Highfield Scheme Ltd Great Harwood Adult Day Services, Enter and View Report, Tuesday 5th July 2022

This report details the findings of an Enter and View conducted by trained staff from Healthwatch Lancashire. The Highfield Scheme provides activity day services for adults with learning and physical disabilities to help improve skills, knowledge and understanding. The service is based in Great Harwood, and service users carry out a range of activities including arts and crafts, gardening, aerobics and chair-based exercise, music therapy, drama and dance, and other indoor activities. Healthwatch Lancashire representatives spoke to the owner, one manager, ten service users, four staff members, four external staff members, one outside agency and one volunteer. Feedback from was obtained from the relatives of eight service users. The services are provided at The Base which is a large single storey community building with a large hall, several smaller rooms and a kitchen, as well as a garden area. Overall staff and service user interactions were observed to be professional and friendly, and supportive of needs and preferences. Staff were engaged with service users and encouraged service users to participate with the activity that was being undertaken at the time of the visit Feedback from service users was generally positive. service users expressed that they enjoy the activities on offer, and they have some choices in what they do, although several requested more choices around activities. Several service users have been attending the service for some years. Relative feedback was very positive, with only a few minor issues raised. Staff were highly praised, most relatives felt informed, and all felt that their relative had choices. Feedback highlighted that the day service has a big impact on the service users and their wellbeing, “excellent, all [service user] needs are met in a way [they] can understand”.