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living a life

She has a genetic syndrome, mobility
difficulties and severe epilepsy. She can
experience as many as 20 seizures a day
and has experienced numerous falls
and fractures.
Her brother describes the prompt
action taken in response to the rapid
deterioration in his sister’s mobility as a
result of epilepsy: “Jo, the social worker,
was onto it straight away.
“She was worried about Sally having
further falls and knew she needed
somewhere with no stairs and 24-hour care.
“She worked with the local housing
associations asking for help in finding a
flat for Sally very near the group home
where she was living, so she could keep
daily contact with her friends and
her family.
“She met with us to keep us in the
picture and we all tried to help. Within a
year, a new flat had been organised round
the corner. Sally loves it – it is all level
access and there is a garden too.”
Sally says: “Jo knew me long time.
She came to see me at [the group home].
She knew my sister and my brother.
She came to hospital when I hurt
myself – neck here [points], when I
At home: with support, people can stay settled in their area, have a familiar home life and fell downstairs.
maintain contact with family and friends (photo posed by model) “Jo and Francis [the housing manager]
found me my flat. Lovely, no stairs. Near
Ralph, a senior clinician, recalls the made providing support at home affordable my best mate Tony. My brother and sister.
turning point in Billy’s story: “Billy would to the council. Billy was supported to My favourite place to be.”
have gone out of area. His case came to return home for a four-month trial with Sally is still in her home 17 years later.
the attention of a senior manager who the recommended staffing. These staffing
questioned why he had been living at levels were reduced after a short period.” Local solutions to crisis
Oseney House for so long. Sixteen years later, Billy is still in his own These detailed accounts provided by
“There was much concern about his flat. He has 1:1 support; 3:1 support was people with learning disabilities and
aggressive behaviour. I think people just not needed after this transition. He enjoys other under-researched groups,
thought it wasn’t realistic for him to go cooking and has joined a local cafe including families, frontline staff and
home or that the 3:1 staffing he needed project. He gardens, plays drums and is a managers, provide insight into how
would be too costly. member of a local choir. crisis periods in people’s lives were
“This manager had previous experience resolved locally.
of supported living for people with The stories show how, when difficult
complex needs. He set up a planning “ She worked to find a situations arose, support was provided
meeting for Billy, co-chaired by Stephan by skilled, committed staff, working
[whose story appears above], a person flat near the group home, closely and sensitively with people
with learning disabilities with high so Sally could keep daily with learning disabilities and their
support needs who already held his own contact with her friends families. Often this involved crossing
tenancy and was a member of the local multiple service boundaries to develop
learning disability partnership board. and her family creative interim followed by long-term,
Stephan was supported by the head of ” local solutions. n
the group at the meeting. l All names, dates and places have been
“Also at the meeting was an Sally: a safe, permanent home changed to protect confidentiality.
Seán Kelly/www.seankellyphotos.com community team manager, the learning shows how active commissioning enabled References
For some people, local solutions did not
independent advocate for Billy, the local
authority day services manager, the
involve short break services. Sally’s story
Ledger S (2019) Stories show the way to stay
disability commissioner and Oseney
her to remain in her area, despite having
home. Community Living. 32(3): 12-13
very severe epilepsy as well as learning
House staff.
Ledger S, Shufflebotham L (2019) We were
“Together, they went through the budget
disabilities.
here: sharing stories of local support.
and came up with a plan that allowed each
Sally has lived in the area all her life and
Community Living. 32(4): 16-17
agency to contribute what they could to
make the plan more cost effective; this
Abuse Scandal. http://tinyurl.com/y3gloo4d
in regular contact.
Community Living Vol 33 No 1 | Autumn 2019 27
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk has close family who live nearby and are BBC (2019) Panorama. Undercover Hospital