Care and support

Stevenage Resource Centre

Chells Way, Stevenage, Herts SG2 0LT
(Select the link called 'See a map of this area' on the right of this page, you can then zoom in to see our exact location.)
Tel: 01438 725820
Fax: 01438 740661
E-mail: Stevenage.dayservice@hertscc.gov.uk

Hertfordshire County Council’s Stevenage Resource Centre provides a range of services for adults with physical disabilities or sensory impairment.

People living throughout north west Hertfordshire who need continuing rehabilitation support outside of the home environment attend the centre, where we encourage them to do things for themselves, gain independence and self esteem and to feel capable of finding new directions in the future.

Our range of services:

We provide a day service to people whose needs are assessed by the local Adult Care Services Area Teams. We aim to enable users of our centre to continue to live within the community as equally as possible by providing an environment which is safe and friendly, where standards of care are high and where people are encouraged to exercise choice whenever possible. We offer individuals programmes of planned activities and encourage them to be involved with the decision making of the centre as a whole.

Activities include a varied programme of individual and group activities to help people to work toward independence, such as cooking, arts & crafts, computing, gardening, relaxation and shopping in Stevenage town centre. People referred for this service attend on pre-arranged days, Monday to Friday.

We provide an Information and Advice Service about physical or sensory disability, which is available to the general public. We can help people to find information on a wide range of disability issues such as details about specific medical conditions, contacting local or national support groups, services available from Hertfordshire County Council, local councils, private and voluntary groups, and holidays suitable for people with physical or sensory needs. Information can be accessed through computers equipped with different software and hardware to help people use them and staff are there to help, if needed.

Our Basic Equipment Advice Service is also available to the general public. We can introduce people with a disability to adapted equipment, which can help them with everyday tasks such as eating, drinking, cooking, washing and dressing, and gardening. An occupational therapist and other specially trained staff are available to give you advice.

The Hertfordshire Hearing Advisory Service visit the third Wednesday of each month between 1pm and 3pm and can give advice and help with equipment such as hearing aids.

The Hertfordshire Action on Disability
mobile equipment display is on site one day each month.

Hertfordshire Society for the Blind visit the first Tuesday of each month between 10am and 12 noon and can give advice and help with specialised equipment.

Headway, a local national voluntary organisation, organise sessions at the centre specifically for people with head injuries.

For our regular users of our services, the centre is open from 9am Monday to Friday. Most people arrive from 9.30am onwards and go home from 3.30pm.

The centre is fully accessible for wheelchair users. We also have specialised equipment for lifting, mobility, eating and drinking.

The Information and Advice and Basic Equipment Services are available on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9.30am to 3pm.

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 member of staff as a link worker who will:

provide individual support

keep records and monitor people’s needs

be present at six weekly review meetings for people new to the centre and at annual reviews for others, so that activity plans for the coming year can reflect the needs of the individual.

Users' elect their own representatives who speak on their behalf and who meet regularly with staff to discuss issues raised and how the amenity fund is be used. We encourage people’s involvement with decision making at the centre, our aim being to enable people to help themselves and not to become dependent on others. This is supported by people:

organising activities themselves whenever possible

volunteering and helping with tasks, to allow greater responsibility in running the centre.

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.

A mobile sandwich service is available each day. Alternatively, there are microwave ovens available for use or people can bring their own packed lunch. A variety of food can be bought at the local shops and drinks are available throughout the day.

The centre is fully accessible for people with sensory needs, including wheelchair users. Toilet facilities are spacious and assistance is available if required. We have specialist equipment for moving and handling and for eating and drinking.

The centre has a no smoking policy, except in the designated smoking room or garden.

For more information, or to arrange a visit, please contact us directly on 01438 725820.

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 selecting the link on the left of this page called 'Contact us'.