People are supported to actively manage their well-being and make their own informed decisions so that they are able to achieve their full potential and live independently for as long as possible
Dementia therapy cats
Over the last twelve months our Telecare Team have been providing some individuals with a Dementia Therapy Cat, purchased with ICF funding. The cats are realistic-looking, designed to bring comfort, companionship and fun for all. They purr just like a real cat, respond to touch, and even meow! We have received some excellent feedback from families and care homes who have said how much of a positive impact they’ve had on their loved ones’ lives.
Case study
Mrs X had moved into a care home. She had always had cats but sadly could not bring hers with her. She was very anxious and unsettled in her new home, so the care home manager contacted Conwy Telecare.
Mrs X was given a Dementia Therapy Cat. The manager said that her face instantly lit up; she carries the cat everywhere and it has made a significant improvement to her wellbeing. Mrs X is more settled, less anxious and loves her new companion.
The cats have been very popular, so much so that many care homes in Conwy have purchased more to share between residents.
Construction of our new Disability Respite Centre and Bryn Euryn Nursery complex
The Bron y Nant build is progressing well, despite some weather-related delays in December, and at the time of writing, the basement super-structure is now in place. Work on the Bryn Euryn nursery site is ahead of schedule and it is expected that the windows and doors will be installed by the end of February. All this means that we still expect the resource to open on 19 August 2022, as planned.
Although we have experienced difficulties obtaining materials, which resulted in long lead times, we have mitigated this by utilising Local Authority storage space. By pre-ordering materials and planning ahead we have been able to save time and approximately £20,000 of costs to date.
A meet the buyer event is scheduled in February 2022 to generate interest in our exciting new shop and café.
We mentioned earlier on in the report that this is a complex project with four distinct work streams underway; site operation, disability respite, complex care, and work opportunities. All of these are being managed by an experienced project team, and spend on construction to date is £1.2m.
New club for school leavers
Within the Disabilities Services we identified a need to introduce a new club for young people of leaving school age due to high demand for that age range. We identified an opportunity to develop the skill sets for those young people who are transitioning into adulthood. Having held discussions with young people and staff supporting them, it was evident that they wanted to learn to cook and shop independently within a safe environment.
The club has started with five young people aged 17 and over, supported by three staff. A suitable venue was identified as Canolfan Marl in Llandudno Junction, due to the facilities available on site and its close proximity to supermarkets. Having spoken to families, Friday between 4:30pm-7:30pm was identified as a suitable slot, enabling young people attending to plan, shop for and cook their evening meal for that day as a group. Young people were supported to decide as a group what they would cook in the evening. This simple activity incorporated listening skills, cooperation, and turn taking. Once a decision was made on what was to be cooked, we supported the group to create a shopping list, with the more able members of the group undertaking the task of writing the shopping list each week. Staff supported the group around budgets to ensure the desired shopping list did not exceed the budget per session.
The young people prepared themselves to visit the local supermarket, each tasked with finding items on the shopping list. After the shopping trip, each young person was tasked with preparing the various elements of the meal. Whilst the meal was cooked the young people took part in listening to music, playing instruments, playing board games or generally just chatting with friends.
The confidence of the young people attending this group grew week on week, several young people commenting on how they now help at home with the meal. It could be seen that those young people who struggled initially with the simple tasks quickly became familiar with the routine and could complete more complex tasks as time went on.
Overall the group developed their road safety skills, money skills, confidence to be independent, social interaction and communication.
Supporting people to live independently
In last year’s report we told you about the excellent progress that was being made at the time with the Maelgwn site in Llandudno Junction. The construction phase of the project has now been successfully completed and ready to accept new tenants. There is mix of accommodation available to individuals with different needs, for example, disabilities, care leavers and vulnerable people.
We have already been able to evidence the positive impact that this accommodation is having on people and their ability to live more independently. Here are a couple of case studies from Maelgwn:
Case study
An individual has moved from home for the first time into their own flat. The family had supported them to become independent in the home prior to their move.
The individual is very social and the move has allowed them to spend more time with their peers. They are expressing their views and opinions more and have taken up different interests and hobbies.
The biggest challenge for the family was the reduction in support needed from them, however they are still involved and play a part in her support. They now spend time together as family rather than playing the caring role.
Telecare: Staying innovative during the pandemic
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the Telecare team have continued to provide services and find innovative ways of keeping people independent and safeguarded through the use of technology. This has brought peace of mind to the families of service users to know that their loved ones are safe whilst remaining as independent as possible. Here is a successful case study where the use of wearable technology has really made a difference.
Case study
Mr X is an elderly gentleman with dementia who lives with his wife in a rural village. He was very independent, but during the first lockdown his wife started to notice a slight change in his memory and he started to struggle to use public transport. To avoid his wife having to travel with him Mr X was referred to Conwy Telecare for an assessment by the Memory Clinic.
As Mr X had difficulty using a mobile phone it was agreed to try a Doro GPS watch. The watch was linked to his wife’s mobile phone so that she could check where he was whilst she was back at work. The watch provided some reassurance for both Mr and Mrs X. Mrs X was able to return to work knowing that should her husband go for a walk or catch the bus she would be able to locate him. Mr X was also very pleased to have a device that could easily contact his wife should he feel unwell or forgetful. He now goes out for walks daily, which has improved his mental health and sense of independence.
It has made a huge difference to us both. I can work go to work without worrying about him too much, it has eased my anxiety.
The benefits of a person-centred approach
By working closely with the individuals we support we can help them to get the best out of life and increase their independence and confidence. The case study below demonstrates how by taking the time to work with the individual’s strengths, and at their preferred pace, real benefits can be realised.
Case study
X is a young woman in her 20’s with a learning disability who is incredibly anxious throughout all aspects of her day. She communicates her anxieties via physical and verbal aggression and placing herself into dangerous situations. When she left school she started attending a new day service five days a week, which was tailored to her needs.
Before starting the day service we had to familiarise staff with X and her personal circumstances so the support staff worked with X in school for seven months to get to know her. Holistic personal plans were written, involving family, education, health, and existing support providers. The team approached the new service using a positive behaviour support approach. X verbally contributed her likes and dislikes, and transition plans were led by her.
We introduced new activities at a pace that suited X, and built upon these slowly. Her confidence has grown, and with this growth she now enjoys various activities including visiting lots of new places, shopping for herself, eating lunch in a café, and swimming in public swimming baths, to name but a few. She has an incredible personality with a great sense of humour, which staff are seeing very day.
Following the success of Positive Behaviour Support we will be training all staff in this approach.
Support for a young man with visual impairment
Our Disabilities Service works very closely with rehabilitation officers from Vision Support to provide specialist support to individuals with visual impairment. The following case study demonstrates how identifying what matters to the individual can help to encourage independence and positive personal outcomes.
Case study
X is a teenager with autism, mobility issues, and severe visual impairment. He was referred to our service and we agreed outcomes which were important to him including moving around safely, going to college and maximising the residual vision he still has.
X received support to assess his walking skills, hearing and vision, as these would all affect his ability to move around independently. As well as supporting X, his family and college staff took part in sighted guide training so that they could help him when they were out and about together.
Further mobility training was tailored towards X walking from his home to college transport and back again at the end of the day, and being able to navigate around the areas at college he would need to visit. This increased his confidence and independence, and training has begun to introduce him to routes into town to visit shops and services.
We worked with X’s mum to increase her confidence in his abilities and allay her fears of him being alone in the community. We’ve used technology such as the iOS ‘Find my’ app to allow mum to track X in real time, and have referred him to the Digital Inclusion Officer to support him and college staff in selecting accessible equipment. X is also getting the most out of his own technology and specialist low vision spectacles with our support.
Finally we are working with X’s family to support them with their PIP application and housing status.
Increase in Family Group Conferences
The Family Group Conference service (CWLWM) provided by Y Bont, is a family-led process where decisions, plans and arrangements are made for children who are in need or at risk. The FGCs can also be used for family members, including children and young people, to agree on support and alternative carers to keep children with their own families.
This service has historically been funded through the core budget to support approximately 21 families a year. With additional funding from the Integrated Care Fund (ICF), we were able to increase the number of families supported by CWLWM to up to 40 families in the period of 2019 to 2021 and also provide training for staff. This meant that families received the service much earlier which helped to prevent escalation of need and children being taken into Local Authority care. With ICF funding coming to an end this year FGCs will continue, albeit with a smaller number of families.
