Lennon Court is the new supported living service for disabled people opened and established in Rugby by New Directions. This accommodation and outreach service supports 11 learning disabled people in their own home. The individuals supported by a dedicated staff team based at Lennon Court are encouraged to increase their skills and independence and take part in the local community. This outcome promotes feelings of inclusion and acceptance and provides a stepping stone to living the lives they want to live by taking control and making choices.
The individuals living at Lennon Court flats where staff provide structure, guidance, prompting or reminders, benefits advice and housing support to tenants. The staff have an open-door strategy in the office where people that live there can come to find direction, ask questions and advice.
People supported are inspired and motivated to find work in retail, as a cleaner at two jobs and learning how to use computers to help them into work or volunteering. New Directions began working with tenants at Lennon Court and its community in December 2016.
The charity’s staff were soon accepted by the people that live there and its support services were welcomed as tenants became more used to the staff and built trust. New Directions staff supported one tenant at Lennon Court, every step of the way toward independent living in her new home in the community and now one more is also making the move. Some of the tenants were familiar to New Directions as they attend its day activities and opportunities service Community Choices Network. This combination creates an overlap of complimentary services and a holistic approach to the support provided by New Directions’ staff.
Manager Debbie Dale said, “New Directions actively encourages the people we support at Lennon Court and in the community to look at the skills and strengths that indicate the right support package for them. They may require our services on one particular day for one thing, or they may need to have someone with them all the time. We provide tenants with a safe and supportive environment at Lennon Court where they can thrive and live a thoroughly involved life while preparing them to live independently if they choose to.”