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“I am thrilled to be working with the people I support; their dream is my dream.” |
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Mary (on right) in supervision with her manager, Mandy
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| Mary |
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| I arrived at SFHT in 2005 having come from a sales & customer service background of over fifteen years. I thought the concept of SFHT wanting to support people to be integrated into the community through supported living was fascinating, exciting & challenging. |
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After completing some training I started my role. The service users and I soon got to know one another although there were a few testing times. One mistake I made was of trying too hard to do things just right. Once I had relaxed a bit and allowed humour to enter the equation things seemed to go much better for all of us. |
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Listening, understanding, accepting situations as they arise and dealing with them with the support of a wonderful management team - these are just some of the things we do to support people. We also have to accept that the people we support are adults with adult rights and choices. I have found it personally difficult to let people make mistakes, especially when the mistake upsets them. But at the end of the day we have to accept a person's choice and be there to support them. |
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The capabilities of the people I support continue to amaze me. Most have paid jobs, run their own homes, manage their finances and social life with a little support from me. The happiest moment for me so far is when I was doing a key-worker report with a young man and asked him who his friends were. He did not mention one single member of staff and the people he spoke of were from the local community and all walks of life - painters, builders etc who he meets up with regularly on a social basis. This young man is living the dream; he is truly independent and loving it! That day I felt as though I had won the lottery.
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I believe that supported living is the key to removing the shackles of discrimination from the people we support, allowing them the freedom of choices; a voice within the community; acceptance as valuable and loyal employees; capable and responsible tenants and householders and good neighbours.
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