50 Voices
ELAINE 50 Voices captures the authentic voice of the people that use our services and our staff as Turning Point celebrates its 50th anniversary
50 Voices
Elaine Traveras-Vicioso
50 Voices
Elaine Traveras-Vicioso
Elaine Traveras-Vicioso is the Registered Manager and Team Leader at Houghtons in Bedford which is one of Turning Point’s residential services for people with learning disabilities.
What are your main responsibilities? I mainly make sure that the service runs as it should, that residents are fit and well both physically and mentally. Networking with external people such as doctors and social workers on the behalf of some of our residents is also involved. I also manage the staff so I must ensure that they have the right tools to do the job which demands ongoing training. I listen to everyone in the service and try not to be judgemental which helps to keep the service healthy.
What skill or quality do you have that helps you do your job to the best of your ability? It’s important to have compassion but to also be bold enough to take risks by which I mean trying different ways to do things so I definitely want to encourage my staff to do that. You need to be able to back up what you’re saying in a coaching and not an autocratic way. Coaching and not ordering people about is how you get more out of people and get to see what they’re capable of, especially when they’re new to the service.
50 Voices
Elaine Traveras-Vicioso
What aspect of your job do you enjoy the most? When the residents smile at you especially that makes a big difference to me but the fact that they’re smiling means we’ve done something that’s made a big difference to them too.
I enjoy all of it! When the residents smile at you especially that makes a big difference to me but the fact that they’re smiling means we’ve done something that’s made a big difference to them too. To do something, have it be successful and have the family see the benefits and how we involve the residents is validating. We push to get the best maximum out of them and the best maximum for them. We also share a lot, our service is very open minded and we evaluate what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and if we can do it better on a daily basis so we can give the best care possible to our service users. I am here until I can’t make a difference anymore.
Why are you so passionate about being a part of Turning Point? We’ve had to become more creative and think differently. Working harder to involve residents in activities has been crucial and with even a little involvement you see a little bit of growth in our service users.
Turning Point is totally different to Aldwych which was the care provider at Houghton’s before Turning Point obtained the contract in December 2010. I think now the culture is more of a business culture, not because it’s no longer personal but because the service and care for service users is delivered in a much smarter way. There have been government changes that has meant the amount of money available for services in general, not just Turning Point’s services, can often be more restricted. However that’s not a problem if you don’t let it become one. We’ve had to become more creative and think differently. Working harder to involve residents in activities has been crucial and with even a little involvement you see a little bit of growth in our service users.
50 Voices
Elaine Traveras-Vicioso
Assuming that someone can’t do something just because they have a learning disability doesn’t make sense at all. I think if someone can do something for themselves, give them the independence to do it. Someone once thought that one of our residents couldn’t peel a banana for themselves; they thought they were helping but you have to give people the option to do things for themselves. That’s how we grow!
What aspect of your service do you think is the most effective for service users?
The staff because they genuinely care about the wellbeing of our residents and that sincerity is fantastic.
The staff because they genuinely care about the wellbeing of our residents and that sincerity is fantastic. Some staff have even come back after leaving. Houghtons is very good at welcoming people and making them feel included. I think this welcoming and relaxed atmosphere enables the staff to grow which in turn allows them to provide the best quality of care which benefits all of our service users.
50 Voices
Elaine Traveras-Vicioso
What do you think is the biggest misconception about people with learning disabilities?
I think that people in general need to open their eyes and see that people with disabilities are still people.
People talk over them and not to them. They do things for them because they think they’re helping but they’re not. There’s definitely still a lack of knowledge amongst most people who can still be unsure when they meet a person with a disability. They don’t see a person, they only see a disability. I think that people in general need to open their eyes and see that people with disabilities are still people.
How have you grown in your role?
Nowadays my attitude is let’s try to do it. You’ve got to have the initiative to do something new.
The staff have made me grow and as I have become more confident, I have found new ways to support staff to understand about residents’ growth. I also manage a smaller supported living service with two women, which shows that people with learning disabilities can live in their own homes. We have to turn it around and ask “What can that person do?” and we have to think differently to support people with their accomplishments. Without change, we don’t grow and we don’t learn. Nowadays my attitude is let’s try to do it. You’ve got to have the initiative to do something new. I never say I know anything because things change everyday. But what I do know is that I’m always ensuring that residents are safe and happy.
50 Voices
Turning Point Standon House 21 Mansell Street London E1 8AA 020 7481 7600 info@turning-point.co.uk
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