A day in the life of a paralegal – New Beginnings

Monday

Today is different to my usual routine of snoozing the alarm twice (okay five times) before getting up, getting dressed, making a strong coffee and heading to my home office to begin a day behind my computer screen.

Today I will be vising one of my clients for whom we have acted as deputy since 2014.  A lot has happened in the decade since our appointment and our client has faced significant challenges growing up in a world that has not always been kind or easy to navigate. 

Most recently, it became apparent that his current living placement was unable to meet his complex needs and a change was needed.  His mental health was on a downward spiral and immediate action was needed.  Together with my colleague, James Pantling-Skeet, Senior Associate in our dedicated Community Care Team, we set about engaging the local authority to find a placement which would better meet his specific and complex needs. 

Together, James and I attended numerous professional meetings where everyone was agreed that where he lived was no longer suitable and the impact that this was having on our client was not acceptable.  So we are all agreed, there must be change. 

The next challenge was to find a placement that would meet his needs, where he would receive dedicated care and support from people who understood the disabilities that he is living with.  After a long three months, a suitable placement was found and he was accepted.  Although this would mean that he would be moving out of the area that he grew up in, he was open to this and set about finding out about bus and train routes so that he could return to see his family. 

I first went to his current placement as he had specifically wanted me to bring his air fryer and coffee machine when I went to visit him.  I also packed up some of his clothes and with that I filled the boot of my car up and was excitedly off to see his new placement.

When I arrived, I was very warmly welcomed and quickly offered a cup of tea after a long journey.  I sat down with the manager who was inviting and warm.  We talked about some of the activities that residents past and present take part in.  The residents are encouraged to do as little or as much as they wish.  Some want to do everything and some want to do nothing and that is okay.  Some have been on cruise holidays – I immediately think this would be fantastic for my client who to the best of my knowledge has never left the country.     The sky is the limit in this new encouraging environment. 

I am shown around and shown the garden, open plan kitchen/dining room, spacious lounge, games room and even the spa bath before I am shown to my client’s room.  I am met with the biggest grin from my client who invited me in.  He is in a large spacious double room with enough room to fit in his belongings and things which are the most important to him which is his gaming desk and chair. 

We talk about the short time that he has been in his new home and whether he likes his new surroundings.  It is all new and it will take a bit of time to get his bearings but he has been out and about sampling the local cafes and enjoying a cup of tea and a slice of cake with some of the other residents. 

Today I received an email to say that this week he has enjoyed a trip out with some of the other residents to a local museum followed by a cheeky take-away which he thoroughly enjoyed.  They are going to take him shopping in the next day or two as he would like some new trainers.  These may seem like small things but these small things make a huge difference to our clients. 

This isn’t the end of the challenges that he will face throughout his life, I am sure, but it is a new beginning and one which will empower him to live his life to the fullest and it is a privilege to be able to play a part in contributing to this, however big or small that contribution is. 

Now I am back at my desk and planning my next client visit.