When Wayne first referred himself to Carers First, he was overwhelmed. His father had just been admitted to hospital, and Wayne - who has learning difficulties, was suddenly responsible for caring for his mother on his own. Anxious and unsure where to turn, he needed more than just advice; he needed someone who would truly listen. That’s when he met Carer Support Adviser (CSA) Chloe Smith.
From the outset, Chloe recognised that Wayne would benefit most from face-to-face support. She arranged to visit him at home, where she met not only Wayne but also his mother, who confided that she was in daily pain. Chloe gently encouraged Wayne to help his mother seek medical support, which they did. That first visit was the beginning of a journey that would change everything for Wayne and his family.
Chloe quickly identified that Wayne was also struggling with hoarding. It was a sensitive issue, but she approached it with compassion and care. Drawing on advice from other services, even when they couldn’t directly help, Chloe provided Wayne with simple, achievable goals: start with just one bag for rubbish, one for charity. Slowly, his confidence grew. Eventually, Wayne was filling two bags a week and even hired a skip. He began reclaiming space in his home, motivated by his dream of setting up a model train track in a spare room.
Despite some setbacks - like being declined support from the Maximising Independence Team, Chloe remained undeterred. She helped Wayne find alternative solutions, like using a whiteboard to track his family’s appointments.
Wayne now proudly keeps it up to date. When his mother began struggling with mobility, Chloe empowered Wayne to contact Occupational Therapy, leading to much-needed adaptations in their home.
Throughout, Chloe kept in regular contact, offering encouragement without overwhelming Wayne. Her wellbeing calls became a lifeline, and the impact of her support was deeply felt. Wayne’s mother, who once disliked having visitors, now says she stopped feeling anxious the day Chloe first entered their home.
Chloe’s dedication extended even further. She arranged help to complete a complicated PIP form for Wayne’s mother and supported Wayne in seeking an autism assessment to better understand himself and his support needs.
Thanks to Chloe’s consistent, thoughtful support from Carers First, Wayne’s outlook has transformed. In his own words:
"Where I was in January to now, I’ve literally flipped everything on its head. Instead of everything getting on top of me, I am on top of it."
There’s still more to do - Wayne continues working on his home and developing independent living skills, but with Chloe in his corner, he knows he’s not alone. Her work is a shining example of what person-centred care and support truly means.
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