By providing a personalised package of care that not only supports Ben’s care needs, but also his personal hopes and dreams, he has been able to attend high school and enjoy social activities and holidays with his family.
Ben* is an incredibly special 11-year-old boy, whom we have cared for since 2016 and we feel very privileged to be a part of his ongoing care journey. The care and support we give to Ben has developed with his growing care needs and also supports his personal hopes and dreams.
We started caring for Ben when he was just 5 years old, after a breakdown in his previous care provision. Ben has a rare, inherited condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and decreased muscle tone (hypotonia) that can impair the development of motor skills such as sitting, standing, and walking, and may disrupt primary functions such as breathing and feeding. He has a tracheostomy fitted and is fully ventilated. Ben also suffers with a Learning Disability. He requires a team of highly skilled healthcare assistants to meet his respiratory needs and manage his complex diabetes. Ben’s care team support him with all aspects of his daily life, this includes personal care, washing and dressing as well as responding to all his clinical interventions.
Our care team also attend school with Ben and support him with his educational and social development. Ben really enjoys school and has now met his aim to attend high school.
Around six months after being appointed to Ben’s package of care we were asked by his community district nursing team if we could take on the support and management of Ben’s diabetes. As a type 1 Diabetic, Ben requires the administration of insulin to manage his blood sugar levels. Due to the complexity of his diabetes we had to work closely with the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) and Ben’s family to ensure that our healthcare assistants could deliver this intervention safely.
Working with Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Paediatric Diabetic Specialist Nurse, Ben’s family and his school, we developed specific care plans and protocols that are used to ensure that care staff can safely administer his insulin through injection. We continue to review and take advice to ensure these protocols are up to date to keep Ben safe.
Our Healthcare Assistants receive bespoke training with sign-off by a Registered Nurse to deliver this aspect of clinical care and ensure that they are both confident and competent.
In 2019 Ben and his family got the chance to visit Disneyland Paris with the Make a Wish Charity. We created a package of care and provided the support necessary for such a trip and Ben had an amazing time and was able to fulfill yet another of his wishes and dreams.
We continue to support Ben as he moves into adolescence.
*Name changed to protect the identity of our client.
