Find out about Sutton Inclusion Centre and how to book a space.

About Sutton Inclusion Centre

Sutton Inclusion Centre is a fully accessible space with a calm, light and welcoming environment. Facilities include:

  • aqua therapy suite
  • meeting and activity spaces
  • art rooms
  • sensory rooms

Who the centre is for

The centre is designed for adults living with:

  • physical and learning disabilities
  • complex needs
  • profound multiple learning disabilities (PMLD)
  • sensory impairments
  • mental health conditions

What we offer

We offer services and activities to help visitors:

  • maintain their independence
  • regain skills and capabilities
  • improve physical and mental health and wellbeing

Spaces available to book

Aqua therapy suite

Our aqua therapy suite is an excellent way to relax, ease muscles and allow gentle exercise. The suite and pool include:

  • step, hoist or chair access for full accessibility 
  • pool temperature of around 32C to 34C for maximum muscle easing benefit
  • gentle lighting above and below the water to add to the relaxing atmosphere

Changing rooms

There are accessible changing rooms on both sides of the pool area. They include:

  • accessible showers and toilets
  • a trolley bed changing room
  • carer changing room space

There is also a staff changing area.

The pool can accommodate up to 3 people at any one time, plus carers.

Hoists

You can bring your own water hoist if you want to. We have a some that you can use, but we’re not able to offer advice on which would be suitable for your user. 

The maximum weight for a hoist is 200kg.

The benefits of aqua therapy

Aqua therapy is gentle exercise, stretches or physiotherapy in water. It can help those who find movement painful or difficult.

Buoyancy

Reducing the force of gravity on the body makes it easier to perform movements. The buoyancy of the water supports the limbs, removing pressure and weight on the body. 

It can also boost wellbeing, allowing the freedom of movement without assistance while supported in the water.

Temperature 

The water of the pool is kept between 32C and 34C (warmer than a normal swimming pool), allowing muscles and joints to become more relaxed and flexible. 

The warmth and buoyancy can also help reduce muscle spasms and pain. 

Water pressure (hydrostatic pressure) 

The pressure that water gently applies to the body can improve circulation and decrease blood pressure.

Sensory rooms

Sensory rooms are designed for those with physical or learning disabilities, complex needs, sensory impairments or mental health conditions. They can be used for:

  • therapy
  • education
  • recreation 
  • leisure 

There are 3 rooms to choose from.

They are all fully accessible, with H-frame hoists and use of beanbag pillows or wedges if necessary. 

All the rooms are fitted with an aromatherapy diffuser and a CD player, providing another level of sensory experience.

The light sensory room

The light room uses light and sound, creating a relaxed environment to both calm and stimulate.

Features include:

  • musical heated waterbed
  • colour changing bubble tube
  • fibre optic lights
  • a laser sky projector creating a twinkling starry effect
  • rotating projector with a variety of image effects

The dark sensory room

A navy blue painted room, designed to be used with minimal or no room lighting. 

Dark sensory rooms are ideal for work with visual impairment through sensory integration therapy. This is the smallest of our sensory rooms, allowing close interaction between the user and member of staff, parent or carer accompanying them.

Features include:

  • ultraviolet light and UV reactive equipment
  • a fibre optic curtain
  • an ‘infinity and beyond’ light panel
  • a light totem which changes colours gently
  • a music system that can be played to be heard in the room or through a media bean bag, allowing sound and vibrations to be felt by the user

The interactive sensory room

This room can be used for activity and for relaxation. It has open space, allowing a variety of games and movement based interactive play.

The room has objects in it that interact with each other, allowing for exploration of matching colours, body and special awareness. 

Mirrored panels of different sizes and shapes allow work with clients on body awareness, while a range of tactile panels can be wall mounted or used on laps.

Other features include:

  • a talking soft play cube with brightly coloured sides
  • 2 bubble tubes that can be used in conjunction with the play cube or alone
  • a colour match panel
  • a rotating projector with a variety of image effects to display on the walls
  • a fibre optic curtain
  • soft seating and padding around the bubble tubes
  • convex mirror panels
  • moveable tactile squares
  • sound and movement panels
  • rainmaker spinning panel

Book a sensory room or manage your booking

Art rooms

There are 2 art rooms for hire which can be opened into one large room.

The room holds up to 10 people, depending on the room set up. We provide some low cost equipment such as paints, brushes and paper. You can bring your own equipment if you prefer.

Hire a space

The centre has a number of spaces for hire. 

Make a booking 

Price list

 

Sensory rooms

£9 per hour

Welcome room

£26 per hour

The welcome room area is made up of two areas, each 43 sq.m and can be divided into two areas.  There are tables and chairs in the area and it is adjoining the kitchen.

Kitchen

£23.71 per hour

The kitchen is fully fitted and can be used for cookery sessions.

Art rooms (2)

£17 per hour, per room

Physiotherapy rooms (2)

£17 per hour, per room

These 2 rooms are currently used exclusively by the specialist learning disabilities health team. Equipment is provided, serviced and maintained by physiotherapy services.

Activity room 1 and 2

£17 per hour, per room

We have 2 activity rooms with limited furniture, one of which contains a range of musical instruments. These rooms can hold up to 15 people depending on the activity. 

Activity room 3

£27 per hour

This activity room has limited furniture and can hold up to 25 people, depending on the activity. 

Interactive technology suite

£16.80 per hour

Our facilities include a range of equipment designed for use by people with profound learning disabilities. There are no internet facilities in the suite.

Meeting rooms

£8.25 per hour

We have 3 small meeting rooms. One contains sofas for less formal meetings and the other two have a table and chairs.

Hot desk room

£3.70 per hour, per station

The hot desk room contains 7 computer terminals.

Aqua therapy suite

£56 per hour without poolside assistance

£84 per hour with poolside assistance

Terms and conditions

Supporting people to access the sensory rooms

Customers must be supported using their individual manual handling risk assessment. The carer supporting customers in the sensory rooms are responsible for ensuring that the risk assessment is in place, complete and up to date.

Customers being supported to use the rooms will require an individual risk assessment that covers managing epilepsy. Each customer should be assessed individually and medical advice sought where appropriate to pinpoint trigger factors and identified procedures for managing and supporting people with epilepsy. Carers are encouraged to attend beforehand to understand the equipment available.

Where necessary customers being supported in the sensory rooms will need assessments and support plans that assist them to manage behaviour that could put themselves and other building users in the vicinity at risk.

Ordinarily a sensory session will not last more than one hour. This allows for time to access the room, get comfortable, prepare the equipment, run the session, finish the session and tidy the room.

Manual handling and moving about in the sensory rooms

The rooms should be kept clear of trip hazards and carers need to be aware of plinths,equipment and matted areas.

The weight limit of the sensory rooms hoists (200kg) must be adhered to at all times, and the hoist operated as per the manufacturers’ instructions (located in the room).

Customers may only be manually handled out of the room in exceptional circumstances that either follows an individual risk assessment or as required in a life threatening situation.

Customers using the sensory rooms will need to provide their own sling if they need to use the hoist system.

The sensory rooms have a range of foam supports, beds and bean bags that are appropriate for most people. If a customer requires a support or aid that is particular to their needs, then they will need to purchase/provide this equipment themselves.

The number of customers/carers in the rooms will vary according to the customer’s needs.The room capacity is 1 customer with up to 3 carers supporting.

Maintenance of the sensory rooms

The sensory rooms are maintained by the Facilities Management Team. Any defects should be reported to reception as soon as possible.

Individuals using the rooms should always leave the rooms in a fit state for the next customer.

All shoes should be removed before walking on any of the soft areas.

No food or drink in the sensory rooms (exception being for peg feed etc).

Infection control:

  • Customers should bring their own towel or sheet to lie on if using the soft areas, beds and bean bags If there is spillage, especially of bodily fluids these should be cleaned up by the carer and appropriate cleaning materials will be provided upon request
  • All equipment used in the sensory rooms will be checked during routine inspections by the Facilities Management Team
  • The sensory rooms will be kept free of excess equipment, clothing or other obstacles, which may create a hazard in the area. It is the responsibility of all staff/carers to keep the rooms reasonable, clear and trip hazard free
  • The sensory rooms will be cleaned on a daily basis by the agreed contractor. However, immediate cleaning when required is the responsibility of the individuals using the resources and cleaning materials will be made available for this purpose
  • All personal items should be removed from the sensory rooms at the end of each session
  • Any defective equipment should be reported to reception and taken out of use until repaired or replaced

Incidents and Accidents

All accidents and incidents should be reported to reception immediately after the carer has called an ambulance or for assistance.

Emergency Procedure

Please follow staff instructions in the event of an emergency:

  • assistance should be summoned to the room by activating the emergency pull cord
  • all first aid procedures should be initiated and continued until such time as an ambulance arrives
  • other building users in the vicinity of the room should leave the area as appropriate
  • the carers should contact the customer's next of kin/representative to inform them and go with the customer to hospital
  • the emergency will be documented by reception using the online incident reporting form

In the event of an emergency building evacuation

  • in an emergency situation carers will be required to move their customer as quickly and safely as possible taking into account their individual risk assessment
  • all staff and users must assemble in the designated area (Fire Assembly point on pavement side of the car park) and await further instructions
  • customers at particular risk will require an individual risk assessment and this should identity appropriate levels of support

Responsibilities

The Facilities Manager will:

  1. Endeavour to provide a safe and suitable environment.
  2. Work in cooperation with the in house service provider to ensure that appropriate manual handling equipment in the sensory rooms is provided and maintained to required safety standards
  3. Provide inductions to the sensory rooms, including the hoisting system

Carers will ensure that:

  1. The privacy, safety and comfort of the customers being supported in the sensory rooms is maintained.
  2. They comply with this policy and subsequent systems to ensure that customers are supported safely.
  3. When sessions are in progress, appropriate levels of staffing will be maintained.
  4. Ensure the correct manual handling techniques are recorded and carers are aware of these for each individual.
  5. All carers have adequate and appropriate training in manual handling techniques and use of hoisting equipment.

Charging Policy

Cancellations will be charged if less than 24 hours notice is not provided. Failure to attend a booking will also be chargeable.

Carers/representatives can manage bookings online and if a refund is applicable, this will
be made through the online system.

Payments for bookings are ideally made online at the time of booking (preferred option),
when attending the session and using the hand held card reader, or an invoice will be
raised one month in arrears.

Abridged terms and conditions for letting Sutton Inclusion Centre

  1. The premises must be left in good order and vacated no later than the time booked.
  2. The hirer must not sub-let to another party
  3. No intoxicants may be brought on to or consumed on the premises
  4. No smoking is permitted within the centre nor on the land after the entrance gates
  5. The Facilities Manager reserves the right to cancel a letting if the premises are closed or required for official or electoral purposes.
  6. The Council takes out insurance cover for the premises to cover the hirer’s third party liability. The hirer must take reasonable care to ensure that no accidents occur.

Contact us

Phone

020 8770 6490

Email

inclusioncentreadmin@sutton.gov.uk

Opening times

The centre is open 7 days a week, throughout the year. 

  • Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
  • Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays, 10am to 2pm