When Stanley first came to MacIntyre, life felt unsettled. He’d been through a lot, and what he needed most was somewhere steady, with people who could take time to get to know him.
Before moving into his own home, Stanley had spent time in a secure hospital that wasn’t right for him. Staff changed often, routines were hard to keep hold of, and he picked up ways of coping that made everyday life harder.
Stanley is a young man with a learning disability, and ADHD. He’s also someone who feels things deeply, even when he doesn’t always show it. When he first arrived at MacIntyre, he was carrying a lot of grief, anger, confusion, and a sense that people could disappear at any moment.
The focus at the start wasn’t about ‘fixing’ Stanley. It was about slowing things down, building trust, and helping him feel safe again. Stanley moved into his own home with a consistent staff team, many of whom are still with him today. Together with Stanley, his mum, and MacIntyre’s Positive Behaviour Support specialists, the team worked patiently to unpick what Stanley had learned in hospital, and what he really needed instead.
Little by little, things began to change.
Stanley stopped hurting himself. The triggers that once felt overwhelming became easier to manage.
Stanley’s relationship with his mum has grown stronger. She’s a steady presence in his life, someone he trusts and leans on, and someone who works closely with the staff team. Decisions are talked through together. Plans are made together. Stanley knows he’s being listened to, and that boundaries come from care, not control.
Family is a big part of Stanley’s life. He spends time with his mum and dad, pops in for visits, and stayed over on Christmas Eve, something that means the world to them all. He’s also learning how to navigate more complicated relationships, with support and honesty from the people around him.
Today, Stanley’s life looks very different.
He goes to college four days a week, where he’s working towards qualifications in Maths and English. He volunteers in the community, at a local shop and an allotment, and is well-liked by the people he works alongside. He’s often the first to offer help if someone else needs it.
As Stanley has grown in confidence, his support has reduced. When he first left hospital, he needed two staff with him at all times, plus overnight support. That’s changed gradually and carefully, at Stanley’s pace. Now he has one-to-one support during the day, and overnight support only when it’s genuinely needed. Each reduction has been planned, talked through, and agreed with Stanley because this is his life.
The difference isn’t down to one thing; it’s the consistency, the relationships, and the fact that people stayed and listened. That Stanley was involved in decisions about his home, his support, and even new staff joining the team.
Stanley is still young and still learning, but he’s still very much himself.
And now, he’s doing that in a place that feels like home, with people who know him, understand him, and stick around.
For Stanley, that changes everything.
