Case Study

Nihal is a 26 year old man with moderate learning disabilities who lives in supported housing where a team of care staff look after him for 24 hours a day. As part of his plan staff prepare his meals and also eat with him to make the meals a social occasion, and to improve Nihal’s skills at meal times. The staff choose and buy all Nihal’s shopping for him, and when buying groceries they mostly buy meat and cook meat dishes. However, they also cook a separate meal for Nihal as he is a vegetarian.

1. How could the staff do more to actively support Nihal at meal times?
2. Is Nihal being given the opportunity for informed choice, and if not how could this be given to him?
3. Imagine you are Nihal. Do you feel valued, and in what other ways beside meal times could the staff encourage you to be independent and increase your feeling of value?

It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the responses you have to the above scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague or friend and ask them to tell you whether they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your assessor.