Victoria Cottage

Victoria Cottage has been owned by the Holly Care Group since 2003. It is a large private residence which has been converted to suit its current purpose as a residential care home.

Victoria Cottage is situated in a pleasant residential area of Bedford within walking distance of the local park and town centre, providing easy access to bus, rail and coach services as well as shopping facilities.

Victoria Cottage caters for 14 service users in a residential homely environment. All bedrooms, except one, are single and six of these bedrooms have en-suite facilities, all are tastefully decorated and personalised with services users own property to achieve a 'home from home' feeling. Service users can have their own TVs in their rooms if they so wish.

In addition to the bedrooms, there is a lounge and dining room and an all weather conservatory. These are furnished to a high standard and have been designed to meet the needs of every service user.

As Victoria Cottage is a two storey building, the service users living on the upper floor have to be fully mobile in order for them to access the first floor via the stairs.

There is a small staff office located off the main entrance hall and the Home Managers office is located in a separate building just to the side of the main house.

There are churches of many different denominations in the local area and provision can be made for service users to attend the service of their choice, should they so wish.

Outings to places of interest are frequently arranged during the summer months and service users are often fully involved in deciding the venues of these outings as well as their annual holiday. Whilst service users are encouraged to participate, there is never any pressure or compulsion to do so.

Service users can, of course, come and go as they please for days out with relatives or friends - medical considerations permitting.

Victoria Cottage adopts the principles of Social Care as its main stay of providing support to its service user group. Service users are assisted in gaining the skills which would enable them to become as independent as possible, whilst considering their dreams, aspirations and personal goals.

Holly Care Group's Principles and Social Care.

We always treat our service users as adults.

We adapt our service to suit the needs of our service users.

We aim to increase independence and the control the service users have over their own lives.

We generate independence not dependence.

We allow our service users to become empowered and enabled.

We give our service users real choice in decision making.