Richardson Care celebrates its 35th anniversary this year and remains an independently owned and run family business.
It provides specialist care for adults with acquired brain injury or learning disabilities and complex neurological, emotional and physical needs.
Since it was founded, it has pioneered person-centred care, aiming to support people at the point of lowest intervention, while providing specialist neurological clinical support.
Family environment
Richardson Care was founded in Northampton in 1989 by the late Brian Richardson and his wife Jackie.
Initially, service users lived in the Richardson family home and everyone would contribute to activities within the home.
For example, service users would help with the cooking, and the extended family – as they became – ate meals together. They would also go on holiday together.
Brian and Jackie’s daughter, Laura, was ten years old at the time and is now a Director of the company with her husband, Greg.
The emphasis on community and quality of life is as strong as ever and two service users who lived with the family at the beginning are still living fulfilling lives at Richardson Care.
Richardson Care is unique in combining a ‘family’ environment with specialist neurological clinical support.
All service users are supported by a high-calibre multi-disciplinary team of neuro specialists and staff treat the service users how they would want a family member to be treated.
Achieving beyond-expectation outcomes
Many of Richardson Care’s service users have had numerous previous placements and arrive with very complex needs and challenging behaviours.
But with clinical expertise, patience and consistent care, their quality of life has improved beyond expectations and they have increased their independence.
Richardson Care thinks outside the box to provide care that is specific to each individual; supporting them to engage in therapy, develop coping strategies and manage their behaviours.
This in turn helps them to increase their physical abilities and cognitive skills.
Supported home visits and holidays
There is always pressure on funding, but supported home visits and an annual holiday are included in each individual’s care plan if appropriate. In addition, the managers have worked hard to secure extra funding for individuals’ activities and holidays with a care support worker – either on their own or with others.
The examples below demonstrate how Richardson Care has enabled some service users to go on holiday for the first time in their lives, and that would have previously seemed impossible.
One young man admitted in 2012 required 2 to 1 support due to presenting with challenging behaviour.
He was constantly very loud vocally, screaming for coffee, presenting with severe self-harm and unable to tolerate crowds.
He is now happy and settled and can tolerate busier environments, which is demonstrated by a recent holiday to Disneyland Paris, where he went with his family and one staff member.
He has also enjoyed other family holidays and takes part in horse-care and farm activities weekly. He now drinks much less coffee, enjoying a healthy balanced diet.
Another young man was admitted in 1994 with extreme behaviours causing severe environmental damage (kicking, headbutting, punching through walls/windows).
Now his extreme behaviours are non-existent and he enjoys a full, active life.
He went on holiday to Lapland at Christmas, has been on short breaks to London and Edinburgh – including sightseeing and theatre visits, which he loves.
He has also been on holiday to Cornwall and has a cruise to Tenerife booked later this year.
Six specialist residential services
Richardson Care has now has six specialist homes accommodating up to 78 adults and employs over 200 staff.
The high ratio of care and clinical team members to service users means that each service user has access to specialist neurological clinical care when they need it. In addition, service users receive consistent support so they can take part in a wide range of activities both in and outside the home.
Service users are placed within the service that best meets their needs, taking into account the existing residents.
The homes provide a flexible care pathway so individuals can transition easily to another service when/if their needs change.
Richardson Care’s specialist services are:
- ABI complex diagnosis and assessment unit– The Coach House
- ABI rehabilitation and transitional service – The Richardson Mews
- Long-term community neuro-rehabilitation service (males) – 144 Boughton Green Road
- Transitional and long-term LD and complex needs service – 23 Duston Road
- Long-term community LD and complex needs service – 2&8 Kingsthorpe Grove
To celebrate its 35th anniversary, Richardson Care is holding a garden party for all residents, their families and the staff.
For more information go to www.richardsoncares.co.uk or call 01604 791266.
