Supporting children & young people

Helping younger people with autism, learning disabilities, & mental health impairments to thrive.

Milestones offer tailored homecare services to empower children and young people, promote independence, and foster community belonging within Coventry & Warwickshire.

Milestones: A partner in caring for our community

We understand the complexities of finding the right support environment for children and young people with autism, learning disabilities, and mental health impairments. Milestones Support Services provides safe, nurturing, and individualised support.

Our approach: tailoring children’s care for success

We collaborate with families and relevant professionals to develop personalised care plans to address the individual needs of each child, focusing on:

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Building practical life skills for self-reliance.

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Understanding and accommodating social interactions and sensory needs.

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Implementing strategies for managing emotions and behaviour.

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Building confidence in daily routines and self-care.

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Developing both verbal and nonverbal communication.

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Liaising with schools and promoting at-home learning.

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Finding joy in age-appropriate events and community activities, with guidance and proactive strategies for positive social interactions.

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Providing essential support and respite for families and friends.

A support worker walks with a young person with a learning disability through a park

Qualified and compassionate care

Our team is at the heart of our success, with a purposeful commitment to making a difference in each child’s life.

Milestones team members undergo quality training in their field of care, enabling them to build trust and rapport with children, their families, and caregivers while also collaborating effectively with education providers and health and social care professionals.

A support worker helps a young person with a learning disability to use outdoor gym equipment

Making an impact beyond standard care

Our focus on community fosters inclusion and a sense of belonging. We work with families and caregivers to provide resources and understanding for those supporting their children.

Since we can continue to provide care into adulthood, we pride ourselves on our experience facilitating life stage transitions and continuity of care into adolescence and adulthood.

A young person proudly holds up a cooking project with her support worker in the background

Outcomes that matter

Our success is measured by the progress of the children and young people we support.

Strengthening support networks for individuals and families ensures a noticeable improvement in independence and self-confidence, relationships and social skills, as well as improved family and community interactions and access to opportunities for education and skill development.

Make a referral to Milestones

We’re ready to discuss how our supported living services can meet the unique needs of the children and young people in your care.

Make a referral

Khanyi Swartbooi

Support Worker & Administrative Assistant

Khanyi joined Milestones as a full-time Support Worker, driven by her passion for people with learning disabilities and commitment to excellence. She works additional hours in the office, assisting with administration tasks/activities, and her background includes over a decade of experience as an Account Manager. Khanyi has expertly managed relationships with a diverse group of clients, from CEOs to security organisations, and has demonstrated a unique ability to connect with individuals at all levels. She has managed to transfer such skills into her Support Worker role excellently.

Khanyi is currently finalising her online studies in BSc Marketing and Social Science. This blend of academic knowledge, experience, and skills enables her to provide exceptional support in both of her roles. Being a student has taught her resilience and the power to push through anything, further enhancing her dedication to giving her all in every endeavour.

Barbara Madyavanhu

Service Manager

Barbara boasts nearly a decade of invaluable experience working with a wide range of clientele, including children and adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health issues, and dementia, in various settings within the Health and Social Care sector.

Barbara joined Milestones in 2021 while on placement at Coventry University, studying for her MSc in International Healthcare Management. She has since successfully attained her degree qualification and now works as the Service Manager.

As part of Barbara’s role, she oversees staffing management, HR support, service coordination, rostering/detailing and assist with payroll.

While pragmatic in her approach, she is empathic and demonstrates an astounding passion for working with children and young adults.

During her personal time, Barbara loves travelling. She has travelled to various parts of the world, meeting new people and appreciating the diversity that exists within people. As part of her hobbies, she also enjoys baking, going on long drives, listening to music, and reading.

Mavis Gatsi

Registered Manager

Mavis has over 20 years of extensive experience working with children, young people, and adults who have learning disabilities and/or autism, including some who experience emotional and behavioural needs. She started her career in Social Care as a Support Worker and worked her way up to being a Team Manager.

During her years working for various organisations, Mavis noted the positive impact she had on the people she supported and identified some gaps in service provision, especially shortages of services that support children and young people living at home with their families.

Her passion for working with this population group motivated and inspired her to establish Milestones Support Services. Mavis professionally developed herself and acquired a qualification in counselling, and her knowledge and skills are essential when supporting the people we support and staff.

Mavis’ steely determination, dedication, resilience, and excellent networking skills are the driving force for the organisation. She is sociable and a people person, which makes it easy for her to engage with anyone from different backgrounds.

Mavis’ responsibilities include care management, recruitment, payroll, and CFO.

Doug Mutenha

Nominated Individual

Doug has a wealth of knowledge, hands-on experience, and skills from over twenty years of working in different public service settings, [Community, Hospitals and Secure Environments], supporting Children, Young People, and Adults living with various complex Health and Social Care needs, such as learning disabilities and/or autism, mental health, and some who experience challenging behaviours.

Doug’s inspiration for establishing Milestones Support Services stems from his five years (beginning in 2006) of experience as a Support Worker and Team Manager, providing direct support to individuals who have profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).

Doug found his Support Worker role to be a deeply rewarding field, and he found meaning in every workday. During that time, he developed a strong passion to embark on an academic journey, acquiring multiple professional qualifications in nursing, social work, public health, and program management. However, he felt a powerful desire to bring together all the qualifications and experiences to use in one setting. At this point, he partnered with Mavis, who shared the same vision and professional values, to establish Milestones Support Services.

Doug’s responsibilities include Governance Lead, overseeing compliance, organisational systems and processes, and formulating and delivering in-house training.