‘100% happier’: How Faisal, who lives at our Birmingham residential service, is thriving!
Teamwork and person-centred communication have led to better support and more independence for Faisal, who lives at our Greenlands View residential service in Birmingham.
Faisal, in his forties, has a learning disability and autism. He enjoys a diverse, eclectic range of interests – including airports and planes; rivers, reservoirs, and waterfalls; and road and traffic signs.
However, Faisal’s complex needs and unique communication style made it challenging for him to pursue his interests.
Most significantly, Faisal once required 5-to-1 support, meaning he always had five support workers with him.
Today, Faisal requires only 2-to-1 support, and in the words of a support team member, he is “100% happier.”
But how did this significant, positive change in Faisal’s support happen?
‘Clear Evidence’
Let’s rewind. As Faisal is diabetic, district nurses used to visit him twice a day—at varying times—to administer his insulin. The lengthy time spent on insulin injection appointments meant that Faisal couldn’t engage in as many spontaneous activities as he enjoys.
To address these appointment times restricting Faisal’s daily life, Greenlands View’s Registered Manager Emma Watts met with Faisal’s family, GP, diabetic nurse, and lead district nurse to find an alternative to the injections.
As a result, nurses trialled replacement tablets alongside regular monitoring of his blood sugar levels. “After a month, we had clear evidence that the tablets had worked, and there was no longer a need for the district nurses to visit as often,” says Emma.
Now, Faisal’s support team assists him in taking his own medication at the correct times, whether at home or out and about.
“This means Faisal can now do what he wants, at times that matter to him, and for as long as he wants!” Emma adds.
Person-Centred Communication
Faisal’s support team also felt further work was needed to improve communication with him.
As Faisal often speaks in Urdu, his mother tongue, Greenlands View employed an Urdu-speaking team member.
The team also worked together to learn Faisal’s preferred communication methods, including the use of tools, images, and video clips. These measures – alongside an in-depth study of Faisal’s support documentation – helped the team better understand Faisal’s needs, and what might upset him.
With restrictive medication practices significantly reduced, and improved communication, Faisal’s support team has been able to focus on what really matters to him: his wide range of interests!
Getting Out and About
Due to Faisal exhibiting behaviours that challenge, he was previously limited in where he could go to ensure his safety and the safety of those around him. For example, when going out in the service’s accessible van to see road signs, Faisal often had to stay in the vehicle.
Caption: Now that he enjoys greater independence, Faisal has been able to visit the airport to indulge in one of his hobbies - watching aeroplanes!
“But in the past year, Faisal has actually been getting out of the van, going for walks, and visiting the park,” says team leader Cerys Copestick — seen in the picture at the top of this article at a waterfall with Faisal.
“He's been able to sit and have his lunch at various places—an activity that didn’t used to be safe.”
“He's been able to access more activities, which have transformed his quality of life. He’s absolutely 100% happier,” adds Cerys.
Faisal’s support team has plenty more ideas to enhance his support and boost his quality of life.
‘World of Opportunity’
New plans include supporting him to try new things he has shown interest in, such as visiting an outdoor cinema to watch Bollywood films.
“The things that Faisal and our team have achieved together have opened up a world of opportunity for him,” says Emma, the Registered Manager.
“The increased happiness we’ve seen in him makes all the hard work that goes into better support worthwhile. There’s so much potential for Faisal to explore even more activities. It’s within his reach.”
It’s awesome to support you to live your best life, Faisal!
About Greenlands View:
Greenlands View is a residential service in Birmingham where people are supported to live independently. The service is of modern construction, and currently supports three people with complex needs, including autism and learning disabilities.
The shared detached bungalow has a kitchen, an open-plan lounge and dining area, and a second living room. There are eight bedrooms, each with a wet room style en-suite, and a shared sensory bathroom, dim lighting and a jacuzzi bath.
Greenlands View also has a large wheelchair accessible garden. The service is operated by Lifeways.
About Lifeways:
Lifeways is the UK’s largest team of support professionals providing support for adults in the community.
Our 11,000 colleagues currently support around 4,000 individuals who live in our 1,500 supported living and residential services across England, Scotland, and Wales.
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