The Outreach service was established in 1997 to provide  flexible, person-centred support to people with a learning disability and their carers. It operates at evenings and weekends to allow service users to access a wide range of social and community based activities.  It currently provides support to 29 service users.

Outreach sessional staff, who provide direct support, do not carry out comprehensive assessments but base support on existing care plans and assessments or by following the programmes of support identified and agreed by service users, carers and senior day service staff.  Support is normally provided in 3 or 4 hour blocks. The service aims to offer a wide range of practical and social support including:

• befriending
• carer support
• home-based respite
• support to access community facilities
• direct care such as shopping, cooking and budgetary advice
• promoting integration

There has also been a gradual expansion of support to include several group activities, such as a bowling.  Outreach has an on call facility which means that workers can seek advice and support from a day service manager, team leader or senior member of staff at any time.