Priory Sapphire House

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About this location

Sapphire House is located in Maidstone, in Kent. The home supports six autistic males and females, who may also have mental health needs, including obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). We are on a quiet street, off a main road, near the town centre.

Our team are committed to empowering and encouraging the people we care for to develop the skills they need to live as independently as possible. Together we will work towards building independent skills and confidence, to assist them in meeting their potential.

We can also support those who have:

  • A learning disability
  • Moderate to severe behaviours that challenge
  • Epilepsy

Services at a glance

There are a total of six bedrooms at the site. Of these:
5 are self-contained flats
The remaining 1 is an en-suite bedroom
5 are on the ground floor

Contact us

Sapphire House 166 Tonbridge Road Maidstone Kent ME16 8SS
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About our service

Our facilities and environment

Accommodation at Sapphire House is set within a detached property, and is comprised of five self-contained flats, each with a lounge, kitchen and en-suite facilities with a shower, and a separate bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, with access to a communal lounge, dining room and kitchen.

In summary, we offer:

  • A large lounge with plenty of seating
  • Kitchen and dining room
  • Well-equipped activities hub
  • Communal bathroom

We also have a large garden, complete with:

  • Secure fencing
  • Lawn
  • Patio
  • Communal seating
  • Wheelchair access
  • Vegetable patch

In addition, we have three site vehicles to help us to meet the needs of the people we support.

Our bedrooms

All of our bedrooms are comfortable, welcoming and can be personalised to individual tastes. Our bedrooms have:

  • En-suite facilities, containing either a bath or a wet room
  • Wheelchair access
  • Full size kitchens
  • Robust, low arousal furniture

Our approach to support

Everybody who lives at Sapphire House has their own person-centred care plan, which is co-produced with input from the individual, their family members and professionals involved in their care. We aim to help everyone in our care to make their own choices about the support they receive. This may include support in a number of areas, such as going out in the community, personal care, cooking and cleaning, and maintaining family relationships.

Our support approaches at Sapphire House include positive behaviour support (PBS), delivered in-house through a dedicated practitioner. We also have support from a local multidisciplinary team to provide services such as occupational therapy, nursing, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and psychology.

In addition, we use tools such as the Outcomes Star™, including the Recovery Star and Spectrum Star, to support our residents to achieve their goals. The lengths of the placements that we offer at Sapphire House can be transitional, medium or long-term residential, depending on the needs of each person.

Activities

Everyone who lives at Sapphire House has their own personalised activities planner and are encouraged to take part in activities which are meaningful and fulfilling to them. Our dedicated team organise a variety of activities at the home, as well as out in the community.

We focus on supporting our residents to grow their independence. For some people, this may mean developing their daily living skills within the home. For others, this could be accessing work or educational opportunities in the local community.

Exclusion profile

  • Individuals with emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD)
  • Those with exhibiting active suicidal ideation
  • Those with a forensic background

Pathways

Through our network of healthcare, residential and supported living facilities, we provide unique care pathways which help the people we support to progress towards greater independence. Every individual we support is provided with a bespoke pathway plan, tailored according to their individual needs. We aim to ensure that each person is supported to live a fulfilling and active life in the community.

The team here at Sapphire House are supported by one of our assessment and transitions directors and our PBS team to plan and execute successful transitions for individuals from a variety of backgrounds, including those coming from inpatient settings. We also work closely with our colleagues at Priory Supported Living London & Home Counties to enable our residents to progress to more independent living, when they are ready to do so.

Our team

Our highly experienced team consists of:

  • Service manager
  • Deputy manager
  • Support workers
  • Senior support workers
  • PBS practitioner

Our team receive specialist staff training, designed to meet the needs of each individual we support. This includes:

  • Mental health awareness training
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder training
  • Schizophrenia training
  • Bipolar disorder training
  • Autism training
  • Personality disorder training
  • Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) awareness training
  • Epilepsy awareness training

Contact us for help, referrals or more information

At Priory, we want to ensure we provide the very best service to each individual we support. Contact us for more information, or to make a referral.

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About the local area

Amenities

Sapphire House is a short drive to the town centre. Nearby amenities include:

  • Supermarket
  • Shops
  • Café
  • Restaurant
  • Pub
  • GP surgery
  • Post office
  • College
  • Park
  • Library
  • Cinema

Transport links

Sapphire House also has excellent transport links, including:

  • A bus stop right outside the home, on the main local route
  • Maidstone West train station is a 10 minutes’ walk
  • Maidstone East train station is a 20 minutes’ walk
  • A 5-minute drive to the M20 and a 10-minute drive to the M2

Explore Sapphire House

Residential autism services video

Resident stories

Cameron's pathway story - Priory Hospital Hayes Grove to Sapphire House

Cameron successfully moved into a residential placement at Sapphire House after receiving treatment at Priory Hospital Hayes Grove.

A message from our site leader

Through implementation of a person-centred support approach, Sapphire House strives and commits to continuously improving our residents’ independence and quality of life

Sapphire House’s site leader

Comments from our residents and their family and friends

The staff at the home have included us in how best to support our relative and are flexible enough to find solutions. We are pleased with the service
Relative of a person supported by Sapphire House Sapphire House

Downloads

Cameron's story

Lee's story

Oliver's story

Family and friends FAQs

How does home leave work?

We support our residents to attend family events and visit their family homes. To make sure any risks are managed, this may mean the individual’s key worker will come along on the visit.

Can friends and families visit?

Family and friends are welcome to visit. We encourage them to join in our activities at the home. Some of our residents can become anxious around new faces so please let us know in advance of any visits. There are no overnight stays permitted.

Will I be involved and kept up to date with the progress of my loved one’s care and support?

Yes, we keep family members involved and up to date with the care of their loved ones. Regular catch-ups either in person or via telephone are arranged.

Will my loved one be able to have a phone or call me?

We have cordless phones at various points around the house which residents can use at any time. Many people also have their own mobile phone too, and our team can support residents with their use of these.

What are the bedrooms like?

All of our bedrooms are all furnished, and residents are supported to personalise them. Some of the furniture has been purchased to suit the needs of the service specification, so may not be removable. We encourage people to bring personal items and furnishings to decorate their space with.

Are external doors kept locked?

Our external doors are locked for security reasons. However, every resident will be risk assessed to determine the level of security needed. We have a large garden area for residents to enjoy, enabling them to come and go as they wish and enjoy Sapphire House’s outdoor space.

What do residents eat and how do meal times work?

Residents can cook their own food and are given help with preparation if needed. Our flats have their own kitchen facilities, and we also have a communal kitchen, too. We check with family members to see if there is any special requirements, and can accommodate as needed. We will also seek nutritional input where required, and will always strive to ensure our residents have a balanced and varied diet which they also enjoy.

How does laundry work?

Our team will ensure that residents always have access to clean clothes and bedding. We have laundry facilities in all flats and a communal laundry room, which residents make use of either independently or with the support of staff.

Who does the housekeeping and domiciliary tasks?

Most of our residents undertake tasks such as cleaning, with support. We encourage the people who live here to take pride in their environment, and also to develop daily living skills, which includes cleaning.

Is there anything they can’t bring or have?

Valuable items such as family heirlooms are discouraged as we cannot guarantee their safety. Some items are restricted such as non-approved drugs and medications, solvent-based products and lighters.

How do activities work?

Everyone we care for has a tailored activities planner, including both in-house and community activities. Their key worker may use a variety of communication tools to ensure they are involved in choosing the things they want to do. We want everyone to feel involved in the local community, and participate in the things they like to do, and will organise activities to facilitate this.

How will residents be supported with their behavioural needs?

Our PBS practitioner works with our residents to undertake thorough assessments and put in place strategies to meet their unique needs. In addition, our support staff follow a PBS approach, and use the PROACT-SCIPr-UK® framework, which means we focus on proactive strategies, rather than physical intervention. We require our care plans which include restrictions to be assessed frequently, for example procedures for interventions such as pro re nata (PRN) medication are regularly reviewed and removed, where possible.

Do residents and families have an input into the care plans?

We work with social workers, family members and residents to develop care plans which are in the best interests of our residents. We use a variety of communication tools and work with health professionals to aid each resident in having a say about every aspect of their care. Care plans are regularly reviewed, and family members will be asked for their input.

What are the car parking facilities?

We have a private car park for ten cars here at Sapphire House.

What is the smoking policy?

Residents can smoke by the designated smoking area in the back garden. We don’t permit smoking inside the building, and this includes vapes. Residents are able to buy cigarettes and vapes at the shops, if this is what they choose.

What are your fees and how are they funded?

Our fees can vary, and are based on an assessment of each individual's needs. Many people are eligible for financial help towards the cost of support, and this funding can be accessed by contacting your local authority. Once funding has been agreed, we will work with your local care team to put together a bespoke package of care. Please note, referrals for NHS or Local Authority funded services must come from a referring organisation.

How to make a referral

Our service provides high quality support to people with varying levels of need. Referrals can be made through the individual’s social care team or, if relevant, their local health authority. If you are a professional looking to make a referral, please call us or fill in our enquiry form.

Call Us
Tap on a number to call
Make a referral