Learning Disability Care Home in Mansfield – Building Skills, Confidence & Independence

There’s a moment that stays with us at Innova House. A young man who arrived at eighteen, unsure of himself and struggling to manage his emotions. Over time, he learned new skills, made friends, found a job – and eventually moved into his own flat. He told us: “This is all thanks to the team at Innova House.”

That’s the kind of difference specialist learning disability care can make when it’s done properly. Not just keeping someone safe, but genuinely helping them grow.

Innova House is a specialist learning disability care home in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, with nearly thirty years’ experience supporting adults with a wide range of learning disabilities and complex needs. Across all of our residential homes, we support adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health conditions, physical disabilities, and multiple diagnoses. While Elm is our specialist service for adults with physical disabilities, every home is able to provide support across this full spectrum of needs. We offer person-centred residential care in small, homely settings – designed to feel like a real home, not a care facility.

What Is a Learning Disability?

A learning disability affects how a person understands information, learns new skills, and manages daily life. It’s a lifelong condition caused by the way the brain develops, and it can range from mild to profound. People with learning disabilities may find it harder to communicate, manage money, prepare meals, or navigate social situations – but with the right support, they can achieve far more than many people expect.

At Innova House, we support adults with a wide range of learning disabilities and associated conditions, including:

• Mild, moderate, severe, and profound learning disabilities
• Down syndrome
• Cerebral palsy
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• Epilepsy
• Speech and communication difficulties
• Physical disabilities and sensory impairments
• Dual diagnoses (learning disability with autism, mental health, or both)

Our Approach: Ordinary Life Principles

We believe that having a learning disability should never mean missing out on the experiences that make life fulfilling. That’s why our approach is built on ‘ordinary life principles’ – the idea that everyone deserves to take part in everyday activities, make their own choices, and develop real skills for real life.

For every person in our care, we create a tailored support plan with specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely goals. This might include learning to cook a meal in our rehabilitation kitchen, catching a bus into town, managing personal finances, or building the confidence to try something completely new.

We use specialist communication systems where needed, including visual supports, Makaton, social stories, and assistive technology – because everyone’s voice matters, regardless of how they express it.

Our Homes for Adults with Learning Disabilities

We know that the right environment makes all the difference. That’s why Innova House offers several distinct residential settings, each suited to different levels of need:

• Elm: a purpose-built bungalow for three adults with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and mental health conditions. Fully accessible with en-suite facilities and a specialist bathroom.
• Rowan: three bungalows (five beds) for adults with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and autistic spectrum conditions. Both shared and sole occupancy options available.
• Indigo: a traditional two-bed home designed with a ‘just like home’ feel for people with learning disabilities and mild to moderate behavioural needs.
• Innova House CBIR: our thirteen-bed community-based intermediate rehabilitation service for adults with complex needs, including dual diagnosis learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and mental health conditions.

All of our homes are well-maintained, light, and airy, with en-suite bedrooms, comfortable communal areas, secure outdoor spaces, and access to our rehabilitation kitchen for developing practical cooking and food preparation skills.

Meaningful Activities and Community Life

Life at Innova House is about so much more than care. We create monthly activity plans packed with opportunities for learning, socialising, and having fun. From swimming and cinema trips to farm parks, themed events, and creative workshops, our team is regularly out and about with residents – building social confidence and real-world connections.

We also support people to explore education, volunteering, and employment where appropriate, because we know that having purpose and structure makes a huge difference to wellbeing and self-esteem.

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)

Our staff are trained in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), an evidence-based framework that helps us understand the underlying causes of behaviours of distress. By analysing triggers, adapting environments, and building new skills, we reduce restrictive practices and improve long-term outcomes. PBS ensures support is proactive, structured, and focused on enhancing quality of life.

A Pathway to Greater Independence

For some people with learning disabilities, residential care is a stepping stone rather than a final destination. At Innova House, while we offer lifelong care to those who need it, we also create clear progression pathways, helping residents develop the skills and confidence they need to move towards supported living or more independent arrangements if and when they’re ready.

Our track record speaks for itself – residents who arrived needing intensive support have gone on to manage their own flats, hold down jobs, and live rich, fulfilling lives in the community.

Looking for specialist learning disability care in Mansfield? Call us on 01623 626 252, email enquiries@innovahouse.org.uk, or arrange a visit to see our homes for yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions – Learning Disability Care at Innova House

What learning disabilities does Innova House support?
We support adults with a wide range of learning disabilities, from mild to profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). This includes people with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Prader-Willi syndrome, epilepsy, and other associated conditions. Many of our residents have dual diagnoses combining learning disabilities with autism, mental health conditions, or physical disabilities.

How does Innova House help people with learning disabilities build independence?
We follow ‘ordinary life principles’, supporting each person to develop practical life skills at their own pace. This includes cooking in our rehabilitation kitchen, managing personal care, using public transport, handling money, and building social confidence. We set specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely (SMART) goals with every individual and review progress regularly.

Which homes are suitable for adults with learning disabilities?
Several of our six residential homes support adults with learning disabilities. Elm and Rowan are purpose-built accessible bungalows, Indigo is a traditional-style home for people with mild to moderate needs, and Innova House CBIR provides rehabilitation-focused care for complex and dual diagnoses. We match each person to the right home based on their individual needs and preferences.

Does Innova House support people with communication difficulties?
Yes. We use a range of specialist communication systems tailored to each individual, including visual supports, Makaton, social stories, and assistive technology. Our staff are trained to understand and respond to each person’s unique communication style, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard and their choices respected.

Is Innova House CQC rated for learning disability care?
Yes. All of our residential services are registered with and regularly inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). All of our homes are currently rated Good by the CQC, and we are committed to meeting the standards set out in the CQC’s ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance for learning disability services.

What activities are available for residents with learning disabilities?
We create monthly activity plans tailored to each person’s interests and abilities. Activities include cinema trips, swimming, farm parks, themed events, creative workshops, and regular outings in the local community. We also support people to explore education, volunteering, and employment opportunities where appropriate. Our rehabilitation kitchen is regularly used for developing cooking and food preparation skills.

Can someone with a learning disability move from Innova House to supported living?
Absolutely. While Innova House offers lifelong care to those who need it, we also create progression pathways, helping residents build the skills and confidence to move towards more independent living if and when they’re ready. Past residents have successfully transitioned to supported living and other community-based settings.

Does Innova House provide day services?
No. We specialise exclusively in residential care and do not operate day services. All support is delivered within our homes on a 24-hour basis.

How do I arrange a visit or make a referral?
We warmly welcome visits from prospective residents, families, social workers, and commissioners. Referrals can come from Nottinghamshire County Council’s Community Learning Disability Team, healthcare professionals, families, or individuals themselves. Call us on 01623 626 252, email enquiries@innovahouse.org.uk, or visit our referrals page to begin.