Person-centred Active Support

This is Sheila's story

Sheila has been supported by United Response for 8 years.

She lives in Oldham.

Since staff introduced Person-centred Active Support, Sheila’s confidence has grown.

She has become more interested in taking part in activities outside of the house.

Before the introduction of Person-centred Active Support at the house, Sheila did not engage very much.

She did not like going outside. Sometimes she did not want to get washed or dressed.

She was not very confident and she was overweight. Her behaviour was often aggressive and challenging for staff.

The staff introduced a morning routine and worked with Sheila to find out what she was interested in.

Then she had something to get up for.

They knocked on Sheila's door in the morning. If she didn’t get up they would go back every few minutes and knock again. Sheila got cross.

After they had done this lots of times, the staff did not have to knock so many times. Sheila started to get up in the morning after only a few knocks on her door.

Now she gets up and washes, dresses and tidies every morning.

Staff tried to help Sheila with her weight. She did not like Weight Watchers so staff made documents with words and pictures.

This helped Sheila know what was healthy to eat. She weighed herself in the house and staff helped her to stay happy.

Now Sheila now puts her own menu together. She eats more healthily and staff are supporting her to go to keep fit classes.

Sheila is more confident. She is more interested in doing things outside the house.

Staff support her to go to shows and she enjoys karaoke nights and a drink at the local pub.

She also has a paid job one day a week at the United Response office in Oldham.

It is not just Sheila who is happier. The communication in the house is better and staff are happier too.

Sheila has given permission for her story and photograph to be used.