Personalisation means thinking about care and support services in an entirely different way. This means starting with the person as an individual with strengths, preferences and aspirations and putting them at the centre of the process of identifying their needs and making choices about how and when they are supported to live their lives. It requires a significant transformation of adult social care so that all systems, processes, staff and services are geared up to put people first.

Self directed assessment is a simplified assessment that is led as far as possible by the person, in partnership with the professional and focuses on the outcomes that they want to achieve in meeting their eligible needs. Assessment looks at the individual's circumstances and whole situation and takes account of the situation and needs of carers, family members and others who provide informal support. The council's duty to assess needs can be met through proportionate self-directed assessment and support planning processes, and the council is legally responsible for signing off the assessment and support plan.

In December 2007, Putting people first (HM Government, 2007) proposed that all social care users should have access to a personal budget, with the intention that they can use it to exercise choice and control to meet their agreed social care outcomes.

Personal budgets must be implemented within the framework of self-directed support which involves self-directed assessment; 'up-front' allocation of funds and support planning to promote maximum choice and control.

Depending on the outcome of your 'self directed assessment' and the personal budget allocated, you could purchase the following services from us to support you with:

Outreach:Skill building, budgeting, accessing community, befriending, travel training, sourcing activities at the Hub and/or Art Centre, support with maintaining tenancy, finding courses and accessing college etc.

Psychology:Counselling and Psychotherapy services; Social Skill courses

Set in the heart of residential Barnet, this six-bedroomed house, owned by Barnet Primary Care Trust, is close to all the amenities of Barnet High Street, and to Barnet College. It is spacious and light, with a large attractive garden, living room and kitchen. The back lounge has been made into a multi-purpose room where various activities take place including music, art, sensory activities and relaxation. The six service users have a range of support needs, including severe learning disabilities, and autism. All service users attend a variety of day care settings and staff are working toward individualised day care packages to enhance their quality of life. For further information, please contact:

Mr. Delroy Gordon - 07852254610
email :

Set in the heart of residential Wembley Castleton Avenue is a six bedroom residential home in a quiet area of Brent which has provides 24 hour support for service users with autism. The home's excellent location also means that a number of amenities are close by, such as King Edward Park, and Wembley High Road where, amongst other things, service users can go out for a meal, go shopping, or to the gym. Service Users can interact with each other and relax in either of the two lounges, large kitchen or garden. It is in these areas where Service Users can enjoy organised activities such as board games, karaoke and popcorn and film evenings. Castleton Avenue also has a computer room where Service users can develop their computer skills and go on the internet if they wish. For further information, please contact:

Mrs. Leticia Addo on 07535627663
email :

Pear Close is a house comprising of six bedrooms based in a peaceful area of Kingsbury, North West London. It has been providing residential care for people who have autism with severe learning disabilities since 1990. The house has a back garden, free parking and an exercise / activities room. Staff encourage the Service Users to engage in social activities both within and out of the house. These vary from individual to individual, but typically include things such as bowling, swimming, cinema, karaoke sessions, shopping and pub outings. Staff also accompany service users on annual holidays abroad, supporting them to achieve their full potential for self fulfilment and development.For further information, please contact:

Mrs. Leticia Addo on 07535627663
email :

Park Avenue is an Edwardian era house situated within the Wood green community. It has 6 bedrooms providing 24 hour care for adults with learning disabilities. Some may have autism, Asperger's Syndrome or display other characteristics that fall within the autistic spectrum. It is situated adjacent to The Hub which is HFA's day centre. Each Service User has an individual activity programme is both suited to their interests and is aimed to benefit well being, empowerment and social interaction. Leisure activities include accessing the local community by visiting the local cinema, pub or the nearby Alexandra Park. For further information, please contact:

Mr. Delroy Gordon - 07852254610
email :

Our Supported Living services offers people with Autism and Asperger's syndrome the opportunity to live independently. Day to day support and assistance with independent living skills, both at home and out in the community is provided, thereby ensuring continuity and consistency.

We aspire to support our service users to develop new skills and further broaden their existing skills with the aim of preparing them to move into independent living in the future.

We have been running 3 supported living units in Brent, Haringey and Harrow respectively for several years. However, this year we have been focussing on moving the service users onto other suitable accommodations in order to re-evaluate our supported living services and develop units that are better served as being purpose built and autism friendly. Our plans for the future are being developed in line with the changes implemented in social care and our expertise in autism.

At present we have one supported living unit - a self-contained flat in Wembley which is being refurbished for a service user to move in due course. The flat is an extension of one of our residential units which enables the service user to be located in a very secure environment.

Staffing is designed to be available but unobtrusive so that the tenants can experience as much independence as possible. While the unit is not staffed on a 24-hour basis, there is 24-hour on-call support.

The staff team have a flexible rota system, designed around the support and requests of tenants.

All staff are trained in User Consultation in accordance with Supporting People and the Valuing People Person Centred Planning approach. 85% of our staff have completed an NVQ qualification in addition to the statutory training conducted annually. They have also been trained to use TEACCH and PECS as a form of communication.

Leisure activities have a high priority and are organised by the tenants themselves - some independently and others supported. Supported activities often include sight-seeing trips, fairs, circuses, bowling, swimming, day trips to the seaside and hiking in the London Wetlands Centre.

Ian Wilson BA (Hons.) MA has more than 20 years of experience working with adults with Autistic Spectrum Condition. He brings a wealth of informed and exciting ideas to support the social and personal development programmes of our service users. Ian teaches drawing and runs the furniture and other woodwork projects.

The Hoffmann Foundation Art and Craft Studios offer a fashion design service to all of our service users. It is targeted at the minority of females with Autistic Spectrum Condition who may be marginalised by activities, unconsciously designed with a male ASC population in mind. Nevertheless, it has been found that male service users as well as females have enjoyed and benefitted from their work with fabrics and the opportunity to sew and design fabrics is open to all.

The annual drawing and painting competition has been a huge success and will be repeated every year as long as funding permits. About 50 entrants from the UK and Europe competed last year for valuable awards in an attempt to establish a consistent theory of art by those who have an autistic spectrum condition.

Housed around a sunny courtyard, the art and craft workshop and studios are well lit, well equipped and offer tuition to groups of service users at ratios of one to one or three to one contact time. Our in depth knowledge of our service user's needs and understanding of the complexities of the condition and the practical requirements of a socially integrated personal development plan have stimulated our attempt to find reachable goals for them.

Our programme is designed to support individuals to seek opportunities, access activities and accomplish their set goals

People with Autism or Asperger's syndrome find it difficult to project a community presence due to a lack of understanding on the part of the public and also problems around social skills, such as reading social cues and communicating. Our outreach programme enables us to offer support within a person's local community whilst at the same time teaching the skills necessary to help them access their amenities.

We work closely with clients, their parents or carers and local service providers and are able to tailor programmes to meet the individual's needs. These can include anything from using the local corner shop to gaining employment, to supporting independent living and just about everything in between!

At the moment we are providing one to one support within a variety of college courses including pottery, cookery, computers, jewellery making, and supported work placements in addition to accessing local facilities like swimming pools, gym and art centres. Our training programme for community access includes road awareness and using public transport. Within these programmes we support social awareness and communication skills (TEACCH) in 'real' community settings such as swimming pools, pubs, shops and libraries.

Our aim is to support skill building, promote independence and encourage social inclusion, self- confidence and self expression. We all have the ability to learn from our environment and our contact with others and we focus on preparing a conducive environment for a person with autism to learn and grow in a manner specific to that person.

Our aim is to support skill building, promote independence and encourage social inclusion, self- confidence and self expression. We all have the ability to learn from our environment and our contact with others and we focus on preparing a conducive environment for a person with autism to learn and grow in a manner specific to that person.

2 Park Avenue, Wood Green, London N22 7EX
Sujesh Sundarraj
Supported Living Mgr
Telephone: 07940 235 653

Established in October 2000, the psychology department manages the referral and assessment process for current and prospective clients. The team consists of a Chartered Counselling Psychology Manager, a Behavioural Psychologist, a Trainee Counsellor, undergraduate psychology volunteers and a Consultant Psychologist.

The team works alongside staff to promote autism specific psychological support and intervention to individuals using Hoffmann services, and also provides internal and external training in consultation.

More specifically the Psychology Manager, who is a chartered counselling psychologist, offers the following services based on individual assessment needs:

• Counselling
• Social Skills courses
• Needs assessments
• Diagnostic Assessment
• Consultations and attendance on case conference and review meetings
• Training in therapeutic support on Autism and Asperger Syndrome

The Psychology team currently offers the following training both internally and externally:

• Autism and Asperger Syndrome Awareness
• TEACCH training
• Applied Behavioural Analysis
• Reflective practice on working therapeutically
• Basic Counselling skills

2 Park Avenue, Wood Green, London N22 7EX
Kassy Drossou
Psychology Manager
Telephone: 020 3326 6363

The Hub provides a service for people with Autism and learning difficulties. A large majority of the service users have not been formally diagnosed with Autism. We are currently open from Mon-Fri between the hours of 9am-3pm for 51 weeks per year. The Hub is only closed for bank holidays.

To provide an individualised and recognised service of excellence to people with Autism and learning difficulties which will enhance their lives and empower the individual to develop skills necessary for independence.

• Horse riding
• Gym
• Swimming
• Arts/Crafts
• I.T
• Basic Education
• Cooking/baking

• Massage
• Sensory
• Music
• Daily living skills
• Community - walks, cafes, pubs, parks
• Yoga

The Hub,
2 Park Avenue,
Wood Green,
N22 7EX

E mail: [email protected]
Tel: 020 3326 6360