Stuart

"There's no day when you know what's going to happen." Says Ivy, referring to life with her son Stuart. Stuart is twenty-one and lives with his parents and his older brother Mathew in their home deep in the Shropshire countryside. Their idyllic home setting makes it easy for Stuart to engage in one of his favourite pastimes, which is walking in the hills. He also loves to travel in the car and enjoys day trips to Wales.

Stuart has severe and complex learning disabilities, together with a profound degree of autism, which often leads to challenging behaviour (smacking, kicking, pulling hair etc.) and pica ( an eating disorder characterized by persistent and compulsive cravings to eat nonfood items). In the past, for these reasons, Stuart has always had a ratio of two to one staff attached to him.

"Life's about balance" declares Ivy, who goes on to explain the need to apply common sense when judging the amount of restrictive measures taken to safeguard Stuart's vulnerability, against his need for freedom and choice to continue with his own growth and to simply enjoy his life. "At the end of the day," she points out, "What matters most, is how happy he is…it's about relationships, who cares about him and who he cares about."

Ivy has always taken a keen interest in the services surrounding her son. "I was the Chair of Governors at Stuart's school" she says and she is now an active member of the Partnership Board.

"Stuart left school two years back" recalls Ivy. Like most youngsters who have special needs, the transfer of responsibility from Education to Social Services meant that there was a distinct lack of continuity between these services, leading to a huge gap in provision. Stuart and his family opted for an individual budget and have not looked back.

Ivy stands her coffee on the table and looks directly at me. "For twelve months" she says "he did nothing with traditional agency staff. Then we found Home Care Direct. They let us choose what staff we wanted and we got on with it. They do all the tedious stuff." Leaning back in her chair she adds "They don't do the "stereotype cases" thing. When you're at your wits end, that's the last thing you want. They recognise that everyone is different and that families are the experts in their own situation.

Stuart's brother Mathew is his principal carer and Home Care Direct act as his legal employer. They deal with all the routine tasks without bothering the Stuart or his family. Mathew works in the road haulage industry and is his brother's paid carer. As it happens, Mathew's girlfriend also works with people who have autism, which is a great additional benefit.

Most parents who have a vulnerable child, have a real worry about what's going to happen when they are no longer around to look out for them. This system of direct home care, gives them a reassuring true sight of the future happening right in front of their eyes today. The final word goes to Ivy who simply says "It works for us."