Learning Disabilities - Adult Day Services
Sea View in Parkstone is a busy centre providing leisure and learning opportunities for adults with learning disabilities. People who use the service have a wide range of support needs, but the staff work in a way that seeks to empower, maximise people’s independence and maintain and promote good health.
The centre itself is modern, vibrant and welcoming with brightly coloured décor and artwork produced by the clients on every wall. In recent years the focus has moved away from the centre purely being a place to meet, to a facility where there are opportunities to learn, engage in community activities and make individual choices. We are constantly updating our services to offer new and challenging activities for people.
There are around 90 clients on our books with around 55-65 attending on any one day, and 37 staff. Transport to and from the centre can be arranged subject to eligibility. A range of lunches is also available on a daily basis. Both of these services carry a nominal charge.
The centre is open Monday to Friday 8.45am to 4.30pm, and all of our services are available throughout the year, excluding Bank Holidays.
The aims of the team working at Sea View, support as much as possible the key principles within the Government's White Paper "Valuing People: A new strategy for learning disability for the 21st century 
".
Facilities at Sea View
Facilities at Sea View include:
- sports activity hall
- music room
- art studio
- lots of rooms for group activity work
- sensory room
- cafe
The sensory room is aimed at providing a therapeutic and stimulating environment for those with complex needs, with special lighting effects, mirrors and bubble tubes, plus a hammock and mattress which moves in rhythm to your own choice of music. While many of our clients choose calming music, we have one or two who enjoy the sensation of thudding rock music!
One of our most recent projects is the Calypso Café as our clients wanted a coffee bar. Through consultation with them and staff, the café opened in April. People who attend Sea View are now working in the café and gaining work experience on a daily basis.
Our building is available to hire by community groups on certain days. A nominal fee may be charged.
Activities on offer
Activities take place in the centre and out in the community and are organised around five key themes:
Total Communication
Total Communication is about the use of a variety of methods, including different signing techniques, and pictorial aids, that assist people with communication difficulties. It enables you to have an equal say in how the service is delivered, and the future direction it will take, as well as indicating preferences and making choices. These choices can be as basic as deciding what to eat, or as complex as a Person Centred Plan, which is a document that outlines an individual’s wishes and dreams. This plan is then used to deliver a service on an individual basis. All of our clients have the opportunity to participate in Total Communication at least once a week.
Health
In line with Borough of Poole’s priority to keep people fit and active, there is a strong emphasis on health at Sea View. Exercise, sport, and physiotherapy sessions take place both within the centre and at local leisure centres. Sessions include football, swimming, dancing, horse riding, and rambling.
There is also a strong emphasis on healthy eating, and understanding the role food plays in maintaining health. Every client living at home with family carers will have the opportunity to produce a Health Action Plan, which looks at diet, exercise, emotional well-being, and any support required to visit the doctor, dentist or hospital. We also benefit from the input of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, and the Community Nurse.
Sensory/Relaxation
While many of our clients who attend Sea View enjoy a fast moving lifestyle, others prefer a slower pace, and accordingly there is an area dedicated to gentler activities, such as flower arranging, needlecraft, and costume design.
Staff also facilitate massage and aromatherapy sessions, and there is a group that tends the spacious gardens, growing vegetables, herbs and flowers, providing pleasure and sensory stimulation.
Art
Sea View has a well resourced art room and expertise to support people in producing high quality art work. The Centre has well established links with community based projects, with recent projects including “Canvas”, a series of visual arts workshops that took place at Holton Lee in Dorset, and “Elements”, a project that included banner making, poetry, and the creation of a soundscape that drew all the work together. This culminated in a well received exhibition at a local church.
Music and Drama
Music and drama are popular activities. Several of our clients have started a project together with Adult Learning, to develop a piece of drama that will lead to a performance on the streets of Poole. Our clients are being supported to access local clubs, and recording groups are taking place, through the use of a portable recording studio.
Access to services
If you would like to apply to use the facilities at this Centre you can contact the Social Services Help Desk at sshelpdesk@poole.gov.uk or ring 01202 633902.
Contact details
If you are interested in Sea View please contact the Facility Manager on Tel: 01202 721590 or email us at: seaviewcentre@poole.gov.uk to arrange a visit. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should contact the centre for further infomation.
Sea View Centre, Croft Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset BH12 3LD
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