Aims
To assess service users potential for living in the community and to provide the best possible quality residential environment that is culturally appropriate to single adults of all origins who have a mental health and, with forensic history, who would otherwise be in and out of hospital on a ‘revolving door’ basis.

To improve service users social and daily skills, which would enable them to live in the community at a level of independence, which is optimal to each service user’s needs and ability.

Objectives
To encourage residents to use appropriate ordinary facilities within the community (i.e. shopping, leisure, public transport, clubs, medical) and to promote a positive image of themselves within the community

To help the residents look and feel good through the use of appropriate resources (i.e. barbers, healthy eating, health and dental care)

To assist residents to achieve the maximum possible independence and freedom of choice

To increase the resident’s chances for ability to live in self-contained, semi-independent “move-on” accommodation where appropriate

To actively inform and encourage residents to participate fully in decision making

To encourage residents to take reasonable risks which will improve the quality of their daily living

To help each resident keep in contact with their families and friends

To liase with other agencies to promote a shared philosophy and understanding of the needs of residents

To provide a culturally sensitive assessment framework to address needs and recruit staff from a wide range of backgrounds

To maintain high standards of care and support with particular emphasis on the provision of specialist and qualified staff with insight and understanding of the myriad of mental health problems that affect our clients

To encourage our residents to develop positive cultural images in order to enhance their feelings of worth and self-esteem

To offer an environment where cultural awareness serves as a focal point to the lifestyle of our residents

Overview of Aims & Objectives
In order to give a more in depth explanation of the ethos of our Project, further elaboration may be helpful.

Khaya Project provides Registered Residential Care and Supported Living homes, with objectives that include encouraging the development of daily living skills for our residents, single adults with mental health needs, in order that these individuals are able to realise their maximum potential, whilst offering a homely and secure environment to enable residents to feel safe and less stressed. Emphasis is placed upon a resident establishing a daily routine. Move-on Supported Living accommodation has been added to our services, with a 4-bedded supported home in Woolwich (Hillreach)

One of the therapeutic cornerstones of Khaya Project is to encourage positive self-esteem and the development of an identity that embraces an appropriate awareness of cultural heritage. Nurturing of self-esteem is especially helpful for individuals with chronic mental health difficulties, as a lack of positive self-esteem often exacerbates diagnosed conditions.

The Project is for adults of all communities and our members of staff are taken from the diversity of the same communities, we are therefore able to ensure that the promotion of appropriate cultural awareness is put into practice through deliberate initiative, both informally and also through more structured means.

At Khaya, we find that practical concentration on the development of skills, a flexible, but fairly structured environment, an atmosphere of homeliness and security, and the incorporation of cultural awareness into the very fabric of the Project all help towards allowing individual residents to foster a sense of increasing confidence.

Khaya Project strives to work closely with residents, their families, and significant others in their support and care. Families and others are encouraged to attend and take part in residents’ reviews and care evaluations, when the resident concerned is amenable towards this involvement. Liaison and co-operation with caring professionals is also a central plank to our programme as required by the CPA framework – regular meetings with Social Workers, Consultant Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Community Psychiatric Nurses, General Practitioners, Educationalists, Counsellors, and other professionals and lay workers help to ensure that each resident benefits as much as possible from the assistance that is available.

Some of our residents may be on prescribed medication, and we endeavour to work with Community Psychiatric Nurses, Consultant Psychiatrists, and General Practitioners, as appropriate, to ensure regular review of medication (we aim towards minimum dosages and self -medication, in agreement with the Consultant or Community Nurse, as far as possible).

Some of our residents are prescribed medication consequent to a diagnosis of schizophrenia. We strive to keep up to date with developments in understanding the condition, and recognise and applaud the benefits of a holistic approach to care, also integrating the utilisation of counselling into our programme.
Underlying all the above is an unapologetic regard to the rights and choices of each individual resident, bearing in mind that rights should benefit the resident concerned and that choices should not be used as excuses for low standards and for not striving towards excellence or towards what would improve the individual resident’s quality of life.