Home care provider uses trained Labradors to help with autism and mental health

Home care provider Caremark is one of just a few in the UK, now offering a dedicated dog therapy service to help people with companionship, autism and mental and physical health conditions.

The Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) service is being launched by Caremark Redcar & Cleveland. This involves the use of trained Labrador dogs who are taken into people’s homes or out in the community to provide companionship and friendship.

Animal Assisted Therapy was the inspiration of Caremark (Redcar and Cleveland) managing director Michelle Jackson who has an older Labrador called Acer. He was initially brought into the office and became an instant hit with the head office team.

Acer then became part of a community initiative called ‘Safe Place’ which saw staff and customers coming together each week to take part in activities in a social setting.

Mrs Jackson said: “The customers all loved Acer and it was wonderful to see them interact with him, so it gave me the idea of introducing dogs as therapy on a wider scale.

“Our customers range from children with complex needs such as autism through to older people with mental and physical health conditions, or who have just become socially isolated.

“The service is aimed at any of these people, as well as our staff because their mental health has also suffered over the last year or so because of Covid-19 and having to work on the front-line throughout this period.

“We’re excited about the impact Animal Assisted Therapy could have on people’s health and wellbeing and would encourage anyone who is interested in receiving a visit from our dogs in their homes or in the community to get in touch.”

'I can’t wait to introduce Acer, JJ and Asha to our customers'

Just prior to the first Covid-19 lockdown, Acer, along with Mrs Jackson’s two younger Labradors, Asha and JJ, were being used in an initiative called Therapy Tuesday where they were brought into people’s homes to provide companionship.

This has now led to the formal Assisted Animal Therapy service with all three dogs having to undergo professional training to ‘qualify’ as therapy animals.

The first dog to ‘pass’ is Acer and the younger JJ and Asha are expected to follow in the coming weeks which will mean that so once Covid-19 restrictions are fully lifted, all three will be ready to begin their new ‘careers’ as AAT dogs.

The training is being carried out by dog training and behavioural expert Cath Jarred, who runs The Dog School in Redcar.

Mrs Jarred said: “Dogs, like people, learn at different rates, so it’s been about working with the abilities of each dog and making sure that when they go into people’s homes, or out in the community, they have the correct temperament and doing as they are asked.”

The responsibility for taking the dogs to customers rests with Mrs Jackson's husband Tim, who recently joined Caremark to oversee the day-to-day running of Animal Assisted Therapy.

Mr Jackson said: “I used to work as a quality engineer in the aerospace sector, but I was looking for a career change and the two things I liked most about my previous job were driving and meeting customers and suppliers.

“Now I am doing this for a living, and I get to spend the day with my three dogs, so I can’t wait to really get started and introduce Acer, JJ and Asha to our customers.”

Caremark is offering the service to anyone who may benefit from meeting the dogs and will soon be adding another dog to Animal Assisted Therapy because Mr and Mrs Jackson recently added a fourth dog to their Labrador family and are currently bringing up a puppy called Ruby.

The service is being offered to existing Caremark customers, as well as anyone else who would benefit from animal-based therapy.

click here for more details or to contact Caremark Redcar & Cleveland