First Initiatives is a voluntary organisation with charitable status and a company limited by guarantee providing real person-centred support enabling Service Users to realise their potential for independence. We were founded in 2001 to respond to the needs of Local Authorities and professionals seeking innovative and quality services for individuals with Learning Disabilities and Mental Health Issues.
We aim to lead the way in support, care and education for people within the field of mental health and learning disability, their families and carers. Operating in the UK and we have achieved recognition for the quality of our services, from Mersey Care NHS Trust and NHS staff awards.
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We believe in personalised services underpinned by the principles of social inclusion, the promotion of independence and choice and control in everyday life and our success is due to its commitment to high quality support services within a homely environment, where service users are listened to and choices respected.
At the heart of First Initiatives service delivery is a philosophy focussed on person centred approaches, consultation and consensus with stakeholders and customer feedback to improve service delivery. We strive to help people to understand and manage the course of their psychosis or other identified mental health illness or learning disability in a positive and constructive way. This is done through positive engagement with the service user, using effective communication skills, and developing therapeutic relationships.
We also provide Person Centred Support, to allow service users to realise their maximum potential for independence. We are based in Goddard Hall, Bootle,working in partnership with service users and carers, voluntary groups, health services and local authority ‘social services’ to manage facilities which support independent living.
First Initiatives is looking to lead the way in support, care and education for people within the field of learning disability and mental health, their families and carers.
Philosophy Statement - It is the organisation’s belief that all people with a Learning Disability and or a Mental Health diagnosis shall be allowed the rights entitled to them under the Human Rights Act.
- Service users should be included within the decision making process.
- We aim to work in partnership with all service users helping them to develop successful self-esteem and independent skills.
- Wherever possible, people with learning disability and or Mental Health problems, should be allowed to choose their caring arrangements.
- First Initiatives will offer learning opportunities to service users, to assist each person to fulfil their personal goals.
Mission Statement – To meet the needs of the adults and children with a learning difficulty and or mental health problems, their families and carers throughout the U.K. by providing a comprehensive range of services which are Person Centred, innovative and professional.
Partnership Working – we are able to provide the quality of service needed by our service users because we work in partnership with organisations and individuals who are similarly committed to providing independent living support for people with learning disabilities and mental health.
Success is due to its commitment to high quality support within a homely environment, were service users are listened to and choices respected. Our service has produced many important sustained outcomes for the services users, in many cases changing the pattern of their revolving door admissions or long stays in hospital. It has contributed to the reduction of Delayed Discharges within our psychiatric hospitals in Sefton. It has become a highly efficient, innovative and cost effective service. The service is designed to support service users to avoid hospital admissions and prevent a host of other problems related to institutionalisation and negative experiences.
The service embraces the concepts contained within the Recovery and Social Inclusion models.
The service helps people to understand and manage the course of their psychosis or other identified mental health illness, in a positive and constructive way. This is done through positive engagement with the service user, using effective communication skills, and developing therapeutic relationships.
