Everyone deserves a second chance, and Care Squad can provide it
Finding the right disability service provider can be life-changing, as Callan Robertson’s story shows.
This sponsored story is brought to you by Care Squad.
Callan Robertson’s life is happier than ever.
The Murray Bridge resident is living in supported independent accommodation – he is able to feed and care for himself without having to worry about jobs like cooking or cleaning.
He has chooks who give him eggs every day.
He gets out and about in the community every day, too, participating in activities he enjoys, like playing music or bowling.
It has been a life-changing turn-around, thanks in large part to Precious Emelogu and the rest of the team at Care Squad.
Until mid-2024, it was difficult for him to engage with community activities, as his frequent episodes of heightened dysregulation had resulted in restrictions on his participation in several instances.
His life was at its lowest ebb, as service delivery manager Precious Emelogu describes it.
But Care Squad pride themselves on helping clients with acute or complex needs.
After all, everyone deserves another chance.
“We’ve slowly been able to introduce (Callan) back into activities because he’s more regulated and more happy,” Precious says.
“We have staff with whom he’s built a level of rapport, people he’s happy to have in his life, people he trusts, which allows him to be himself, to express himself.
“He’s a cheeky person, but you need to have a relationship with him before you find that part of his life.”
The Care Squad team worked closely with Callan’s family to improve his quality of life.
The key has been a personalised approach and individualised support, rather than a one-size-fits-all attitude.
“When we come in and see something that is not working, we sit around the table and discuss it,” Precious says.
“If a staff member is a trigger, they don’t match the client, we don’t just keep trying; we match clients with staff whose temperament and skill set will bring out the best in them.
“We try to go above and beyond for the people we support every day.”
Care Squad offers person-centred support
Callan’s disability support provider, Care Squad, is a community-first organisation aiming to grow its presence in the Murraylands.
Business and community engagement manager Tahnee Brookes says the organisation is committed to becoming a long-term fixture in the region after “amazing” successes with a couple of local clients.
“Our directors are big on the idea that everyone deserves a second chance, and a third, fourth and fifth chance,” she says.
“We take on a lot of challenging clients who we want to see thriving.
“We’ve got quite a few clients who were at a low point, they’ve been through a lot of other services that can’t facilitate their needs, then they come to us.”
By involving clients in every step of their own care, and communicating clearly and maintaining transparency with families, Care Squad aims to build trust and achieve the best possible results.
The culture of the organisation has been enough to convince Precious – who holds a masters degree in electrical engineering, on top of his disability qualifications – to stay in the sector rather than transitioning into another role.
He cares too much about his clients to leave – and so do his colleagues.
“You see someone going from a low point to a high point,” he says.
“That’s why we show up every day.”
- More information: Visit caresquad.com.au, call 7133 5610 or connect with Care Squad on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram.
Advertising to more than 20,000 highly engaged locals can do wonders for your business. Call Jane Intini on 0418 835 768 or email jane@murraybridge.news.
Peri Strathearn
