Achieving better outcomes in supported accommodation Jim Mansell

What should services achieve?  Principles often very clear: independence, inclusion, choice  Practice often adrift: ‘cared for’, isolated, controlled

What does it take to provide good services?  A supportive context  Skilled facilitation by staff  A sense of direction and a commitment to the journey

A supportive context  Arrangements are person-centred, not standardised  They support family and community life  They adopt a social model of disability not a medical model  They use a ‘support model’ not a ‘readiness model’

An environment rich in opportunities at home…

…and in the community

Skilled facilitation by staff  Be clear about what values mean in the everyday lives of people  Focus on how staff support people minute- by-minute to achieve this  Key question is “What would you see?”

What would you see?

What is person-centred active support?  Providing enough help to enable people to participate successfully in meaningful activities and relationships  So that people gain more control over their lives, gain more independence and become more included as a valued member of their community  Irrespective of degree of intellectual disability or presence of extra problems

Elements of active support  ‘Every moment has potential’  Little and often  Graded assistance to ensure success  Maximising choice and control It’s about the quality of relationship - not about the paperwork!

Results: enabling assistance

Results: engagement in meaningful activity

What is the evidence? OK! OK! I believe you – active support is good!  Active support produces higher levels of engagement in meaningful activity  These lead to increases in independence  Especially effective for people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities  Staff training produces dramatic effects  On-the-job coaching is essential  Maintenance requires ongoing management commitment and involvement

A sense of direction and a commitment to the journey  We can do better…  More supportive contexts and better active support  We can overcome obstacles  Being a movement for change as well as a support for individuals

A virtuous circle Good staff support Good outcomes Public support Good opportunities