Care and support

Butterwick Day Service

1 Hixberry Lane
St Albans
Herts AL4 0TZ
(Click on the link on the right called 'See a map of this area' and zoom in on the map to show the exact location)
Tel: 01727 861393
Fax: 01727 835254
E-mail: Butterwick.dayservice@hertscc.gov.uk

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Hertfordshire County Council’s Butterwick day service provides services for 132 adults daily.

People from in and around St Albans area, including Harpenden, who have challenging behaviour and multiple disabilities, attend the centre. The centre is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.15pm, closing only for Bank Holidays and essential staff training.

We believe that people with learning disabilities have the right to take part in the life of the local community, exercise rights and responsibilities, choose how to live and what to do and show competence by playing a part in the community and to exercise the right to be independent.

We build on people’s abilities and enable them to make more choices and to develop their skills. We do this within a safe, caring and supportive environment and in a way that gives encouragement, builds self-confidence and skills and treats each person with respect. Our aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone that uses our centre and its services.

People have different needs so the service we provide is tailored to the individual. We have many opportunities on offer including work experience, building social skills and leisure activities.

We run a large range of activities including horse riding, bowls, gardening, cooking, art, crafts, communication, community access, conservation, sensory integration, music and relaxation.

We can also arrange for people to attend college and other appropriate placements.

Health professionals regularly visit the centre and we have a Health Improvement Clinic run by community learning disability nurses. The nurses carry out routine medical checks and where necessary make referrals to the relevant GP’s. Referrals can be made to a speech therapist to assess people who use our service, from which programmes can be worked out to suit individual’s needs.

An optician attends once a year to carry out eye tests and will provide spectacles where needed. The Community Dietician makes regular visits and the Community Dental Service is available as required.

Our staff come from a variety of backgrounds and have extensive training and experience of working with people with differing disabilities and needs.

Every centre user is allocated a linkworker, a member of staff who provides individual support. Everyone also has a care plan, agreed with them, and tailored to their individual needs which is reviewed regularly.

Hot and cold drinks are available all day. At present people bring in their own packed lunches.

The centre is fully accessible for anyone with mobility problems, including wheelchair users.

We ask people not to smoke at any of our establishments. There are designated areas where smoking is allowed outside the buildings.

Transport is not automatically provided for people attending Adult Care Services. User’s needs will be assessed by the local Adult Care Services Area Teams to see if any support is needed with travel, and a variety of options will be explored. Where it is identified that the person requires specialist transport, the Area Team worker will arrange for it. Where transport is provided by Adult Care Services there is a charge to the person of £2 per return journey if they are assessed as being able to pay.

What you think…

"I like working on the computers" - David Howard

"I like Butterwick a lot, I like playing football" - Martyn East

"I like it here all the time" - Joan Power

“I like the discos and cookery” - Susan Jones

For more information, or to arrange a visit, please contact us directly on 01727 861393.

If you would like to attend you need to contact your social worker or occupational therapist. Alternatively you can contact our Customer Service Centre, details can be found by clicking on the link on this page entitled 'Contact ACS'.