A BRIDGWATER service that cares for people with autism and learning difficulties has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.

Allerton Care & Support South West is a finalist in the Supported Living Organisation category of the Care and Support West Care Awards 2021.

The supported living service provides personal care to people with autism and learning difficulties living in their own homes, with the team currently supporting 19 people across Bridgwater, Taunton, Yeovil, and Sedgemoor.

Registered manager Toyah Warrington has supported people with mental health, learning difficulties, and complex care needs for over a decade and joined the team at Allerton in January.

She said: “I am incredibly proud of the team and to be in the running for this award is recognition of our shared vision and commitment.

“Most people take choice and independence for granted, we support people with learning disabilities to live as independently as possible, maximising their choice and facilitating greater control over their lives.

“For the people we support, the pandemic and the lockdowns have resulted in a loss of routine, activities, and contact with family and the local community.

“Limitation of movement and restrictions to activities can have a traumatic impact on the wellbeing and emotional heath of people with autism and learning difficulties, but our team have worked incredibly hard to overcome this.”

With the closure of community clubs, support workers at Allerton have got creative, organising a variety of internal activities, including hair and nail parties.

“My team’s efforts have really helped to improve social interaction and boost mental health,” Toyah said.

“For example, one of our service users is a huge Westlife fan and has always dreamed of going to see them live. He has complex needs and struggles with large crowds and busy environments.

“Over the last couple of years, his support workers have helped to gradually build up his confidence and his tolerance to crowds by facilitating visits to a restaurant for a meal or to see live music.

"They encouraged him to enrol at college, supporting him to travel to and from the college twice a week, improving his tolerance of busy and noisy environments.

“He’s worked so hard, and in August next year they will support him to achieve his dream as he has tickets to see Westlife live at Wembley Stadium!”

Allerton staff have also been praised for their person-centred approach to care in a new report by healthcare inspectors.

The service has been rated ‘good’ following a visit from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in May.

The report said: “People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests.”

Inspectors praised the manager and the team for having “a good set of values focused on the wellbeing of the people they supported” and for promoting “dignity, privacy and human rights.”

The Care and Support West Care Awards celebrate hard work and dedication across the health and social care sector, paying tribute to those individuals and teams who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work.

The winner will be revealed during an awards ceremony and dinner at the Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol on October 9.