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Frequently Asked Questions
How is Hayfield
funded ? Hayfield operates as a non-profit making company
entirely funded by the fees which are charged for the services it provides. These fees are paid principally by the local authority or health board in the area from which the deaf person comes, though in some cases there may be some payment from the Benefits Agency as well. Hayfield has had support from the National Lottery towards
developing facilities, but generally there is no funding support from central
government or other agencies.
Is Hayfield ever
inspected ? Hayfield operates as a provider of residential and day care
services, and as such is legally required to register with the Scottish
Commission for the Regulation of Care (known as the Care Commission). As a registered care provider, all of Hayfield’s facilities
and services are inspected and reported on regularly. Any agency, local authority or health board with an interest
in using Hayfield’s services can obtain a copy of the most recent inspection
reports on request or from a public library. Is
Hayfield part of a larger organisation ? Hayfield exists as an organisation in its own right, with its
own staff, management and board of directors. It operates within its own framework of policies and pursues
its own aims and objectives, though these are guided by the appropriate legal
requirements and directives. Hayfield does not stand in isolation, but has
developed close working links with local authorities, health services and other
professional organisations, such as the British Society for Mental Health and
Deafness (BSMHD), the Scottish Council on Deafness (SCoD) and the Scottish
Society for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). How
many service users are there in Hayfield ? Hayfield is registered to provide up to 25 residential
placements for deaf service users with additional disabilities.
These places are spread over 5 separate locations, with each individual
service user having their own room and shared communal facilities. Hayfield also operates a day care facility for up to 36
service users, which is open from Monday to Friday, and which offers a wide range of
individualised and group activities and training. All residents are encouraged to use the day care services and
there are additional places for those who may live independently or with
their family or other carers. What
training do Hayfield Staff have ? The provision of a high standard of recognised staff training
is seen as a key element in the development and provision of services within
Hayfield. This has also been
recognised as being important in the maintenance of a settled and committed
staff team. Some care staff have brought with them a range of
professional qualifications in the fields of social work / social care, teaching,
nursing and mental health. This is built on by the provision of additional training for all staff
through sign language and deaf awareness, first aid and health and safety.
In addition, care staff are also required to train to SVQ Level 3, and to
be registered in the theory and application of the CALM System (Crisis &
Aggression Limitation and Management). How do
people apply to get into Hayfield ? Although Hayfield is located in Glasgow it operates as a
national resource and considers referrals from across the whole of the UK.
Details about Hayfield and its services can be made available to all
enquirers, including health professionals, deaf people themselves or their families and carers.
Because placements are dependent on the availability of funding,
formal applications are generally required from a local authority or health
board. All applications require the submission of detailed social
and personal background reports (usually provided by social workers) and medical
reports (from GPs or psychiatrists). A
contract for payment of residential and/or day care fees must also be agreed
before a placement can be offered. Details about Hayfield, the services which it can offer and
application forms can be made available on request. How
much do service users pay at Hayfield ? Individuals who receive services from Hayfield are not
required to pay anything towards the costs of these services.
The residential and/or day care fees which fund all placements are paid
for by a contract agreement with each person's local authority or health
board. Service users who live in one or other of the Hayfield houses
are regarded as being in residential care.
All their accommodation costs, including food, heating, lighting, etc are
included in the fees. Each individual
is entitled to a weekly personal allowance from the Benefits Agency.
Most service users who live in, or attend Hayfield are also entitled to
their own Disability Living Allowance. What
is the average length of stay for service users at Hayfield ? Hayfield staff operate a system of regular detailed
assessment and planning for each and every individual service user who attends
Hayfield. Wherever possible, staff
work to help each person to achieve their own potential and to accept
responsibility and independence in their own life.
Because every individual is different, with their own particular skills and
needs, it means that the length of time that a service user lives in Hayfield will
vary from individual to individual. Many deaf people come to Hayfield to learn skills for
independent living so that they can move on to have a home of their own.
The length of time which it takes to learn these skills will depend on
their abilities, but the time is usually measured in years rather
than months. Some service users who live in Hayfield have very severe
additional disabilities and find it very difficult to cope
with responsibilities or to learn to cope on their own.
For them Hayfield may be their home for the rest of their life, so staff focus on giving them new experiences and opportunities and on
enhancing the quality of their daily life. What
sort of activities are available to Hayfield service users ? Service
users who live in or attend Hayfield have an individual,
structured programme of learning and recreational activities, with a focus on
helping them to build up their confidence, self-esteem and responsibility.
These programmes involve both the residential and day care settings, but
also include activities in colleges and other agencies. Everyone who comes to Hayfield is encouraged to take part in a whole range of activities, sports and pastimes.
Sometimes these are arranged by the staff, often people are keen to
have their own hobbies or interests and staff will do all they can to help
people to get involved in any pursuit that may interest them. Hayfield has its own gymnasium and equipment and facilities
for a number of indoor sports, such as five-a-side football and badminton.
Service
users are also encouraged to use the local swimming baths, sports and leisure facilities, or
even to pursue their own specific sporting
interests – one Hayfield resident won three medals at an international
canoeing championship in Italy in 2002 ! What
sort of communication is used in Hayfield ? Hayfield staff recognise that meaningful communication is the
key element in all care work and is at the heart of all social and personal
interaction. They therefore work on
the basis that any and all communication has value and that every attempt must
be made to find a medium which is suitable for each individual service user. All Hayfield staff, including administration and ancillary
workers, are required to undertake formal training in British Sign Language (BSL).
All care staff must train up to a minimum of BSL Level 2. Many of the deaf people who come to Hayfield have had little
or no access to sign language, or have very poor communication skills in
general. In
Hayfield they will
be given opportunities and encouragement to improve their skills, and staff will
use a variety of approaches to maximise their communication skills.
As well as using sign language and utilising any residual hearing
(through the use of hearing aids), staff will also make use of mime, gesture,
touch, symbols, picture cards, drawing or any other technique that might help to
enhance communication or improve interaction.
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