Daniel's transition story

Daniel's transition from children's to adult services

Daniel* is on the autistic spectrum and also has global development delay. He recently came to live at Priory Eastleigh House, in need of a service that was more suited to his age group and needs.

Originally from South Africa, Daniel came to the UK with his mum, dad and brother, when Daniel was 16 months old. They first moved to Hertfordshire, then eventually moved to Essex.

Throughout his adolescence, Daniel was fortunate enough to attend schools that he felt very settled in, however with moving and change, came unfamiliarity and feelings of anxiety for Daniel.

When his transition to Eastleigh House began, our core team would visit Daniel’s current school, so they could observe the care he was receiving, and begin to build rapport, before moving in. This included our dedicated positive behaviour support (PBS) practitioner, and social worker.

His mum and dad were also heavily included in all aspects of the assessment and transition process, including visiting Eastleigh House first, and speaking with staff members about the service their son would receive. With all this information, and by remaining in close contact with Daniel’s current placement, our team created a very detailed plan for Daniel, which included creating a ‘PERMA’ profile to highlight key elements of wellbeing, and set future goals. When Daniel first arrived, he was very excitable and wanted to explore his new surroundings, but the team knew that due to another change, they would need to support Daniel appropriately. It was clear Daniel was more motivated with a routine, so they provided clear structure to his days:

• The team supported Daniel with college, as they knew school had provided good structure
• Eastleigh House provided the college with the tools needed to support Daniel whilst there
• Daniel was encouraged to complete daily tasks by himself such as meal prep, cleaning and personal care
• Speech and language therapy helped Daniel with the use of an AAC device, to promote clearer communication
• Daniel was supported to make his own choices, freely, using Makaton and picture aids
• The team used talking mats with Daniel so he could make his own decisions more easily

At first, Daniel was reluctant, but with the dedicated support of the team at Eastleigh House, Daniel now confidently enjoys all the activities which make him happy. This includes spending time in the garden, and sensory activities which provide vestibular feedback. This includes jumping around, being on the swing, and water activities. The team take him on days out to swimming pools and trampoline parks, to support this enjoyment.

Whilst Daniel still requires guidance, he is now learning about his own boundaries and capabilities, and he is flourishing as a young man. There has been a drastic reduction in restrictions for Daniel and his family are so pleased with his spike in confidence. They say how happy he has been since being a resident here and can’t thank the team enough.