FST Ardenleigh (Birmingham)
Ardenleigh is a new Medium Secure Unit in Birmingham specialising in services for women and young people. FST has been developing a project there since July 2005.
FST@ Ardenleigh has been hugely successful with the launch of various projects at the unit. We work with the two services, the women's service and the CAMHS service. (Children and Adolescents Mental Health Service). Both are forensic services.
Within the women's service we have an exceptional 85% (24 out of 28 women) actively involved or awaiting referrals working with us. For the CAMHS service we have all the young people who are currently at a stage that they are able to work with us.
Car Valeting
We offer real work experience and some of our projects include - car washing which has taken off very well and the workforce (service users) are involved with all the areas of the business from hands on cleaning to merchandising, advertising and financial budgeting. Customer Satisfaction Questionnaires have been returned with very positive comments about the quality of service given. All cars are cleaned to a top quality standard.
Shop
We also run a very productive on site shop that has been a great success, creating a fast paced work experience and developing strong customer service skills as well cash handling, supervision, key holding and the general running of a day to day business such as stock replenishment, stock control and merchandising.
Gardening, Domestic Team
In addition, we run various cleaning contracts that we have tendered for at the hospital, general maintenance team and a gardening project.
Photographs (coming)
Our recent achievements have included the garden display at the front of the hospital, which we created and will be maintaining. We are also in the process of developing the Multifaith Room with our newly established Maintenance Team, which has meant a great deal of team work and responsibility as we are working on a strict time scale.
Photographs (coming)
Health & Safety is FST’s primary concern in the workplace. All Workforce member have been inducted by and some have been presented with their Foundation Certificate in Health & Safety in the Workplace by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
Office Management
An small administration team, the back bone of any successful business, runs on a daily basis, keeping all financial records, monitoring, reports and statistics up to date.
Workforce Meetings
Held on a regular basis, the Workforce are involved in minute taking, chairing meetings and openly share new ideas and take this opportunity to air any concerns.
One of the most important things to stress is that we all work as a team and service users are workforce and we are all colleagues. We are non clinical in our approach and we offer real work experience and promote positive attitudes at work.
We have also been involved with various presentations, which have been amazing. We all know how daunting it is to get up and do a presentation in front of anyone let alone a room full of at least 20 doctors. This is what two of our workforce recently accomplished and it was delivered in the most professional manner.
What the workforce say:
Domestic Team
'I have cleaned the patio area and shop, hairdressers, when finished the job it’s nice to say we have done that.'
Presentations
'I have used powerpoint and done a presentation for FST with another peer and my boss. Although it was a bit nerve racking, I found it a positive experience.'
Workforce Meetings
'I like the work force meeting and hope to have plenty of work.'
'I think it’s a good opportunity to give and share ideas with all the workforce and how to promote FST at Ardenleigh or even further.'
Do you enjoy working with FST? Why
'I like working in the shop. It’s like I am achieving a lot every time I work in there'.
'I enjoyed FST because it has helped me with my confidence & has helped me to help in the shop.'
'I really enjoy working with FST.'
'FST have given me the opportunity a lot of people wouldn’t & like working as a good worker. I like to be busy especially when it comes to work.'
'Yes, it’s good work experience'
What do you feel that you have achieved by working with FST?
'I feel more confident and feel more relaxed in a work environment.'
'I have achieved a lot of things at FST like learning about COSHH, H&S, Risk Assessing, using the till, daily petty cash and finance, confidence, self worth.'
'I don’t find cleaning boring anymore.'
'I have learned a lot in First Step Trust and hoping to learn a lot more. It’s very good work experience'.
'I really enjoy it as it’s building my confidence up.'
'I really enjoy working in the shop maintaining money, stock taking and dealing with customers.'
'I have learned to do stock control and replenish and worked on the till, It is good to learn new skills and enjoy working there.'
Would you recommend other service users to join FST? Why?
'I would recommend the service users to join FST because you can gain things, i.e., confidence, ability to help others.'
'I would really recommend other people to work with FST and encourage them in doing so as you gain so much and you leave with a reference from First Step Trust I am really proud of what I am doing.'
'Yes, I would because it gives people a chance to prove themselves and believe in them self and get skills and knowledge.'
'Yes, it’s a good opportunity to practice skills.'
Collaborators
“Dixons” Paints and Wall Coverings has been established over 150 years. They have branches all over the midlands, from “Stoke on Trent” in the north, to “Gloucester” in the south. Their staff are friendly and helpful. Each local representative is more than willing to come along and discuss your requirements with the “Workforce” which has proved invaluable for Decorating Project preparation.
Dixons” prides itself on offering customers a real choice of quality paint supplies and sundry products .The “Ardenleigh” project in Erdington Birmingham has opened up a “Trade Account” with “ Dixons,” and enjoys a very competitive discount, on all its purchases.
Visit “DIXONS” PAINTS AND WALLCOVERING
Contact
FST @ Ardenleigh (Birmingham)
385 Kingsbury Road
Erdington, Birmingham
West Midlands B24 9SA
Project Manager: Nick Cameron
Assistant Manager: Natalie Coleman
Full
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