At Nightingale House, where twelve lives intertwine in complex ways, Fletch, a resident turned Expert by Experience, has become a strong force shaping the service and beyond.
At Nightingale House in Derby, something inspiring is happening. The 12-bed home, part of Progress’ adult services, supports people with complex needs, many of whom are non-verbal, require hoisting, or live with profound disabilities. But even in such a specialist environment, leadership doesn’t just come from staff. Increasingly, it comes from within. From a resident named Fletch.
With sharp instincts, an assistive tablet, and a generous smile, Fletch has emerged not only as a valued member of the household but as one of its most trusted voices. His official title, Expert by Experience, belies the gravity of what he is doing: influencing and shaping the way care is delivered, recruitment decisions are made, and voices are heard. He’s not simply receiving support anymore. He’s influencing it.
This role has seen him check in on the wellbeing of fellow residents, spot safety issues in the home, and even sit in on staff interviews. “He’s got his own set of questions,” said Jackie, the Registered Manager. “And if someone doesn’t make eye contact with him, he clocks that. It matters to him.” Fletch takes the work seriously, “He gets rewards, yes,” his support worker explained. “But it’s not just about that. He wants to be involved.”
When asked what prepared him for the role, Fletch didn’t hesitate, he started listing names: Shannon, Georgia, Jackie, and others who had encouraged and guided him. It wasn’t a solo journey. It was built on trust and belief from those around him. That belief, paired with his lived experience and quiet resolve, helped him transform from a new resident finding his feet to a key contributor whose opinion carries weight.
Eleanor who started at Nightingale the same week Fletch moved in, has seen that transformation first-hand. “He was shy, a bit lost. Now he’s cheeky, confident, a real presence,” she said. “He’s gone from thinking about himself to actually saying, ‘That needs to change.’ He even helped interview Shannon, who’s now one of our strongest team members.”
This evolution has not gone unnoticed by Chantelle, another longtime staff member. “He was already lovely, but now he’s really growing into a confident young man,” she said. “He brings the vibes. If something’s off—laundry, kitchen, a bit of mess—he’s on it. Keeps us all in check.”
When Fletch isn’t monitoring the goings-on at Nightingale, he’s out in the community, often on outings that combine leisure with learning: museums, historical tours, new cities. He loves these excursions, especially when they end with a visit to the pub. But it’s not all pints and sightseeing. Fletch is thinking about the future. His ambitions? Possibly another job, maybe even paid, beyond Nightingale House. He’s also got his sights set on going to the shop independently and, as he shyly admitted, perhaps finding a relationship. “Everyone wants love, don’t they?” his support worker said with a smile. Fletch grinned.
That emotional openness is one of his strongest qualities. He speaks often and fondly of his mother, who visits weekly. “You love your mum so much, don’t you?” he was asked during a chat. Fletch nodded, then added his grandmother, who calls him “an angel,” and cousins who come during the summer. Family is his anchor, his cheer section, and one of the reasons he walks with so much quiet pride.
It’s not hard to see why the staff at Nightingale House are so invested in him as they invest in other residents at the home. “He’s not just helping us run the service, he’s helping us improve it,” Jackie said. “He does homely audits, advocates for other residents, flags issues when things are broken. He sees things we don’t.”
And he does it with a style all his own. When his powered wheelchair temporarily broke down, he hated being pushed. “It wasn’t good for him,” one staff member recalled. “His wheelchair is his freedom. That independence, being able to move and ask for a drink when he wants, it makes a big difference.”
For Phil McDonald, who leads Progress Adult Services, the goal is to scale this kind of involvement. “Eventually, we want broader representation—people with autism, those who have experienced trauma. Co-production isn’t just a buzzword for us. It’s the goal.”
Jackie echoed the vision. “We hope Fletch might get the opportunity to go and visit other homes and do some audits or help with recruitment there if needed.”
For now, Fletch remains a quiet force at Nightingale House, greeting visitors with a grin, keeping an eye on standards, speaking up when something isn’t right. He’s still Fletch, after all. But he’s also something more: a living example of what’s possible when we trust those we support to shape the support they receive.
Happy National Co-production Week.
