C&K Homes Ltd


We were approached by Toby's placing authority and asked if we could offer a home at Cromwell House to an autistic young man with very complex needs. After reading the referral notes, we agreed to meet Toby and carry out a thorough assessment. Toby's previous history is 'chequered' with inappropriate and aggressive (often violent) behaviour and includes a term in the secure unit of a psychiatric hospital. After a conference with our staff team during which we devised a program for carrying out a further month long in-depth assessment, Toby came to Cromwell House.
	When Toby arrived he was quite literally 'a handful'. He was very aggressive, would fight with members of staff and often, it needed several of them to contain and pacify him. Toby would make his feelings known by destroying furniture and fittings, attacking staff members and others and also by ripping his clothes to shreds whilst he was wearing them! Toby has a speech impediment, which was very pronounced at that time, making communication very difficult. This was compounded by his uncooperative attitude. His vocabulary consisted of only a handful of words. Such were the problems with Toby's behaviour that it was unsafe to take him out unless he could be accompanied by a minimum of four carers. During his time with us at Cromwell House, we gave him commitment, consistency, encouragement and education. This has been rewarded by a considerable improvement in Toby's demeanour, morale and behaviour. His vocabulary is now much greater and his speech impediment less marked, rendering communication so much easier. He can now engage in lucid conversation with staff members and joins in with group activities. He enjoys art and craftwork, ten-pin bowling, swimming, horse riding and cooking. We are able to take him out for pub lunches and to the shops. He now requires only 1:1 support when he's out.
Toby is now able to visit his mother on a regular basis. He spends Christmas with his family and enjoys regular contact with them. Last summer we took him on holiday to the Isle of Wight and this year we are planning another holiday to an activity centre. These things would have been unthinkable prior to Toby coming to Cromwell House. The key to our success with Toby is the development and implementation of appropriate 'communication' methods. Toby now has the skills to express himself without resorting to abusive and aggressive behaviours.