Rilee first moved into Mountain View in South Wales at the age of 15. Rilee was initially in a children’s home in Leicester, where she had grown up, but her previous home could no longer meet her needs. Moving to South Wales was a big change for Rilee, but it marked the beginning of a truly positive and transformative chapter in her life. Rilee’s referral came from a social worker who had previously placed another young person with Keys Homes and believed the services Keys provides would be a good fit.
From the beginning, the team at Mountain View worked closely with Rilee to understand her individual needs. She has sensory processing needs and underwent an ASD assessment, which helped shape the supportive, structured and predictable environment she now thrives in. Staff recognised early on that Rilee benefits from gradual process introduction, with clear routines and careful planning. At Mountain View, the philosophy has always been that small victories are truly big achievements, and Rilee’s journey has been filled with these meaningful successes.
Small Steps Create Big Achievements:
One fantastic example of this was Rilee’s experience with visiting the dentist. This was approached with great care and planning to ensure she felt safe and prepared. The process began with a simple drive past the dentist's practice, allowing familiarisation with the environment. This was followed by an in-person meet-and-greet with the dentist beforehand, building trust and reducing anxiety. To further support her comfort, accommodation was arranged close to the dentist the night before her appointment. Thanks to this thoughtful, step-by-step approach, Rilee successfully attended her appointment, which was a huge personal achievement and a proud moment for everyone involved.
Rilee’s creativity has always been one of her greatest strengths. She has developed a real passion and talent for art, particularly anime-style artwork, which has become her signature style. Rilee attends college, where she is currently studying Level 2 Art and is thriving academically, recently achieving a distinction. Her dedication is remarkable; she has never missed a day of college, demonstrating her commitment and love for learning. Her tutor has praised her exceptional ability, noting that her artwork is already reaching degree-level quality.
Outside of college, Rilee continues to flourish creatively and socially. She has built an incredible following of over 80,000 followers on Instagram, where she proudly shares her artwork and connects with a wider creative community. This achievement reflects not only her artistic talent but also her growing confidence and independence.
To support Rilees’s education and future aspirations, a comprehensive Learning Development Plan (LDP) has been put in place. Staff worked closely with Rilee to ensure she felt comfortable and confident about starting college, including arranging campus visits, meeting college staff, and meeting support workers ahead of time. This careful planning helped Rilee settle into college life quickly and successfully.
Continuing the Journey:
As Rilee approaches her 18th birthday on 24th February, she is preparing for another exciting milestone, transitioning from Keys Group children’s services into Accomplish Adults residential services. Although this marks a move forward into adulthood, Rilee is remaining within the Keys Group family, ensuring continuity, familiarity and ongoing support.
Rilee has been clear that she wants to remain living in Wales, where she has built friendships, educational opportunities and a place she now considers home. While gaining agreement from Leicester Local Authority initially presented challenges, everyone worked collaboratively to ensure Rilee’s wishes and best interests remained the priority, and approval was successfully secured. Rilee is now due to officially move into her new adult service on 3rd March.
The transition has been carefully planned to ensure Rilee feels excited and secure about this next step. She has been attending weekly visits to her new home, building relationships with staff and becoming familiar with her new surroundings. Rilee has already chosen her bedroom colour scheme and is looking forward to trips to IKEA to choose her furniture and bedding, allowing her to personalise her new space and make it her own.
In the lead-up to her move, staff at Mountain View have been focused on making lasting, positive memories with Rilee. They have enjoyed special days out together, including visits to the aquarium and other activities Rilee enjoys, and have celebrated her journey and the incredible progress she has made over the past three years.
Rilee’s journey from moving to Mountain View as a 15-year-old to becoming a confident, talented and independent young adult at 18 has been truly inspiring. Her determination, creativity, and willingness to embrace new challenges have already allowed her to achieve so much. As she prepares to begin this exciting new chapter within Adults services, everyone who has supported Rilee is immensely proud of the remarkable young woman she has become.
Rilee’s story is a wonderful example of how patience, personalised support, and celebrating every step forward can empower young people to thrive and reach their full potential.
