Leslie shares his personal journal of the remarkable progression he’s made since moving into one of Shelton Care Group’s residential settings.
My name is Leslie. I have learning disabilities, autism, and some mental health needs. I have spent the past 17 years of my life in and out of secure mental health hospitals until I moved into my home at Cauldon Place.
When my anxiety was bad in hospital, I was often restrained by lots of staff. I was usually put on medications and now I have tardive dyskinesia. This makes me lack confidence when communicating with others, as my speech can sometimes be difficult to understand.
When in hospital, I believed I couldn’t live in the community as I was told I was a risk to the public due to the behaviours I can display when I am anxious. I was allowed out if “I was good,” approximately once a week.
The Transforming Care Programme helped me transition into the community. There was a lot of work involved in choosing the right team of people and a home that could support me well in reaching my goals and achieving the results I wished for.
Before I moved into Cauldon Place, the team took the time to visit me in the hospital to get to know me a little better and learn more about my interests and hobbies.
When I first moved to Cauldon Place in June 2021, whilst I was getting to know my support team, I would access the community on a 2:1 staffing ratio. I now access the community independently or with 1 support staff to build my confidence. I now live in a flat, with less support than the hospital, and with friends with similar needs to me. I have made some great friendships since moving into my new home.
I am always happy when I am out doing activities I enjoy. I also see my family regularly and often plan visits with my mum. I missed visiting home a lot when I was in the hospital. My support team has a close relationship with my family.
Since moving to my new home, I have had professional support to help me use new ways of managing my anxieties and to help me reduce my medication safely. I have also been supported by the local speech and language team in building my confidence. I will now write down how I am feeling and do some breathing techniques which I learned from my psychologist.
I now very rarely become anxious and hit out, and I have been fully involved in all plans to support me to feel safe if I do. I have the capacity to be fully involved in all decisions for my care needs, which I lacked whilst in hospital settings.
I have been guiding the team on my choices and preferences on MAYBO techniques, which I feel safer with as they are centred on me as an individual. I am proud of how I no longer get angry all the time, and the happy life I am living.
Since moving to Cauldon Place, I have enjoyed lots of daytrips to the seaside, Alton Towers, the Zoo, etc. I have also been on holiday again. These are all things I had not done since I was a child. I love being on holiday and my goal is to go abroad. I have never been on an aeroplane before, but I know with my support team, I will achieve this goal soon.
Overall, my life is now a happy one, and I continue to be happy in my new home – I tell people I never want to leave. My family is happy now that I am out of the hospital and living my life doing all the things I enjoy with the right support team.
National Care Group is one of the UK’s leading adult social care providers. We support adults with learning disabilities, mental health diagnoses, acquired brain injuries, and autistic people, with services across England and Wales.
Registered in England, Company No. 10080257
Registered office: Suite 22, The Globe Centre, St James Square, Accrington, BB5 0RE
