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Reflections. Life Stories, Quotes,Poems and Snapshots from People with Support Needs.
Download from www.familymosaic.co.uk (click on tenants zone, then support services)

Hearing other people’s stories is fundamental to social care and, however busy, all professionals should take time to stop and listen, writes Colette Eaton.

At 40 pages, this collection of writings, poems and life histories of people supported by the Mosaic Essex Supported Housing Service is short enough to read in a lunch break but inspiring enough to remind us why we do the job.

The stories and writings are from a diverse people, managing issues from profound learning difficulties to brain injury and mental distress. Short and to the point, each story gives us a glance at another person’s experiences, likes, loves and difficult times and, as the foreword suggests, would be an ideal training resource for people new to support work.

Editing life stories for people with learning difficulties is always problematic and the booklet might have benefited from a little less “polish”, allowing the real character of each writer to emerge. But this is a commendable piece of work bringing voices and experiences to print in a positive way.

Colette Eaton is support manager, Blackburn College