The Grey Matter Group
Case Study
Imperial Care Services
Ella’s Story Chapter 2
Improving life for Ella
Using online assessments has empowered Ella and given her more confidence to live independently.
Helped Ella and her
support team to
gain relevant
knowledge and skills
Highlights
Without TGMG’s
support Ella
would not have
been able to
remain
independent
Using the
assessments to
check on-going
competence
Enabled Ella’s
parents to learn
about standards,
laws and legislation
Supported Ella to
achieve H&SC
qualification and a
voluntary position
Background and Context
Since Ella’s 2012 case study with The Grey Matter Group (TGMG), things have changed considerably. Ella still receives a
personal budget and lives independently in Wiltshire. She has Down’s syndrome, Autism and a recent diagnosis of Coeliac
Disease as well as Arthritis. She finds it difficult to communicate with people about her personal care needs.
Before I started to work with Ella, her carers did not understand her needs, so she was unhappy and stayed in bed. Ella could
have lost her personal budget but her parents asked me if I could support Ella to live independently. I worked with Ella to
recruit her PA team and I have enabled Ella to manage her role as an employer for a number of years now with support from
TGMG and their online assessment system.
We have had some difficult challenges. The authorities recently reviewed us via outside services. Whilst they suggested a
few areas where we could improve, on the whole they felt that Ella’s needs were being met and that she was happy and well
looked after.
Although Ella receives 24/7 care, this has not held her back in any way, in fact her confidence has grown and she has achieved
things she may never have tried. We are so proud that we are enabling Ella to make choices and to be more independent.
[email protected]
0345 873 0373
www.TGMGroup.net
The Grey Matter Group
Case Study
Imperial Care Services
Ella’s Story Chapter 2
Empowerment and independence
Ella enjoys taking part in the assessments and finds it very empowering to gain knowledge and feel valued. TGMG’s system is
so simple and easy to use. It is an easy way to keep skills up to date and to improve practice. It is a valuable tool to make sure
the care provided is tailored rather than based on a set of standards that do not apply, thus making it more person-centred.
As a result of using the assessments and all the learning she has taken part in, Ella has moved on to achieve a qualification in
Health and Social Care. This led to Ella being offered a place as a volunteer at Stepping Stones, a school for children with
special needs.
Without help from TGMG and Skills for Care (recommended by TGMG), we would not be in a position to help Ella stay
independent. Funding has also made it possible for me to achieve my goal of Level 5 in Leadership and Management to help
me lead Ella’s team more effectively and professionally.
Ella still finds some situations difficult to understand and sometimes to understand her emotions, but there has been real
progress in both these areas. Wiltshire County Council’s Clinical Psychologist worked alongside Ella and her team as a
partnership, taking time to work with Ella and helping her team find new ways of communicating with Ella. We feel we have
made huge steps forward in helping Ella understand her own emotions and that of others, but above all to help her to build
up her communications skills.
All the learning activities and team meetings Ella participates
in enable her to gain knowledge to help understand her own
needs. Relationships between people being supported,
support workers, carers and other professionals need to be
a partnership, so care and support is person-centred.
It is essential for support workers to be vigilant and notice
changes. Had we not noticed a change in shape taking place
in Ella’s hands and the weakness in her fingers, Coeliac
Disease could have gone unnoticed.
Care planning, record keeping, safeguarding and
communication skills are all essential to working in a personcentred way. We need a team leader to check that this is all
being kept up to standard and regularly updated. We do this
by using TGMG’s online assessment system.
Ella is extremely proud of her many achievements:

Gained knowledge to understand her own needs

Qualification in Health & Social Care

Improved her communication skills

Been offered a volunteer position

Won IT award Runner up Adult Learner of the Year

Became a Christian, joined Bethesda Baptist Church

Circle of friends continues to grow

Working on her diet and nutritional needs
[email protected]
Sally and Ella
[email protected]
0345 873 0373
www.TGMGroup.net