Service Users

Service Users Consultation Feedback

We've now put together the feedback we've had from the recent consultations we've had with service users about Petrus. You can see a copy of the feedback by downloading this document:

• Summary of Feedback

Philip Foster – Deputy Coordinator – July 2010

Service Users Consultation

We've been consulting with service users through May about support planning and assessments, health and safety, safeguarding and protection from abuse, fair access and diversity and service user empowerment. We held a pilot consultation at Craig Lee early in May and on 24 May had a large consultation event at the Day Centre. Twenty five service users attended from all over Petrus and the event was a great success. We'll be working on consulting with more service users throughout June - please tell us what you think!

River Street QAF consultations

Falinge service users and staff in deep thought over QAF

More deep thought from Long Street

A couple of service users tell Sue of Roughsleepers how it is (or is that the other way round?)

Greave get serious about quality...

Philip Foster – Deputy Coordinator – June 2010

Free Makovers!

Last week a number of service users from Greave and Cheviot took up the offer of a free makeover from Jamilla Pauls. Food was provided and as you can see from the photos, everybody had a great time. Our thanks to the staff at Jamilla Pauls for their efforts - they were greatly appreciated.

Sonia Rothwell - Project Leader - Greave - March 2010

Andy Whitaker

Andy Whitaker, a Petrus Service user, who is just about to move into a place of his own, is currently featuring in a poster campaign whilst highlights the fantastic progress he’s made in his life in the past few years.

You can read more about Andy's success by following these links.

• Page 1
• Page 2

We wish Andy all best for his future - particularly the prospective modelling jobs!!!

Claire Jefferies - Project Leader Floating Support - March 2010

Falinge women learning to build at the Jericho Project

Roger Brindle, from the Jericho Project, recently, came to speak to a Petrus Joint Planning meeting. He offered Service Users the opportunity to get involved in the Jericho Project, refurbishing properties and doing general repairs to Rochdale Council houses and flats.

Some women from Falinge expressed an interest initially and applied to join the project, which started in the middle of February. Currently three women from Falinge and one from Ruth House are attending and have completed three weeks of a sixteen week course. They are working four hours a day, four days a week and have tried skills such as painting and decorating, bricklaying, plastering, and gardening.

They are really motivated to complete the course and are benefiting from the physical exercise and meeting new people. And we are seeing a vast improvement in their mental health and self-esteem. It’s really great to see people who have either never worked, or not worked for a long time, being so enthusiastic and motivated to learn new skills. And as a bonus, there’s a possibility of getting a tenancy at the end of the training which is also great.

Ruth Dunne - Project Leader - March 2010

Ideas Wanted for Diversity Events

We're looking to organise a series of events for staff/service users to take place perhaps on a monthly basis, around bringing in groups relevant to the theme of diversity. The idea is to be as diverse about hearing from diverse groups as we can!

We'll be looking to build a programme and are looking for any ideas staff or service users might have about groups we might contact for this. The list of kinds of groups is practically endless – any groups addressing needs around gender, ethnicity, sexuality, health, age, belief etc is potentially relevant. Also these groups do not specifically need to be based in Rochdale.

If staff or service users have specific suggestions for groups they think might be important then please let me know. You can use the form at http://www.petrus.org.uk/contact.php or use the above address to write if you have any ideas.
Thanks.

Philip Foster – Deputy Coordinator – 1 February 2010

Petrus Service Users - We Want Your Views!

In the course of 2010 we will be working to achieve a top assessment in the Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). As some of you will know, the QAF is the way we prove to our main funder, Rochdale Council Supporting People, that we provide a good service. To achieve our aim, we will be trying to find out what you think about what we do and how we might improve things. You'll be hearing a lot more about this over the coming months but for now I'll be sending you a list of the key areas we'll be wanting to hear from you about. You can download THIS DOCUMENT to get an idea of the kind of areas we will be looking at. And please – don't feel you need to wait to be asked. If you've got any views on any of the key areas – or on any other part of the work we do - please get in touch with your keyworker or with your Project Leader or with myself at Craig Lee or use the form on the website to contact us.

» Download the form...

Philip Foster – Deputy Coordinator – 19 January 2010

Table Top Sale

Service users at the Day Centre planned a retail enterpise recently - running a Table Top Sale on the first Friday in December. The event was not only jointly planned by service users and staff at the Day Centre, it also included products - Christmas cards, clothing and cakes which had been made by service users as a result of their involvement in the Day Centre. The event was a huge success, very well attended and everbody had a great time. Claire is pictured with some brilliant cards she has made.

9 December 2009

Tasty new menu is on offer to homeless

» More details... (Rochdale Observer)

25 July 2009

Good News at the Day Centre

Steve has been coming into the day centre for many months getting help and support off staff in completing job application forms as English is not his first language. Staff supported him in completing over ten job application forms. Steve kept on trying with help and support from the Day Centre staff. He managed to stay positive and enthusiastic in the hope of finding a job. Whist he was looking for a job he got involved in day centre activities which give him skills of budgeting/cooking/health and safety and most recently workshops around literacy.

On the 30th June Steve told staff that he'd found full time employment with a local company. Steve thanked staff for giving him the support that he needed in completing applications and helping him build his social skills through engaging day centre activities. On behalf of all the day centre staff I'd like to congratulate Steve on his hard work and determination in finding employment, and wish him all the luck for the future.

Jonathan Wilmot
Project Leader
Day Centre / Outreach

1 July 2009

Day Centre Service User housed

Nigel was a regular visitor to Petrus Day Centre accessing various group activities and support until a change of events brought him problems. Living on his own, Nigel became a target for local youths where he lived. This caused a severe breakdown in his mental health. As a result he was taken in to hospital. He then lost his tenancy.

With the help of the Day Centre, Outreach and Petrus Floating Support staff Nigel was visited regularly in hospital to offer him different forms of support.

From hospital, Petrus staff helped Nigel looking for more suitable accommodation to move into on his release from hospital. Staff also supported him in liaising with different agencies about his housing and mental health problems.

With the support of Petrus staff, Nigel managed to get a property that he could move into on his release from hospital. Nigel also received support in getting furniture so he did not have to move into an empty property. They also supported him in finding suitable homes for all of his animals as he had been anxious about their wellbeing while he was in hospital.

Nigel is very happy in his new accommodation and will regularly receive support from Petrus' Floating Support service. This has been a long journey for Nigel and he is very grateful for all the help and support that he has received from Petrus, and the help that he will continue to receive.

April 2009

Floating Support football match

In late February a trip was organised to go and watch a football match at Gigg Lane in Bury. The match was FC United v Buxton. We were kindly given some free tickets and everyone said they really enjoyed the day out. Nine people attended including 2 staff members.

"There was a good turnout for the match, it was a game of 2 halves as they say and everyone enjoyed the day, the game ended 1-1 and most people said they would go again", said Patrick from floating support.

The next meeting of the Floating Support Service User meeting will be on 13 May 2009 at 10.30am at Craig Lee

April 2009

Falinge Road service users getting out and about

Ruth, who's been at Falinge Road for seven months has said, 'Since coming to Petrus, due to the support from the staff, I've had help around my drug use. I'm now using less frequently. I've also had help with budgeting. I no longer spend all my money on drugs. With staff support I've got in contact with Green Volunteers in Rochdale which has given me a sense of putting something abck into the community.

Another resident from Falinge has said,'Since living at Falinge Road, I've started attending the Cook and Eat group at the Day Centre. It has helped me to develop my cooking skills and gives me a chance to meet new people. Staff at Falinge Road have also helped me with a lot of things such as getting ready to go out, managing my money, managing appointments and managing alcohol cravings through the relevant services.

One resident of Falinge Road has said,'Staff are very kind. I've done well whilst being at Petrus.'

April 2009

Service user forum for Roughsleepers service

When Petrus Roughsleepers service began to work with M, he was sleeping rough in derelict buildings that were unsafe and due to be demolished. He had been living rough on and off for a number of years and also had a heroin and crack cocaine addiction. Six months down the line M is now in long term supported accommodation and is turning his life around. He's attending Adelaide drug clinic for treatment and has remained drug free. He is doing so well in his supported accommodation that his support needs are now assessed as low and he's looking to move soon into his own place in the community. M has become involved the Roughsleepers project and has attended steering group meetings to express his opinion about the service and to give ideas on how the service can be improved. As a result of his exceptional hard work in turning his life around M will be helping set up a forum for the rough sleepers project to develop projectswithin Petrud directed at rough sleepers.

April 2009

Getting training for Robert at Greave

Robert currently a resident at Greave House recently applied to the Kingsway project to do some of their courses. These included Health and Safety, Manual Handling, Food Hygiene and First Aid Awareness.

In the past Robert had difficulty attending courses for various reasons, sometimes forgetting the date or time. To combat this Robert purchased a calendar and alarm clock to remind him when the courses were happening This was a great success. He completed all the training and is now waiting for his certificates to arrive.

While attending the courses, the tutors discovered that Robert was experiencing difficulties because of the level of the courses. Due to Robert's efforts, the tutors put in extra support and Robert completed when he might have previously struggled.

April 2009