Help in the home: Not-for-profit resource centre in Burnley which supports vulnerable people now offering home care

Run by a not-for-profit community interest company the home care service will run alongside a range of support, groups and facilities – from food banks to respite care, kids clubs to fitness sessions.

And it has now registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide home care services, Charter House Homecare services strive to deliver exceptionally high standards of care to people in the comfort of their own homes, promoting the view that each and every person is entitled to support in living their life to the fullest.

Jason Smith, director of the centre, said: “We aim to improve the lives of our service users and firmly believe that life is a journey, which we are proud to take side by side.

“Our trained carers can assist with day-to-day tasks such as,

Personal care assisting the individual with getting in and out of bed, washing, dressing, applying topical medicines and all other personal hygiene requirements.

“We can also help with medication management from support and administering medication to collecting prescriptions.

“Our carers can accompany individuals to appointments such as doctors, dentist, and hospital appointments, or if the individual needs assistance with shopping our staff can accompany or if preferred to do the shopping on the individuals’ behalf.”

Charter House care services can assist with preparing meals choice, promoting healthy and nutritious meals.

Jason added: “After hospital care we know coming home from a hospital stay can be daunting that’s why we offer short term care packages to allow you the time and support you need to recover from your stay in hospital, we will take the stress and worry until you are ready to be independent again.

“Companionship and support in the community, our caring and compassionate carers can offer you some companionship in the comfort of your home or can accompany you out in the community, our aim is to reduce vulnerable people from isolation.

“We know that housework can be challenging at times, that’s why we offer a light domestics service, laundry, bed making, vacuuming, dusting and more.

With Charter House care services you can expect care plans tailored to suit the needs of each individual as we understand that everyone is unique. We treat each individual with respect and dignity at all times, enabling you to remain independent and in control of your own care. We believe everyone deserves to live the life they choose.”

Charter House Resource Centre was established in 2011 and provides services for vulnerable people in Burnley and the surrounding area. Its community services include day care for people with disabilities, the elderly, or those living with dementia.

At the resource centre, on Morse Street, there is a large sensory room for those with complex challenging disabilities and sensory impairments. There is also a brand-new community garden with sensory, wild flower, and animal areas. This has been used to help lonely or vulnerable people to experience and learn gardening and to host a Saturday morning Café Kids club and exercise.

Its day care activities build positive relationships, promote independence, keep people safe and provide much needed respite for families and carers that support these individuals 24-7. It offers a safe environment where people can meet others and join in with structured and meaningful activities. These include baking, painting and crafts, computers, nail painting and hand massage, bingo and board games.

The sensory room enables the users, their families, and carers a safe space to spend time. Many of the people using the sensory room have behavioural, social or environmental needs which are not easily met in day-to-day life.

At the beginning of the lockdown, Charter House altered its services and provided over 35,000 free meals to lonely, vulnerable, and unwell people.

“Our service has evolved and grown from then,” explains Jason Smith, director of the centre, who set it up with his wife Carolyn. “We continue to be part of “Burnley together” as a hub for food parcel distribution, although our focus is to support people who are elderly have dementia or a disability, we continue to help the wider community as and when we can.

“We now feel it is the right time to support the community by providing, home care services, we recently registered with the Care quality commission CQC,” he said.

“We consider our service to be a modern-day community centre, aiming to support the community to build cohesion and togetherness, whilst directly helping individuals that are vulnerable or need extra support.”

Charter House also encourages, and manages, local volunteers that support its various projects.

“Charter House Resource Centre is proud to say that we are Covid Community Champions,” said Jason. “Through the Community Champions scheme, councils and voluntary organisations will deliver a wide range of measures to protect those most at risk - building trust, communicating accurate health information, and ultimately helping to save lives.”

History of the centreIt originally opened in the centre of Burnley but moved to its current location in 2019 so it could host more services. Many local organisations and businesses gave time and materials to renovate the building. Many of its services, such as food parcels and keep fit sessions, are free or minimal cost and they have also been able to give out emergency crisis grants.

It has been recognised and received awards from The Mayor of Burnley, MP for Burnley Anthony Higginbotham and was put forward for the Queens Award. Carolyn and Jason have also been recognised personally for their work receiving “Carer of the Year” awards in BBC Radio Lancashire’s Community Heroes Awards.

To find out more about the full range of services on offer please visit their website here.