Counselling and talking therapies are provided and are helpful if a client needs extra support managing their anxiety. It can help a person to cope with and resolve feelings of guilt, denial and anger if these are contributing to their anxious state.

All staff are trained in various aspects of mental health, including understanding how to construct/ follow care plans and the importance of knowing the individual. All staff trained in BILD Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), and complementary NAPPI (least restrictive intervention) training, enabling a personalised behaviour management plan to be developed; including distraction techniques, activities and engagement based on the knowledge and understanding of the individual’s personal needs. Input from outside agencies including psychiatry and psychology is used as required, both in training and development of care plans.

All staff adopt a recovery focused approach to promote independence and support service users to attain life skills. Support panning is goal focused and service users are encouraged to work towards their own outcomes with the emphasis on promotion of self-directed care.

All staff are trained to ensure that they all have knowledge and understanding of the different mental health conditions that the Service Users have is an important part of developing appropriate person-centred care, support and risk management plans.

Being mindful of the individual and respecting their views and input into their own care is also an important part of the relationship built up in the Home between the staff team and the Service Users.

Where there are communication issues these are addressed to ensure that the individual can express their needs and requirements and staff are able to respond appropriately to their wishes.

Providing a positive approach and using encouragement assists individuals to be more engaged in the management of their own mental health and involvement in positive activities further helps to reduce stress when this is a factor for them.

We offer regular 1:1 key working sessions to encourage open communication between Service Users and staff. We have a dedicated in-house counsellor that facilitates talking therapy groups, relaxation techniques and individual sessions. The home strives to create a welcoming, supporting and homely environment whereby Service Users offer peer support and professional input is provided by local Multi-Disciplinary team

The staff at Lyndale have annual training on diabetes. This enables monitoring of diet and early recognition of any changes to linked health conditions or diabetes management to occur. They also have training on how to use the glucose monitoring machine, and they are further supported by the local District Nurses, and the nurse educator team based in Devon.

The Lyndale Staff are trained in the management, monitoring and understanding of the importance of knowledge of the individual and their seizure patterns and triggers. Tight procedures and protocols are in place to follow should PRN medication be needed. They are supported by the Epilepsy nurse, who regularly visits, to review the service users and their support plans.

The home is supported by the local Hospice who provide free training that is very specific and personalised. They also provide personalised support and care plans for those who need it at end of life.

Staff are trained to monitor blood pressure and be aware of signs indicating it is not under control; Staff are trained to protocols around Medication. Staff are aware of the need to assist an individual with orthostatic hypotension, giving them time to adjust when e.g. moving from lying to standing.