Katy, a Person We Support at our Merry Den Service in Gloucestershire, has made remarkable progress towards unlocking her potential since working with her Support Team from February 2022. She has progressed from not leaving the house, refusing to wear clothes, and not socialising or accessing her community to achieving all three!

Katy is diagnosed with complex sensory needs and is autistic. This has led to some restricting behaviours such as refusing to wear clothes or only agreeing to wear things very loose-fitting and refusing to leave the house for periods of over 12 months, not wanting to engage in any social activity.

To help Katy, National Care Group Colleagues at Merry Den made sure they implemented a structured routine and activity plan because due to her diagnosis, Katy doesn't respond well to change. Sensory activities are something Katy enjoys, in particular being out in the fresh air. Previously when being outside Katy would become “stuck” and when she had had enough, would drop to the floor or refuse to leave the activity - this put her at risk.

Her Support Team worked in partnership with the Learning Disabilities Intensive Support Service (LDISS) Team on a care and support plan for working towards accessing the community. One of the steps they made for Katy included ensuring walks were no longer than 30 minutes and are of the same route. The Team noted that Katy responded well to that step and would agree to return back to her flat. Gradually they took similar steps towards park trips too, knowing Katy so loved to go.

Even more than this, Katy has grown in independence socially. She has been getting involved with in-house cookery including helping to make cakes and homemade pizzas. The team at Merry Den have also supported Katy to work towards keeping her dresses on for longer periods of time and now keeps her clothes on for several hours. As well as going to weekly sessions at a local sensory room.

Katy's Mum has expressed how happy Katy is at Merry Den and how she feels her Support Team have empowered her to make her flat feel like a home. She commented how everyone at Merry Den has been very welcoming and she does not feel she needs to visit every day now as she knows her Katy is safe and cared for. She really enjoys visiting once a week and spending time and cooking Chinese dishes for Katy, really enjoying their relationship - all thanks to Katy's new independence.

To read more about the brilliant work at our Merry Den service or for information on how to make an enquiry, please click here.