Adult social care rarely seems to be out of the news, whether the headlines are about the ageing population, dementia or delayed transfers of care. But, in my experience, social care is so much more than this.
As a transitions manager for disability charity United Response, my job is to work with young people with learning disabilities and autism through major changes in their lives, such as moving from education into work or out of their family home.
My brother has Down’s syndrome and it is because of him that I was inspired to work in this field. We’ve been close our whole lives and, since growing up, he has lived in a supported living service in the countryside, which is perfect for him. Helping him find the right home made me value the importance of good care during times of transition and see the difference it can make to a young person’s life.
For me, social care isn’t just about looking after an ageing population – it’s about enabling people of all ages, with a range of needs, to live their lives to the fullest.
Building friendships
As part of my job, I assess people in transition to determine what kind of support they need. It’s important they feel comfortable at this stage, so I always try to find some common ground to get the conversation going.
One woman I have supported for a long time is a huge Manchester United fan. As a Liverpool fan I can argue about football with her, which means she thinks of me as a friend, not just a person who supports her.
Building relationships that are both professional and friendly is important when working in social care. Nobody wants to feel they are unable to look after themselves, so it’s vital that they are never made to feel different in that way.
Using modern technology
One of the things I enjoy most about my job is using a combination of modern technology and new opportunities to find ways of working through challenging behaviour.
I work with one young man, Tom*, who has a learning disability and is also non-verbal. When he first moved into a supported living house, he found communication difficult and missed his family.
Tom’s support workers and I showed him how to use an iPad so he could Skype his family. We’re lucky to have technology like this at our fingertips, and using it to make challenging situations easier is one of the most interesting aspects of working in social care.
Developing independence
One of the projects I am most proud of is a supported living service I helped set up in south-west London. It’s a beautiful house where three young people live together, and one of the things that makes it unique is that the staff all have things in common with the residents and are similar ages to them. They have a huge garden, where they host barbecues and parties in the summer – a bit like a student house, although a lot cleaner!
Often people forget that young people with learning disabilities and autism want the same things as anyone else their age – to be able to exercise independence and do what they enjoy. Ensuring that these freedoms are achieved is what good quality social care is all about.
United Response has relaunched its Postcards from the Edges campaign to highlight the importance of adult social care, particularly for young adults with disabilities.
* Names have been changed to protect identities
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