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Halcon Centre

The Halcon Centre empowers young adults with complex physical disabilities to live fulfilling lives through the provision of award-winning short-term respite stays and long-term residential care.

Overview

Rated ‘Outstanding’ once again by the Care Quality Commission, the Halcon Centre in Taunton combines state-of-the-art equipment with specialist care and a progressive ethos to provide a vibrant yet relaxed environment in which residents and respite visitors can live the life they choose.

Our focus is on fun, flexibility and independence, enabling those staying at the Centre to feel in control of their own daily routines whilst ensuring that their specific care needs are met. The Centre has a strong community feel to it, with our specialist team working alongside residents to offer a safe and secure environment where they can be themselves.

Every effort has been made to ensure that residents can move freely around the Centre, which is all on ground-floor level with fully-accessible rooms, widened doorframes and large corridors. All 19 bedrooms are wheelchair accessible and include fully profiling beds, en-suite wet rooms with tilting shower chairs, and stand aids and bed rails as needed. We want everyone who stays at the Halcon Centre to feel at home, so encourage them to bring items to personalise their space and help them to feel comfortable.

Located in Somerset’s county town of Taunton, the Halcon Centre is situated on an wheelchair-friendly bus route and is just a short distance away from the town centre restaurants, bars and shops. Sports fans can enjoy games and fixtures at the Somerset County Cricket Ground and Taunton Racecourse, whilst trips out into Somerset’s coast and countryside are a short drive away by taxi or in the Centre’s own wheelchair accessible car. The nearby Hamilton Park offers an accessible green space just a few hundred metres away; the ideal opportunity to take in some fresh air.

Services and care provided

  • Respite Care
  • Physical Disabilities Care

Visiting information

Your family and friends are welcome at any time with your permission, although we ask that you inform staff of any visits after 6pm. We encourage you to invite your loved ones to actively participate in recreational activities, outings, Carer’s Reviews and Residents’ Meetings at the home.

Facilities

The Halcon Centre is fully equipped with everything you need to feel at home. We know that it's often the smaller details that can help you to feel comfortable and settled, so if you have any questions about the facilities available at any of our homes, or would like to ask about something which is not listed here, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

  • Profiling beds
  • Accessible corridors and bedrooms
  • Wheelchair access
  • Tilting shower chairs
  • Full activities programme
  • Variety of en-suite bedrooms
  • Wifi throughout the home
  • Speak to us about bringing your pet
  • On bus route
  • Open door policy on visiting
  • Dining area
  • Varied menus
  • Lounge
  • TV streaming apps & services (e.g. Sky/Netflix)
  • Premium rooms available
  • Laundry service
  • Local amenities
  • Purpose-built home
  • Communal gardens
 

Huish Close,Hamilton Road,Taunton,Somerset,TA1 2EPGet directions

A quick word from the Halcon Centre Manager, Kevin Mellor

I am passionate about breaking down the barriers that many young people with complex physical disabilities experience to living a fun and fulfilling life, and instead support their ability to live their lives as they choose. At the Halcon Centre, we create the right environment and provide the right specialist care to empower these young adults to take control of their own lives. We have no strict routines here – our residents can choose when to get up, when to eat and what they want to do with their day. Our role is to ensure all of their needs are met so that they can enjoy being as independent as possible.

I like to think of the Halcon Centre as an accessible hotel with 24/7 tailored care and support thrown in – our residents are our guests, and we want to make sure that their stay with us is an enjoyable and hassle-free experience.

As a small-scale respite and residential care centre, we get to know those in our care as individuals, to learn their likes and dislikes, understand their hobbies and interests and share their sense of humour. Whether long-term residents or returning respite visitors, building this rapport provides familiarity, comfort, continuity and reassurance for those we care for, helping them to truly feel at home at Halcon. Ultimately, we are here to support you to live life to the full, on your terms. So, whether you’re interested in staying with us for a respite break, or considering something more long-term, we are here to help you thrive.

Interested to learn more? Still have questions?

Whatever stage of the process you are at, we’re here to help you with every step of the way. If you still have questions but would prefer not to speak to us just yet, you can always browse our FAQs.

Food

Food and dining are treated as an opportunity to taste and experience cuisine from different cultures as well as to provide nourishment which meets dietary requirements and physical needs.

Events and activities involving cake, brunch, takeaway and BBQs always prove popular!

Supported by the kitchen team, our head cook, Anna, creates delicious and inspirational menus using quality ingredients sourced from suppliers whose food ethos matches our own.

Locally-sourced and seasonal wherever possible, we choose ingredients that deliver maximum taste and nutritional benefit whilst minimising environmental impact. We actively work with suppliers who meet strict global standards for food safety and also hold additional accolades for higher welfare standards, soil health and product traceability as applicable. The result is a varied, satisfying and frequently refreshed menu of seasonal dishes which are a feast for both body and soul.

We are very happy to accommodate dietary requirements and preferences, and will not compromise on flavour or presentation to ensure all of your meals meet your needs.

View our sample menu

Dietary requirements

Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements, and we will make sure all of your meals meet your needs.

Credentials

The Halcon Centre has been awarded the highest rating for food hygiene, cleanliness and food safety.

Interested to learn more? Still have questions?

Whatever stage of the process you are at, we’re here to help you with every step of the way. If you still have questions but would prefer not to speak to us just yet, you can always browse our FAQs.

Wellbeing

The Halcon Centre is passionate about enabling young adults to be young adults, and offers entertainment packages like catch-up TV and on-demand sports programmes alongside essential equipment and facilities like fully-tracking overhead hoists and a state of the art ‘Arjo’ bath.

A programme of regular, meaningful activities including trips to the cinema, ten-pin bowling and Taunton town centre support in building confidence and provide the opportunity to retain hobbies and interests, coupled with the reassurance of tailored support. Animal lovers can also enjoy calming and therapeutic time spent with the Centre’s resident guinea pigs.

View activity planner

Weekly events, activities and entertainment

The home's activities team put together a fun-packed programme of events, activities and entertainment each week, and you are free to join in with as much or as little as you choose. In addition to popular, regular activities like crafts and quizzes, musical entertainment and day trips out to explore the local area, awareness days are marked, special occasions are celebrated and all of our residents are invited to suggest things that are of particular interest to them. Everything that is important to you, is important to us.

Technology in our homes

Key to the wellbeing of our residents is the ability for them to live rich, fulfilling lives and remain in contact with their loved ones. All of our care homes are fully equipped with free wifi throughout (including in bedrooms, communal areas and garden spaces) to help people stay connected and access on-demand entertainment such as catch-up TV should they choose.

Supported by a central IT Team, Somerset Care’s dedicated Care Technologist can support with setting up and troubleshooting personal smart devices that residents may choose to bring with them into the home, such as mobile phones, tablets, smart speakers and smart TVs. The home’s care team can assist with video calling, virtual attendance at family events and special occasions (e.g. weddings and celebrations) where attendance in person is not possible, and enabling access to digital care plans. Please visit our FAQs page for more information about care home technology and support.

Interested to learn more? Still have questions?

Whatever stage of the process you are at, we’re here to help you with every step of the way. If you still have questions but would prefer not to speak to us just yet, you can always browse our FAQs.

Interested to learn more? Still have questions?

Whatever stage of the process you are at, we’re here to help you with every step of the way. If you still have questions but would prefer not to speak to us just yet, you can always browse our FAQs.

Reviews

At Somerset Care we want to hear about what matters to you. That’s why we proactively invite feedback on all of our care settings and services.

Independent reviews

You can read all of the latest, independently-verified reviews for our care homes on a dedicated reviews platform called carehome.co.uk. As this platform sits entirely outside of Somerset Care, you can be confident that reviews reflect the genuine experiences of our residents, customers and their loved ones.

Regulated services

All of our care settings and services are registered with and regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). They periodically carry out unannounced inspections to monitor and assess the services which we provide, and we work with them to implement any recommendations they may make to continuously improve our service.

Your feedback

Your feedback matters to us – it helps us to understand where we are doing things well, and how we could do things better. If you would like to share any reflections on your experience with Somerset Care, please visit our Feedback page for details of how to submit your feedback, and what you can expect from us.

Interested to learn more? Still have questions?

Whatever stage of the process you are at, we’re here to help you with every step of the way. If you still have questions but would prefer not to speak to us just yet, you can always browse our FAQs.

Pricing

Halcon Centre fees are based upon a weekly structure which combines your accommodation cost with your individually-assessed care needs cost.

The weekly accommodation cost includes everything you need to live comfortably and feel at home in your fully-furnished accommodation. You are also able to bring your own belongings to personalise your space if you wish. All rooms are fully accessible and on the ground floor, with en-suite wet rooms.

How are my residential or respite care need costs determined at the Halcon Centre?

Pre-assessments are completed for all new residents and respite visitors by a member of our Senior Care Team. This is so that we can accurately determine your individual care needs and make sure we can safely support you at the Halcon Centre. This assessment is used to determine the care element of your weekly fees, which is combined with your accommodation cost to form your overall weekly fee.

What if my residential care needs change?

Your support team will monitor your progress and wellbeing on a daily basis. If a significant change in your care needs is identified, a member of our Senior Care Team will re-assess you to ensure you are receiving the right level of support. We will consult with you and/or your representative about any subsequent changes to your tailored care plan, and any resulting fee increases or decreases. Re-assessments will occur whenever required to meet your changing needs, and any fee changes are separate to the annual fee review.

Am I entitled to any support with my care costs?

We always recommend that you make contact with your local Adult Social Care department in your local authority who will be able to organise a care needs and financial assessment, to determine if you are entitled to any support.

As a general rule, if you have over £23,250 in savings or assets, you are classed as self-funding.  If you have below this amount, you may be entitled to some support or fully funded care.

We recommend you contact the adult social care team regardless as there are a number of benefits that you may be entitled too, which can support you funding your care needs.

Your Local Authority (LA) can assess your financial status and advise if you are entitled to financial support to cover some or all of your care home costs. Please note that LA funding may need to be supplemented (either by yourself or a third party, as appropriate) to meet your full accommodation and care costs.

If you have been diagnosed with certain long-term complex health needs, you may qualify for NHS funding towards your care costs via the Continuing Healthcare (CHC) scheme. Your GP or other medical professional will be able to advise if you may be eligble. Our nursing homes are able to accept CHC funded clients.

The NHS pay a contribution to care homes that provide nursing care, called Funded Nursing Care (FNC). If applicable, the FNC contribution can cover part of your weekly care home fees. If FNC arrangements are not in place at the time of your admission, you will be charged the full weekly fee until this is in place. Once the backdated FNC has been received, the equivalent refund will be credited to your account.

Interested to learn more? Still have questions?

Whatever stage of the process you are at, we’re here to help you with every step of the way. If you still have questions but would prefer not to speak to us just yet, you can always browse our FAQs.

Next Steps

We know that searching for the right care options can be overwhelming and daunting.

Whilst there are many questions you may have, we want you to know that no matter the enquiry, we will make the process as simple and stress free as possible. The first step once you’ve found the right care home is to book a tour. However, if you still have questions or would like to speak to someone, please feel free to contact us below or check out our FAQs section.

1

Visit us

We always recommend that you have a tour of the home/s you may be interested in. Experiencing the environment, interacting with residents and our staff will reassure you that you are making the right choice!

2

Assessment

Once you have chosen a home you like, we will book in an assessment with you or your loved one. The assessment is a chance for us to get to know one another, and to understand all the things that are needed to support you to live the life you choose, in our care.

3

Move in

Whether you are looking for a short term respite break, or a long term arrangement, the next step is to welcome you into your new home. We encourage everyone to personalise their rooms to their taste, which can mean bringing in furniture from home; anything from comfy chairs to your pictures and ornaments. Our teams will look forward to your arrival and get you settled in!

Feeling a little overwhelmed and not sure where to start?

We’re here to help