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Home Valley Gardening Network

Service Description

8/11/2014

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About Our Services:

Home Valley Gardening Network trading as Growing works

Growing works contact details

Email – info@growingworks.org.uk

Website www.growingworks.org.uk

01484 606506

Office Hours Mon – Fri, 9.30 – 3.30pm or leave a message

1. About Our Services:

Growing works offers gardening therapy for adults with mental or physical disabilities. We

can work with you at home to gain skills and confidence, and break down barriers around

getting moving, spending time outdoors and joining in.

Our community gardening group is a relaxed environment to make new friends, meet

likeminded people in a stress free, relaxed environment and enjoy being outdoors,

growing food, learning new skills, improving the environment, but most of all have

fun. We carry out such tasks as seed sowing, propagation, weeding, planting, garden

maintenance, bulb planting, making planters, habitat creation, etc. This is a great

opportunity for volunteers to get involved to making a difference to people’s lives.

“It makes me feel happier. Gives you more energy because I’m not as depressed.

Come in feeling refreshed”

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Safeguarding (Staying safe)

We are committed to ensuring all clients are respected and minimise risk. Staff/volunteers have a disclosure certificate and Disclosure and Barring Service registration. Liaison with referral agencies ensures the client is aware of staff’s identity. Permission for photographs and quotes is obtained and we respect the client’s wishes. Information is securely recorded and can be viewed by the client for transparency. Clients sign a contract to adhere to a group consensus of behaviour that is respectful of values/cultural beliefs and confidentiality.

Anti-bullying, safeguarding procedures are in place which explains what to look for, what to do, who to tell and how to ensure the safety of vulnerable people.

Anyone reporting a suspected incident is supported /counselled. If volunteers/employees are subject to allegation of abuse, statutory bodies are given assistance with investigation and disciplinary.

Whilst confidentiality is crucial, the welfare of vulnerable adults remains paramount. Confidentiality will NOT be maintained if withholding information prejudices welfare.

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Quality

A quality service makes a difference to individuals in the target group and achieves

their personal outcomes along with ensuring duty of care of all participants. The

individual is at the centre of the service with involvement throughout. The service is

backed by evidenced based practice demonstrating the effectiveness of green care

initiatives. Mental and physical wellbeing is critical, safety paramount therefore

ensuring secure and comfortable environment.

The service takes a holistic approach to health and wellbeing taking into account

the social, physical and mental health needs. Where appropriate we liaise with

professionals, organisations and families to ensure the individual’s potential is

reached. Observations and dynamic reflection are carried out during delivery.

Session evaluations are produced with an outcome focus to ensure the aims of the

individual are met, recording successes and areas for improvement. Photographic

evidence plots progress, personal scrapbooks/diaries can be used to record clients

feelings and achievements.

Service User Involvement

Stage 1 Discussions with clients and referral agency of the client’s health and

wellbeing issues, the barriers to physical activity and interests to establish a

baseline assessment. Analysis of therapeutic needs, risk assessments, plans and

gardening requirements are also part of this process.

Stage 2 Implementation of plans, goals and gardening support.

Stage 3 Phased introduction to social group gardening

activity with evaluations and assessment feedback

Stage 4 Assisting with transition to other services available

We continually assess and monitor the client’s views

through the use of journals, questionnaires and listening to

carers and families and the client. We also have an ongoing

relationship with the referral agency to establish what

impact on clients.

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What people have said about our service

Survey results from participants 2013/14:

67% more aware of eating healthily

100% encouraged to be more physical active, feeling better and healthier

50% felt more relaxed and confident

100% more confident going outside on their own

“made me more community spirited”

“I didn’t used to talk to neighbours,… now I talk about my garden”

“helped me physically”

“lost weight since we started”

“pain in my joints isn’t as bad”

“going to rejoin a walking group”

“have more energy, want to do more”

“feel better in myself, don’t feel as depressed.”

- “planning more ahead, boost of confidence has helped greatly.”

“helped bereavement pain”

“Mentally a lot happier.”

“I feel better now, sharing things and going into garden improves my mood, gives me something to concentrate on and think about”

“made me more outgoing - I’ve something to talk about”

“Absolutely confidence building. Made friends that I wouldn’t have met otherwise”

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Friendship and meaningful relationships Outcomes

Physical Disability

Mental Health Learning Disability

Autism Other Vulnerable Adults

X

X X X x

Outcome Box

We focus on enjoying the outdoor environment initially starting with 1-2-1 therapeutic gardening in the home garden with the aim of supported transition into a community garden group focused on carrying out ability appropriate tasks together, sharing experiences, enjoying food and forming bonds with others.

There are opportunities for participants to see what makes each other happy, engaged and ‘growing’ in confidence and to share achievements bringing about self-efficacy, self worth and significant gains in personal resilience. The garden gives us plenty of opportunities to engage in open conversations about how we all manage mental health. Being outdoors, softens voices and sounds, internal and external, bringing about respite, peace, concentration and relaxation.

Being in the open space, experiencing sensory elements of the weather show how the seasons affect our moods and behaviour and begin to plan positive activities and social engagements to manage these changes.

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Leisure Outcomes

Physical Disability

Mental Health Learning Disability

Autism Other Vulnerable Adults

X

X X X x

Outcome Box

We have a holistic approach to the work – it’s not just about gardening – participants are able to explore their personal preferences and creative interests in a community garden environment or their own garden. They negotiate their inclusion depending on their ability, capacity or preferences. Planning a garden, working out the order of tasks, knowing about weather, the season, time of day, soil conditions, breaking the task down into manageable chunks are also ways of expressing creativity and mindfulness.

Working on a garden is excellent physical exercise and a good workout for the body; it also produces natural mood enhancing endorphins that help us feel well producing a highly enjoyable activity.

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Volunteering Outcomes

Physical Disability

Mental Health Learning Disability

Autism Other Vulnerable Adults

X

X X X x

Outcome Box

Therapeutic gardening activities enable us to:

Connect with each other, with other groups and with nature

Be more active in our everyday lives

Take notice of our ourselves, others around us and our environment

Learn new knowledge and skills, learn from each other and learn about our capabilities

Give to our community, to enhance our own, as well as others’, happiness and wellbeing

Gain confidence in our abilities Therefore volunteering as part of the community garden group sessions were we undertake such tasks as seed sowing, propagation, weeding, planting, garden maintenance, propagation, bulb planting, making planters, habitat creation provides valuable opportunities producing a great feel-good factor by helping people, learn skills and gain the benefits of doing physical activity in the outdoor environment. It is an opportunity to gain transferable employability skills such as communication, organisations, planning, and supervision along with increasing horticulture knowledge.

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Health Awareness/Promotion of Emotional Wellbeing Outcomes

Physical Disability

Mental Health Learning Disability

Autism Other Vulnerable Adults

X

X X X X

Outcome Box

Participants work alongside garden therapists within their home environment, gradually increasing physical activity through gardening and participation in associated social growing groups which has proven benefits to those isolated by mental health problems, disability or long term health conditions. Connecting people to the outdoors produces mental and physical benefits to health and wellbeing, acting as ‘outdoor talk-and-do therapy’ recognised as a specialist intervention which can be preferential for some as ‘non-medicalised, practical’ therapy (Mind 2003). Early engagement in physical activity promotes preventative care measures and good value for money in terms of health care. Improved social contact and increased physical activity supports increased self-management of mental and physical illness. Being part of the seasonal cycle of planting, caring, harvesting helps to promote a sense of renewal, hope and promise of recovery. Using garden tools helps strengthen both the body and, importantly, the mind, creating feelings of, capability, competency and confidence.

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Costing Model

Type of Service Cost Any additional cost / info

Low level

preventative and

early intervention

services

Individual support

1:1

£17.50/hr A minimum of 2 clients required within a 2 mile geographical radius for a 2hr session One to one work designed to support transition into group activity

Building based

activity

Community group

activity

£13.50/hr per person

A minimum of 5 participants would be required to run a 2-3 hr session in an community garden/allotment with access to toilet facilities and covered area for inclement weather

Specialist service