24 Jan24519 The year is 2020, and the world has found itself amidst the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many care companies are facing closures, while others are having to rise their costs to make ends meet. As a result, many in need of reliable care services have been left to fend for themselves, unable to connect with professionals when they need them most. It was in response to this very conundrum that First Thought Care Services came to be. Established by Jack Cook, First Thought Care Services sought to not merely join the existing framework of social care, but to reshape it altogether. Present day, the organisation is an active force that’s reigning in a long-awaited change within the sector. hough it may not be the only organisation in pursuit of a better social care system, First Thought Care Services is, by far, the UK’s most unique participant in influencing said change. This spawns from Jack’s personal experiences in his youth – experiences that saw him being sectioned under the mental health act twice before the age of seventeen. While most would allow such an occurrence to deter them from the system altogether, Jack instead noticed critical flaws in how social care was carried out, and vowed to fill these pitfalls to the best of his ability. His answer to the sector’s problems ultimately took the form of First Thought Care Services, which now acts as a mouthpiece through which Jack can not only spread awareness of his story, but uplift others who have shared similar experiences. Thanks to this firsthand understanding of the social care system’s failings, Jack has been able to mould First Thought Care Services into an organisation that truly resonates with the needs of individuals with additional requirements. Whether service users are struggling with mental health difficulties, learning difficulties, autism, or other complex conditions, First Thought Care Services adapts to the individuality of its users to provide a more compassionate, understanding, and effective care service. After all, Jack’s commitment to change underpins each action the organisation takes, placing it in the perfect position to transform the landscape of social care across the UK as a whole. Jack’s story is an incredibly personal one, but he integrates the insights gained during that time into the organisation’s services. By leveraging all that he has learned over the years, Jack deploys leadership, empathy, and a profound commitment to social betterment to provide comprehensive care plans that flawlessly address the unique needs of every individual. This is something that the current system simply can’t match, making First Thought Care Services a truly unique entity within the sector. Above all else, the organisation promises to approach each person with dignity and respect – two pillars that act as the core foundation. First Thought Care Services has long since identified how difficult it can be for those who may be struggling to regain a sense of self, and therefore provides care that’s both personal and holistic. The hope is that, in creating an environment in which service users can thrive, they’ll be able to restore control over their aspirations and make the decisions that must be made in order to improve their overall wellbeing. Honouring the individuality and autonomy of each service user is where First Thought Care Services truly shines, and it’s all thanks to the organisation’s unrelenting commitment to providing a safe space in which people can be themselves, no matter their condition. Wherever possible, First Thought Care Services encourages individuals to make their own life choices, while simultaneously meeting their immediate needs as and when its assistance is required. Committed to the overall welfare of each service user, staff take the time to adapt their previous experiences into the overall reshaping of the social care system. Partnered with the lessons learned along the way, whether from service users, their families, or others involved in their life, the team has coalesced a culture of continuous improvement. It’s this very culture that grants the ability to remain flexible as the social care field fluctuates, leaving no service user feeling stranded as the sector shifts. It aims to be dependable, no matter what. The company has also gone the extra mile to invest in continuous training for its staff. Once in possession of the correct tools to assist any type of service user, they provide person-centred, highquality care that’s set to empower and motivate all. In fostering such a collaborative approach, First Thought Care Services has redefined expectations across the sector – it promises more, without compromise, no matter how lengthy the process. However, just because it has created its own framework – one that has already become the face of compassionate, meaningful social care – that isn’t to say that it is tying itself to a single methodology. On the contrary, First Thought Care Services is exceptionally proud of its versatility. This characteristic is best represented through the organisation’s robust quality assurance mechanisms, wherein it carries out regular audits, reviews, and evaluations of its care services to identify any areas of improvement. By closely monitoring service users’ feedback and experiences, it can adapt in order to continue delivering the utmost level of individualised care. Any individual managing their disabilities or mental health conditions will tell you that doing so isn’t a single-person process; it involves their families too. Recognising this, First Thought Care Services provides education and support for all parties involved, encouraging them to participate in the care process from start to finish. This is accomplished through the organisation’s two care centres, each equipped with an educational space for service users. In these rooms, individuals can partake in a person-centric education plan, devised by an in-house education manager, while making use of the centres’ many amenities. From enjoying time at the cinema, games, and ICT rooms, to retiring to the sensory room and garden, First Thought Care Services sees that every Most Trusted Disability Support Organisation 2024 – Gloucestershire & GHP Employee Excellence Awards 2024 T First Thought Care Services
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