Learning Disability Services

Service Users' Stories

Sandra

Being able to make her own decisions is the best part of being a Southdown tenant for Sandra, who has learning and physical disabilities.

Before joining us, Sandra lived in a residential care home where her choices were limited. Now she has her own flat designed for her needs, she chooses her own meals and has enrolled on college courses. Supported by Southdown staff, Sandra has also been on her first ever holiday where she was able to choose the location and activities.

Sandra's health, well-being and independence have all improved since she moved into her new flat, which is part of a small residential block with round-the-clock staff cover.

Simon

Joining Us

Simon moved into a flat at a supported living scheme after living with his parents. This involved a long process of planning with Simon, his family and advocates to ensure the scheme could meet his needs. He was settling in well until the death of his mum in January turned his life upside down. Maggie, his Southdown Key Worker, supported Simon during this difficult time.

Working Together

Simon receives 15 hours per week of practical one-to-one support from Southdown staff, funded by the government via Supporting People. We work together on everything from budgeting and shopping to building friendships with neighbours and staying safe – all skills which give him more control over his life.

Simon also receives Independent Living Funding to spend on more support. He has decided to pay for a personal assistant to support him to attend college and a care assistant to provide personal care, including help with getting ready for bed. The fund also pays for the overnight support that Simon shares with the other tenants where he lives.

Achieving Goals

Simon said he wanted three main things: to listen to Splash FM (a Worthing radio station not accessible in Horsham); to stop his regular visits to a day centre and to stop relying on other people’s transport. Since moving into his flat, Simon has a computer so he can listen to Splash FM on the internet, and his own car that he uses to get to college three and a half days per week – he studies cookery, pottery and IT. He no longer goes to the day centre. Simon has a busy social life in the community and he is an active participant in the tenants’ meetings where he lives. This summer, he has chosen to go on holiday to Bognor Regis with our support.

Interests

Simon found it difficult at first to adapt to spending time on his own in his flat, but there is always a member of staff nearby if he needs someone and he carries a pager so he can call staff in an emergency. Music remains Simon’s first love and his ambition is to be a DJ for a radio station. Life has changed for Simon since he moved into his flat – “I really like living here,” he says.

Averil

My name is Averil. My social worker Ray found me a place here at a supported living scheme in Worthing. I have a flat with one bedroom, a bathroom, sitting room and a kitchen. I have made it my home and I’m very happy here. The staff support me really well. Sometimes they take me for a walk along the seafront.

Monday to Friday, I go to a centre where I do cooking, beadwork and computers. I have also done pottery. I have my lunch at the centre, and sometimes afterwards I have a snooze in a comfortable chair.

Once a week I have a home day when I plan my meals for the week and do the shopping with the support of the staff. It is also my cleaning day, so I polish and get to use my new vacuum cleaner.

Soon, with the help of Breakaway [Southdown's supported employment service], I'm hoping to start some voluntary work.

Julie

I moved into my supported living flat when the scheme first opened in October 2004 and I really like living here. We are right in the town centre so it’s close to the shops, and the library, post office and theatre are all near too.

The staff help me with cooking, cleaning, shopping and other things, like helping me to manage my money. I enjoy being able to do things for myself. I often do my own cleaning now, as I like to keep my flat clean and tidy. I’m also doing the laundry myself, and sometimes I go shopping without the staff’s help.

On Tuesdays and Fridays I go to a day centre in Worthing, where I’ve learned how to cook meals and make cakes. I’ve recently joined the singing group there as well. The staff helped me find the safest route to the centre (as the roads round here are very busy) so that I’m now making my own way there and back.

Jonathon, from Breakaway, helped me to find a job at a local nursing home. I help them with the cleaning two days a week. I don’t get paid for this, but I really enjoy going as I’ve made lots of friends there. Sometimes, I even join in with the exercise classes and the sing-along they have too.

On Wednesdays, a volunteer called Villi comes in to see me and help me with things like baking cakes, making trifles, and sometimes we go out shopping and to a café. Villi has also helped me to grow some houseplants, which I’ve entered into the Southdown Garden Challenge. She has been really helpful to me and we get on very well.

The staff here help me to keep in contact with my parents, who live near London, and that’s really important to me.

Friday evenings I go to Beat Box at Coastal Enterprises, where I meet up with some friends. I’ve recently started going to ten-pin bowling, with the staff and other people who live here. I’m organising a trip to Monkey World in Dorset, which we are really looking forward to.

As you can see, I lead a very busy life and I am very pleased I decided to move here.