Making a Referral
We pride ourselves on a person-centred approach and this is reflected in our referral process:
1. Visit the Farm
If you are thinking of supporting a client to attend the farm, please arrange for them to come and have a visit by completing this referral form and send to tim@depden.com. We will be in touch to arrange a mutually convenient day.
Clients can come on their own or be supported by a referral partner, support worker, care worker or family member. The visit lasts about an hour and will include a tour of the farm and meeting some of the staff and other clients. They will get a chance to see what we do and ask any questions, while we have an initial assessment of the client’s needs. We can then start exploring why they want to come to the farm and how we might be able to support them.
2. Arrange a Taster Day
After visiting the farm, if the client would like to attend and we are able to support them, we will arrange a free taster day so the client can try out the service before they make any commitment.
At this stage, we would encourage referrers and the client to think about how a Depden Care Farm could fit in with their other activities and what day would be best for them to attend the farm.
3. Complete Risk Assessment and Communications Preference Forms
Depden Care Farm must be completely satisfied that we can manage any risks before allowing any new clients on site. Please complete the risk assessment and pre-enrolment comms and learning assessment forms and return to tim@depden.com before the client attends the taster day.
Please also send any SEND, Care Assessment and their latest review documents. It is important that we have a full and complete picture of the client’s needs, wants, risks and behaviours if the placement is to be successful.
4. Client attends Taster Day
The day starts at 9.30am and finishes at 3.30pm.
The person attending the farm will need to bring the following:
- Clothing appropriate for the weather to work in.
- Normal indoor shoes / trainers.
- Steel toe capped boots (wellies or walking boots are also acceptable for taster day) to change into for working on the farm.
- Gloves to work in (e.g. gardening or DIY type)
- Packed lunch and any drinks they like.
We will provide all other specialist PPE if required as well as tea, herbal teas, coffee and cold drinks. There is a microwave available for warming food.
5. Evalutating Taster Day and Finalising Funding
Following the taster day, we would encourage referrers and/or support staff to discuss with the client and their support networks about how they felt the taster day went. This may work best over time, to enable the client to process the day and how they feel about it.
Download our forms here
Please see below for a PDF download of our Referral Application Form, Risk Assessment and Pre-Enrolment Assessment forms. All forms should be completed and returned to tim@depden.com or contact us for any questions.
