From Hospital to Home: A New Kind of Learning

Olaitan Olawande and Janelle Moonasinghe share insights from PSG’s Hospital Discharge Service.

This month, we hear from two members of our Hospital Discharge Service team on how education and learning are redefined during transitions from hospital to community.

A different kind of education

At Positive Support Group (PSG), the Hospital Discharge Service (HDS) supports young people who are ready to leave hospital but need additional planning and support before returning home or to their previous placement. Many have presented with self-harm or suicidal ideation, and while they may be medically fit for discharge, they are often unable to return without specialist input.

Janelle Moonasinghe, Behaviour Analyst, and Olaitan Olawande, Trainee Behaviour Analyst, work within this service to ensure that discharges happen safely and lay the foundation for long-term wellbeing. Through their work in HDS, they’ve seen that supporting young people during this transition involves far more than academic education alone.

A holistic approach

Olaitan and Janelle emphasise that education, in this context, becomes a holistic process – one that focuses on re-establishing routines, building resilience, and equipping both the young person and their support network with the tools needed for sustainable progress.

Central to this approach is understanding what truly matters to the young person – their values, goals, and priorities. Trusted mediators can help uncover these, creating a foundation for meaningful decision-making. By introducing ‘choice points’, young people are encouraged to practise aligning their behaviours with their own personal aspirations, fostering autonomy and confidence.

Supporting flexible learning and life skills

While academic learning continues, it must be flexible – whether through tailored schoolwork, online tuition, or hospital-based education services. Equally important is rebuilding life skills, daily routines, and coping strategies to support emotional resilience and prevent future crises. Consistent use of support plans by families and staff ensures stability across environments.

Empowering young people through collaboration

Above all, Olaitan and Janelle highlight the importance of involving young people in every decision about their support. By prioritising their voice and adapting environments to meet their needs – whether through phased school returns or alternative learning pathways – transitions become not only smoother but genuinely empowering.

At PSG’s Hospital Discharge Service, education is viewed as an ongoing process – supporting young people to rebuild confidence, regain independence, and thrive within their communities.