What’s happening at Ambient

Ambient’s commitment to safeguarding

Everyone we support has the right to feel safe and to live free from abuse and neglect. People have the right to be supported by caring and competent support teams and to feel safe and secure in their homes and communities.

How do Ambient keep people safe?

Keeping people safe is Ambient’s highest priority. Below are some examples of how we keep people safe:

• All Ambient’s employees receive safeguarding training which includes:
  • How to prevent, recognise and stop the risks and experience of abuse or neglect.
  • What they need to do if they are worried a person is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect.
• Ambient has clear policies and procedures in place that support employees to fulfil their legal obligations and follow best practice guidelines.
• Ambient ‘s training and personalised approach to care, contribute to the delivery of safe & respectful care.

Watch our ‘See, Think, Tell’ video on reporting abuse

Who to contact if you have a concern

• Naomi Atkinson, Director of Operations:
  naomi.atkinson@ambient.org.uk
• Vicky Morris, Head of Quality:
  victoria.morris@ambient.org.uk
• Samantha Downer, Divisional Director (South):
  samantha.downer@ambient.org.uk
• Rob Anscomb-Gates, Divisional Director (North):
  rob.anscomb-gates@ambient.org.uk
• Samantha Dunlop, Ambient’s ‘Speak Up’ Trustee:
  samantha.dunlop@ambient.org.uk

If you don’t feel comfortable contacting an above named member of the Ambient team, you can email: hello@ambient.org.uk or call our general enquiry line: 0208 4181 822

What Ambient do if you share a concern about someone or report suspected abuse to us

• We will take immediate action to keep the person/people safe.
• We will report any safeguarding concern to the local authority.
• If the person we support lives in a CQC (Care Quality Commission) registered home or service we will notify them.
• Any suspected crime will be reported to the police.
• We will involve the person and their circle of support in the safeguarding process
• We will investigate the concern and take further action if needed.
• If we have made a mistake, we will acknowledge it, say we are sorry and put things right so it doesn’t happen again.
• We will learn from our mistakes and share the lessons learned within Ambient.
• All safeguarding concerns, actions taken and lessons learned are reported to Ambient’s Trustees and Ambient’s Executive Team.

Contacting CQC

If you would like to go directly to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), you can call: 03000 616161 or visit their website.

Download Ambient’s Safeguarding literature

‘See, Think, Tell’ Reporting Abuse leaflet

‘See, Think, Tell’ Reporting Abuse poster

How to Report Abuse Easy Read

To request a copy of our Safe Guarding Policy in full or in an Easy Read format, email: hello@ambient.org.uk

Working together to improve services.

Our award winning Ambient Guardians are people we support who use Ambient services. They are an Involvement & Co-Production group who are experts by experience, and they are an essential part of the organisation’s Quality team.

The Guardians work in partnership with our staff teams to review, monitor and audit the quality of services with the purpose of driving up our quality and improving the care and support we provide.

Once a month, the Ambient Guardians get together either in person or online to discuss what’s happening across the charity and give their feedback on any changes that are proposed or any new ideas for consideration. The Guardians can be supported to attend by a staff member if required.

The Guardians make a vital difference to the way Ambient operates and grows. They help to ensure we get it right for the people we support, whether that’s in a supported living service, out in the community or  in a care home. In addition, it’s an opportunity for our Guardians to learn new skills and meet new people – as well as Ambient learn from them.

Ambient also involve the people we support to check on the quality of our services. They’re called the Quality Checkers; a team of people we support from our Learning Disability and Mental Health services who visit projects and sites to conduct audits and hear first hand from the people in the services about the support they receive (visits are currently on pause due to COVID). Feedback from these audits goes though our Quality team and directly to our Board of Trustees.

We want to help you understand social care. Check out The Jargon Buster on our website.

Help us to learn and improve our services

Anyone may make a suggestion or complaint about Ambient Support.

We aim to offer a high standard of service in all that we do. Telling us your suggestions or complaints will help us to learn and then improve the services that we provide.

Suggestions or complaints may be made verbally or in writing to us. Watch the video below to learn more:

If you feel comfortable, you should first discuss your thoughts with a member of the Ambient Support staff team. They will probably be able to address any suggestions or concerns that you have.

If you do not feel able to speak to a staff member then you may complete a copy of our complaints form and return it to us at our head office in Woodford Green, Essex.

You can also email us at: hello@ambient.org.uk (please ensure that you provide us with all your contact details so we can get back to you) or call us on 020 8502 3933.

• We aim to process all suggestions and complaints as quickly as possible.
• We will thoroughly investigate your query and provide a full response to you within 28 days.
• If appropriate, Ambient Support will appoint someone independent to investigate your concerns.
• We will always keep you informed about the progress of your suggestion or complaint and let you know the outcomes from any investigation.
• We will always seek to find a satisfactory outcome.

Download a copy of our:
Complaint and Feedback Form.

Download an:
Easy Read version of our Complaint and Feedback Form.

View this page in Easy Read.

Ambient Support takes positive action regarding the employment, retention, training and career development of employees with disabilities.

All employees of Ambient Support are expected to treat disabled colleagues with the same dignity and respect as their non-disabled colleagues.

Any form of harassment or discrimination towards a member of staff with a disability will be taken very seriously at Ambient Support and could be looked upon as possible grounds for disciplinary action.

Disability user symbol

Ambient Support recognises the Disability User Symbol and agrees to comply with the five commitments of the Disability User symbol. Consequently, Ambient Support will:

• Seek to ensure there is a mechanism in place to discuss at any time, but at least once a year, with disabled employees what can be done to make sure they can develop and use their abilities.
• If an employee develops a disability, make every effort to help them stay in employment.
• Act to ensure that all employees develop the appropriate level of disability awareness needed to make these commitments work.
• Each year to review the five commitments and what has been achieved, plan ways to improve on them and let employees and Jobcentre Plus know about progress and future plans.

The Five Commitments are: 

• Ensure recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible
• Communicate and promote vacancies
• Offer an interview to disabled people
• Anticipate and provide all reasonable adjustments as required
• Support any existing employee who acquires a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.

Recruitment and selection

All disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy will be granted an interview and we will consider them based on their abilities. Ambient Support will work with Government backed support schemes through Job Centres and Learn Direct to facilitate the employment of those who are long term unemployed and have a disability.

Training for selection panels at Ambient Support will cover the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and Disability User Symbol.

Consideration will be given to any reasonable adjustments which may be necessary and appropriate at the interview stage, including those which allow the use of technology which would assist the interview process.

Current and new employees

Ambient Support will make any reasonable adjustments to the workplace and to employment arrangements to ensure that a disabled person is not at any disadvantage when compared to a non-disabled person. Ambient Support will make any reasonable changes which may include altering working hours, furniture and access to equipment and additional training. This list is not exhaustive, however, and other adjustments will be considered if necessary.

Support will be given on an ongoing basis with regular assessments of whether an individual needs are being met. Disabled staff will have the same access to training and development as non-disabled staff. Where appropriate, specialist training will be made available to allow staff to develop their skills and exploit all career opportunities available. Venues and methods used will also be appropriate for someone with a disability. When an existing Ambient Support employee becomes disabled, the company will take all reasonable steps to facilitate their continued employment.

Disability support scheme

Staff at Ambient Support who have a disability (as defined under the Equality Act) have the opportunity to see ongoing support under the Ambient Support Disability Support Scheme for staff. Eligible staff can apply to the scheme which works with the individual to identify:

• The nature and extent of the disability (if not already known).
• The type and nature of reasonable additional support that may be required (e.g. additional equipment or changes in working practices).
• Any specific development opportunities that might be put in place to enable disabled employees to more fully utilise their abilities and skills.
• Any communication or action required in terms of the individuals working relationship with their staff team.
• Set regular review dates with local management and an HR representative.

Monitoring and review

Monitoring of staff who have a disability as defined under the Equality Act will take place by means of inviting staff to identify that they have a disability and what the disability is once they have been appointed. The information will be kept in confidence in the HR information system which assists with reviewing the employment of disabled people. Reports will be made to the Board on a regular basis as part of an overall report on Diversity Management within the Ambient Support Group.

Supporting your business to meet its Corporate Social Responsibility

Developing your organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) should not be just a paper exercise. Actually meeting your company’s objectives for CSR can have real and tangible benefits to your business. It can:

• Help you develop your employees.
• Boost innovation and fire enthusiasm.
• Help you attract and retain staff.
• Increase your reputation and consolidate trust.

At Ambient Support we can help you meet and exceed your CSR objectives through:

• Real and innovative chances for your staff to get involved.
• Training and development support for your employees and management teams.
• Awareness and understanding of techniques to develop resilience.
• The development of strategies and policies to help manage stress in the workplace.
• Supporting staff fundraising activities or payroll giving.
• Offering staff volunteering opportunities, providing them with learning and development opportunities.

Partnering with Ambient Support can enhance your brand values and help you in the delivery of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Call us on 020 8502 3933 to discuss how we can work together.

Registered Charity Status

Ambient Support is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered with the Registrar of Companies and the Charity Commission. Our registration numbers are as follows:

Registered company number: 07211819
Registered charity number: 1135353

Ambient Support is registered, and therefore licensed to provide services, by the Care Quality Commission (Provider ID: 1-102643235). We are governed by a Board of Trustees who have a wide range of professional backgrounds and act in a voluntary capacity.

Public Benefit

Ambient Support work with beneficiaries who are defined by the consequences of old age, disability and illness. There is no condition of membership to receive services from Ambient Support and eligibility is related to the levels of care and support required in addition to availability of beds/space or staff.

Many people Ambient Support provide services to are likely to be low-income earners whose care and support is funded through statutory agencies either through individual or group funding arrangements. Ambient Support has a policy of limiting the number of people who are able to meet the full cost of their care and support. Trustees place no discretionary restriction on eligibility or access to services, and so the principles of the public benefit requirements placed on the charity are met and are reviewed annually by the trustees.

Amber Housing is not a registered charity so is not obliged to make a formal public benefit statement. However, it works with the disadvantaged providing affordable housing solutions, and would meet the requirements of the Charity Commission on public benefit.

Company Statements

Ambient Support – Slavery And Human Trafficking Statement 

Ambient Support – Gender Pay Gap Monitoring Statement (2021)

Ambient Support – Gender Pay Gap Monitoring Statement (2022)

Ambient Support – Gender Pay Gap Monitoring Statement (2023)