Contextualising Our Work - A Case Study “Jamie”

Jamie (31) initially came to Ucan's attention through East Ayrshire's Employability Service, as it was determined that his level of support required for employability training was too high. Subsequently, his application was approved through a referral from his social worker.

Challenges and Initial Assessment:

Diagnosed with Autism, Jamie presented specific traits that could potentially impact various aspects of his life both in the community and at home; the latter particularly at mealtimes when he struggled to sit with his family to eat.

These traits included speaking in an American accent, a limited attention span, discomfort in group settings, a limited palette but also an unwillingness to touch certain foods, aversion to personal space invasion, and challenges in communication and independent living skills. It should be noted that these were not necessarily issues that concerned Jamie.

Recognising these challenges, the intervention's initial focus was supporting Jamie's social development, promoting his health and well-being, enhancing his independent living skills, and gradually introducing work-related concepts.

Progress and Achievements:

The journey involved considerable time and patience in assisting Jamie with coping mechanisms, fostering collaboration and relationships in group settings, and improving communication skills. Over several years, by harnessing his passion for cooking, remarkable progress was achieved through consistent encouragement and addressing challenging behaviours.

Work Experience and Skill Development:

In 2017, Jamie embarked on a short work experience at the Railway Heritage Café, a pivotal experience that significantly boosted his confidence. This success led to further work experience within Ucan's own kitchen, followed by a period of supported employment funded by East Ayrshire Council. Seeking new challenges Jamie, with the support of Ucan and the East Ayrshire Employability team, pursued a work experience opportunity at the Park Hotel's kitchen in early 2019. This experience laid the foundation for his application to a Hospitality Course at Ayrshire College.

Challenges and Continued Support:

Despite the setback of not securing a spot in the college course, Jamie, in consultation with Ucan and his parents, decided against an alternative course he was offered within the Supported Learning Department. Instead, he returned to Ucan, continuing work experience and acquiring four SQA Hospitality Qualifications in-house. Today, Jamie is employed by Ucan as a part-time kitchen assistant for 12 hours a week, marking a remarkable journey of transformation and empowerment. 

Home Life

In September 2022, Jamie’s father sadly died following a battle with cancer. Jamie stepped up.

Jamie took on the role of organising the evening meal for the house, he chooses the Hello Fresh menus, sorts them by use by dates, and prepares and cooks them with little or no guidance.

He also checks all the use by dates and disposes of them appropriately.

He has also learned that food can still go off even if not passed sell by date, he has learned to look at the colour and smell of food. What a change! 

I don’t know what I would have done if Jamie hadn’t cooked meals as any thought of managing and shopping for meals along with my appetite went when his father died. 

My evening meal is prepared every night between 5 and 6pm.  Kitchen is like a bomb site, but that is my job !!” (Jan, Jamie’s mum) 

Conclusion:

Jamie's story underscores the significance of personalised support, perseverance, and recognition of individual strengths. Through collaborative efforts, Jamie overcame obstacles and found meaningful employment and fulfilment in his role as a valued member of Ucan's team.

Jamie is just one example of Ucan's success with an individual and someone who was initially seen as far removed from the employment market. Oh, and he is AWESOME!