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Our strategic plan

Developed in consultation with people we support, families, staff and supporters, our strategic plan directs everything we do.

Our strategic plan

Developed in consultation with people we support, families, staff and supporters, our strategic plan directs everything we do.

Our strategic plan

Developed in consultation with people we support, families, staff and supporters, our strategic plan directs everything we do.

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Strategic plan

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Our Strategy

2023 - 26 Strategic Plan

Download our 2023 - 26 Strategic Plan in PDF format

We are...

Sense Scotland is a Scottish charity and specialised social care provider supporting people with communication support needs associated with complex and sensory disabilities, and their families, where individual needs and choices come first.

We offer...

  • Care services: for adults and children with communication support needs associated with complex and sensory disabilities
  • Family support: information line, seminars and events
  • Programmes and activities: early years play sessions, arts and music workshops, physical activity classes and award courses
  • Transition support: information, events, groups for young people and our Glasgow Learning Hub
  • Inclusive communication: training and advice for families and professionals
  • Learning and development: programmes and qualifications to our staff

Introduction to the strategy

Our 2023-2026 strategy is built to tackle the challenges of operating in a post-COVID world and navigating the ongoing social care crisis.

Despite the difficulties, the organisation remains dedicated to being innovative and aspirational, willing to try new models to better support those in need.

Quality and safety are of the utmost importance, and the voices of the people we support, their families, and staff are central to this strategy. The organisation consulted extensively with these groups to ensure that their perspectives and needs are reflected in the strategy, allowing us to continue to provide high-quality services and support to those who rely on them.

Our values

  • Be open and honest
  • Recognise individual worth
  • Build relationships through trust
  • Act on the basis of individuals’ aspirations and needs
  • Be accountable

Our vision

An inclusive and accessible society where everyone lives their best life.

Our mission

Support individuals and their families to live their best lives by providing innovative and sustainable services.

Our strategic aims

  1. Establish Sense Scotland as a leader in the provision of specialist services for people with complex communication support needs associated with learning and/or sensory disabilities.
  2. Ensure our social care services are sustainable and evolve to meet demand.
  3. Support carers to access breaks and explore new short break models.
  4. Deliver programmes and projects to enhance the lives of people with communication support needs and their families across Scotland.
  5. Generate new and sustained sources of income.
  6. Nurture social care leaders of the future and value, recognise and reward our staff and volunteers.

Establish Sense Scotland as a leader in the provision of specialist services for people with complex communication support needs associated with learning and/or sensory disabilities

  • Invest in the creation of a learning and development academy to enable staff to develop skills and competencies required for their role.
  • Offer specialised assessment(s) for people with sensory impairments and learning disabilities to improve their independence and quality of life.
  • Increase our public profile through media opportunities and participation in sector specific groups.
  • Establish a working group to define who we support and communicate this to families and professionals.

Ensure our social care services are sustainable and evolve to meet demand

  • Establish innovative engagement methods to connect with families, commissioners and others to ensure need and demand is understood and met.
  • Trial new service models including evening, weekend and holiday provision to address unmet need.
  • Undertake analysis of our services to ensure full cost recovery is achieved and rates reflect the specialist nature of our services.
  • Invest in technology and digital systems to improve the efficiency of our organisation and services.

Support carers to access breaks and explore new short break models

  • Pilot an activity holiday for people we support and use the learning to inform future provision.
  • Develop a working group to explore new models of respite learning from provision in other countries and sectors.
  • Work with others to influence government and decision makers to ensure carers’ right to a break is upheld and properly funded.
  • Explore opportunities for families to enjoy a break together in holiday accommodation managed by Sense Scotland

Deliver programmes and projects to enhance the lives of people with communication support needs and their families across Scotland

  • Undertake consultation to identify programmes and projects we should start, stop, grow or reduce.
  • Strive for greater geographical equity in the delivery of our offer.
  • Utilise a wider range of advertising and marketing approaches to raise awareness of Sense Scotland and promote our programmes and projects.
  • Work in partnership with local authorities, particularly education, to enhance statutory provision and support at key transition stages.

Generate new and sustained sources of income

  • Explore opportunities to utilise our buildings in the evening and at the weekend to increase service and programme delivery. 
  • Initiate new fundraising programmes and campaigns to grow direct debit giving, increase corporate donors and sponsors, expand our trusts and grants income and encourage legacies. 
  • Offer accredited learning and development and training courses externally for a fee. 
  • Where staffing allows, submit tenders for new services and programmes. 

Nurture social care leaders of the future and value, recognise and reward our staff and volunteers

  • Appoint a volunteer co-ordinator and develop a strategy to promote and grow volunteering.
  • Extend our staff training programme to offer a wider range of courses , mentoring and secondment opportunities,  and enhanced induction. 
  • Review staff pay, benefits and rewards to ensure these are competitive and show staff they are appreciated. 
  • Revise structures to create career pathways and support staff to progress and develop. 

Our aim

We will continue to deliver and develop good quality, safe, sustainable and impactful social care and charitable services, while strengthening and improving our infrastructure to monitor improvement, support growth and respond to the external operating environment.

Our strategy

Developed in consultation with people we support, their families, our staff and supporters, our 2022-23 strategic plan will direct our work as we emerge from the pandemic. The strategy contains three strands: we care, we connect, we communicate.

We care

  • about the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce, the people we support, families, volunteers and customers at all time
  • about the quality, breadth and specialism of our services, how they are delivered, and continually improving them
  • about our staff and volunteers, and want to retain them
  • about the environments we operate in
  • about the rights of people supported, staff, volunteers and families
  • about our donors, customers and supporters
  • about our staff and volunteers, and will ensure they are well-trained, competent and confident
  • about efficiently generating income and realising value for money and sustainability

We connect

  • by working collaboratively across the organisation and with partners nationally and internationally
  • by consulting and seeking feedback from our families and the people we support
  • by responding to feedback
  • by having a strong presence on our website and social media
  • by providing a helpline to access Sense Scotland
  • by working together to identify and realise funding opportunities
  • by developing roles to champion our specialisms
  • by working with regulators to ensure the quality and safety of our service delivery
  • by developing and effectively using our ICT and systems
  • by offering our expertise externally
 

We communicate

  • to listen and respond to the wishes and needs of people we support, allowing everyone to live their best lives
  • to build greater awareness of Sense Scotland
  • to attract staff
  • to be part of, and benefit from, our local communities
  • to work collaboratively across the organisation
  • to understand need and impact and provide evidence to our funders
  • to thank our donors and supporters
For more information on our strategic plan, please contact us on:
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