
James' Journey
When we met James he’d been living at a Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Inpatient Service for a number of years. With our support and working in partnership with his support network, we’ve helped James integrate himself back into the community – to be able to live independently, in his own home. This is his story.
After five challenging years, staff teams were exhausted – partly down to workforce shortages, but largely as a consequence of sustained episodes of escalating behaviour that challenged people around him. They were struggling to understand James’ behaviour, triggered by the environment he was living in.
In March 2020 a Multidisciplinary Team (made up of local clinical and commissioning teams, NHS England specialist commissioning leads and his current CAMHS Inpatient Service) agreed that this service was no longer appropriate for a young man and commissioned a care provider to deliver a six-month discharge plan, so James could safely return to back to into the community.
“ Our Transitioning Support Programme (TSP) teams – working under the clinical supervision of our client – provided a bridging function, to support James’ safe transition from one care provider to another. ”
We worked in partnership with a care provider (our client) – who were responsible for recruiting the necessary workforce to provide James’ on-going and long-term care plan. Our Transitioning Support Programme (TSP) teams – working under the clinical supervision of our client – provided a bridging function, to support James’ safe transition from one care provider to another. As care and support staff were introduced as a permanent provision, we worked with them and James to ensure an effective transition.
Our committed team provided consistent care and support (four-to-one, made up of the same 10 to 12 support workers) taking the time to really get to know James and understand his behaviours – allowing him the time to trust us too.
“ We personalised our approach, tailoring it to James’ needs. We also worked closely with his parents and always in alignment with his new care provider. He’s now a lot more independent, integrating himself into his local community. ”

We personalised our approach, tailoring it to James’ needs. We also worked closely with his parents and always in alignment with his new care provider.
Since we’ve been supporting James we’ve seen his behaviours that challenge, significantly reduce. He’s now a lot more independent, integrating himself into his local community: shopping, enjoying beach walks and socialising in cafes. We’ve even helped James to find his ‘forever home’ where he’s now living independently.
James hopes to get back into swimming, football and basketball – activities he used to love doing.
(*We’ve used a different name to protect this person’s identity)
MAKING AN IMPACT
We’re here to help you support people with learning disabilities and other complex needs to live full and meaningful lives. To find out more about how we can help call us on 07961 471966 or email admin@ldnetwork.org