In September, PBS4 was proud to put their first Enablement Assistant on a Learning Disability Nursing Apprenticeship programme with Winchester University. Here is Rea Williams describing how she is finding the course so far:

Hi, my name is Rea I am a 30-year-old single mum to a three old year little girl. I have worked in the care sector since I left school which was 16 years ago! I started working for PBS4 back in 2016, where I started as an Enablement Assistant and I worked my way up to a Team Leader. 

At the beginning, when starting with PBS4 I told my manager my future goal was to go into nursing learning disability/mental health. Then this this amazing opportunity came up for me to go to university as an apprentice to become a learning disability nurse! The apprenticeship means I still get paid while studying, so I do not lose out on anything whilst studying, which is great!  

It is a full-time course for 4 years. I’m working with a great team on my course. We are all helping each other along 🙂 I am hoping to achieve a better future for me and my daughter. Yes sometimes it is overwhelming; sometimes I sit here, and think I cannot do this but then look how far I have come to get into university and where I am now and then I also turn and look at my daughter and tell myself “you can do this, you got this!” I know I am teaching my daughter if you want something you must work hard for it and all things can be accomplished if you put your mind to it.  

Rea Williams  

Jonathan Beebee, Chief Enablement Officer, said “Rea has always been exemplary in her work with PBS4. She shines our values and builds trusting relationships with the people she supports. I am sure Rea will make a fantastic learning disability nurse, and I am really pleased we are able to give her the opportunity to achieve her ambitions.” 

This position has come about as Health Education England are providing additional funding to support employers to take learning disability nurse apprenticeships. By participating in this course we will be taking apprentices from other venues on placements with PBS4 as part of their nurse training. You may therefore see student nurses from outside of PBS4 on placement with us from time to time.  

Internal applications are now open for this year’s learning disability nurse apprenticeships. The application form has been sent to all employees via email and applications close 9th April 2021. If you need the application form sent again please email training@pbs4.org.uk 

PBS4 has been in high demand recently, and we have gone through some significant changes. As a result we are starting planning for our Strategy goal that by 2022 we will be established as independent branches in the four counties we operate in – Hampshire, Dorset, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire.

To prepare for this we are looking for exceptional candidates to join us to help us on our next steps. Please click on the hyperlinks below to find details of how to apply.

PBS4 have signed up to be a Third Party Hate Crime Reporting Centre. The scheme is jointly led by Hampshire Constabulary and Spectrum Centre for Independent Living and we are joining a network of over 30 Reporting Centres in Hampshire.

Each month we hold a Coffee Morning for the people we support and their families so they can discuss experiences and common areas of interest.

This month the topic for discussion was ‘Makaton’. Makaton is a language programme using signs and symbols to help people to communicate.

To keep in the festive spirit of Christmas, Hannah Hall our Makaton trainer, joined us to demonstrate ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’ in Makaton and assisted us all to learn how to sign it.

Merry Christmas from all of us at PBS4 !

At PBS4 we like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication that our staff put into supporting the people we support. Each month we ask our staff to nominate a colleague in recognition of them going the extra mile in their job and in supporting the people we support.

Each month’s winner is awarded with a £50 voucher and a certificate of thanks from our CEO, Jonathan Beebee.

Our Enablement Champion of the month winners for 2018 are;

April – Hayley Dowling
May – Hannah Hall
June – Alana Brooke
July – AB’s Team
August – Diane Hughes
September – Gareth Cox
October – Vicky Webster
November – Rajumon Pappachan
December – Ebou Juke

Congratulations !

Pictured above is December’s Enablement Champion, Ebou Juke. Ebou enabled a man we support to shave where his Autism means he finds shaving difficult and he hadn’t shaved for many months. Well done Ebou.

We have a Stakeholder Event on 28th February where we will be presenting an Enablement Champion of the Year, Good Luck to all.

A parents journey can be a difficult one.

At PBS4 we are mindful of this, parents come to us with a wealth of experience and insightful knowledge. So when one of our parents suggested we hold a regular coffee morning we jumped at the opportunity. Families are a valued part of our team and we respect and welcome this.
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