One-to-one support made possible by high staffing levels
Joel underwent chemotherapy as a child, after which he sustained a brain injury.
When he first joined us, he seemed disengaged and had limited mobility – able to walk only a few steps with a frame.
He also displayed behaviours of concern, which were considered antisocial.
To meet Joel’s complex needs, our multi-disciplinary team provide eight hours’ one-to-one support during the day, and six hours at night. This means Joel can take part in meaningful activities and achieve his goals.
Person-centred care to increase independence
Joel is keen to become more independent, so he recognises improving his mobility is important.
Our in-house team delivers regular physiotherapy sessions and he attends a weekly muscle and mobility swimming class.
As a result, Joel’s now able to walk to the local shop by himself with only a walker for aid (with staff maintaining a safe distance).
As well as being physically independent, Joel is keen to manage his money and improve his life skills. He’s begun budgeting for his weekly food shop, leaving money aside for a takeaway or two!
Joel cooks his meals either in the home’s hub or in his apartment at Buttercup House: a building separate to the main care home, which he shares with another resident.
The apartment is fully equipped with an en-suite wet room, kitchen/diner and living space.
Joel thrives in this smaller community, which promotes independence and provides security.
Meeting social, emotional and behavioural needs
Our person-centred approach is particularly important for Joel, who’s a vulnerable adult.
Joel wants to find love, so the team help him to understand his intimacy and relationship needs and recognise appropriate behaviour.
Joel must feel comfortable having honest conversations with the team about safe communication and actions, so we’ve worked hard to build his trust.
For example, a woman recently contacted Joel online, asking him for money. He recognised this wasn’t OK, and had the confidence to talk to us about it.
The team are also helping Joel to learn about and manage his behavioural disinhibition.
His progress is incredibly promising, significantly reducing the number and frequency of incidents of behaviours of concern since moving to Buttercup House.
Gaining employability skills as a Service User Ambassador
One of Joel’s goals is to get a permanent job: in his own words, he’d love to become “the next Wolf of Wall Street”.
To help him move towards his ambitions, we’ve appointed Joel as the home’s Service User Ambassador.
Here, Joel joins his fellow Exemplar Health Care ambassadors on the Service User Council, acting on behalf of the residents and getting involved in roles around the home.
Outside the home, Joel is building experience as a volunteer bingo caller at the SESKU Community Centre, which he loves (“I know all of the bingo lingo!” he says).
Expanding social horizons and looking forward to the future
Recently, Joel’s started going out socially on an evening, attending Leep 1 Club Night at Popworld in Leeds: a safe and inclusive party environment for people with disabilities.
Joel loves meeting friends over a couple of WKDs and dancing the night away – often finishing the night off with a McDonald’s on the way home!
With support from the multi-disciplinary team, Joel is increasingly independent, more confident, and happier. He loves having a laugh with staff, often winding them up with his sarcastic jokes!
Joel hopes to continue improving his mobility and life skills and, longer-term, move to a lower acuity setting.
Thanks to the great improvements he’s made in his relatively short time with us, we’re confident Joel is well on his way to living more independently.
“I have a great time at Popworld.
“I see my friends who I haven’t seen in a while, and dance the night away.
"We usually stop for a McDonald’s on the way home, but I still have a bit of a headache the next morning!”