Rebecca is a person we support at one of our specialist enhanced and complex care supported living homes in the West Midlands.
She is autistic, has epilepsy, a learning disability, and diabetes. Rebecca requires two-to-one support and sometimes needs support due to behaviours of distress. She also struggles with communication and faces barriers expressing herself.
Rebecca joined us after living with another provider for many years. As time passed by, the provider was not able to provide on-going support for Rebecca.
Following engagement with professionals involved, Rebecca and her family discovered our specialist enhanced and complex care support approach, and that’s when she embarked on an exciting new journey! Following a planned transition, Rebecca moved into one of our supported living homes in March 2025. Ever since, she’s made some impressive progress!
With the support of her specialist team, Rebecca’s behaviours of distress have reduced, she’s gained more confidence in the community, and re-discovered her independent living skills.
A slow and steady transition
Our expert team understood how Rebecca’s needs might affect her transition to her new home. So, we applied a slow and steady transition to ensure she felt comfortable and safe in her new environment.
Before she moved in with us, our support team spent lots of time with Rebecca at her previous placement. This helped us learn about her support needs and supported us to develop a bond with her.
We conducted a person-centred needs assessment to understand all Rebecca’s unique support needs. We also did an environment assessment which identified adaptations to ensure the property was right for Rebecca. The decoration was co-produced in collaboration with Rebecca and family. Equipped with this knowledge, and the help of Rebecca’s Behavioural Support Practitioner, we were able to create a truly person-centred support plan, focused on her individual preferences.
Supported by her family, Rebecca moved to her own tenancy. From the moment she arrived, our team made her feel welcome and comfortable. They arranged for Rebecca’s Behavioural Support Practitioner to be on hand to support Rebecca’s transition, in case she felt overwhelmed by the change of environment. They also helped us with creating Rebecca’s care plan, training, Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) planning and reflective practice.
Once Rebecca had settled in, we encouraged her to shape her bedroom, so it matched her personality and taste! Rebecca also hung her drawings and artwork on the walls.
Adapting the home for enhanced and complex care needs
Our supported living home has been adapted to support those with enhanced and complex care needs, including enhanced features to ensure Rebecca is safe and happy!
Before Rebecca’s arrival, we identified some essential features of the home that would support her needs. Our doors are slow closing and can’t be slammed. This removes the risk of doors creating loud noises which can be a trigger for Rebecca.
Rebecca also experiences behavioural challenges around food and previously, often overate unhealthy foods. Due to her diabetes, we understood the importance of helping her to manage her food choices and keep herself healthy.
Our home promotes positive activity, helping Rebecca focus on other things outside of mealtimes.
Our expert team have been trained to support Rebecca in all aspects of her behavioural needs, as well as her learning disability and additional health needs, with specialist training in Positive Behavioural Support (PBS), anxiety, depression, trauma-informed practice, and our enhanced autism course. This has equipped them with the knowledge and skills needed to empower Rebecca to live a fulfilling life.
Achieving amazing things!
As Rebecca adapted to her environment, she gained confidence and expressed herself more. We learnt more about her as a person and the things that bring her joy.
As we spent more time with Rebecca, our team noticed she preferred pictures as a way of communicating – particularly around her food choices. So, empowering her to easily choose her meals, we created a folder that includes different healthy food choices with photos for each one.
Supporting Rebecca to do things she loves, her regular activities include baking, art, singing and dancing, watching films, and exercising in the garden. With each activity, Rebecca unlocks laughter, happiness and a sense of fulfilment.
In just three short months, Rebecca’s established herself within her new home. She now beams with confidence and feels at home in her surroundings. She’s improved her self-awareness and now communicates her thoughts and emotions to her team more easily.
Rebecca has also overcome one of her lasting fears of getting into a paddling pool – having not been in one for over 10 years! As trust with her team grew, she was able to work up to getting in a paddling pool in the garden and couldn’t contain her excitement.
Rebecca’s achievements don’t stop there! Our team have helped her achieve a huge milestone of venturing back out into the community for the first time in two and a half years.
Hesitant at first, Rebecca warmed to the idea and completed a short walk with her team. With her confidence high, this led to a second outing! Rebecca held everyone’s hand, and they burst into song, singing and dancing as they walked down the street.
Rebecca has also rediscovered some independent living skills. She’d stopped doing these tasks at her previous placement and overtime, had lost her confidence.
Our team have gradually supported Rebecca to embrace these skills again, and she now does the washing up and puts her own clothes away.
A bright future
After only living at her supported living home for a short period, Rebecca’s confidence and happiness is shining.
Rebecca has discovered a new version of herself and has some future goals she wants to accomplish.
One of those goals is to become more confident while travelling by car. Our team will gradually introduce her to short car journeys, to build up her confidence.
Rebecca’s also motivated to continue eating healthy food choices and achieving some weight loss goals. Her team will continue introducing exercise activities and healthy food choices.
Finally, Rebecca’s team will support her to improve her sleep hygiene, so she can sleep in her bed for a full night. They will introduce a sticker chart where Rebecca can win prizes and treats the more hours she sleeps in her bed.
It won’t be long until you hear about Rebecca again. Her journey with us has only just started. With our specialist team’s support, her future looks bright!
The Voyage Care team have done wonders for Rebecca’s confidence and happiness. She’s truly found her dream home!
Mick, Rebecca’s father
Rebecca’s also motivated to continue eating healthy food choices and achieving some weight loss goals. Her team will continue introducing exercise activities and healthy food choices.
Finally, Rebecca’s team will support her to improve her sleep hygiene, so she can sleep in her bed for a full night. They will introduce a sticker chart where Rebecca can win prizes and treats the more hours she sleeps in her bed.
It won’t be long until you hear about Rebecca again. Her journey with us has only just started. With our specialist team’s support, her future looks bright!
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