Work for us

Providing specialist services in Blackburn with Darwen

We are a leading health and social care charity delivering high quality supported living services to people with learning disabilities and mental health conditions. We are experienced in delivering a range of other specialist services and are well placed to support Blackburn with Darwen Council to achieve its commissioning objectives by setting up new complex needs provision in the borough.

Our CQC ratings in our supported living services

Cheshire and Manchester branch office

Alternative Futures Group
Unit 3b
The Outset
Great Sankey Street
Warrington
WA1 1NN

Registered Manager: Pending

Our impact: supporting people with neurodivergent conditions

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Our impact: supporting people with complex needs

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Take a look inside our enhanced supported living service, Huntley Street

Our enhanced supported living service at Huntley Street provides short-term support for individuals who are eligible under the Care Act and considered hard to house.

The individuals must have a mental health diagnosis, and may have previously been supported by probation services, drug and alcohol services or homelessness services. Within the Warrington community we provide wrap-around, bespoke support and empower individuals to access a range of opportunities, with the aim to move into their own home living independently in the community.

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Take a look inside our adult care home, Naylorsfield and Hartsbourne

Naylorsfield and Hartsbourne is a highly specialist and innovative residential care service operated by Alternative Futures Group in partnership with Liverpool City Council.

It consists of two, four bedroom, level-access bungalows with wet rooms, offering eight placements for adult males with learning disabilities and/or autism who have found themselves (or are at risk of finding themselves) in conflict with the criminal justice system.

Find out more.

Meet Sarah

Sarah, 37 years old, is one of the people we support in St Helens.

Sarah has a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, learning disabilities and dysphagia.

Following a breakdown in relationships with previous support providers, Sarah’s team at AFG supported her to pass an assessment for an advanced communication tool which enables her to build full sentences for the first time. The team support her to participate in a range of activities including hydrotherapy, boxing and discos.

Sarah’s mum Margaret talks about what this has meant for Sarah and their family.

Mark’s story

Mark, 58 years old, is one of the people we support in Prescot.

Mark is on the autistic spectrum, non-verbal, has complex needs and behaviours that challenge others.

When AFG took over Mark’s care he had 5:1 support, was heavily medicated and would seriously assault members of staff. He has now had his support reduced to 2:1, has been discharged from psychiatric care and learning disability community care, and enjoys spending regular trips and spending time outdoors.

Mark’s Team Leader Carol talks about Mark’s journey and how his life looks completely different to when she met him 18 years ago.

Promoting independence with tech-enabled care

AFG formed a collaboration with PAMAN, a world leader in digital care services and remote patient medication management.

One of the people we support previously needed 24/7 access to a support worker to help him take his medication, due to his diagnoses of schizophrenia, autism and a history of stockpiling and overdosing on his medication.

We offered him this innovative technology, which means that his medication is in a lockable box which is timed to open when he is due to take it, and a qualified pharmacist calls to do a welfare check and watches through video link to ensure that he takes his medication correctly. As part of his ongoing development and because of the introduction of the PAMAN system, he is able to safely self-medicate without relying on support staff.

AFG Tech Lending Library

We offer an online library of technological items for the people we support to borrow and try, to see if technology can enhance their life and enable them to achieve their outcomes.

The library contains a range of items which have been reviewed internally to meet criteria ensuring they are safe, suitable and can support people with specific needs. People can borrow items such as robotic hoover, voice assistive technology, smart watches, robotic pets, hydration systems and more, for a period of up to 8 weeks.

Steven, one of the people we support in Liverpool, recently borrowed a robotic dog from the library to support him with anxiety and loneliness.

Steven is supported in one of our community mental health services in Vauxhall and has a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. He experiences anxiety about going in to the community and spending time with others and often struggles with loneliness.

Having borrowed the robotic dog, Steven said it reminded him of his childhood dog and said “it makes me feel safe, less lonely, more secure and gives me someone to talk to.”