Benjamin's Story

Before Moving to Stratford Lodge

Benjamin has a diagnosis of autism, anxiety and ADHD.

Benjamin had a history of previous placements breaking down, his high anxiety and challenges in line with his autism and ADHD meant that mainstream learning environments were a trigger for him. He was regularly becoming heightened and responding behaviourally. He was aggressive towards others and as he grew nearer to adulthood his mental health declined and he also began to self-harm. The escalation of these behaviours led to challenges maintaining his placements until eventually arriving at Stratford Lodge.

How Stratford Lodge supported Benjamin

Benjamin craved the social experiences a college environment could give him but was unable to maintain his placements due to behaviour and application. Between the age of 18 and 21 Benjamin was supported by Stratford Lodge. He received 1:1 support, he was assigned a skilled and experienced key worker who acted as his main port of call for any challenges he was facing. Benjamin’s key worker was a fierce advocate for him and supported him to engage in a number of challenging experiences, refusing to give up until Benjamin had developed and was able to achieve success.

The following strategies supported Benjamin to settle in at Stratford Lodge and make progress:

✓ Benjamin had an Individual Risk Assessment and Behaviour Support Plan implemented by the home.

✓ A sensory diet was integrated into his day.

✓ Benjamin had informal key worker sessions, cleverly designed so as not to trigger his anxiety.

✓  He was assessed collaboratively using the Outcome Star and agreed on targets that would support him  to reach his goals. This shared ownership allowed him to accept responsibility and reflect on his behaviours, something he had struggled with his whole life.

✓  Benjamin was supported to develop independence skills such as train travel that were a huge boost to his self-esteem.

✓  He was given social skills advice, role modelling and opportunities to mix with peers his age in the home and the community.

✓  When Benjamin made a mistake he was supported with a restorative approach and not with judgment or blame.

✓  Benjamin was supported to access a college course, it was split over 3 years instead of 2 and he was given visuals, timetables and 1:1 support to ensure he maintained attendance and completed assignments.

The IMPACT of these strategies

• Benjamin built a social group and held down a safe relationship with a peer for an extended period.

• Benjamin’s incidents reduced year on year and in his final 2 years there were no incidents of targeted aggression towards others.

• Benjamin learnt how to accept support and this helped him engage in a number of new settings that added value to his life.

• His life skills and confidence in the home and the community vastly improved. He was able to cook meals for himself and access the community using public transport independently and safely.

• Benjamin was able to complete a successful college course for the first time in his last year with us.

Positive Outcomes

✓  Benjamin was able to safely move back to his family home.

✓  He passed his driving test.

✓  Benjamin accessed the next level of his chosen college course.

✓  Benjamin was able to experience a level of independence across his life that he had not previously thought possible.