In the Community
Supporting people to live full and meaningful lives
At Autism Plus, we believe that everyone deserves the chance to take part in their local community in a way that feels right for them. At Thorne House, our residential living service, we support individuals to explore their interests, build relationships, and enjoy the activities and places that matter most to them.
Being part of the community is more than just going out – it’s about feeling included, valued, and connected. We work alongside each person to understand what they enjoy, what they’d like to try, and how we can support them to take part safely and confidently.
How we support community inclusion
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Your choices, your routine
We support each person to plan their week in a way that reflects their interests, whether that’s visiting the shops, going to a café, attending events, or simply enjoying a walk in the park. -
Friendships and social opportunities
We help people stay connected to family and friends, meet new people, and build confidence through positive social experiences. -
Learning and contributing
We support individuals to take part in volunteering, learning opportunities, or other activities that build skills and independence. -
Wellbeing and safety
Every community activity is planned with safety in mind. We carry out risk assessments and review them regularly, making sure each outing is enjoyable, respectful and right for the individual.
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Our Commitment to quality
At Autism Plus, our residential support is built around each person’s needs, goals, and wishes. We review care plans regularly and involve each person, along with their family or circle of support, in decisions about their community activity and routines.
Our team receives ongoing training in person-centred approaches, safeguarding, dignity, and inclusion. This helps us to meet the expectations of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), ensuring our service is:
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Caring – built on respect, compassion, and trust
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Responsive – tailored to what matters to each person
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Effective – supporting individuals to achieve their goals
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Safe – with a strong focus on wellbeing and risk management
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Well-led – with clear values and a culture of continuous improvement
Sam's Story
“Before moving into Thorne House, Sam was anxious about going out alone. With gentle encouragement and support from our team, he now enjoys weekly trips to the local library and a gardening club.
These outings have helped Sam build confidence, meet new people, and feel more connected. He told us "I never thought I’d enjoy going out so much!"
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Our community connections
We work closely with local cafés, libraries, gyms, sensory spaces and event organisers to make sure the people we support have real choices and access to inclusive activities.
Whether it's a quiet morning walk or a community event, we adapt support to suit each person’s preferences and comfort.
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Feedback from families
We regularly collect feedback from families, carers, and the individuals we support to ensure we are meeting their needs and continuously improving our services.
This feedback is gathered through various channels, including surveys, one to one conversations, and regular check ins. By listening to experiences, concerns, and suggestions, we gain valuable insights that help us tailor our support to each individual.
This process ensures that our services remain person-centred, responsive, and of the highest quality, building stronger relationships and promoting the well being and independence of the people we support.
“The team have been amazing at helping my daughter try new things.”
Parent
“I love going to the park and seeing the ducks.”
Individual we support
“It’s lovely to see my daughter becoming more confident with each outing.”
Parent
"I love being part of the team, every day I am learning something new and doing things that I never thought I could do."
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