GS
"I suffer with depression and severe anxiety which has been my companion for over 5 years now. The POD took on my case over a year ago and Sarah has been instrumental in my recovery.
Sarah in essence took over organising all the activities that we identified would be beneficial to my physical and mental wellbeing. Some examples are listed below :-
- Rock Choir- which she arranged and initially attended with me to help me feel comfortable and settle in. This activity helps divert my attention away from my situation.
- Sarah also has helped me to fill out multiple forms including a School DBS check and Blue Badge application which were both successful and have helped me no end.
- The POD also arranged a voluntary placement in a local school to read with year 5 school children which is helping me to gain my confidence back on a weekly basis. Sarah once again accompanied me to the school initially, planned my journey and completed all paperwork necessary for this placement to commence.
- Sarah also arranged a yoga class for me and came along to support me. This activity helped with my relaxation and physical symptoms.
- The POD also supported me in researching the mind field of the benefits system, and signposted me to other websites and support available. Through the PODs support I was awarded the PIP benefit which previously I had been declined.
- Sarah also liaises with my care co-ordinator and the mental health team to chase them for appointments if needed and also keeps other departments updated as necessary. She has also attended many multi-disciplinary team meetings where my care is co-ordinated.
- Sarah was there for me during a crisis episode and she approached the right people who could help me, at a time when I was at my lowest.
Sarah and I have bi – weekly phone check-ins and I am able to comfortably discuss all my concerns and burdens that have been troubling me over the weeks with her… this is like therapy for me. On some weeks I meet up with her at the POD café for a cup of tea/ bite to eat and we discuss progress and future actions together as well as problem solve and come up with solutions for what troubles me.
Sarah’s contribution has been invaluable for my mental and physical wellbeing for which I am sincerely appreciative. She is approachable and empathetic and she has become my confidante and I trust her fully with my feelings. Words can’t emphasise the effect the POD and Sarah in particular has had on me. I would be lost without them."
GS
Jane
On referral, ‘Jane’ completed a Strengths and Needs Assessment (SANA) with the Pod, as a way of looking at all aspects of her life and considering what she wanted to change. This was completed over the phone as she didn’t feel able to leave the house at this time. The main things ‘Jane’ wanted to change were to get out of the house, feel useful and feel some joy in something again. She also wanted to negotiate a clear plan of action in terms of prescribed medication and therapy options with health professionals.
After many phone calls and talking about ideas, ’Jane’ agreed to travel by bus from home to the Pod with her Development Worker, where they chatted and had tea. Over time, she became more comfortable with the bus journey and agreed to travel alone for future meetings.
'Jane’ established that she would like to look at volunteering at a school, supporting children to read - something she used to enjoy. Her Development Worker supported her to contact schools and eventually attend an interview. ‘Jane’ volunteers regularly and is greatly valued by the school.
‘Jane’s’ Development Worker also sourced and attended a taster yoga session with her, which was enjoyable, but she decided was not right for her in the end. She fancied trying a local singing group and after researching with her Development Worker, found a class that ran in the city centre. When the course finished, she wanted something a bit more upbeat and challenging. Jane and her Development Worker researched again and found a bigger, established national choir organisation and went together for the first couple of sessions. ‘Jane’ attends regularly and travels independently when she feels well enough to do so.
If ‘Jane’ has difficulty contacting health professionals, her Development Worker is there to support her to contact the right person and make sure her views and sometimes the views of her family are heard. ‘Jane’ also asked her Development Worker to support with a Blue Badge application, which was successful.
‘Jane’ experiences changes in her mental health which can feel debilitating and deflating. She talks through these changes with her Development Worker. Both recognise that no one person’s recovery or life is linear; they adapt and work together to look at ways of approaching things and sourcing the right professional support if needed.
Anthony
"Anthony is a 37-year-old man who has lived in Coventry all his life. Until recently Anthony lived with mum in her property and most, if not all, of his support needs were met by family.
Anthony was seen as having a learning disability as a child but now has a diagnosis of autism and believes that most of his issues have been connected to being autistic and his mental health as he experiences significant anxiety. Historically Anthony has experienced suicidal thoughts and at the time of referral stated that he was seriously considering ending his life. Anthony was diagnosed as having depression with psychotic symptoms when referred to the Pod and was temporarily at the Caludon Centre Psychiatric decision unit.
Anthony had been struggling with his mental health and the situation at home had become impossible with his mum feeling unable to support him and regular conflict. Mum had raised concerns around involvement with right wing extreme groups online and contact with individuals with involvement in in grooming and potentially child sexual offences.
With support from SICol and the Pod short term accommodation was arranged in supported living accommodation. This enabled Anthony to have a safe space and to build some relationships with support staff as well as care coordinator, development worker and community mental health support worker. Once Anthony had built these relationships, he was incredibly open and honest about involvement with groups of significant concern, including extreme right wing/nazi organisations.
Anthony was at significant risk of exploitation and grooming into radicalisation and open about having an admiration for some aspects of far-right ideology.
A referral was made by his development worker to Prevent and a meeting was held with Anthony.
Staff and professionals worked with Anthony around his beliefs, and he was able to identify that some of his beliefs around diverse cultures had been skewed and that he was wrong to think that way. Anthony built a number of positive relationships with individuals of various ethnic backgrounds and now describes himself as having changed significantly.
As part of supporting Anthony to remain safe and avoid contact with the previous groups he was engaging with staff regularly discuss issues with him and give him opportunity to raise concerns. He has engaged really positively with all professionals and attends a variety of group activities, social activities and has also improved his independent living skills.
As part of the work a SANA was completed and that identified two areas of specific interest, spirituality and alternative faiths with an interest in the practice of diverse cultures and equine studies.
Anthony was supported to attend a Wild Earth programme and engaged in a course that included outdoor bushcraft activities but included an element of alternative rituals such as fire making and making music which he really enjoyed and consequently has done some volunteering with them.
We have also looked at equine activities and visited local stables. The plan is to apply for a direct payment to fund some equine qualifications and activities. Anthony has identified that this would be particularly therapeutic having always loved horses and had an affinity with them. Anthony has also been clear that having activities like that to explore and focus on will be significant in avoiding being drawn back into previous relationships that would be of concern and risk relapse of his mental health and wellbeing.
Anthony has a much better relationship with family, visiting mum for the weekend regularly and has also reinitiated contact with his father and wider family after some time with very little contact.
Anthony says that “When I first went to my supported accommodation, I didn’t think my life was worth living or there was much point carrying on. Thanks to the help I’ve had from them and my development worker I have now found my purpose for being here. My mental health has improved, and I have gained many new friends”."
A
“Prior to working with the Pod we didn’t get much in the way of help I was constantly contacting the Caludon Centre to help as had no where else to turn. We then was referred to SICol working with the Pod they have really changed the way my husband feels about life and they are constantly helping with issues we have regarding our housing the Pod is a calming safe place where we can talk freely and know we get listened to and the help we need.”
The citizen will be referred to throughout this case study as “A” and their partner will be referred to as “B”. A was first referred to the Pod on 13th June 2023 through the SICol pathway and was handed over to Liam on 25th September 2023. Mike’s involvement began on 30th August 2023 when he started B’s Carer’s Assessment.
A is a 40 year old white British male who is married to B. B is A’s full time carer due to his mental ill health. A has previously had highly paid jobs at a large international bank and a leading software and electronics company. Due to issues with drugs A had to give up their job and entered a mental health crisis. It was at this point that A met B who “saved my life”. A also had a car accident in 2022 that caused severe injuries. A continues to be in high amounts of pain, has limited mobility and experiences nightmares and flashbacks from the accident.
A has the following diagnoses:
- Complex PTSD (from childhood abuse) – A has non-psychotic visual hallucinations (monsters), auditory command hallucinations telling them to hurt others, and gustatory hallucinations
- PTSD – from a Road Traffic Accident in October 2022
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Depression/Anxiety – acute suicidal ideation and constant impulse to self-harm – B manages this risk, removes all sharps from the home, but this is not a sustainable plan
- Autism – A has been diagnosed a Consultant Psychiatrist in 2023 with Autism
- Epilepsy
B is A’s full time carer, they have not had any social care support or respite in terms of their needs. B’s eyesight is also deteriorating. Any support needs to include both A’s and B’s needs. To be able to provide support a rapport and trust needed to be built between us and A and B. A has spoken about the comfort he now feels in our company and that this enables him to be more open about his challenges and have trust that we will follow through on any agreed actions and will inform them of any issues we face.
“ A: Was hard to come to terms with diagnosis the Pod and workers sat me down and was so caring and listened still have problems dealing with all this
B:looking after A daily is a struggle as above I have failing eye sight and health issues myself so need support to help the day to day things I do”
Initially there were two priorities, support with issues of damp and mould in the property that had been ongoing for a significant length of time and the completion of a carers assessment.
The damp and mould caused substantial health issues for both A and B as well as damaging the property. There was involvement from Citizen Housing, Drain Tech and us. The previous Development Worker also sought advice and involved the Community Law Partnership. There were a few challenges faced; Drain Tech and Citizen Housing had previously attended the property but due to A being unwell when they did had to reschedule. When they did reschedule it was for months in the future which was not at all appropriate given the health issues the property was directly causing A and B. The Community Law Partnership issued Citizen Housing with Hazard Awareness Notice which still did not cause the rescheduled work to be pushed forwards. A key element of this was that Citizen Housing and Drain Tech failed to take into account the specific needs of A and B when arranging jobs or visits – not notifying them of lateness or earliness, give late notice or no notice for cancellations or showing up without prior agreement. All of these caused significant distress to A and turn B. We used a human rights and legislative approach to assert A and B’s rights with the management of Citizen Housing. A subject access request was considered but was deemed not to be necessary following these conversations with management. Reasonable adjustments were put in place and time scales were agreed and met. Citizen Housing employees would not attend the property before scheduled and would inform A and B if they were going to be late. They also agreed not to show up unannounced and to be mindful that jobs may be cancelled if A was unwell on the day and that this should not impact on future bookings.
“We now feel a little more optimistic about our approach with citizen although they still turn up with no communication but out housing needs have now changed since A accident that’s why we need to move also the mental health I have witnessed A suffer through all of Citizen failings”
The Carer’s Assessment was completed and there were priority support needs identified. There was a Carers Trust referral completed which resulted in discussions with CRESS regarding a break for the carer, B. B identified that the main barrier to them accessing things they wanted to do was being able to trust that A was being well supported.
“As the carer and wife (B) I feel A needs support outside of the home to try and gather a little independence back and as the carer B I’m tired and need a break”
An OT assessment was carried out at the property, they stated that there was nothing more that could be done with the bathroom. This assessment has confirmed for us that the property is unsuitable with limited opportunity for improvement meaning that a move away needs to be considered. This is something that exploring alongside A and B. Any move would need to be carefully managed to reduce the disruption it causes for A while ensuring that the new property is fully suited to the current and future needs of A and B.
Gaming is a passion of A, after his car accident he was unable to hold a game controller due to the injuries sustained to his arm – he doesn’t have the wrist strength to hold the controller and his fine motor functions have been impacted as well. This has seriously negatively impacted on his mental health. A has said that games allowed him an escape from the hallucinations and depression he feels daily and that missing gaming is one hardest things to deal with at the moment. We found a couple of options, the first thing we found was that Sony have released an Access Controller for people with physical disabilities which can be found at this link [https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/accessories/access-controller/]. The other option was through a company called Special Effect which is a charity that specialises in allowing people with physical disabilities to access gaming, they can be found using this link [https://www.specialeffect.org.uk/]. We decided to initially go with Special Effect as their process included an OT assessment over the phone and was personalised. The OT call was very quick after the referral and focused on A instead B or us who were also in the room. They sent out the equipment within a couple of weeks and said that if it didn’t work they would try different equipment and failing all else would source the Sony Access Controller. They also advised that the equipment was free, returns were free and the replacement of damaged equipment was also free. A did not get on with the first set of equipment and will be sending it back and requesting alternatives in the near future.
“Gaming means the world to A as this is a form of escape from reality and the constant voices monsters that are always present”
The Pod have received tablets and mobile phones through Coventry City Council’s Coventry Connects device bank. We identified a need for A and B to have a device to use for work, to enable Teams meetings with professionals and to keep in touch with family and friends. A and B have told us that this has been really positive for them and that B makes use of it all the time.
In terms of future work, our new priority is to look at the support needs of A and B and create a support plan which meets A’s needs an provides regular short breaks for B. We have identified a model of short break that might work initially and are going to trial it ourselves before introducing new people that A and B have no rapport with. We are going to take the On Demand Bus to travel to the city centre. One Development Worker will attend a gaming café with A while the other Development Worker goes to a coffee shop with B within a 2 minute walk. If this works, we will be looking to recruit a PA specifically for A. A and B will be able to write the job description and choose who they work with giving them ultimate control over the support provided.
“A just needs to feel as though he is safe when out which is a struggle as A doesn’t leave home unless appointment or B has to encourage him and stay with him”
Something that has been discussed passionately in each of our joint meetings is A’s love of football. This alongside gaming was very important to building the rapport with the Development Workers. A hasn’t attended a Coventry City game since they were playing at Highfield Road but would love to go to a game but is concerned that he wouldn’t be able to cope. We are exploring the possibility of A attending a game in Coventry City’s sensory room and have made contact with the club. This would be in the next season but would be very meaningful to A.