Scott is on a low secure mental health ward. Scott has autism and is non-verbal. He uses a communication board to communicate; he spells out each letter until he has finished his sentence. This can be tiring for him and frustrating if people cut him off mid-sentence. Scott asked to be referred to POhWER for support from an advocate to communicate at his ward round.

Emily, a POhWER advocate, met Scott at her next drop in on the ward. Scott told her he wanted help asking some questions at his ward round. He asked her to ask these questions on his behalf. Emily took time before the ward round to write down all the questions he wanted her to ask and check that she had noted them down correctly. 

Emily attended Scott’s ward round with him and asked the questions on his behalf. She also made sure that where Scott was told the team would come back to him that a timescale was provided. 

During the ward round, it was bought to Emily’s attention that Scott could no longer attend his yoga sessions as they finish at 5.30pm and the curfew to get back onto the ward is 5pm in the winter months. 

Scott was upset about this and told Emily that this was because yoga is his one hobby and he felt it was helping him a lot with his mental health and wellbeing. 

Emily asked the team if this could be reviewed for Scott as he is compliant, close to being discharged, and never in trouble. There was a discussion and it was decided that he could stay out until 5.30pm as long as he sent a text when on his way back to the ward.

Emily followed up with Scott the next week and asked him if he was happy with how things went and he gave her a thumbs up to say “Yes”. Scott then spelt out on the communication board "thank you for coming Emily, and thank you for all your help." He then did a "fist bump" as that is his way of saying "Thanks".