I am the main carer for Liam, a 22 year old young man with Emanuel Syndrome. Liam has Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities, epilepsy, receives some of his nutrition and his medication via a peg gastrostomy, has postural issues and is a wheelchair user. I care for Liam through Shared Lives in my home full time, although I have a close relationship with his smashing family, and he goes home usually every other weekend and spends time at home in the holidays.

To help me support Liam, his mum employs two carers through SDS (Self Direct Support), Jimi works 24 hours a week, and Amy works 14 hours a week.

Amy is a very new carer, and had no experience with people who have PMLD and complex health care needs before joining “Team Liam”, so I looked to PAMIS training department to offer courses that would support Amy’s knowledge of Liam, and give her confidence in her caring role. I was extremely pleased to see that she could attend Understanding Communications and Managing Behaviour Course at Robert Gordon’s University Aberdeen, because Liam is non- verbal. The PAMIS course really helped her to gain confidence in understanding Liam’s communication and how to relate to his behaviours and what he was trying to communicate with them.

Jimi has been a carer supporting Liam with me for 4 years, and our First Aid accreditation was due for renewal. PAMIS training Department offered an accredited First Aid course that had a PMLD element.  It took into account body shape issues, non- verbal individuals, and their complex health care needs, so I enrolled all 3 of us onto the course at Dundee University. The course was excellent and we all gained added benefit of the extra knowledge on First Aid involving someone with PMLD. We all felt well supported in our learning, and we all gained confidence to support Liam if he needed First Aid in the future.

Liam’s mum was able to fund all the training through her SDS budget, and this really helped her to choose training that was appropriate to Liam’s specific needs.

I would certainly look to PAMIS future training, and recommend it for myself, and Liam’s carers in ensuring that we all have the knowledge to support Liam to the best of our ability, and ensure his health and wellbeing.

Jenny Whinnett

Shared Lives Carer

 

If you would like to know more about any of the available PAMIS training courses please contact Fiona Harper at [email protected]. See flyer below to see the range of options.