Twenty years ago, just after the Community Care Act, Three Cs was set up in South London to provide supported living in the community for people with learning disabilities coming out of long-stay hospitals. Since then Three Cs, standing for Control and Choice in the Community, has been at the forefront of development gaining many national marks of excellence. In 2010 it was the first national organisation to launch iPlanit, the web-based tool which gives ever y person ser ved a user-friendly computer account setting out their most important aims and tracking outcomes. Staff are accountable to people for supporting these plans.
Three Cs knows how to recognise people’s achievements. They recently celebrated their 20th anniversary, inviting staff and the people they support to the Albany in Greenwich.
Both the people served and the staff received awards recognising their achievements – the people supported for their efforts and the risks they took to achieve their dreams and the staff for going the extra mile to help them. What was memorable in the celebrations were the very strong connections between people and the agency – they weren’t just included, they owned the service.
What makes a good service? Not mounds of paper trails and beautifully designed person-centred plans but everyone living the values.
What is also important is that the drive comes from the top. Board members giving invisible support behind the scenes is vital to safeguard the organisation’s mission and to ensure its health and direction.
Chair Trevor Branch paid tribute to CEO, Jo Clare, saying that board members recognised that it was her drive and passion which permeates the organisation. Their vision for the next 20 years is, he said, “All of us living life to the full valued by our communities”. Rosemary Trustam
