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Adults With Learning Disabilities

Learn more about our services for adults with learning disabilities

At Field Lane, we have a different approach to supporting adults with learning disabilities. Our aim is simple, to help clients enrich their lives in ways that exceed expectations, in every way.

Our work challenges common perceptions of what people with learning disabilities can and can't do. We provide personalised support for each individual person, focusing on their interests and their priorities, not on our assumptions about what our clients think and want.    

The families of people with learning disabilities can have a tough journey when it comes to getting the support and care they need.

We understand that journey and the difficulties it brings. That’s why we extend our support to families as well. We involve families right from the start, discussing issues and agreeing any changes to support and care as required. This helps us deal with any questions as they come up, ensuring the people we support receive the best, most appropriate care.

We’re committed to keeping families actively involved and updated in ways that best suits them and their family member in our care.

Our main focus is on supporting our clients to be independent and make choices.  However, we also understand that good family relationships and support are important to our clients. 

To learn more about our services, please watch our short video and listen to Paula, one of our project managers, describe what we do.

Watch our two short videos to find out more about our supported housing projects.

Community Support

We support clients to live in their own communities. Our team of support workers spends time with clients who live in their own homes or with family. We want our clients to feel comfortable with their support workers, so building good relationships is very important to us.

The relationship between client and support worker is absolutely crucial in providing the best outcomes for our clients, so getting that right is our highest priority when someone first joins us.

The relationship between client and support worker is absolutely crucial in providing the best outcomes for our clients, so getting that right is our highest priority when someone first joins us.

Emma's Story

“I first met my support worker 6 months ago.  Before I had support, I was quite scared about meeting new people and I didn’t go out very much.  My support worker was really friendly to me when we met, and she talked to me about what I wanted to do.  We had a cup of tea at a coffee shop in the town and she was very easy to talk to.

We have tried lots of new things.  I now go horse riding every week.  I had never even stroked a horse before and now I’m riding them!  I have always wanted a job and last week my support worker and I went for an interview for a voluntary job in a coffee shop.  I was nervous but my support worker went in with me and it went really well. I could answer the questions and I even asked one of my own questions!  I will be working for one day a week to start with and I am really looking forward to it.

I am so pleased that I was brave and met my Field Lane Support worker on that first day.  My life is so much fun now and I have not looked back!”​​

Name has been changed to protect privacy

Supported Living

For many of the people we support, moving into one of our supported living properties is the first time they have lived on their own. The prospect can be quite daunting for families as well, who might worry about how they will cope. Our care and support teams make sure the transition is a smooth one.

All our properties are designed to be both contemporary and comfortable. They are fitted to a high specification. Each resident has his or her own bedroom and en suite bathroom. The bathrooms and bedrooms are wheelchair accessible and many of our properties have a hoist to help the less mobile residents.  Residents share communal areas, including the kitchen, living room and garden.  Everyone has a designated fridge and cupboard in the kitchen, so they are able to store their own groceries and produce.

Promoting independence and choice is a central focus of our work. We support our clients in widening their horizons and encourage them to continually learn and develop new skills.  This could be task based, such as writing a shopping list and going to the supermarket, preparing meals or tidying their bedroom. It could also be going to college, learning a musical instrument, developing new hobbies and interests. In addition to daily tasks, our clients enjoy day trips and going away on holiday. 

We're also really keen to support clients who want to enjoy those big treats we all love. So we've helped clients go on a wide range of days out. Some want to go and watch a favourite band or musician live in concert, others enjoy catching a game of premiership football. Holidays are always popular too. Basically, we're here to support our clients to achieve their goals.​​

Raymond's Story

“Raymond was born in the late sixties. He was diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum, with a moderate learning disability and epilepsy. Both of his parents also had learning disabilities and were unable to care for him at home. Raymond was placed in residential care and shortly afterwards his parents died, leaving him with no family.

He lived in the residential home for many years. Raymond’s needs were different to the other residents and he didn’t develop as well there as he should. When Raymond came to Field Lane, he had minimal life skills. He needed help with personal care, dressing, cooking and the everyday chores that we all take for granted. The staff team worked tirelessly to support Raymond and help him get to grips with strategies and tasks to manage his autism. Raymond responded well, his confidence grew and he was soon taking responsibility for his own daily activities and becoming more independent.​”​​

Name has been changed to protect privacy

Social Club

We all enjoy an evening out, so our vibrant social club in Reigate offers a good night out for local people with learning disabilities.

Run by Field Lane clients and volunteers, but open to the wider learning disabilities community, we offer great tunes, plenty of space for dancing as well as a café where people can relax and enjoy a snack.​​

Our clients take control of the decks, choosing their favourite tunes and taking requests. The focus is making sure everyone has a good time. The Field Lane clients staffing the café are paid, so they get to enjoy the independence that comes with working and earning money.

If you or someone you know would like to come along please get in touch and click here.

Natalie's Story, shared by her mum

"Natalie had lived at home with me until my partner had a serious illness and I just couldn’t cope with caring for both of them. Nat’s social worker took me to see a new Field Lane house and I knew as soon as I walked in it was the right place for her. It had lots of room for her to move about and was really nice, I’d live there! Settling in took a while because Nat’s condition is so complex. But the Field Lane team quickly got to know her and have done a great job supporting her. She’s so independent now.”

Name has been changed to protect privacy

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