History and Merger
Our Purpose
PentaHact provides an improving quality of life to people with
learning disabilities and/or mental health problems through person
centred services. Needs of service users will be fully met through the
application of a diverse range of skills and resources.
Why have we merged?
To protect and enhance the quality of life for existing service users.
To enable an accelerated, prioritised programme of new services for
people with learning disabilities, including autism; those with
challenging behaviours and those with mental health problems.
To provide a more robust, professional infrastructure, exploiting economies of scale.
To improve the financial resilience of both organisations and the
value for money provided by them in the medium and longer term.
To share resources, ideas and expertise to the benefit of service users and staff.
To develop a 'Centre of Excellence' mentality in core service areas
such as autism, challenging behaviours, person-centred planning and
mental health.
What do we have to offer?
The merger of Penta and HACT brings together a total of over 30
years of experience in delivering high quality care and support
services to people across the learning disabilities spectrum and to
people with mental health problems. Separately, each organisation has
achieved an unrivalled reputation for providing services based on the
needs of the individual.
We have developed innovative solutions to the changing and
developing needs of people. Strong leadership and management, supported
by a robust organisational infrastructure underpin a person-centred
approach.
Over the next 12 months we aim to consolidate the new organisation
whilst progressively developing new services to meet the changing needs
of existing and future service users.
Where have we come from?
Penta Housing Ltd. was formed in 1989 as an independent voluntary
agency. The name 'Penta' reflected the five community stakeholders that
came together to provide ordinary affordable housing with appropriate
support to adults with learning disabilities initially in Barnet.
The Hertfordshire Autistic Community Trust was established in 1980
as a registered charity by a group of parents of children with autism
concerned about their post school future. The initial purpose of the
Trust was to provide education, social training and care for people
with autism. In January 1981, The Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Day
Centre opened, initially taking three students.
A message from Simon Wilson - Chair of Pentahact and ex Chair of Penta
"For over ten years Penta has provided excellent services for people
with learning disabilities and mental health problems. The merger with
HACT provides an opportunity to build on that experience. We are
looking to share experience and expertise, and learn from each other.
Working together to make the merger happen, people from Penta and HACT
have got to know each other. As others throughout the new organisation
do the same, I believe that we can work together to make the new
organisation even better than HACT and Penta were separately. In
PentaHact service users will, as always, come first. Our job is to
support them so they can live the fullest possible lives. To do this we
rely on the support of funders and the dedication and skill of the
staff we employ. With that backing, I am sure that the services we
provide will continue to grow in number and quality in the years to
come."
A word from Bert Bertoloni - Deputy Chair of PentaHact and formally Chairman of HACT
"After twenty years as an autonomous and successful charity this is,
for ex-HACT people, both an exciting and at the same time formidable
step. The benefits to service users, to staff and, through sustainable
growth, to funding agencies are pretty clear. We have to be prepared to
see through the commitments we have given, embodied in those benefits,
and make PentaHact perform in a way that outstrips both Penta and
HACT's track records. That is a challenging prospect but our current
and future service users deserve no less. I look very much forward to
working within the new team, as I'm sure do my other colleagues from
the HACT board. First we must settle down the new organisation and
ensure we have the right structures in place, with appropriate terms,
conditions and support for staff. We can then address opportunities for
sustainable expansion so as to further strengthen our position in what
is undoubtedly a crowded market place. However, perhaps the most
important challenge for all of us, staff and non-executives alike, is
to rapidly form a mindset that focuses on PentaHact and not on our
particular previous allegiances. That should prove fun!"
|