People with learning disabilities learn 'to seize control of their lives'

A crucial element to supported living is helping people with learning difficulties and mental health to become more independent, according to Cardiff care provider Regard.

Independence is at the heart of Regard’s supported care service, which gives people individually tailored support packages plus help with finances and budget planning, meal planning and opportunities for voluntary work within the community.

It has two houses, Strathnairn and Cottrell Road, where it offers 24 hour supported care for people who have learning difficulties and those who may need mental health support.

Kelly Prosser, service manager for the area, has worked for Regard for 12 years and has been witness to many successes during that time.

She said: “Many adults with learning difficulties and mental health needs require support in the transition from living at home with their parents to full independence. They are often left in a very vulnerable position when their parents get older if they have come to rely on their help.”

Ms Prosser added: “At Strathnairn, carers have supported one of our individuals to attend her church services twice a week for the last four years, but recently she has been attending the services by herself, using a taxi for the trip to and from church and attending the services all on her own.

“She is currently working with the occupational therapist as she would like to be able to walk to church instead of taking the taxi, and we hope she will soon be able to do that.”

All supported living services offered by Regard are established with the needs of people who require support in mind, to help seize control of their lives. The support of staff and friends helps those living at Regard to be able to make their own decisions and choices to enable them to live the lives that they want.

Both houses, Strathnairn and Cottrell Road have recently seen great successes as a result of the services that are offered by Regard and Ms Prosser said: “At Cottrell Road we have an individual who has been unable to manage her own finances for over five years. Previously staff would have with agreement held on to her weekly money, giving her just the designated daily amount of £12, and support her to pay her bills.

“However, in recent months she has been handling her money on her own. Once her weekly contributions to the house expenses have been taken care of, she now has the reminder of her weekly benefits to budget and manage herself.

“In the past four months she has been able to show she can budget appropriately and manage her own money. This achievement has now resulted in her multi-disciplinary team agreeing to her opening a Post Office account and having her weekly benefits paid into it so she can manage all of her money herself.”

She added: “These may sound like everyday things to someone without mental health needs or learning difficulties, but they are real progress towards giving people their independence and allowing them to play a full role in the community. “The effectiveness of the support we provide has recently enabled one of the people we support to move out into her own flat. I am delighted to say she is now doing very well living independently with a small outreach package from Regard of just 10.5 hours per week.”

Regard has a nationwide network of supported living services that offer care suitable for a range of different needs. The services are devised taking into account the needs of the individuals to enable them to take control and make sense of their own lives. Some services include house sharing and whilst others are individual flats within a bigger building, both require learning independent skills.

For many people, the eventual aim is to move out and have their own homes or share with others.