The Coach House is our newest specialist residential care home and our third dedicated to adults with acquired brain injury. It is adjacent to The Richardson Mews and under a joint CQC Registration. It is a self-contained home and run by Registered Homes Manager, Jo Wilkins.

We launched The Coach House on 24th January 2019 and the CQC registration process was completed last summer. The first service users arrived in August and after just six months, we’re pleased to report that one of them was able to be discharged earlier this month.

Goal setting and care plan

Andrew* had sustained an hypoxic brain injury following a cardiac arrest 14 months prior to his arrival at Richardson Care, and came to us from a hospital neurological rehab setting. Members of our multi-disciplinary team (MDT) assessed Andrew and prepared a care plan for him. Goals were set for Andrew at the point of admission, with the aim of enabling him to move to a location closer to his family.

Andrew’s goals included:

• Increasing his independence with personal care
• Maximising his engagement in community access
• Reducing his frustration in relation to his limitations
• Reducing his wandering at night
• Participation in elements of meal preparation

A small consistent care team supported Andrew on a daily basis, reinforcing the therapies implemented by the MDT. He built a good rapport with some of the members of the team, which was instrumental in his support and rehabilitation.

Gains achieved

Andrew made good gains in personal care and in mobility. He has been receptive to daily walking practice and he has been supported to access the community every day, which he does using a wheelchair due to stability and fatigue issues. He can also transfer more independently. Although The Coach House is located in private grounds, it has a wide range of shops, cafes, etc. in the immediate vicinity. Richardson Care has a good relationship with local businesses, which enhances the experience of service users when accessing the local community.

Although Andrew still presents with challenging behaviour, he has been able to reduce his frustrations and manage his behaviour more effectively. He engaged well with his care team, who found that distraction and diversion techniques were effective in reducing Andrew’s agitation due to his cognitive deficits.

Regarding elements of meal preparation, Andrew now actively participates in selecting menu choices every day with the support of staff. He will also initiate helping himself to a drink left on the table beside him without prompts from staff. These make important contributions to his overall well-being.

Positive outcome

Within six months, Andrew had made sufficient gains in all of his goals to enable him to be discharged to a residential setting closer to his family. It is hoped that with continued close supervision and increased family contact, he will be able to continue his rehabilitation from his brain injury.

*We have changed the name of the service user to protect his identity.