

Sign in a shop window that says open

Team Leader for Lou

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

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.

Side view of the Terra Nova cafe with red chairs and wooden tables outside

Terra Nova, the new café on the block

If you haven’t found it already, this a great little café which has recently opened in Devonport. Terra Nova, named after local man Robert Falcon Scott and his Terra Nova expedition to the South Pole. Anyway, if that leaves you cold but you love a great flat white, then this place comes highly recommended.

Much needed in Devonport, it offers great food which focuses on wraps and salads and there are a range of smoothies available as well. Terra Nova also has a licence so there is the option of a glass of wine with your superfood salad if you so desire. Best thing for me though is the range of cakes, it’s a lovely place to pop in on an afternoon for a flat white and the biggest piece of cake which usually includes a delicious banana bread and an assortment of brownies and blondies.

There is outside sitting for when the sun shines, it is very dog friendly and they offer plenty of veggie options. Access is straight in off the road, no steps, just a little lip so wheelchair friendly as well and the toilets are on the same level. If you are in the area, pop in and give them a try, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

Visit the Terra Nova website terranovacafe.uk where you can see their range of food and drinks and even place an order.

Thank you Donna!!

Really lovely to be able to gather together to celebrate a huge achievement for Donna who has been employed by Beyond Limits for 10 years.

We could not let this milestone go by without recognising Donna’s commitment to the people she supports and the organisation and we were delighted to be able to celebrate with her. A presentation at a surprise party was the order of the day and people were invited to join in marking Donna’s 10 years of service.

Of course there was cake and gifts and tales told of work past and present, above all though it was an opportunity for us to say a huge thank you to Donna for all her hard work over the years, 10 years’ service is truly amazing and just goes to show what magic can happen when you work in the right place with the right people.

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.

Photo of the Gribbon Head near Fowey in Cornwall

Thank you for applying

We will process your application and get back to you as quickly as possible.

We are currently experiencing problems sending confirmations to gmail addresses. If you do not hear from us in one working week, please get in touch.

For information about your application and privacy please see our policy document: BL (PP) Job Applicant Privacy Statement.

You may be interested in ‘How Beyond Limits works’

What out staff have to say:

Life as a support worker by Darren Simmons

Susannah’s “Reasons to become a support worker”

And how we make a difference:

Transforming Care: Louise’s Story

Photo of a pile of envelopes

Thank you for getting in touch

We will get back to you as soon as possible.

All correspondence with Beyond Limits is held in the strictest confidence.

Thank You NHS

12th May is International Nurses Day, we think this is a very fitting tribute to all Nurses and indeed everyone who works in our NHS.

For more information about the day please visit the International Council of Nurses page.

The Chiefs and The Hawks

An inspirational and informative day was had by Rich and team members Martin and Keith at the European and English Champions, The Exeter Chiefs. Rich was granted a personal tour by Aron Struminski, the Senior Community Manager for the Exeter Chiefs.

Rich plays for the Westcountry Hawks so this was a great opportunity for him to chat to Aron, explore the grounds and the team areas including the gym, rehabilitation area and the winners’ cups.

The attention to detail was fabulous, no wonder the Exeter Chiefs are champs.

Visit West Country Hawks – Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby

Before the fantastic tour, Rich, Martin and Keith visited the House of Marbles for some Christmas shopping and to play some games before having a spot of lunch.

Visit The House of Marbles website

They ended the trip with a visit to Jolly Rogers life size resin models, a must-see attraction if you haven’t been already. It was a great day out for all, and they are looking forward to the next one.

Visit The Jolly Roger – Life Size Figure Models website

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.

Louise in her new home sitting by the window.

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.

Screen capture from Transforming Care: Louise’s Story video

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.

Photo of people at the try before you apply event

Try before you apply

Have you ever considered working as a support worker? Do you think it’s all about strict routines and rushing from one person to another, never having time to get to know a person and what they need? These things are a long way from the full story at Beyond Limits. Our support workers are making a real difference every day to people’s lives and supporting people to achieve their true potential.

We are running a series of events in Plymouth, Cornwall and Somerset to give anyone interested a much better picture of what our support staff do.

New sessions will be announced on this page…

Each event will include:

An introduction by a senior manager
One of our managers will talk about our pioneering style of support. We will explain why we are working to change the world for people with learning disabilities, mental health issues and other needs.

How our support changes lives
A person we support will talk about what Beyond Limits support means to them.

Friends and families
A family member or friend will talk about the way we work together to make sure the support is right for the person we are support.

What the job is all about
A support worker will talk about their role at Beyond Limits, some of their experiences, challenges, what they enjoy and what gives them job satisfaction.

We look after our staff
Our HR manager will explain how we look after our staff, our benefits and approach to continuing personal and professional development.

Try before you apply dates

If you are interested in learning more about support work but can’t make the date in your area please get in touch.

Dandelion with seeds blowing away in the wind across a clear blue sky

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.