a partner for talent in tailored localised care.

Randstad were engaged to provide a dedicated staff team initially on a hospital ward for a 14 year old male who had a diagnosis of complex autism, learning disabilities and presented with selective mutism.  He had extremely challenging behaviours and was very unsettled in the hospital setting due to a placement breakdown. 

Support was requested on a 3:1 basis to support engagement and reduce the increased levels of challenging behaviour being presented in such an acute setting.

It was understood that this was not a suitable environment to manage his needs, the provider was in the process of identifying a more suitable property and setting.

TLC staff remained with the young man, providing 24/7 support on a 3:1 basis, while a long-term placement was sought. Our team, led by a qualified social worker, worked closely with professionals and the local authority to implement complex care and safety plans. The team lead ensured open communication and transparency, fostering a collaborative approach and becoming an integral part of the multidisciplinary team supporting the individual.  To ensure the correct level of care was provided, our staff teams partnered with the local authority to:

• Implement short to medium term goals which were re-evaluated weekly by the local authority and other professional services 
• support the development of a routine and introduction of a structure that was child led 
• support a routine for contact with family, identifying triggers for dysregulation during these periods, and providing feedback and advice on how to create more stable, enjoyable and quality led family time
• create a sensory room within the home to encourage engagement in activities, to help regulate periods of dysregulation, and provide a safe space for him to feel connected to
• introduce a planner for meaningful activities to reduce the hours of screen time he had become used to. 

Over a period of months the screen time was significantly reduced to selected movie nights.  In place of screen time he now accesses activities such as:

• Music therapy, art and craft sessions, writing on blackboard, baking, sensory activities and waterplay
• providing consistent, in-depth, and valuable insights into his daily life, needs, moods, behaviours, and triggers, our team effectively supported professionals in creating personalised and informed plans to meet his needs
• supported him in re-engaging safely with the local community, this involved a gradual process, starting with supervised access to the garden and gradually increasing the time spent outdoors. Within three months, he had regained the ability to enjoy experiences like going to the cinema, traveling by car, and dining out – milestones that had been impossible for the previous two years.  The team's assessments and information played a key role in developing a safety plan that allowed him to reclaim his freedom and engage in meaningful activities.
• demonstrate and evidence the notable improvement in his ability and willingness to share his feelings, express his needs, and communicate in a variety of ways with the staff team. This positive change has resulted in a significant reduction in challenging behaviours.

• Working in partnership with the local authority and many other professionals, our staff team have been able to improve the opportunity for positive outcomes for the person they have supported
• The progress made has helped a regulated placement be identified and our staff are supporting the transition to ensure it is successful
• Improved the relationship and the quality of time spent with family
• He gained confidence, developed his communication skills, and is now able to enjoy activities more fully
• His trust in professionals and the staff team has developed over the time our staff have supported him, which has led to positive outcomes.