Maintenance ‘apprenticeship’ inspires service user at Cygnet St Teilo House

The team at Cygnet St Teilo House aim to work together in a collaborative partnership with service users to improve care and also service provision, and this applies to the wider team, not just clinical staff.

For the last six months at Cygnet St Teilo House, Gareth from the service’s maintenance team has facilitated an ‘apprenticeship’ scheme for a service user with a keen interest in this field.

The service user, Carson, has developed their confidence and knowledge enormously since engaging in this role; completing online health and safety courses, working alongside Gareth once a week and taking on practical tasks such as painting, and even wearing a maintenance uniform!

As a thank you for all of his hard work, our Hospital Manager and Head of Care presented Carson with his own tool box at Christmas.

Carson said, “I have learnt many new skills throughout this experience working hands on with equipment and tools. It has made me feel valued as a person and it has led me to want to make a career out of this in the future.

“I have developed a great therapeutic rapport with Gareth which is due to the person centred approach he takes with me. This enables me to be who I am.”

We think this is a great example of how each and every staff member, regardless of role, has the power to support and facilitate co-production, and achieve positive change.

Share this article