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Kingsway Care Service Spotlight
This month’s spotlight is a conversation with Kingsway Care and some of their staff. I spoke to Olly (Managing Director), Tilly (Head of People & Culture) and Katy (Disability Champion) who gave me an introduction to Kingsway Care. Have a look below to find out about all the great work they do, as well as some of their plans for the future.
What does your service do?
Olly: Our mission is to enable independent living, this is our motto, its on the side of our cars, our website, but of course independent living means different things for different people. For many of our clients (we have an age range of potentially 19 to 102, which is quite incredible) and everyone has slightly different requirements. For some it is personal care, but there is also a lot more, there is companionship, activities, events, support at home and in the garden. We have a network of hairdresser’s beauticians, anything you can think of really to support our clients.
Tilly: We really are looking to do something different that really goes beyond what I would say is traditional care. So, things like Kingsway Coffee help us to bring our clients together and get them into the community and make their lives better, and really involve people to create a family and unity to help create something special. All our carers work hard to work out what our client’s passions are and make our service suit that.
Katy: It’s really important for people to feel wanted and they have someone to talk to and have activities to do because a lot of people can be stuck in their homes. I go carriage driving once a week in Surrey and I like to make the most of my time by being around people, and some people in care homes don’t get to do this. Also, for young people, its important for them to be in the community and see that sometimes there is more to life than being with mum and dad, or just going to college.
How long has Kingsway Care been running?
Tilly: Olly first started up Kingsway Care over a year ago, and we got our CQC license back in January so have been a fully fledged care provider for the last 7 months.
How did you become a disability champion for Kingsway Care Katy?
Katy: About 3 or 4 months ago I was looking for a new care provider as I was struggling with who I was with. When Kingsway started doing my care Olly saw more potential in me than just being a care client, and he has seen the youth work I have done with Young Voices and could see what I wanted to achieve in my own way.
How does your service help people?
Katy: I can give an example of something I did the other day. I did a piece of writing about some of the activities I enjoy which one of the care receivers at Kingsway, who is 78 years old, read and we spoke about it. They said it had inspired them to have a go at it themselves.
Local Offer Officer: And that’s a key part of what you do as the disability champion? Sharing your experiences with others to help them see that they can do things as well.
Katy: Exactly, that is what we are really trying hard to achieve.
Olly: I can also give another example of Tilly and Katy’s great work. They are going to be starting a Boccia club now that we are all able to meet in person, and we are going to be hosting events next door to Kingsway Coffee at the King Alfred Leisure Centre. People can then come back for tea and cakes and have a community get together.
What is the most important thing you have learnt from working in the SEND community?
Katy: The most important thing I have learnt is to treat people how you want to be treated. I have had carers in the past who have been too focused on the money they earn, and not thinking about the human they are caring for. This is wrong and it should be more about the person than the money and this is what Kingsway Care is about.
Tilly: For me working in care shows what it means to be human, and when I work with certain people it really helps to remind me what matters in life. Smiles, joy, passion, family, friends, all the things that truly matter shine and it is a privilege to see it.
How can people find out more about Kingsway Care?
Olly: Our website has a news and stories section as well as our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Vimeo. We encourage our clients and caregivers to share stories from their day to help show the human side of what we do and how we make a positive difference to our clients lives.
Local Offer Officer: and of course, you have a Local Offer Service Card people can view.
 
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