Three service users from a Birmingham service which supports women with complex needs travelled down to the London Palladium to experience being part of the Britain’s Got Talent audience.
Service users and staff from the Birmingham-based service, Cygnet Elms, run by leading health and social care company, Cygnet Health Care, enjoyed the variety of acts that were shown by the ITV hit programme. Whilst they were there, they even got to witness one of the golden buzzer acts.
Cygnet Elms is a high dependency complex care service for 10 women with learning disabilities, associated complex needs who may have behaviours that challenge. It supports individuals who are stepping down from a more secure setting as part of their care pathway. The team work with them and provide personalised care to help them develop the necessary skills to leave rehabilitation service and move towards a less restrictive setting in the community.
Easy Reads were used beforehand to explain to each service user where they were going and what it would look like. This proved to be extremely helpful in reducing any anxieties they had.
The trip was organised by Riccardo Brade, Cygnet Elms’ Therapy Coordinator, who said: “Every single person was engaged and excited to be there, which just added to the amazing experience they all shared. It will be something that both service users and staff never forget. Staff felt such pride for their service users during the whole day and it was heart-warming to hear how much the service users enjoyed it.
“I enjoy creating opportunities for service users to experience things they may never have had the chance to do. I’d like to thank the Occupational Therapy team and the wider multidisciplinary team for supporting the go ahead of this trip.
“I think it has been a huge success and something which the service users will never forget.”