Caroline’s story

This story was told to us by Sara Podmore who manages the Telford and Wrekin Shared Lives scheme:

Caroline, 26, had been in the Navy. She was being severely bullied whilst training to be a medic. She was initially thrown out of the Navy but after support from charity, Combat Stress, the Navy now supports her in getting help and treatment with severe depression, OCD and post-traumatic stress.

Initially Caroline had been allocated to a support worker in a supported living set up. She had some hours support each week but this was predominantly to help with paperwork. “I wasn’t well, I was basically put into the house and left. I ended up taking a massive overdose and then ended up being sectioned.

I had never heard of Shared Lives and my social work ended up introducing me to Linda and Owen, I don’t remember much from this time but I remember coming round for tea visits before moving in. This was April 2013.”

The Shared Lives team felt that Linda has the listening skills that would be needed to support Caroline through this period of her life. Shared Lives worker, Cath, vividly remembers those first visits. “Caroline looked so small, curled up on the sofa crying looking ill. She was in what looked like a trance. She really didn’t care.”

Caroline describes her OCD: “I stroke the light switches, I check the doors all the time. It’s better to laugh about it if I can. Linda tells me to leave it and she will check it, this really helps, otherwise I would sit by the door all night.”

Caroline says of her first few weeks living with Linda, “The family were so welcoming; it was amazing to be part of the family. I settled in really quickly. I didn’t feel like I was treading on eggshells, there was no pressure. I felt I could approach the carer and they would be non- judgemental.

“In that time I feel my confidence has changed. I’ve got a strength I’ve never had, I’ve had lots of encouragement, I’ve talked for hours with the carers, there is no such word as ‘can’t’.  I do a lot of laughing. I’ve slowly come off some of my medication too in the time I’ve been here which is great. I haven’t had any help from the mental team- Linda has been my mental health team, they have abandoned me. I’ve even managed to have contact again with my family. I see my mum again now who I couldn’t before as she couldn’t deal with me being ill. We do family holidays now too which is amazing.

“Now I work 26 hours a month and have completed my NVQ 2. I run now too. We all eat dinner together. Its important as I can chat, considering it’s their house its amazing they are always there for me. Things like Christmas are amazing we get so many gifts, I never expect it.

“At the very start of my journey I didn’t want to be in the world- but since coming into this placement it’s been great. I’ve not had a dip since I’ve been here and I’ve learnt to listen to my body.

I would tell other people when talking about Shared Lives: there is hope no matter how unhopeful you feel.”