Meet Femi
Femi’s parents separated when he was very young, and he went to live with extended family members. During this time, it is reported that Femi was exposed to a range of adverse childhood experiences including neglect, physical abuse and witnessed domestic violence. It is documented that Femi expressed thoughts of suicide from the age of nine.
Following intervention from social services, Femi was placed with foster parents. He attended a mainstream primary school then a special educational unit at a secondary school however, he continued to experience traumatic events and was continuously bullied in school. Femi did not want to attend school and when he did, there was often conflict; subsequently, Femi was labelled as disruptive and isolated further, to be ‘home schooled’.
There was no home schooling, Femi was left to his own devices, and things escalated. Femi was soon sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983 (2007) and admitted to a secure children’s hospital due to Femi’s complex behavioural responses including, suicidal ideation, serious risk of self-injury and risk to others. He spent the next six years in different secure hospitals, some quite a distance from his home county.
Attachment, (lack of opportunity for skills development), trauma, and interpretation through diversity can be seen as contributing factors to Femi’s symptomology. While in secure settings, he acquired the diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, Mild Learning Disability, Generalised Anxiety Disorder with a history of non-epileptic seizure activity.
We met Femi when he was 23 and living in an adult secure hospital. Understandably, his life experiences meant that trust and relationships were extremely challenging, as were knowledge, and experiences of social and daily living skills. Femi still maintained some reliance on well-established coping strategies, however, he wanted to be like everyone else, have a place he could call his own, and have a life worth living. To do this he would initially need 1:1 24/7 support from a compassionate and trauma informed team.
This is the package of care we designed for Femi …
Accommodation
Our Property Team sourced a two-bedroom house for Femi in his home area. They also supported with the completion of housing benefit forms and with registration for social housing. Once applications had been approved, our team explored options for social housing and for private rentals. Once the property had been chosen by Femi, our Property Team secured the property (a private rental), organised the signing of the tenancy agreement and made a few modifications to the property to better suit Femi’s needs.
Staff Team
We recruited a dedicated team of support workers to work alongside Femi. Each team member brought prior experience of supporting people with mental health needs and learning disabilities, ensuring they could offer compassionate, informed support. To help find the right people, we held an assessment day in the local area, focused on values, understanding and building safe, trusting relationships from the start.
Training
Our new team members attended our comprehensive induction week. They also received additional tailored training designed to meet Femi’s individual needs and to build on his strengths. This included focused learning around Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD)/Complex Emotional Needs, PROACT-SKIPr-UK®, self-harm, first aid and ligature safety.
Shared Interests
Because Femi enjoys a wide range of activities including football (Manchester United), going to the cinema (action films) and on walks (especially the beach), we were able to find people who shared many of his interests. Femi was also actively involved in helping to develop the interview questions, to support our recruitment team in identifying people he was more likely to feel safe and comfortable with.
Clinical Input
We included weekly clinical hours into Femi’s package of care. His clinical support time was focused on building confidence and developing new skills that would support his independence. This included consistent support with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), establishing routines and recognising personal boundaries. We also included access to regular one-to-one therapy sessions, offering a supportive space for Femi to explore his experiences with trust and relationships at his own pace. Nursing support was added to help him manage his medication safely and consistently.
How quickly did we move Femi into his own home?
As soon as it was agreed that we would be supporting Femi, we began our mobilisation process. This involves bringing together different members of our team to design and deliver the package of support. We aim to complete the process within 12 weeks. The move took a little longer than expected, as there were several housing options to consider. As part of our person-centred approach, Femi was supported to visit each property so he could make an informed decision as to which felt right and safe for him.
How is Femi today?
When we first began supporting Femi in 2022, he received 24/7 one-to-one support to help him feel safe, settled and supported. Over time, as his confidence grew, we were able to gradually reduce his level of support. Within the first year, his support hours began to decrease, and by the end of his second year with us, he was receiving just 70 hours per week (10 hours per day).
We were able to safely discharge Femi in February 2025, and he now lives independently on his own terms. Whilst we were supporting Femi, he achieved a few firsts: he visited an aquarium for the first time (he loved the stingrays), went on his first holiday, and fulfilled a life-long dream which was a trip to Old Trafford.
‘Femi is such an amazing young man – he is full of energy, has a fantastic sense of humour and is very caring and honest. Whilst with us, he was always so appreciative of everything we did to help him, however small. It’s been a real privilege to be part of his journey and to see him grow and flourish to such a point where he can now live without any support. I’m so proud of him!’
(Support Worker, Femi’s Team)