Elijah was born in 2006 with Apert Syndrome and was a happy, healthy, active baby. Apert Syndrome affects how the bones in our bodies grow and develop and may cause differences. When Elijah was 18 months old, he required surgery on his skull. Although the surgery was successful, Elijah contracted an infection that caused severe brain injury during aftercare. Elijah and his mother’s lives were forever changed after this, and his mother, Kaddy, became his full-time carer.
Reflecting on the Past: The Story of Elijah
When Elijah was a baby, he was very active and happy. He started babbling, smiling, moving, and learning about the world around him.
However, at 18 months old, Elijah needed skull surgery. While it was successful, he contracted an infection during the aftercare process, which caused severe brain injury. His mother, Kaddy, became his full-time carer, and she is responsible for managing his health budget and appointing and managing his care team.
Kaddy faced many challenges when finding the right people to support Elijah, as the support he received wasn’t continuous and consistent. They moved to Bristol and contacted Unique Community Services, where Kaddy found a team that was prepared and dedicated to providing consistency and continuity of care. Now, Elijah’s support is led by his mum, a nurse and a clinician from our team. They also work alongside other Unique Community Services teams that know and understand Elijah’s complex care needs to ensure that he has constant support.
Facing the Challenges
When our clinicians first visited Elijah, they took their time to understand his personality, wants and needs. In doing so, they could determine which clinician would be the right fit for Elijah. They always listened to Kaddy and formed a team she knew would best fit her son.
Our team supported Elijah by using alternative means of communication through PECS or an eye-gaze system. The Unique Community Services team assessed Elijah’s care needs and developed a personalised plan to provide him with the best support.
How Meeting Our Support Workers Changed Everything
The team at Unique Community Services provided person-centred care to Elijah and put him at the heart of every decision they made. They partnered with his mother Kaddy and other support teams to ensure that Elijah’s care was tailored to his needs.
“You are, as an organisation, very approachable; the key qualities that you have is building and establishing relationships. You will come in and talk directly to EH, many others will talk only to the family. This personal touch adds to the value and Uniqueness of UCS.” – Kaddy.
A nurse was provided to Elijah so he always has someone to be with and assess everything that is happening.
“The nurses played an important role in providing the clinical expertise in Elijah’s care.” – Kaddy.
Our care plans were developed alongside Kaddy and the local authorities. The care plans were under constant review so that when Elijah’s needs changed, all changes would be reflected in the plan, enabling his carers to meet his needs at all times.
One of the biggest differences for Kaddy was when our Registered Manager, Jacob, introduced a monthly multi-disciplinary team meeting, allowing the team and Kaddy to go through the plans and assess challenges together. What’s important is that we always listen to Kaddy as Elijah’s primary carer, and her views and needs are taken on board and valued at every step.
“They take the time to listen and genuinely want to know how we are doing.” – Kaddy.
The Impact Of The Support Workers At Unique Community Services
Through this case study, we can showcase how person-centred and nurse-led care
contributed to a better quality of life for one family.
We started providing support for Elijah nearly three years ago, and one of our carers, Kuda, made an immediate impression on Kaddy as he got to know Elijah from a clinical and personal perspective.
“It is wonderful having Kuda in the team.” – Kaddy
Kuda plays African music to Elijah, and he goes on holidays with the family, including two trips to Cornwall and a trip to London to celebrate Elijah’s 17th birthday! What’s even more impressive is that the team will also be going to Florida with Elijah next year.
As a mum and a full-time carer, Kaddy gets to know the entire team as they spend more than 12 hours per day together. Looking after Elijah can be emotional and demanding, so building strong relationships and providing comfort and support at all times is vital. Our clinicians took the time to build an established relationship with Elijah and his family.
“The thing that sets the UCS team apart from other care providers is that they genuinely care and provide humanised care. It’s the little things that stand out – buying Elijah a gift for his birthday or for Christmas. It makes us feel valued as a family and a client.” – Kaddy
Watch Elijah’s story:
“You are, as an organisation, very approachable; the key qualities that you have is building and establishing relationships. You will come in and talk directly to EH, many others will talk only to the family. This personal touch adds to the value and Uniqueness of UCS.” – Kaddy.
