Oakleaf Care (Hartwell) Ltd (trading as The Oakleaf Group) opened in 2005 in the picturesque village location of Hartwell just outside Northampton. Hilltop House was the original service set in 8 acres of beautiful gardens and outdoor therapy spaces and is still operating today as part of the specialised assessment and rehabilitation service.

The service that was delivered to the first group of residents was based around a sessional day, getting to know each resident well before providing structured activities the residents were motivated by.

Initially the service was designed for men who had previously undergone a period of rehabilitation in a different setting and required a longer term placement that could maintain their skills and quality of life.

The therapy and care that was provided to this first group of men produced some surprising and unexpected therapy gains which led the service to developing the active assessment and rehabilitation service that continues to be operated today.

The skills and expertise of the staff group enabled the team to build a specialised service that could support people whose needs could be challenging in more traditional settings. Complex and challenging behaviours and complex physical presentations are the main needs of people admitted to the most acute service today.

The active rehabilitation services known as House/Lodge (13 beds), Cunningham House (14 beds and 4 flats) and Orchard House (22 beds), together they form part of the acute assessment and rehabilitation services at Hartwell and in total provide 53 beds.

The Hartwell services needed a pathway for people to move on to before they were discharged home. Five houses in residential areas of Northamptonshire were added to the service portfolio. The Community Houses provide a different focus and are supported by a dedicated Therapy Team. These Community Houses are based in local communities where access to facilities and services is much easier. The environments enable residents to test out their skills and capabilities prior to being discharged to a less structured living environment (including home to family, home with a care package, independent living or another residential service).

The Oakleaf Group provide graded discharge programmes where the Therapy team work with the person in their own home towards the end of their placement to ensure they are safe and well-supported when they are discharged. It is possible for people to remain in the Community Houses longer term if the service meets their needs.

The Cotswolds service was added in 2013 as it was recognised that there was still a need for a long term service. The Cotswolds provides Long Term/Maintenance packages for those men who have reached a plateau with their rehabilitation and no longer need the active rehabilitation programme every day. However, these men are unable to return home and need the specialist support and knowledge of staff who are experienced in working with people with a brain injury or other neurological conditions. This service continues to provide lots of structure and activity but focuses on quality-of-life.

The range of services provided by The Oakleaf Group today are an extension of the original vision and form a pathway of care:

  • Assessment and Active Rehabilitation
  • Continued Rehabilitation
  • Community Rehabilitation
  • Long Term/Maintenance packages
  • End-of-life Care Packages
  • Respite Care

The overarching values and philosophy of the service remain as strong today as when the business first started; to help people maximise their potential through individually designed packages of care which seek to increase independence and quality of life.