Building independence, one step at a time

For this trainee, every day begins with a routine that helps her build confidence before she even arrives at Compass.

Each morning she works through a visual checklist alongside her regular support worker. Rather than trying to remember everything at once, she focuses on one task at a time, ticking each one off as she goes. It’s a simple system that helps her stay organised and gives her a real sense of achievement.

Her morning starts by making her bed, having breakfast and letting her dog outside before getting ready for the day. She then works through showering, getting dressed, putting her clothes in the laundry, hanging up her towel and brushing her teeth using a two-minute timer. If she needs a hand with brushing or doing her hair, her support worker is there when needed. Before leaving, she puts on her shoes, packs her bag and brings her dog back inside.

The routine itself hasn’t changed very much, but her confidence has.

Where her support worker once guided each step, she’s now taking the lead for much of her morning herself, using the checklist to keep herself on track and asking for help only when she needs it.

By the time she walks out the door, she’s already achieved a series of everyday goals independently, setting a positive tone for the rest of her day.