Locations > Greenwood Cottage
Greenwood Cottage
Residential Care
Support for
- Mild to moderate learning disabilities
- Autism
- Mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, OCD, bipolar, personality disorders, depression, anxiety
Typical stay
mostly long-term due to the age of current residents.
Typical admission circumstances
many of our admissions come from other residential homes or family homes where individuals can no longer be supported.
Exclusions
Those requiring hoisting, substance addiction
Registered Manager: Natalie Galvani
Features
Property
- Bungalow
Shared living spaces
- Shared lounge, dining area, kitchen, laundry room, conservatory, and garden
Bedrooms
- Single occupancy
Greenwood Cottage
40 Tippendell Lane, St Albans, AL2 3HL
Greenwood Cottage provides exceptional 24-hour care for six adults with learning disabilities, often with accompanying mental health conditions, in a modern and homely bungalow in St Albans.
Support is person-centred to help each resident meet their full potential and ensure they live happy, fulfilled lives in a safe and caring environment.
PAMMS rating: Good
Our service
While our current residents are all 50 plus, and our service is tailored to meet their needs, our service isn’t exclusively for older adults.
Our excellent team at Greenwood Cottage encourages residents to develop skills and be as independent as possible while being on hand to support them around the clock.
Medication
Although we are not a nursing home with on-site nursing staff, we can support with prescribed medication. The community nurses pay regular visits, and the GPs and psychiatric team are accessible should physical or mental health needs arise.
Mobility and personal care
Most of our residents are relatively mobile, but help can be given with transferring. We can support residents with personal care.
Maintaining a safe and caring environment
We always consider the dynamic of the existing residents when considering a new admission, ensuring that there is a good fit and that a balanced, happy environment is maintained.
At Greenwood, we take pride in regularly reviewing the care and support we provide and always place the individual and their loved ones at the centre of this.
Visiting
We actively encourage residents to have regular contact with their next of kin, friends, and relatives with an open-door policy and supported family visits.
"Greenwood staff have a good understanding of the needs of each individual resident. My husband and I have always found the staff very pleasant, and my sister well cared for (I think it is fair to say the best care she has ever had)".
Encouraging independence
Routine and consistency
We understand that previous placements may mean residents need a highly structured and predictable routine and will be used to receiving care in all aspects of their lives. At Greenwood, we provide consistency and routine to alleviate anxiety while gently encouraging residents to branch out, try new experiences, and become more independent.
Their voice, their choice
Residents are encouraged and supported to have an active role in the home’s day-to-day running and have their say in how the services are delivered. This ranges from recruiting new staff to holding residents’ meetings and planning the social and activities calendar.
Meals
The Greenwood team consult with residents regarding their meal preferences and encourage them to help prepare tasty and nutritious meals. Some residents get involved with the shopping, cooking, and clearing away, which helps develop or maintain valuable daily living skills.
Accessing the community
Residents are supported in accessing the local community and its amenities. Regular walks to the local pub, shop, and post office allow us to stretch our legs. We take the opportunity to practice our budgeting and interaction skills while enjoying a lunch out, buying provisions, or sending a card to loved ones.
We use public transport to access facilities further afield, such as the bowling alley, cinema, and larger stores. Residents are also partial to day trips out to Norfolk or Southend-on-Sea, and we organise holidays for those that want them.
Activities programme
Back at the cottage, we run a daily activity programme, including games, home baking, arts and crafts, relaxation and music therapy, aroma therapy, a cinema club, and coffee mornings.
We also have a session with a PT instructor once a week, which helps to keep our residents fit and healthy.
Facilities
Greenwood Cottage is a large bungalow with a modern and welcoming interior. All rooms are on the ground floor, and bedrooms are single occupancy. There is a comfortable lounge, dining area, well-equipped kitchen, laundry room, large airy conservatory, and a good-sized back garden.
“Overall, the medication management is excellent at both care homes and I would like to congratulate the team on their hard work.”
St Albans
Located in the historic market town of St Albans in Hertfordshire, Greenwood is in a quiet residential area. St Albans boasts excellent transport links, shopping, leisure facilities, restaurants, libraries, parks, and historic Roman sites.
Staff & Training
We are fortunate at Greenwood to have experienced staff with specialist skills to support individuals with learning disabilities and mental health conditions.
All our staff receive regular supervision and training to ensure they provide the right level of care to every individual and are aligned with changing needs and current best practices.
Beyond the induction and foundation training, staff are provided advanced training to meet the specific needs of the residents they support. We also have champions in areas such as safeguarding and falls and frailty.
“Staff are committed to supporting each patient's best quality of life. Concerns are promptly raised and managed. Excellent service for vulnerable adults. Excellent continuity and staff retention. All know the patients well, which helps identify issues early”