“The thing that is nice about Leaf Complex Care is that you get this real sense of a family approach. And for us, they have become just an extension of our family. They are a unit, they stick together as a unit and you can feel that they want what’s the best for my son.“ – Maurizia, Will’s mum
Overview
Will is а young person living with Down syndrome, a learning disability, and a speech delay, whose mother experienced difficulties finding consistent support due to behaviours of concern. This case study demonstrates the support and solutions Leaf Complex Care implemented to encourage Will to achieve his goals and overcome the barriers raised by his challenges.
In this video, Maurizia, Will’s mother, talks openly about the challenges they faced in the past and how our support workers got involved in supporting Will.
Hear their story.
Reflecting on the Past: The Story of Will
At the age of 14, Will experienced brief support, laying the foundation for his resilience. During this period, he faced a challenging period that turned into an opportunity for Will to strengthen his emotional and mental health.
“I could hardly stand up or look after myself, let alone Will, so a call was made by a family member to the social worker saying that I needed support. It was at this point that Leaf Complex Care was asked to provide the package of support for Will.” – says his mother, Maurizia.
Will’s journey is a reflection of his resilience, adaptability, and the strength that emerges from facing challenges in the life he chooses to lead.
Facing the Challenges
Due to previously unmet needs and preferences, Will and his family knew the importance of having a clear Positive Behavioural Support Plan (PBS) in place. Will’s PBS plan is comprehensive and outlines their expectations and what a good caregiver and provider should look like to ensure he does not experience a placement breakdown. This had happened in the past, and it was a heartbreaking experience that the family was determined not to repeat.
How Meeting the Right Support Enables Positive Outcomes
Recognising Will’s unique strengths, Leaf’s care team worked with Will and his family to develop a comprehensive behavioural support plan. The focus is on delivering personalised and proactive support that meets his social needs and preferences.
Knowing that behaviour is also communication, the moment we became involved with Will, we prioritised the development of a practical Positive Behaviour Support plan followed by the support staff consistently. Together, we crafted a robust PBS tailored to Will’s needs, working closely with him and his behaviour specialist nurse to ensure a positive and enriching journey.
“Will started on a 3:1 package of support with Leaf Complex Care, and they came on board at the most distressing time of Will’s life. It was the worst that it had been for him. It started as a rapid response package and was only meant to be for a short period to stabilise him whilst I recovered with my health. The team arrived and were calm from the very beginning, which immediately instilled confidence.” – says Maurizia.
Will’s PBS plan was comprehensive, including and outlining his expectations. With input from Will and his family, we have developed a plan to support him in living his best life at home and in the community.
The Impact of Meeting Will’s Needs
To support Will achieve better outcomes, the carers organised regular visits to the gym, exercising more, and eating healthier. Will has made significant progress, becoming much more stable and no longer reacting to things as frequently or intensely as he used to. This was a positive step forward for Will and his family.
“When issues arise, Leaf Complex Care’s humanised support takes swift action, and Will and our family feel heard”, says Maurizia, “Will’s clinicians are a tight team and are loyal to each other and to the organisation.“
We supported Will for over a year and a half with a consistent team of five support workers through a weekly rotation, giving mutual support.
“For me personally, their support has given me a new lease of life. Incidents have become less frequent and less intense. The social worker queried why they were no longer getting incident reports, but it was because there were none to report. Maurizia continues, This has enabled Will to become a more active member of his community. He can now attend family functions, whereas before, I was not confident to take him. His team comes along too, but they are respectful of his personal space – which has been a revelation to me.”
Maurizia furthers, ”Ongoing training is also key, and I love the fact that Leaf puts emphasis on this. This is embedded in the ethics of the team. This is an added assurance for families that the clinicians are up to date with training and new techniques. I have never known another provider to be so meticulous.
Leaf Complex Care is supporting Will to live his best life, and as his mum, I could not be happier.”
