Why Stuart needed support:
Stuart was referred to Social Prescribing following discussions with Adult Social Care. He is the primary carer for his father, who uses a wheelchair and has heart failure. Stuart needed support to help his father move into supported accommodation, as he was struggling to complete the necessary processes due to his dyslexia. At the time, he was registered with Springfield House and living with his father.
Creating a support system for both Stuart and his father
The Social Prescribing team arranged a home visit and developed a wellbeing plan tailored to Stuart’s needs. This included practical and emotional support to enable him to navigate the housing process and explore suitable supported living options with his father. Key actions included:
- Helping Stuart gather essential documents for the housing application, such as bank statements.
- Supporting him to liaise with the GP to obtain a medical summary highlighting the urgency of his father’s need for supported accommodation.
- Providing emotional support related to his caring responsibilities.
Stuart, his father, and a family friend later met with the team to complete and submit the online housing application, along with all supporting paperwork.
By building rapport with Stuart and breaking tasks down into manageable steps, the team helped him successfully complete the online application and increased his confidence using digital tools—skills he later used independently to place housing bids on behalf of his father.
Following the initial support, the team also connected Stuart to the local carers’ service, where he received additional help with form filling and was able to join peer support groups. Through this, he made new friends who also care for their parents, reducing his sense of isolation.
A positive step forward for Stuart
Both Stuart and his father expressed deep gratitude to the Oldham Social Prescribing team. Before the referral, they were unsure how to start the moving process and felt stuck in a property that no longer met his father’s needs. His father had limited access within the home - his wheelchair could not fit through the kitchen doorway, navigating the stairs was increasingly unsafe, and the property had only a makeshift ramp for entry. These challenges caused significant worry for the whole family.
With support, the family felt reassured and empowered as progress began toward securing appropriate accommodation. Stuart’s father has now been offered a much more accessible home close to Stuart, enabling Stuart to continue providing support without the strain of unsuitable living conditions.
Both Stuart and his father became emotional when they learned that suitable housing was finally within reach, expressing relief and appreciation for the guidance and support that helped make it possible.