Hft, formerly known as the Home Farm Trust, is a British

learning disability Learning disability, learning disorder, or learning difficulty (British English) is a condition in the brain that causes difficulties comprehending or processing information and can be caused by several different factors. Given the "difficulty ...

charity based in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

. It was established in 1962. The parents who established the charity bought Frocester Manor in Gloucestershire as a residential home for their children. The organisation runs small, person-centred residential care homes and supported living services. Hft is noted for having established the Fusion Model, which is based on the concept of Person-Centred Active Support, engaging people in meaningful activity and relationships as active participants. In 2019 it is supporting more than 2,900 adults with learning disabilities. Its charity number is 313069

Locations and services

It supports a successful group of 44 people in

Flintshire Flintshire () is a county in the north-east of Wales. It borders the Irish Sea to the north, the Dee Estuary to the north-east, the English county of Cheshire to the east, Wrexham County Borough to the south, and Denbighshire to the west. ...

, Tri Ffordd, which produces handcrafted horticultural goods. In May 2013, it merged with Self Unlimited, another charity set up in the 1960s to provide support for people with learning disabilities.

Supporters and ambassadors

Anne, Princess Royal Anne, Princess Royal (Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise; born 15 August 1950) is a member of the British royal family. She is the second child and only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the only sister of King ...

has been the Royal patron of the charity since 1982. Other patrons of the charity have included: *

Floella Benjamin Floella Karen Yunies Benjamin, Baroness Benjamin (born 23 September 1949), is a Trinidadian-British actress, singer, presenter, author and politician. She is known as presenter of children's programmes such as ''Play School (British TV series), ...

Martin Clunes Alexander Martin Clunes (born 28 November 1961) is an English actor, director and television presenter. He is best known for portraying Martin Ellingham in the ITV comedy-drama series '' Doc Martin'', Gary Strang in the BBC sitcom ''Men Behavin ...

Ronnie Corbett Ronald Balfour Corbett (4 December 1930 – 31 March 2016) was a Scottish actor, broadcaster, comedian and writer. He had a long association with Ronnie Barker in the BBC television comedy sketch show ''The Two Ronnies''. He achieved promine ...

* Dame Judi Dench *

Sir David Frost Sir David Paradine Frost (7 April 1939 – 31 August 2013) was an English television host, journalist, comedian and writer. He rose to prominence during the satire boom in the United Kingdom when he was chosen to host the satirical programme ...

* Sir Stuart Hampton *

Griff Rhys-Jones Griffith Rhys Jones (born 16 November 1953) is a Welsh actor, comedian, writer and television presenter. He starred in a number of television series with his comedy partner, Mel Smith. He and Smith came to national attention in the 1980s for ...

Maureen Lipman Dame Maureen Diane Lipman (born 10 May 1946) is an English actress, columnist and comedian. She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and her stage work has included appearances with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakesp ...

* The Lord Rix * Dr Oliver Russell * Dr Phillipa Russell

Memberships and accreditations

Memberships

Hft is a member of the following umbrella organisations: * British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD) * Care and Support Alliance (CSA) * European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) * The European Network for Technology Enhanced Learning in an Inclusive Society (ENTELIS) * Learning Disability Voices * Telecare Services Association (TSA) * Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG)

Accreditations

Hft has achieved several accreditations and certifications: *

Investors in People Investors in People is a standard for people management, offering accreditation to organisations that adhere to the Investors in People Standard. From 1991 to January 2017, Investors in People was owned by the UK government. As of 1 February 20 ...

: Hft has held the Investors in People accolade since 2002, and achieved Silver accreditation in 2017 and 2020. * Hft is a Skills For Care Centre of Excellence for its learning and development programme. * Hft has achieved compliance with the Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) to show its commitment to reducing energy use and lowering its associated carbon footprint * Hft is certified as conforming to the requirements of the OHSAS 18001:2007 workplace safety regulation * Hft has achieved the Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation

Codes of Conduct

Hft is a signatory to a number of different codes of practice and commitments designed to encourage best practice in the social care sector: * Hft is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and has committed to adhering to the regulator's Code of Fundraising Practise and the Fundraising Promise. * Hft has signed up to the Driving Up Quality Code, which outlines good fundamental practices and behaviour that organisations that support people with learning disabilities need to be committed to. * Hft is a Disability Confident Employer.

Campaigns and research

Hft produces an annual ''Sector Pulse Check'' report on organisations providing social care that aims to provide a yearly snapshot of the financial health of the sector. In June 2019 it submitted evidence to the

Low Pay Commission The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is an independent body in the United Kingdom, established in 1997, that advises the government on the National Minimum Wage. It is an advisory non-departmental public body of the Department for Business and Trade (DB ...

that social care staff are being commissioned at significantly lower rates of pay, compared to local authorities. Social care is typically commissioned at the National Living Wage. The

Department of Health and Social Care The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for government policy on health and adult social care matters in England, along with a few elements of the s ...

pays even its lowest paid staff significantly more. It produced a report with Tunstall Healthcare which was launched in the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

in 2019 highlighting the untapped potential of

assistive technology Assistive technology (AT) is a term for assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for Disability, people with disabilities and the elderly. Disabled people often have difficulty performing activities of daily living (ADLs) independently, ...

in social care which was welcomed by the

Voluntary Organisations Disability Group The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group represents organisations within the voluntary sector who work alongside disabled people. It is a charity registered in London founded in 2008. Rhidian Hughes is the chief executive. It has repeatedly c ...

. In July 2019 it called for an end to "perverse" commissioning practices that are "negatively impacting" productivity and financial stability in the adult social care sector. It said that input-based by-hour contracts gave "no incentive" for providers to innovate or deliver anything other than one hour of support.

Books

References

External links

hft
{{Authority control Charities for disabled people based in the United Kingdom Charities based in Bristol Social care in the United Kingdom