Sam ♥

Hi! I’m Jack, the owner and founder of First Thought Care Services. 

Having set up First Thought Care Services in 2020, I have often had a number of individuals reach out wanting to hear more about my story and why it is that I do what I do. Against common belief, I personally think that it is really important for me to share my story, after all - Lets beat the taboo! 

So, I guess the only place to start, would be at the beginning.  

As a child, I would say that I had a pretty ‘normal’ childhood, if there is even a normal. I grew up in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. 

Both of my parents are profoundly deaf, and therefore I am fluent in British Sign Language. Going to primary school was a little tough for me, I had often been the victim of bullying, and often this was as a result of my parents being deaf and therefore, I was seen as ‘different’. During this time, school had not become a place that I wanted to go, it was no longer a place that I had considered ‘safe’. In primary I was supported 1-1 during some lessons, as educationally I was a little behind my peers. I then went onto secondary school, where I found things much more difficult. Here it was a much busier place, I was even more ‘different’ to those around me and once again, I was bullied with my parent’s lack of ability to hear being the common things that people had often referred to. At the time, I just tried to keep my head down and muddle through, not that it was easy. I was often outspoken and often spoke up out-of-turn. I already have a loud voice, and this is probably as a result of my parents not being able to hear me when I was younger. 

While in year 8, my childhood best friend was sadly murdered, along with his two younger sisters. At the time of this, I was 12. This had of course broken me, changing my life forever. Following this my parents had split, in such a traumatic way, further changing the stability in life that I had once had too. Again, just like school, home was no longer considered a ‘safe’ place for me. 

At the age of 14, I had attempted to take my own life. I had attempted to take my life several times resulting in me being admitted to hospital, initially on a Section 136, then a Section 2, leading to a Section 3, under the mental health act. The hospital that I was admitted at was in Manchester, 4+ hours away from my family. My life had changed. While admitted, restraint was something that was considered normal, seclusion causing trauma to every child. The way that I’ve always described seclusion is ‘like a bank vault door, and inside there is only 1 window. The one window that someone is watching you through, every second for the time that you are in there’. Fast forward 8 months and I am discharged from hospital. 

I return home and have a reduced timetable at school. On a Wednesday I would be a Teaching Assistant at the primary school that I had once attended. Life seemed to be getting better, with more stability and support around me. I had just turned 16 and suddenly I was in that dark place that I found myself in before. This time, I had planned how I was going to take my life. I had made a conscious effort to say goodbye to everyone, for them to see it was only a goodbye until tomorrow type of goodbye. I again attempted to end my life. My family saving me on multiple occasions, seeing things that not just any parent, but nobody should have to see. 

I was then readmitted, but this time to a placement in Peterborough. This was a therapeutic placement, where therapy was accessible, education was on site and restraint was solemnly used. For me, this is the placement that changed me, allowed me to access help and support and gave me the autonomy to carry on. I had left this placement around 8 months later and lived in unregulated supporting accommodation. I had lived alone now. 

I find it quite funny actually, I used to work as a support worker (at 16) and would go to work to support people for an array of reasons. I would then return home and have a support worker to support me, and ensure that I was safe at night. This carried on until I was 18. At 18 I had chosen to give up receiving support from all services. The mental health system was broken, offering no support now that I’m an adult. It’s as if you turn 18 and then suddenly, you aren’t expected to be living with any issues anymore. I had continued working in a variety of roles, in education, support work, elderly care, children services and through these I was exposed to management roles too. 

In the midst of Covid, I had seen the struggles that other providers were facing. I had seen the lack of support for those families who, all of a sudden, had nowhere to go. Imagine being Autistic, and suddenly, your routine changes. This was clear with the families that I began working with. It was then that I had set up First Thought Care Services. It was at this moment that I took a huge risk, against all the odds. I don’t come from a wealthy background, I struggled to muddle through at times. But I persevered and carried on making a difference. I truly wanted to use my experience to be able to make a small change within the system that is broken. I wanted to be a voice for those who didn’t have their own. In 2023, I had been diagnosed with ADHD, it’s funny because I guess I didn’t really see it, but everyone (and I mean everyone, even my employees) had seen it way before I had. 

Now, I have such a busy life. But one that I wouldn’t change. I have a beautiful fiancé, a 1-year-old boy and I can finally say that I am a trainee BSL interpreter too. Oh, and in 2024, I shall be releasing First Thought Care Software too!! 

2024, and we have over 80 staff, and truly the most wonderful team. To say that I am proud of myself, would be a true understatement. 

If you have a dream, don’t give up on it. It won’t be easy, but it for sure is not impossible. 

Our service users are the reason that I smile!