Read about the positive changes at Clare House since the arrival of Deputy Manager, Charlotte Whyte
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Read about the positive
changes at Clare House
since the arrival of Deputy
Manager, Charlotte Whyte
Clare House, Consensus’ Clare House welcomes a Training with our PWS
residential service located in new Deputy Manager... Strategic Leads Colleagues...
Dunblane, Stirlingshire, was When Charlotte Whyte (Charli), Due to the Covid-19 pandemic
the first service in Scotland to first became Deputy Manager of and with the various restrictions
exclusively provide support for Clare House in January 2021, little that have been in place, Charli has
adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome did she know the positive changes been in touch regularly in a digital
(PWS). and overall impact she would have capacity with Consensus’ PWS
on the service. Strategic Leads, Myles Kelly and
PWS is a rare, genetic disorder Kathryn Clarke.
affecting one in 15,000 people
in the UK. While the condition is
characterised by a chronic feeling
of hunger, which can lead to life
threatening obesity if not properly
managed, individuals with PWS
can also experience a range of Meet Charlotte Whyte
cognitive, behavioural and physical
challenges. Every individual’s the Deputy Manager
experience of living with PWS is at Clare House
unique.
Clare House consists of nine
spacious en-suite bedrooms
situated across the ground floor
and first floor, there are also
four picturesque self-contained
cottages adjacent to the main
house where individuals are With four years’ experience in the Both Myles and Kathryn have over
supported to lead a more care industry, Charli’s previous 30 years of experience working
independent life, whilst still having work background was in a with people who have PWS and
access to the support team. dementia unit within a nursing have an exceptional in-depth
Within the main house there are environment. Although she had knowledge and understanding
lots of communal areas where the dealt a lot with challenging of the condition, so their one-to-
supported individuals can socialise behaviour and was able to bring one training with Charli has been
together, including a large, homely with her strategies and techniques invaluable. As well as offering
lounge, dining room and activity on how to overcome this, she an insight into the challenges
room, which has an adjoining needed to learn how to adapt her people with PWS face daily, they
conservatory. There is also a large knowledge to supporting people have also been presenting Charli
mature garden with an outside with Prader-Willi Syndrome. Charli with strategy techniques to help
dining area and gazebo. Life at therefore made it her mission to support and aid the individuals
Clare House is all about promoting learn as much as possible about at Clare House to live a valued,
an active, healthy lifestyle, whilst this rare genetic condition to fulfilled and healthy life, whilst at
enabling the supported individuals ensure the people living at Clare the same time maximising their
to have as much independence as House, who have PWS, receive the independence and supporting
possible. best support and care possible. them to achieve their full potential.
www.consensussupport.com
0808 223 5320
enquiries@consensussupport.com
As well as regular contact from person-centred active support intake are monitored. Devising
Myles and Kathryn, Charli has methods to get the supported healthy menus that aid good
also been spending time with the individuals involved in doing nutrition and healthy weight loss
individuals at Clare House to get things for themselves. For in a carefully managed way is very
to know them on a personal level. example, she has introduced important.
Getting to know each individual a breakfast bar each morning
well, Charli has learnt very quickly whereby they are able to choose When Charli first started her role
their individual likes and dislikes and make their own breakfast, at Clare House, she immediately
and how to interact best with where beforehand they wouldn’t noticed the lack of enthusiasm
them. be actively doing this themselves. from the supported individuals
when it came to mealtimes, the
From this, Charli has also put Charli says, “Giving them the meals seemed a little boring,
some strategies in place for herself support to make breakfast for with little variety. Charli therefore
and the rest of the support team themselves has really improved made it a priority to change the
to follow to enable the entire team their overall independence and menus and to give the supported
to give the individuals the support confidence within the service. They individuals some variation at
they need to live meaningful lives. love doing things for themselves.” mealtimes. She introduced
Slimming World, which is a UK
Implementing strategies based weight loss organisation,
and change... catering for men and women of
Charli recognised that the “Charli has used all ages. Slimming World includes
individuals at Clare House needed person-centred active a mixture of healthy, satisfying
their independence. Charli says, and delicious recipes made with
“My key priority for Clare House
support methods to everyday ingredients and with
is to give the people who live get the supported home cooking at the heart of
here opportunities and choices individuals involved each recipe, it is something the
and to enable them to live as supported individuals can get
independently as possible.”
in doing things for involved in together.
themselves.”
It is also very important that
people with PWS remain active
and take part in regular exercise
to support their overall health,
fitness and wellbeing, which the
supported individuals at Clare
House do by going for up to
three walks a day. To develop
their independence further, Charli
came up with an idea to create
a ‘walking buddies’ scheme,
where each individual is paired
up with another. They can then
go on walks safely with a ‘buddy’
without the need for the support
team to go too, which will really
help give them autonomy over
“It’s about me teaching my team their day by choosing where they Introducing the activity
techniques on how to give them want to walk. team...
the independence they need to life People with PWS and learning
a happy and meaningful life within Healthier choices... disabilities and/or autism often
their local community.” Due to the various health issues need structure and a plan of
that can come with having PWS, action for the day. Sometimes if
To achieve this, Charli has used it is crucial that calories and food plans change or plans aren’t
www.consensussupport.com
0808 223 5320
enquiries@consensussupport.com
communicated, then they can supporting the individuals who
become quite agitated and love dressing up in drag with a
anxious. Charli has therefore ‘Pride Day’. They also regularly go
introduced an ‘activities team’ down to the local duck pond and
to deter this from happening feed the ducks and enjoy a picnic
and to remove the likelihood of in the park too. A few weeks ago,
behaviours occurring and this also they even organised for some
gets the supported individuals horses to come to the house and
geared up for their day, doing the each person was able to walk really turned Clare House into a
activities they choose. around with a horse, which really happy, positive and supportive
helped lift their spirits when times place to not only live but to work
The team ensure the supported were a little tough. too. Everyone is like one big family
individuals are involved in the and with the little changes that
process of deciding what activities Clare House gets a mini have happened along the way,
they will be doing for the coming makeover... Charli has really changed the lives
weeks and every two weeks of the people who live at Clare
Another priority that Charli
they hold meetings for them to House, giving them independence,
wanted to implement soon after
express what is working, what’s choice and control over their lives.
starting her role, was to freshen
not and what new things can be up some of the communal areas
introduced. to give Clare House a happy and
homely feel and to make it feel
“Keeping fit
more personal to the individuals and healthy and
who live there. She started on the
dining room, making the room feel
maintaining regular
softer and calmer with a lick of exercise is extremely
light paint, whilst adding in some
finishing touches with cushions,
important for the
plants and pictures. One of the individuals who live
supported individuals also loves to
make little models and will spend
at Clare House.”
hours making them but hadn’t had
anywhere to display them. Charli
therefore made sure she added
some shelves to the room for him
to proudly display his models.
The conservatory and hallway
“Keeping fit and healthy and also had a freshen up of paint
maintaining regular exercise with some accessories added to
is extremely important for the them too and there is even an
individuals who live at Clare addition of a pool table. Charli and
House. Each week the activity the team ensured the supported
board goes up with the activities individuals were involved in the
for the week highlighted so decision-making process every
everyone knows what they will be step of the way. They will also
doing.” says Charli. soon be making their very own
flowerbeds in the garden out of
Since the introduction of the old pallets. Charli and the team
activities team, the individuals at have already got the ball rolling
Clare House have been non-stop and have asked each individual
getting involved in numerous what colour paint they want their
activities. They have introduced own pallet to be.
themed evenings like bingo nights
and disco nights, they also go to In such a short space of time
the local beaches and are also Charli and the support team have
www.consensussupport.com
0808 223 5320
enquiries@consensussupport.com
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