A home where people belong
Behind each of our specialist support settings are inspiring teams, fuelled with compassion and empathy, quietly helping the people we support shape incredible lives. Guiding those teams, our talented Services Managers nurture environments where the people we support feel at home and grow the confidence to lead the lives they choose.
At Theoc House, Service Manager Kate Pietzyck has fostered a home that clearly reflects her rich sense of family values. Through both her natural warmth and informed expertise, she ensures Theoc House is a comfortable, safe space for the people we support.
Recognising each person we support and team colleague as unique individuals, she ensures everyone’s talents and strengths are empowered. By developing a confident, skilled colleague team, Kate ensures the people we support can establish vibrant, independent futures.
Unique support
At Theoc House, Kate and our team deliver person-centred support for people with a range of acquired brain injuries and other complex needs. Every day, they help them develop their skills and establish a level of independence that’s right for them. For Kate, person-centredness includes every aspect of someone’s life. From their personal living space to their support guidelines, she ensures everything is tailored to meet their individual needs and preferences. Using trauma-informed principles, she promotes each housemate’s emotional wellbeing and comfort, supporting them to create their own unique version of home.
Empowering independence, Kate respects each person’s preferences. Gently encouraging social participation, her natural knack for nurturing a family feel encourages everyone to positively engage with each other. Whether they’re gathering in the dining area to watch the World Cup, sharing plates of tasty tapas, or simply having a coffee with one of the team, each person feels included and valued.
And Kate knows individual values are an essential part of effective brain injury support. Before their injuries, the people we support lived regular, independent lives – with relationships, hobbies, and careers. After their injuries, these aspects of their identity suddenly faded. But Kate knows they will always remain an important part of who they are. Whether that’s someone who has been separated from their faithful four-legged companion or someone who themselves used to care for others, nurturing these parts of their personalities provides a sense of purpose for the people we support. So far, Kate’s reunited people we support with their pets, and has helped them rediscover their previous careers, through relevant volunteering opportunities and embracing their skills around the home.
“I’m present for every hand-over, so I can support my team with anything that’s cropped up. Together, we work through challenges and use them as experiences to learn, reflect, and grow. Sharing experiences informs our support – it truly changes the lives of the people we support.”
Kate, Service Manager, Theoc House
Leading a skilled team
When Kate became our Service Manager at Theoc House, she brought with her a unique skillset, developed during her time working with the NHS. Her strong level of clinical knowledge empowers her to confidently make informed decisions about individual needs outside of daily support, adding an extra layer of safety and promoting wellbeing in the people we support.
A hands-on manager, Kate ensures the comfort and wellbeing of the people we support are always prioritised. Every day, she ensures each support colleague is aware of the needs of our housemates. Encouraging questions, she continuously empowers them to embrace opportunities to learn, reflect, and grow, so they can deliver the very best support.
From supporting those with life-long needs to people with complex histories, Kate has faith in the skills of her team. Believing that the right support can empower everybody to achieve their goals, she continues to inspire her team to seek opportunities to further their knowledge and expand their skills. Framing challenges as positive learning experiences, she empowers the team’s delivery of life-changing support.
Providing holistic brain injury support, Kate also works collaboratively with other industry professionals, like therapy clinicians. Forming a multi-disciplinary team, they collaborate to ensure the people we support receive support that meets all their needs. Rooted in compassion, she approaches support by looking at the bigger picture of someone’s life, beyond their brain injury. She considers who they were before their injury and the wider impact it might have on their emotional wellbeing and social circumstances. Recognising the power in everyday moments, she ensures each colleague understands the unique individual they’re supporting, advocating for what matters to them. Whether that’s walking to the shops or making a cup of tea, each goal is acknowledged and supported.
“For me, living with independence is everything. That’s why we empower people to do things for themselves at Theoc House. We recognise that everyone does things in their own unique way, but, with brain injury, support needs to be consistent and communication clear. This is what helps the people we support achieve positive outcomes and – above all – the independence they deserve.”
Kate, Service Manager, Theoc House
A family philosophy
With Kate leading and inspiring our dedicated team, support at Theoc House is informed and flexible, expertly adapting to the needs of each person. This is something that was spotted during their Headway Approved Provider assessment. Proudly accredited by the UK’s leading brain injury organisation, this commendation opens avenues for connection with local brain injury services and adds a layer of industry expertise. Kate maintains positive links with the local Headway group. This creates greater opportunities for her team to learn and grow, and for the people we support to engage with a range of social activities.
For Kate, empowering our housemates at Theoc House to live with independence is at the heart of her role. Along with her team, she empowers them to learn new skills and grow the confidence to live with independence. Using an empathetic and sensitive approach, she helps individuals recognise their abilities and take positive risks. With consistent support, each person we support at Theoc House is empowered to establish their own unique approaches to doing everyday things. Through Kate’s person-centred, family-orientated philosophies, they can rediscover who they are while comfortably nestling into the heart of Theoc House’s extended family.
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