Fitzroy Maltings is a popular day centre in Fakenham, Norfolk, currently attended by 54 adults (ages 18-70) with a wide range of learning and associated physical disabilities, autism and dementia. Many of the attendees have very complex needs and challenging behaviour requiring one-to-one support. The team of dedicated, well-trained staff tailor support to each member, helping them to be active, and to socialise, learn and enjoy the things that are important to them as individuals.
The wide range of activities at the centre, including art, cooking, baking, gardening and music, are all supported by Karten-funded computers and iPads. Computers are also used to gain ASDAN qualifications.
It was originally established as a Karten Centre in 2010 and it has been continually improved since. The latest upgrade in 2018 has taken the technology offering to a whole new level, with members enjoying puzzles and games like air hockey and karaoke on a CleverTouch, and enjoying interacting with the Khoros, a multi-sensory musical instrument.
The staff team have also benefited from Virtual Reality headsets which are being used in training – with programmes like the Autism Virtual Reality App helping them to understand how it might feel to have autism. Support workers at the Maltings often deal with challenging behaviour as a consequence of members having profound disabilities and sensory impairments. Using this app has been extremely helpful in gaining an understanding of what is behind such behaviour, thereby helping staff to be even more responsive and sensitive to members’ needs.
Meet the members
Tim
Tim loves gardening and his enjoyment of this activity at the Maltings has been significantly enhanced by having access to an iPad. Tim uses the iPad to look up different flowers and plan out what he is going to grow.
Yasmin
Yasmin has severe learning disabilities and sensory impairments so she can often be overwhelmed. She has particularly benefitted from the CleverTouch, which she uses to calm down if she starts to feel sensory overload. If Yasmin is struggling, staff set up the Aquarium app and classical music for her on the CleverTouch and give her some time without other members to immerse herself in this experience which she finds very calming.
Talking about the improved offering, Kerensa Palmer, Deputy Manager at Fitzroy, says: “The Karten funding has made a massive difference to our members’ day-to-day lives – providing much-needed access to technology for educational and therapeutic use. It has also given members a lot of fun and extra opportunities to socialise.”
Fitzroy has recently employed its first ever Assistive Technologist, Carrie Sant, who will be helping staff at its Karten centres to make even greater use of assistive technology – watch this space!
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- This article was written by the Fitzroy The Maltings Karten Centre
- Featured in the Karten Spring 2019 Newsletter
- This article is listed in the following subject areas: Centre News