Nicola's time to shine

Thanks to our Community Learning Disability Team, Nicola Thomsett has received the support and empowerment she deserves to grow her confidence, meet new friends and start living her best life. She spoke to Amy Rutland about her passion for cooking and volunteering.

Nicola Thomsett, 53, has lived in Deal her whole life. She volunteers at the Red Cross shop in town and was a carer for her Dad, until he died in October last year.

Nicola has a learning disability and was referred by her GP to our Community Learning Disability Team after a health check in October 2022. It was then she met Sophie Bateson, Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner.

Each year, people with a learning disability (LD), aged 14 and older, are invited to attend a health check with their GP to help them stay well. By talking to a doctor or nurse about their health, problems can be spotted early and it is an opportunity for any wider health needs, such as support with daily tasks and social inclusion, to be referred to other agencies.

This is where our Community Learning Disability Team comes in. The service works with people with learning disabilities, their families and carers to provide support with a range of activities they need, or want, to thrive in their daily life.

Sophie explained: “Working in the LD team and with our clients is about more than physical health a lot of the time. We take a holistic, person-centred approach and look at everything that can affect someone’s happiness and wellbeing to help them reach their full potential. I really love knowing I get to make a difference for my clients.”

Sophie spent time with Nicola, finding out about her interests and discovered her passion for cooking, although when they met, Nicola was stuck in a rut and had lost her motivation in the kitchen.

Nicola explained: “When I met Sophie I was quite sad, I looked after my dad a lot and would often just eat takeaway or microwave meals every night. I wanted to get healthier and learn about cooking meals from scratch.”

Working together, Sophie has supported Nicola to learn to cook hearty meals and empowered her to be happier and more confident.

Nicola said: “Sophie helping me has been great. We decide what we will cook, write a list of ingredients and go to the shop together to buy it all. So far, I’ve learned to make curry, spaghetti bolognaise, cottage pie and sausage casserole – the casserole was my favourite, it’s really tasty. We worked together and made all the recipes into a book so I can cook on my own as well. I feel really proud when I’ve made something myself, especially when it is delicious and good for me.”

Thanks to Nicola’s growing confidence in the kitchen, she agreed to go with Sophie to meet some new friends and join the MAPs group.

MAPs is a self-advocacy group which helps people with physical or learning disabilities to fulfil their potential, based in Deal Town Football Club.

Sophie explained: “I noticed how Nicola needed to feel more confident about herself at home and out and about. She has a very small social circle, so I wanted to help her meet new people as well to make sure she wasn’t feeling socially isolated. MAPs is a great group, where the people really look after each other.”

Nicola is now a regular part of the MAPs family, attending each week, she explained: “I’ve made some great friends at MAPs, everyone is really nice. We play bingo and take part in lots of activities. I really enjoy spending time here. They’ve all been really supportive and kind to me since my dad died. I can get sad sometimes, but they try hard to put a smile on my face.”

Thanks to Nicola’s love of helping in the kitchen, she has become a volunteer at the MAPs group. She said: “I help make cups of tea for everyone and keep the kitchen tidy. Sophie is going to help me learn to bake cakes as well so I can bring them for everyone to enjoy. Cooking and helping people makes me happy.”

Since the death of her father a few months ago, Nicola has been referred back to the service for further support and will be working with Sophie again to help her return to the happier, more confident person she was becoming last year.

Nicola went on: “I’m looking forward to seeing Sophie again – she has helped me so much. I was more confident, happier and met new friends thanks to her. This time, I can’t wait to learn some new recipes, including cakes, so I can bake them for my friends to say thank you for their kindness.”

The Community Learning Disability Team accepts self-referrals, as well as referrals from other healthcare professionals. You can contact the team by phone, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on 0300 1234 195.

Find out more about the team, including how to refer online at: www.kentcht.nhs.uk/LD