What is it like seeing someone we support flourish? For Jane, a Frontline Manager at MacIntyre in Birmingham, there's nothing quite like it.
Jane joined MacIntyre last March, after accepting the position as Frontline Manager in Birmingham and in six months has seen first hand one young lady's incredible journey.
One month after starting with us, Jane was introduced to *Chloe, a young lady who was living in an Assessment and Treatment Unit at the time. This was Jane's first experience of an ATU. Here, she spoke to to Chloe for the first time, telling her about her previous roles, her children and her dog, Ben, which immediately got Chloe smiling.
Recalling the moment, Jane said:
"When I got a cheeky smile from Chloe, hidden under a blanket I knew then how much I was looking forward to supporting her to live a meaningful life."
Over the next few months, Jane alongside her team built a relationship with Chloe, using the MacIntyre Promises and our award winning approach, Great Interactions.
Despite a number of challenges in finding Chloe an appropriate place to live, the team eventually found the perfect house for her.
Not only this, but Chloe was also played a huge part in recruiting her staff team, something Jane is incredibly proud of.
With her staff team in place, it wasn't long before Chloe began her transition out of hospital and into a home of her own. For Chloe, this was incredibly challenging. Having spent the last two years working on her mental health within the ATU, the concept of a new place was something Chloe found difficult to manage.
Yet using all her strength, Chloe continued on her journey, starting with overnight stays at her new home. To help Chloe manage her anxieties, Jane thought back to their first meeting and had an idea.
"It was an extremely hard time for Chloe. Her anxieties with very high, but my dog Ben, saved the day, during transition visits by joining me and the team to help provide her with the courage and strength to visit the house and stay."
Since then, Chloe has continued to grow in confidence; making her house a home and owning animals which provide her with comfort. She has even taken a walk with Jane's dog Ben.
Most recently, Jane accompanied Chloe to a local farm and reflected on Chloe's inspiring journey so far:
"Watching this incredible person cleaning out the animal houses, groom horses, make friends with lambs and surrounded by many dogs, covered in mud, engaging with myself and another member of her team, I feel a sense of pride. As a result of the positive relationships we have built, Chloe's trust in us and a lot of teamwork, we were able to support her to attend the animal sanctuary early on in her journey. It's a huge milestone."
For now, Jane knows Chloe's journey is going to be full of highs and lows, but it's a ride she couldn't be more proud to be apart of.
To find out more about Transforming Care at MacIntyre, please contact: [javascript protected email address]
*The person's name has been changed
