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Proactive Support That Turned William’s Challenges Into New Experiences

William

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“To say that life for William and our family has improved since Unique Community Services started to work with our family is an understatement.” – William’s parents.

Sometimes progress is not measured in milestones or charts, but in moments: a family holiday without worries, a car journey filled with word games, a young man smiling as he jumps on a trampoline. William’s care journey sends a profound message that life expands in new and meaningful ways when the right support is all about the person.

Meet William

William is autistic, non-speaking, and has a severe learning disability. What makes him shine is his love of word games and time spent outdoors. For years, these joys were overshadowed by the challenges he faced.

Because of distress and behaviours of concern that could be harmful, William’s father left his job to become his full-time carer for the past eight years. Together with his mother, Alison, he managed William’s daily life, but this often meant isolation. Travelling by car, bus, or taxi wasn’t safe or sustainable, so William stayed home and missed the chance to go to school, meet peers, or explore his community.

“We want him to experience as much of life as possible, but due to his condition, this hasn’t been possible. As parents, we have found this heartbreaking.’’ – William’s parents.

Worried about William’s safety, but also about the public’s safety, they knew reaching out to external professional support would be the best solution for him to have a life where he could feel free to explore.

Despite searching for years, his family could not find a care provider who would listen and adapt to William’s needs until meeting Unique Community Services’ care team.

When Systems Create Silence

Too often, families like William’s are left without support. For many years, his parents carried the weight of being carers, advocates, and protectors – alone. The impact was profound:

  • No safe or supported way to travel
  • Missed opportunities for education
  • Social isolation for William and his parents
  • Strain on family well-being

‘’My wife and I haven’t been able to even go to the supermarket together for around ten years, not been for a meal for the same amount of time.’’ William’s father.

Behind every statistic sits a family who longs not for miracles, but for support that is personalised and compassionate.

Support That Walks Beside William

In February 2023, Unique Community Services (UCS), part of Catalyst Care Group, began supporting William with a team of three support workers. From the beginning, the guiding question amongst our care coordinator, the office team and support workers was simple, yet meaningful:

“How could we enable William to have the best quality of life and be the best version of himself?”

Our care team had a wonderful experience with the commissioning team, which gave UCS the time to plan and develop a care plan that would meet his needs properly. The support workers co-designed a plan to support him and his family with William’s parents and, importantly, with William himself during assessment.

What we did:

  • Appointed support workers highly trained in person-centred care, PBS, communication, and positive risk-taking.
  • Created a structured daily routine with outdoor activities, word games, and trampoline sessions.
  • Prioritised safe community outings to expand William’s community life gradually.
  • Maintained continuity of care, with our care teams coaching, encouraging, and upskilling staff.
  • Built trust with the family through transparency, consistency, and respect.

By May 2023, William’s behavioural challenges had reduced significantly, from daily distress to once every three weeks.

“This year, William’s experienced only a few minor behaviours of concern which were handled as professionally as we’ve come to expect. He’s happy, and so are we.”William’s parents.

Watch the short documentary about William’s care journey, featuring insights from our Registered Manager, Carol Taylor, and Care Coordinator, Paula Howard.

The Positive Outcomes

Take a glimpse into William’s world today:

  • Reduced behaviours of concern: With proactive, human-centric support, challenges are far fewer and handled professionally.
  • Confidence in the community: William enjoys shopping trips, outdoor play, and exploring new places.
  • Family holidays: For the first time in eight years, the family travelled together to Scotland – not once, but twice. The long 8-hour drive was transformed into a joyful adventure with word games and planned breaks.
  • Improved well-being: Daily routines, play, and communication have brought laughter, calm, and genuine joy back into William’s life.
  • A new beginning: William’s parents finally have moments of rest and reassurance that their son is safe, supported, and living the life in a way a 20-year-old young man should.

“The team that works with us and William are a credit to the company. We feel blessed that they are now part of our family’s lives. Saying thank you just doesn’t seem enough. My wife and I have started going out again and living a regular life. My 21-year-old daughter and her boyfriend are managing to go out in the evenings, which hasn’t been possible until now.” William’s father

William’s First Family Trip to Scotland and Holiday Support

With the right support in place, William experienced something his family hadn’t thought possible for nearly a decade – a holiday together.

He travelled with his parents and support team to Scotland, carefully planned, making the trip smooth and joyful. The holiday was so successful that the family returned to Scotland for the second time this year. William also enjoyed a season full of holiday activities, supported to join in, try new experiences, and find happiness in everyday moments.

Read all about William’s holiday activities come to life here.

See how William’s first family trip to Scotland became a turning point here.

This Is What Happens When We Believe in People

William’s journey shows what is possible when families are not left alone and when providers work alongside them with empathy and meet their needs. It’s all about rekindling joy and giving a young man the chance to live life on his own terms.

The next chapter for William is filled with potential: more adventures and more opportunities to belong in his community.

Download Case Studies

Download the case studies showcasing the positive impact made on individuals’ lives, brought through our person-centred approach and highly trained clinicians.

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