Putting positive mental health at the centre of our approach to care

Our person-centred approach enables the people we support to communicate personal choice.

Many of the people we support at Field Lane have profound, complex and multiple learning disabilities, and different ways of processing sensory experiences. As part of our approach to care and to support better mental health, we use sensory-based activities and intensive, mirrored interaction therapies. These therapies help manage emotions, foster social connection, and create a sense of safety. They are based on the way all humans learn, from the basic, reactive communication skills we are born with, to our full communicative potential. For most of us, this will be a range of communication skills, which leads to 'mastering the art' of using language. For many of the people we support, they are still exploring their own communicative potential, needing to overcome additional challenges to being able to express themselves in ways that are understood by others.

Ella (not her real name) is one of the older people for whom we provide this support. She has been with Field Lane for several years. Before coming to us, she had little opportunity to express herself fully and show her personality. Ella is non-speaking; she can use verbal sounds and has a few words, but her communication is primarily through touch, Makaton (a language programme that uses signs and symbols) and points of reference to show what she needs.

She has a strong preference for tactile and sensory experiences, often seeking closeness and connection through touch to foster familial bonds and build relationships with those around her. She sometimes has difficulty managing her emotions and social interactions, which present her with challenges that can negatively impact her overall wellbeing. To help her manage this and support her mental health and social development, Ella participates in a series of activities designed around her sensory preferences and her need for tactile engagement. She attends regular sensory-focused sessions that incorporate textured materials, massage, and gentle movements, providing her with a calming environment where she can process her emotions and experience a sense of safety and control.

In addition, Ella has a selection of sensory items that provide her with a form of security, including pens, books, Lego pieces, and handheld boxes. She will always keep one of these with her. Holding onto these items enables Ella to have continuous comfort, especially at times of heightened emotional stress.

Ella joins in group activities with peers who share similar sensory interests, fostering social connections on a level that resonates with the way she processes sensory experiences. These interactions are carefully facilitated to promote positive exchanges and mutual understanding. A key component of her support is participation in ‘Us in a Bus,’ an intensive interaction therapy that involves mirroring and reciprocal engagement. The specialist approach supports people like Ella, who are often isolated and who find communicating with the world (and the people in it) a massive challenge. The therapy uses mirroring as a core method, enabling Ella to express herself physically and emotionally through imitation, providing an environment where she can develop trust, improve her social skills, and regulate her emotions through tactile and visual engagement. These are very person-centred activities and give Ella the chance to lead the engagement.

Since taking part in these activities, Ella has shown real progress. She is more comfortable in social interactions and her ability to self-regulate has improved, leading to calmer responses during stressful situations. While not being able to communicate with language words, her behaviour shows that she is feeling more connected and secure with what she is observing, often seeking tactile closeness as a means of reassurance. The mirroring work with ‘Us in a Bus’ has helped her develop greater awareness of her own emotional states and increased her confidence in engaging with others.

The progress that Ella has made highlights the importance of taking part in tailored interventions that respect individual sensory needs and promote meaningful engagement. These are central to our approach to care, and to the mental health and wellbeing of the people we support. Most importantly, this person-centred approach enables Ella and her peers to lead more independent and fulfilling lives, one where they can communicate personal choice.