Celebrating our Team of the Year!

Joseph’s journey and the team who made it possible

Our team at Laurel Cottage in Derby have been named the Chief Executive’s Team of the Year for their dedication, resilience and teamwork. The award recognises how they pulled together to support Joseph and his family through a life-changing journey.

When FitzRoy first met Joseph, he had just moved into his own flat in Laurel Cottage, a shared supported living home. His mum Angela remembers how unsettled things were. “Before FitzRoy took over, there were a lot of different managers, I could tell Joseph was scared and the staff were all too scared to support him. He was so volatile when FitzRoy took over, and building that confidence with the staff team took quite a bit of work.”

The Laurel Cottage team refused to give up. They worked with Joseph’s parents Angela and Richard, with FitzRoy’s mental health and positive behaviour support leads, and with professionals across health and social care. They built up expertise, confidence and trust.

Courtney, who manages the Laurel Cottage team, said: “At the start we were worried about how to keep Joseph safe. The concern was that he needed to be back in hospital and none of us wanted that. But by bringing in staff with experience and building the knowledge of the whole team, we found a way forward. Staff grew in confidence to stay with Joseph in tough moments, and to avoid situations escalating in the first place.”

Over time, Joseph began to thrive. He lost weight through healthy routines, got into trampolining and swimming, enjoyed crafts and music, and became more relaxed and chatty. Simple, natural interactions replaced rigid scripts. Staff learned when to keep things low key and when to encourage him to be active.

Angela said: “When I heard FitzRoy were taking over, I thought ‘great another one’ but the training, the management and the consistency have made a massive difference. Joseph is happier now than he has been for a while. He is getting his swagger back.”

Yet it became clear that Joseph’s flat itself was holding him back. A sensory assessment revealed that corridor noise, light switches, doors and even the view outside were overwhelming. Together with his family, health professionals and a new specialist provider, the FitzRoy team helped shape a move to a home designed just for him. Calm, quiet and safe, it gives Joseph the control and peace he needs.

The Laurel Cottage staff supported Joseph every step of the way, sharing what they had learned with his new provider and making sure the transition was right. For Joseph, it meant a fresh start in a space where he can flourish. For the team, it showed the power of resilience, collaboration and truly person-centred care.

Sometimes the most important support is recognising when it’s time for change and doing everything possible to make that change a success. That is exactly what the Laurel Cottage team achieved.

Their Chief Executive’s Award for Team of the Year is a celebration of their skill, determination and belief in what Joseph could do.