Potens (Latin; able) was founded in 1989 by John and Rachel Farragher to provide accommodation and specialist support to adults who have learning disabilities. They were motivated by the belief that the way forward for the development of services lay within the concept of partnership. Whilst service development has increased to include people who have mental health issues, Aspergers, Autism, Korsakoffs physical & sensory problems, this approach continues to be applied to all aspects of Potens work.
The partnership involves four main principles:
- Trust
- Positive Regard
- Shared Learning
- Equality
Potens encourages it’s skilled support staff to strive to facilitate every individual having access to inclusive community activities including employment opportunities.
Please note: Potens became a limited company registered as Potensial Ltd whilst Glencoyne Ltd, Pendle Ltd and Pendleton Care Ltd became part of the group through acquisition. To streamline the group and make things a little clearer, the limited company names will remain as legally required but the group will operate under the trading name of POTENS.
Potens currently provides a range of services including residential carehomes; single & multi occupancy supported living/domiciliary care services and day services throughout England (primarily the North East and North West), North Wales and Northern Ireland.
Potens is committed to equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practices for both those who receive and provide services. We are committed to empowering the people we support and encouraging self determination through informed choice and community integration.
Person Centred Approach
Alongside the information shared during the initial assessment, ongoing support and review form the basis of an individual’s Personal Support Plan. Support is focused around the needs and wishes of each individual, working towards independence and enabling self direction through collaboration with family, carers and keyworkers in achievement of individual goals and aspirations.
Health Action Plans
Physical and mental health needs are continually assessed to ensure the best health and wellbeing for the people we support. As far as is practicably possible, Service Users are supported to manage their own healthcare needs, however a spirit of collaboration has proved to be the most effective way to maintain good health, working closely with GP surgeries, Dentists, Community Nurses, Consultants and other relevant professionals to develop an individual health action plan.
Risk Management
Positive risk management recognises and builds on an individual’s strengths through the development of personal support plans and risk assessments that support and encourage potential through reasonable risk taking.
Behaviour Support and Therapy Team
BSTT provide support to all Potens services. They provide assessment and therapeutic counselling for the people we support plus advice, guidance and training for the staff who provide support.
Involving the People we Support
Individuals are supported and encouraged to rake the lead in their own lives. Involvement in Service User forums, newsletters and staff recruitment is promoted and staff will support access to local community activities and opportunities including employment.
Staff Training and Development
Each service is led by a Service Manager who has relevant experience within their specific area of service delivery. Mandatory and specialist staff training is developed around the needs of the people that are supported within that service. Staff are positively encouraged to complete qualifications to enhance their knowledge and skill base.
Potens commitment to training ensures a well informed staff team who are able to perform their duties in a manner which reflects our service ethos. All staff are encouraged to share their knowledge and experience by networking both within and outside the organisation, helping to develop services further.
Quality Assurance
Quality Assurance forms a central part of determining the direction of services by encouraging Service Users, families, staff and relevant professionals to share their views, concerns, compliments and complaints to enable the service to continually improve.
The Quality Assurance process ensures regular reviews and monitoring by the central management team and all feedback is used to inform practice, policy and procedures.
Registered services are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC); the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (CSSIW) or the Regulation and Quality Improvement Agency (RQIA) who carry out regular inspections to ensure we comply with their regulations and fulfil our service obligations as providers of good quality care. Their findings can be located on their respective websites –
www.cqc.org.uk ,
www.cssiw.gov.org ,
www.riqa.org.uk , where potential service users can read about how our services operate.
To learn more about Potens and our services, please take time to browse through our website. To see our services in action, why not arrange a visit? Contact us today!
