At the Cart Shed, we believe that being involved in nature has benefits for everyone.
Information for Professionals
Before you refer someone to our service, there are a few things you should take into account.
Mobility
We are based outdoors in a woodland environment and as such the ground can be uneven, slippery and there can be trip hazards such as tree roots. Our environment may therefore not be suitable for those with poor mobility or poor balance, or those that need certain types of walking aids such as rollator frames. We have open fires on site, so are cautious about accepting referrals for individuals that experience falls or seizures. There is a walk of about 100m from the car park to the woodland site that individuals need to be able to manage.
There are composting toilets on site that are on raised platforms with four 6” steps to access, so individuals need to be able to manage steps independently in order to be able to use our toileting facilities.
Transport
We offer free transport from designated pick-up points in Hereford, Leominster and Kington only, so individuals need to be able to get to one of these pick-up points in order to be able to use our transport. They also need to be able to get on/off of the transport safely and independently.
Level of Support
We endeavour to support as many people as we can, and all referrals are considered on an individual basis. However, there are some individuals we are unable to work with due to the nature of our environment, our staffing levels, or the risk some individuals may pose to others, especially in relation to the children and young people we have on site as part of our Young Cart Shed provision.
As a Tier 1 mental health service, we cannot work with:
· Individuals in mental health crisis, especially if they are not receiving support elsewhere.
· Individuals that are aggressive or violent and pose a risk to our team or to other participants.
· Individuals presenting with predominantly behavioural issues.
· Individuals that pose a risk to children or young people.
· Individuals with a history of sexual offending.
· Individuals requiring 1:1 support on site.
· Individuals with complex physical health needs that require a multidisciplinary approach.
Please be aware that for anyone that is being supported by Probation services, we require a full risk assessment from Probation at the point of referral so that we can make an informed decision as to the suitability of that individual for our service. We can only consider those that Probation has assessed as low risk to others. Without this risk assessment information, the referral will be rejected as incomplete.