Our latest news
Community Lives Celebrates Inclusion and Creativity in Windsor and Maidenhead
Community Lives in Windsor and Maidenhead hosted an inclusive event for people with learning disabilities and autism, offering sensory, musical, and active sessions for all abilities to enjoy
Community Lives Revisits Jubilee Tree Planting Site
Community Lives revisited Ockwells Park to see trees they planted in 2022 for the Queen’s Green Canopy. They reflected on their impact and were proud to see some trees had grown over 6 feet tall.
Driving Up Quality at Optalis
Optalis is pleased to announce that we have signed up to a new initiative called the Driving Up Quality Code to ensure we aim beyond minimum standards to improve the lives of people with a learning disability, to whom we provide care and support.
Police visit to Earley Day Service
Customers using our Day Service (based at the Crescent Centre) had a treat on Thursday September 19, when two police officers from Thames Valley Police’s Earley Neighbourhood Team - PC Adie Hodges and PC Dominic Prime - attended the Crescent Centre to give a small group of our customers a talk. They explained who they were, what their role involved, and described how they worked within the community.
Appointment of new Board member: Sue Redmond
Optalis is delighted to announce the appointment of Sue Redmond as an independent non-executive director of the Company with immediate effect. She brings a wealth of knowledge from 35 years’ experience of adult social care
Our Day Service receives some excellent praise!
Our Day Service in Optalis has been really touched this month by a number of compliments received about the service and our staff. Here's just a selection: "I would like to say that Luke's transition into day service at the Crescent Centre has gone beyond my expectations, I was very worried that I was making the right choices for my son, but I can hand on heart say that he is the happiest I have ever seen him."
Optalis sponsors Celebrate Age event
Next month sees the regular annual event that is Celebrate Age take place - on Tuesday October 1, 10am to 3pm, at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley.
SES smash national target
Optalis’ Supported Employment Service (SES) received brilliant news last week when they learned that they had exceeded the national target for getting people with a learning disability, aged between 16 and 64, into paid employment.
Suffolk Lodge residents bake away!
Residents from Suffolk Lodge made and baked lemon tarts for their morning coffees this week. It's one of the regular activities they take part in at the care home, with the assistance of staff.
Optalis Head Office becomes a Safer Place
The Safer Places Scheme was set up in 2010 by Wokingham Borough Council, in partnership with local self-advocacy group CLASP, and Thames Valley Police. Its purpose is to help people who may feel vulnerable or scared whilst out and about in the Wokingham Borough.
Pathways into Employment sessions end on a high
June 26 saw the final session in the Exploring Pathways into Employment programme take place - organised and facilitated by Optalis’ Supported Employment Service (SES). The course ended on a high with guest speaker Michael Poppa, area manager from Churchill’s providing a real understanding of working in the cleaning industry.
Optalis secure contract extension
Optalis has been officially notified that their three year contract with Wokingham Borough Council is to be extended by a further two years until June 2015. The company will continue to run the full suite of the council’s adult social care services, including residential care, homecare, reablement, day centres, support with employment, as well as care brokerage.
