The Centre at Braithwaite Road, has been specifically set up to support women from the South East Asian community, who have a learning disability and complex needs.  These additional needs might include physical disabilities, health care needs, challenging behaviour or mental ill health.  The service is located at 7, Braithwaite Road, Sparkbrook.  This is an area within the heart of Birmingham, where there is a high concentration of families from the South East Asian community.

Many families would prefer their female relatives to receive services in a 'women only' environment, which is why the service is for women only, with female only staff. As it is thought that families from the South East Asian community are not accessing available services, it is this community group that the Centre will be supporting.  Some of the staff also, will be  from this community themselves.  The service will be open to female adults aged 18 to 64.  People with complex needs benefit from a smaller setting with specially trained staff, thus this Centre can provide the extra attention they may need.

The Centre will be able to offer support to a maximum of 10 women each day week-day.  Each Service User will have a programme of activities tailored to meet their individual needs.  Some may be taken for community-based activities, whilst others will receive centre-based activities, depending on their specific needs.  The Centre has a variety of activities as well as a soft room.  Rather than providing opportunity for various activities in a large centre, we will work on a more one-to-one basis with each Service User, working towards improved stimulation, socialization, and learning.  The Centre will work towards ensuring access to quality health care via an individualised health care plan for each Service User.  The staff will be able to interact more fully with each Service User and to work with them more closely, towards specific targets.  By supporting Service Users, the Centre will also provide respite to their carers.

Initially the service will be providing transport.  In the long-term, it is hoped that individuals will be helped to be able to make their own way to the centre.  A charge will be made for this service, of £9.75 an hour.  As the service will be from 10am to 4pm, the cost per day will be £58.50.  Any service to be paid for by the local authority must be agreed by the authority.

You can contact the Centre directly by telephone, post or e-mail (details below).

Referrals are accepted for any South East Asian female Service User throughout Birmingham aged between 18 and 64.  We will accept referrals from families and from professionals in the field of learning disabilities.  An assessment is carried out, detailing the Service User's needs and the support required.  Once the referral is accepted, in discussion with the family, a plan of care is drawn up, detailing the support to be provided by the service.

For further information or to make a referral, please contact:

Centre Manager

Asha House

7 Braithwaite Road

Sparkbrook

Birmingham  B11 1LB

Tel/Fax 0121 773 9898

E-mail nasima-bmcdaycentre@hotmail.com