About this location
The Wheelhouse is located in the historic town of Hastings, in East Sussex. It offers residential support for three males who are autistic or have a learning disability. We are on a private road, a short distance of the main town centre and seafront.
Our team are dedicated to enabling all the people we care for to lead an independent life, supporting them to access the community, and giving individuals positive reinforcement to make choices and develop daily living skills.
We can also support those who have:
- Difficulties with communication
- Moderate behaviours that challenge
- Epilepsy
Services at a glance
There are a total of three bedrooms at the site. Of these:
Contact us
The Wheelhouse 15 Old Roar Road St Leonards on Sea East Sussex TN37 7HA
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About our service
Our facilities and environment
The large detached, communal house has lots of space and offers a relaxed, homely environment. There are three bedrooms, one is on the ground floor and two are on the first floor. One of the bedrooms has en-suite facilities.
In summary, we offer:
- A large lounge with plenty of seating
- Kitchen and dining room
- Well-equipped activities room
- Quiet room
- Utility room
- Sensory room
- Communal bathroom
We also have our own garden, complete with:
- Secure fencing
- Lawn
- Patio
- Communal seating
- Summer house
- Swings
We also have specialised equipment within the home, such as sensory lighting, located within our sensory room.
Our bedrooms
All of our bedrooms are comfortable, welcoming and can be personalised to individual tastes. One of the bedrooms has en-suite facilities, containing a bath.
Our approach to support
Everybody who lives at The Wheelhouse has their own person-centred care plan, which is co-produced with input from the individual, their family members and professionals involved in their care. We aim to help everyone in our care to make their own choices about the support they receive. This may include support in a number of areas, such as going out in the community, personal care, cooking and cleaning, and maintaining family relationships.
Our support approaches at The Wheelhouse include positive behaviour support (PBS) and psychiatry. We also have support from a local multidisciplinary team to offer extra support services for the people who live here.
In addition, we use tools such as the Outcomes Star™, including the Spectrum Star, to support our residents to achieve their goals. The lengths of the placements that we offer at The Wheelhouse can be medium or long-term residential, depending on the needs of each person.
Activities
Everyone who lives at The Wheelhouse has their own personalised activities planner and are encouraged to take part in activities which are meaningful and fulfilling to them. Our dedicated team organise a variety of activities at the home, as well as out in the community.
We focus on supporting our residents to grow their independence. For some people, this may mean developing their daily living skills within the home. For others, this could be accessing work or educational opportunities in the local community.
Exclusion profile
- Females, as we are a male only home
Pathways
Through our network of healthcare, residential and supported living facilities, we provide unique care pathways which help the people we support to progress towards greater independence. Every individual we support is provided with a bespoke pathway plan, tailored according to their individual needs. We aim to ensure that each person is supported to live a fulfilling and active life in the community.
Our team
Our highly experienced team consists of:
- Service manager
- Deputy manager
- Support workers
- Senior support workers
Our team receive specialist staff training, designed to meet the needs of each individual we support. This includes:
- Makaton training
- Epilepsy training
- Diabetes management training
A message from our site leader
The Wheelhouse is a small, friendly home, where the ethos is providing a safe and caring environment
The Wheelhouse’s site leader
Comments from our residents and their family and friends
My child has lived at The wheelhouse for the past 30 years, it has a friendly, and family orientated atmosphere
Family and friends FAQs
How does home leave work?
We support our residents to attend family events and visit their family homes. We will work with the resident and their relatives to ensure possible risks are managed and that everyone is supported. This may mean the individual’s key worker will come along on the visit.
Can friends and families visit?
Family and friends are welcome to visit and participate in activities at the service. Unfortunately we cannot cater for visitors to stay overnight.
Will I be involved and kept up to date with the progress of my loved one’s care and support?
Yes, we arrange regular catch-ups via the phone or video call, to keep the loved ones of our residents involved in their care. We will work with families to figure out a communication style and routine that works for them.
Will my loved one be able to have a phone or call me?
Our home has cordless phone which can be used by residents at any time. In addition, we can support our residents to get their own mobile phone, where appropriate.
What are the bedrooms like?
Bedrooms are all furnished and residents are supported to personalise them to suit their needs and wishes. Some of the furniture has been purchased to suit the needs of our residents and some of it is fitted, and therefore cannot be removed.
Are external doors kept locked?
Although our external gates are locked for security purposes, every resident will be risk assessed to determine the level of security needed. We have a lovely garden area where individuals can freely exit and enter the building.
What do residents eat and how do meal times work?
Residents are supported to choose and prepare what they want to eat, whenever they like. We will however support residents with any problems or concerns they may have around meal times, such as preparing their own food. Our team will also seek guidance from family members and nutritionists to ensure that special dietary requirements are catered for.
How does laundry work?
Residents always have access to clean clothes and bedding. We have a utility room with laundry facilities, which residents make use of either independently or with the support of their key worker.
Who does the housekeeping and domiciliary tasks?
Most of our residents undertake domiciliary tasks such as cleaning. Our care team support them with these tasks, and task allocation is also discussed in our monthly resident meetings. We also have a housekeeper on site to support residents who are unable to clean.
Is there anything they can’t bring or have?
We would ask that residents do not bring valuables such as family heirlooms to our home, as we cannot guarantee their safety. We may place restrictions on some items where the risks cannot be appropriately managed. These include non-approved drugs and medications, solvent-based products and lighters.
How do activities work?
Everyone we care for has a tailored activities planner of in-house activities as well as visits into the community. Their key worker may use a variety of communication tools to ensure the resident can have an input into the planning of activities. We encourage our residents to take part in activities that build their skills, make them happy, and help them to achieve their aspirations.
How will residents be supported with their behavioural needs?
We use the PROACT-SCIPr-UK® framework, which means we focus on proactive strategies, rather than physical intervention. We require our care plans which include restrictions to be assessed frequently, for example procedures for interventions such as pro re nata (PRN) medication are regularly reviewed and removed, where possible.
Do residents and families have an input into the care plans?
We work with social workers, family members and residents to develop care plans which are in the best interests of our residents. We use a variety of communication tools and work with health professionals to aid each resident in having a say about every aspect of their care. Care plans are regularly reviewed, and family members will be asked for their input.
What are the car parking facilities?
We have off-road parking for four cars.
What is the smoking policy?
We have a designated area outside for residents to smoke or to vape, and they can be supported to purchase cigarettes at the shop, if this is what they choose.
What are your fees and how are they funded?
Our fees can vary, and are based on an assessment of each individual's needs. Many people are eligible for financial help towards the cost of support, and this funding can be accessed by contacting your local authority. Once funding has been agreed, we will work with your local care team to put together a bespoke package of care. Please note, referrals for NHS or Local Authority funded services must come from a referring organisation.
How to make a referral
Our service provides high quality support to people with varying levels of need. Referrals can be made through the individual’s social care team or, if relevant, their local health authority. If you are a professional looking to make a referral, please call us or fill in our enquiry form.