Testimonials
Jackie Nellis
Parent
Now that things are returning to normal for Richard, I just wanted to say a massive thank you to you and the team at CSS and Ashdale for your outstanding care and support during and following his recent illness and stay in hospital. The commitment shown to Richard by you and your team has been superb and is truly valued. During Richard’s stay in hospital I received regular emails and phone calls from yourself checking how Richard was doing and I am very grateful.
Staff from Ashdale, including Adam, Jordan, Jodie and Janette visited Richard both in hospital and when he was recovering at home with us which was really appreciated by Richard and ourselves.
The meeting arranged by Sammy at CSS prior to Richard’s return to Ashdale was attended by all Ashdale staff and I really appreciated the commitment shown and the fact that staff were keen to listen and do everything they could to support Richard on his return to Ashdale.
Thank you Claire and please pass on my grateful thanks to all of the team.
Drew Sinclair
Family Member
‘CSS always go the extra mile to deliver outstanding care and support. They always provide a high level of care whilst maintaining the respect and dignity of their service users at all times.
We have complete trust in them looking after our family member, knowing they are able to deal with any issues that arise. They regularly work out solutions to really complex requirements.
They have won countless prestigious awards over the past few years which is testimony on how good they are. I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending CSS’.
David Mahon
Pass-it-On Project
'Developing partnerships to help deliver workshops, particularly during the pandemic, which has put a strain on the mental health of everybody, is really important. We have been delighted to work with CSS to train peer supporters and ensure that people can get to learn more about mental health, talk about their feelings and share what helps them to stay happy and healthy.
CSS already recognise the importance of the wellbeing of the people they work with through wellbeing champions. Pass-it-on is an extra tool that they can use to help make sure that the people they work with can learn and share in groups that understand their experiences'.
Alya Boubakri
Assistant Manager
I started my journey with CSS in 2023 having never worked with the social care sector previously. My first experience was the interview, where I met Claire. It was very different from the usual interviews I had attended. She made me feel comfortable and confident enough to answer every question openly, which left a really positive impression on me. After that, I began my Care Certificate training with Claire, and it was an amazing experience. We worked through the training booklets together, and every day I learned something new. There was always something interesting to hear and discover, listening to real examples and being able to see how everything in the booklets came to life with the stories and examples. I genuinely enjoyed the whole process.
I then moved to the supported living houses where I was based. From the beginning, I received a great deal of support from my colleagues. They helped me learn more about the role, shared their experience, and guided me whenever I needed help. I also received excellent support from the office team. As I started putting my training into practice, my confidence grew and I learned even more.
Meeting the people I support was one of the most rewarding parts of the job. They are wonderful people, and over time I built strong relationships with both the people I support and the team I work alongside. Every day brought new learning opportunities, and I gradually felt more comfortable, settled, and confident in my role.
A year later, I was promoted to Assistant House Manager. With this new role came even more support, training, guidance, and opportunities to develop. The people around me helped shape me into the person and professional I am today.
I never imagined that I would achieve so much in such a short period of time. CSS has been an amazing place to grow, learn, and develop my skills and knowledge. The training, encouragement, and support I have received have made a huge difference to my career and personal development.
Looking back, my only regret is that I did not start this job sooner. It has been an incredibly rewarding journey, and I am grateful for all the opportunities CSS has given me.
Claire Baxendale
Health and Social Care Lead – The Link Training
The Link Training has been working in partnership with Community Support Services since November 2024. Throughout this time, we have developed a strong and positive working relationship built on shared values of quality care and continuous improvement.
Community Support Services consistently provide a high level of person-centred care to all individuals they support. Their approach ensures that care is tailored to each person’s needs, preferences, and outcomes, promoting dignity, independence, and wellbeing at all times.
They also demonstrate a strong commitment to their workforce. Staff are well supported, with access to appropriate training and development opportunities, ensuring they have the necessary skills, knowledge, and competence to carry out their roles to a high standard. Over the years, I have seen many staff progress within their roles, starting as support workers and developing into management positions. This progression supports continuity of care, which is highly beneficial for the people they support and their family members, helping to build trust and consistent relationships.
All staff always conduct themselves in a professional manner, demonstrating respect, compassion, and a clear understanding of their responsibilities within the care sector.
The Link Training would highly recommend Community Support Services to anyone considering using their services. They are a reliable, professional, and person-centred organisation that consistently delivers high-quality care and support.
Case Studies
CASE STUDY - KR
I have been supported by Community Support Services since 2019.
Please read all about my journey below, I have recently been introduced to Copilot which I now use to help me get my messages and point across, I love it! 😊
Since joining CSS, I regularly attend Day Services, where I engage in a wide range of structured and meaningful activities designed to promote independence, social inclusion, and wellbeing.
I benefit from consistent support to build confidence, develop independent living skills, and increase my social interaction. Like many individuals accessing Day Services, I thrive in environments that provide routine, encouragement, and opportunities to learn through practical, hands-on experiences.
A significant milestone for me was being able to participate in a group holiday to Benidorm. This was a new and exciting experience that I would not have been able to access independently.
With support from staff, I was encouraged to save towards the holiday, helping me develop financial awareness and planning skills. Staff also provided support throughout the trip, ensuring I felt safe, confident, and able to fully enjoy the experience.
I have also achieved an important milestone by gaining paid employment within Community Support Services, working in the office on Mondays and Fridays.
This opportunity has been made possible through support from Access to Work alongside Community Support Services. With the right guidance and encouragement, I have been able to develop valuable workplace skills and become a contributing member of the admin team.
I am currently in the process of moving into a supported living setting, which marks another important milestone in my journey towards independence. I am very excited about this next step in my life.
Community Support Services has been fully involved throughout this transition, providing guidance, reassurance, and practical support at every stage. This includes helping me prepare for the move, supporting decision-making, and ensuring I feel confident and ready for this change.
CASE STUDY – B.G
Positive risk taking & promoting sexual safety through empowerment
Living with a learning disability can be challenging, especially when you want to develop a relationship. People, including social care staff, must be kept safe from sexual harm and abuse. However, historically within social care, there has been a focus on the protection of people as a solution to keeping them safe. These measures have included preventing the development of relationships and the segregation of sexes, resulting in people being denied their human right to have sex and develop intimate relationships.
Protecting people from sexual abuse is very important, in particular where people have: a limited ability to protect themselves physically and emotionally or are unable to articulate their concerns and worries or feel they are not listened to. However, to decrease the likelihood of people being sexually abused and to increase opportunities for people to have safe and positive relationships, CSS focus on promoting relationships and sexuality through empowerment. This includes facilitating environments, developing skills and opportunities which enable relationships to flourish.
One individual who lives within a supported living house who is very independent met someone, although didn’t know much about him. They started meeting each other and the relationship developed very quickly. This caused concern from the family and within the staff team. Following an incident which the individual disclosed information of concern a safeguarding alert was raised.
What we did
We liaised with social services to see if we could identify the other person and to see if he also had a disability. The house manager worked closely with the individual to ensure they knew they would be supported to make their own decisions. They discussed the individual’s knowledge around how to stay safe within relationships and their understanding around sexual activity. It was evident that the individual lacked full knowledge around how to protect themselves. CSS partnered with Lead the way and the local NHS sexual health lead. Interactive workshops were developed and the individual attended and found them extremely useful, they covered, sex and the law, contraception, healthy relationships and sexually transmitted diseases. We also worked with the social worker and identified who the other individual was. They also had a learning disability and was supported locally by a different provider. With the permission of the individuals, both providers linked together to develop a managed way to enable the pair to develop their relationship slowly and safely. This was during the COVID- 19 pandemic when some restrictions were still in place so other challenges had to be overcome such as meeting outside of the supported living house. Both individuals contributed and were at the centre of the decision making process.
The things that were implemented:
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We used the infection control grant to purchase a gazebo, this enabled the pair to eat together in the garden and spend quality time privately to get to know each other, whilst staff were still around.
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We supported the pair to go on date nights
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Both providers had regular contact with each other and we set boundaries in line with the COVID-19 restrictions. This ensured the pair were able to develop their relationships, whilst reducing the risk of COVID – 19 transmission.
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We had regular contact with the individual’s family and with the individuals permission we shared the things we had put in place to support the relationship in a safe way.
What difference it made
The individual was empowered to explore and develop the relationship, knowing they were listened to and supported at each step. This developed the individual’s confidence to take control of the relationship.
What we learnt
A person centred approach to every situation is crucial, also gaining the trust of the individual and them knowing that they are at the centre of any decision making process and the support we offer is always in their best interest.
CASE STUDY – C.R
The challenges of shielding and lockdown in 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted everyone in a number of different ways. Individuals who thrive on interaction with others and having set routines were particularly affected, especially when everything changed, and some individuals were asked to shield by the government.
This happened to CR and after a few weeks it was evident that the isolation was taking its toll on her mental health. CR’s anxiety was heightened, and she started isolating herself in bedroom, she was self-harming lower legs, targeting individuals within her home (verbally), she has William Syndrome and her obsessive compulsions were becoming increasingly apparent. She was obsessing around what people within the house were doing, for example what they were cooking for tea etc. Staff tried hard to engage her in lots of different activities within the supported living setting, this helped but she really missed her daily structure and her friends from day services.
What we did
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Staff held a tenants meeting and introduced more daily structure within the house that mirrored activities that would have been carried out within the day services setting.
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The CSS day service stay at home but stay connected face group was launched. This face book group enabled CR to join in on the virtual day services activities. She was able to connect with her friends and whilst staying safe at home and she was able to participate in the activities she loved. This included baking, Zumba, crafts and karaoke.
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CR also loves animals and we know that talking about them or seeing them always cheers CR up. The managers sent messages directly to Caitlin and showed her their pets, we ensured she had a post a day to make her day. We also used a talking pet app to make the messages fun.
What difference it made
CR responded really well and she started to enjoy getting up on a morning and taking part in activities. Staff noticed a huge difference in her mood and behaviour, she was smiling again and despite shielding she actually felt connected to the outside world.
What we learnt
A person centred approach to every situation is crucial and even the small things can have a huge impact on the individual. Often it’s not the support that’s provided, it’s how the support is provided that makes the difference.
CASE STUDY – M.O
Supporting independence around medication
Accepting support from others can be very frustrating for people living with a disability. Having independence in various aspects of your live can build confidence and self-esteem. Our core values provide the foundation for us to assess every individual situation, enabling us to look for ways to turn challenges into positive outcomes.
One individual who is registered blind and keen to retain his independence became frustrated as he would forget to take his medication, drop medication and lose various tablets on a regular basis.
What we did
The supported living house manager looked at various options to ensure his medication was stored and administered safely. The individual was consulted throughout the whole process, ensuring he was at the centre of the decision making process.
The options considered were:
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Staff take full responsibility for the ordering, storing and administration of the individual’s medication, this would involve watching the individual take the medication to ensure none were lost.
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Source a timed medication dispenser to enable the individual to manage his own medication. This enabled him keep hold of his medication and a alarm would remind him to take his medication at the set intervals. This was the preferred least restrictive option.
What difference it made
The individual was empowered to take responsibility for his own medication and to retain his independence which helped with his own self esteem.
What we learnt
A person centred approach to every situation is crucial and even the small things can have a huge impact on the individual. Often, it’s not the support that’s provided, it’s how the support is provided that makes the difference.
The individual says: ‘Having full control of my medication is much better, I am not reliant on staff giving me my medication, I am totally independent’.
CASE STUDY – R.M
The service has been fantastic from the very beginning of our involvement with the company. Everyone I have spoken to within the service has shown a strong understanding of both my children’s needs and disabilities, and of how these affect their day-to-day lives.
As a parent, this has been incredibly reassuring to see.
The support workers and I have always worked very closely together, and at times we have created goal plans collaboratively, always ensuring that both children were involved in the process.
We have also been realistic about whether those goals were achievable at that particular time, which I feel has been very important.
I have always felt that both my voice and the voices of my children have been listened to and heard. By working in this way, we have been able to achieve our goals and aims together.
The company has helped my children overcome some of their biggest fears, phobias, and challenges by consistently providing patience, understanding, care, dignity, and respect. Since receiving support from the company, my children have become far more independent, and their confidence has grown significantly. They are now able to access the community again and continue developing important life skills. This has had a huge positive impact on our whole family, as we are now able to access the community again and enjoy everyday activities together.
The company has provided invaluable support to both me and my children. Because of this I wanted the opportunity to give something back by supporting individuals and families with their everyday challenges. I knew I wanted to be part of a company that truly values and cares about the wellbeing of its service users and their families, and that could make a meaningful difference to their lives. Therefore, I became an employee of CSS in October 2025, and I have enjoyed every minute. This company has made a huge difference in the lives of my children and me and I’m very grateful for this.
Rebecca Nelmes – Parent and Employee