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Message from the MD
Thank you for choosing to visit our new website. I hope it will give you a real
insight into the way we provide care at Avens and the experiences of some of the
people who use our services.
Chris Andrews
[Read more]
Our staff
We have 70 staff divided between our sites in East Sussex and Northamptonshire. We believe that be investing time and resources in our staff our service users will reap the rewards through excellent care. Because we look after everyone who works for us, staff turnover is low with an average length of service of four years. This is high for the care industry.
Every member of staff is important but we think it is important to share as much information as possible about our key managers.
Managing Director Chris Andrews has a Professional Diploma in Management Science, a certificate in Advance Management Care (City and Guilds Distinction) and the 7301 Further Education Trainer Certificate (City & Guilds). He is also a Qualified Assessor at NVQ levels 2, 3 & 4 in Care, a Senior NAPPI (Non Abusive Psychological Physical Intervention) UK trainer and has managed learning disability services for more than 10 years.
Originally from Poland, Pawel Orlikowski is the registered manager for Avens Supported Living in Northamptonshire. He is highly qualified with a Master’s degree in nursing, an NVQ Level 4 and the Registered Manager’s Award. He also has a Professional Diploma in Management.
Pawel has been with Avens for four years and is in charge of a number of properties throughout Northamptonshire.
“Avens provide excellent services for its customer, excellent working conditions for its staff and has a great reputation. Avens has given me incredible opportunity for my professional development and my work gives me a huge amount of job satisfaction.”
The Agency manager at Avens Supported Living Sussex (ASLS) is Caroline Bradley who has been in post since November 2008. Caroline previously held position as Care Team Manager for Elderly vulnerable People in West Sussex.
Caroline has worked in care since leaving school, with a break when she raised a family, she also worked in children’s, residential homes and in the community.
Caroline holds her Registered Managers Award and various other training certificates and is undertaking her NVQ Assessors award.
Denise Lyford has worked at Avens’ care home in Ringstead for more than seven years. Trained up to NVQ Level 4, she manages 39 Denford Road which is home to 12 service users. The home has gained a good rating from the Care Quality Commission.
“I love my job and its responsibilities – it gives me great satisfaction. Avens has given me this opportunity and encouraged me every step of the way. They have enabled me not only to climb the ladder but have also given me the confidence and the training to fulfill this role. Not everyone can say that they really enjoy their work.
I love seeing service users enjoying life, experiencing new things, hearing them laugh and helping them overcome fears that we would take for granted.
Michelle Campion is qualified up to NVQ level 4 and has worked at Avens for nearly seven years and is deputy manager at 39 Denford Road. Her job involves supporting Denise to maintain all the appropriate systems, training and records to make sure the high standard of care is maintained.
“I have always been impressed by Avens’ friendly and open ethos. I have received total support from the company over the years. Firstly being employed as a support worked, team leader, head of care and then in my present position of deputy manager. Every role has been rewarding which I think is down to the happy atmosphere Avens promotes. Best of all, I feel lucky to be able to support our service users and help them have the best possible quality of life.”
Training Manager Clair Andrews has worked at Avens for 13 years and has a range of qualifications including: Non-abusive psychological and physical intervention training, Full First Aid at Work, Protection of Vulnerable adults, Level 4 certificate in Conducting internal quality Assurance of the Assessment Process, NVQ Level 3 in ‘Promoting Independence’, Level 3 certificate in Assessing Candidates using a range of Methods and a degree in Health and Social Care.
Her role is to make sure every member of staff has received the training they need and that they have the appropriate qualifications for their role. She is also qualified to verify NVQs for certification purposes.
“Avens offers quality of life to a group of people who are sometimes misunderstood by society. Our ethos is to provide a true home for individuals and giving them a say in the care they want. We put the service user at the centre of everything we do.”
Magdalena Orlikowska is Avens’ NVQ assessor and trainer. She has worked at Avens for three years and is qualified to assess NVQs in Health and Social Care up to Level 3 as well as being a Common Induction Standards assessor. She also gives first aid, fire awareness, health and safety and first-day induction training.
“I really like helping staff progress and achieve qualifications that help them provide the best possible service for people with learning disabilities. It’s very rewarding knowing that as an assessor I’m helping members of the team to understand their roles and enjoy their work with service users and help them on their way to becoming more independent.”
Our training
Our staff are the most experienced, best trained and well qualified you will find. They all undertake training including Common Induction Standards, Health and Social Care NVQs at levels 2, 3 or 4 and any other relevant qualifications. We are keen on promoting from within the organisation and helping staff achieve their potential.
We believe that the quality of our training is one of the reasons why staff turnover is low. This is really important to the quality of service because a stable workforce means long-term relationships can be built with customers, tenants and service users, as well as their families.
Most of our training is provided in house and, as well as NVQs, we offer staff a range of other specialist training. This includes a course that helps to eliminate the need to for staff to restrain service users if they become violent. Called ‘non abusive psychological and physical interventions in autism awareness (NAPPI), the techniques used by Avens staff have virtually eliminated the need to restrain even the most challenging service users. NAPPI techniques have also resulted in the people making great progress in terms of their behaviour.
All staff must also take courses in Adult Abuse Awareness, Health and Safety Regulations, the Basic Food Handling Certificate, Moving and handling awareness, first aid at work and fire risk assessment training.
This photo has 3 women in it, a lady in a red top, demonstrating to a lady in a black top how to do the recovery position. She is demonstrating this on a woman lying on the floor, who is wearing jeans and a white top. The room around them is empty apart from a wall socket and curtains.
Join our team
We are often looking for qualified care staff who are passionate about helping people live more independently.
We can offer an enjoyable career with an expanding, forward-thinking company that has an excellent reputation and a good benefits package. We offer flexible working and first-class training.
Please contact us to discuss vacancy opportunities.