Michael is a resident at Bannister Farm Cottage, one of Priory’s residential services in Lancashire, which provides specialist support to autistic people who may have complex needs.
When Michael’s property needed some renovations due to wear and tear, the team sought out a way to carry out these essential works without causing distress to him. It was acknowledged that this process would cause some disruption to Michael’s life, therefore, it was vital that a plan was set into place to handle the situation sensitively and to minimise any impact on his daily routine.
The management team at Bannister Farm Cottage sought out input from the home’s speech and language therapist (SaLT), Michael’s social worker, and the local authorities’ learning disability team. This multidisciplinary approach helped the team to construct and deliver a plan that was truly person-centred, and bespoke to the needs of Michael.
After numerous planning sessions and a best interests meeting, it was decided that Michael would temporarily live in a vacant annexe at one of Priory’s other nearby services, to give sufficient time for his home to undergo a full renovation job. It was crucial for the success of this move that Michael’s complex needs and communication difficulties were taken into account, to ensure his wellbeing was protected during this transition.
Tailored support was provided to Michael at every stage of the process, with regular input from the service’s positive behaviour support (PBS) practitioner. Michael’s keyworkers were enlisted to travel to Michael’s temporary residence, and the team worked hard to recreate his usual routines as closely as possible. This helped provide a consistent and smooth experience for Michael.
The essential works were successfully completed, and soon enough Michael was able to return to his home, which had been completely refitted. He was delighted with the refurbishment of his space, which he expressed with his body language, facial expressions, and vocals.
“The teamwork, dedication, and resilience shown by the staff team was second to none, and I can honestly say that I am proud to have such people as colleagues,” said Emma Connell, Support Worker at Bannister Farm Cottage. “As a staff team we are all so proud of Michael, that he has been able to complete this transition and enjoy his new environment, where we all hope that he will continue to thrive, achieve his goals and continue with his journey.”
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