Carers Self Advocacy For paid support workers

Welcomes and Working Together Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Learning Outcomes Help increase the confidence of carers to self- advocate Help carers to be assertive and negotiate well with services and systems Help paid staff to increase carers’ self awareness Enable paid staff to deliver self-advocacy to carers Self Advocacy for Carers – Professionals Session – Amy Anderson

What is advocacy? Self Advocacy for Carers – Professionals Session – Amy Anderson

What is advocacy? It’s about getting someone’s voice heard and upholding their rights Self Advocacy for Carers – Professionals Session – Amy Anderson

Different types of advocacy Individual/professional Collective Self-advocacy Self Advocacy for Carers – Professionals Session – Amy Anderson

CARERS AND THE SYSTEM Self Advocacy for Carers – Professionals Session – Amy Anderson

Carers and ‘the system’ Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Why may a carer need to self-advocate? Self Advocacy for Carers – Professionals Session – Amy Anderson

Carers and ‘The System’ The balance of power Self Advocacy for Carers – Professionals Session – Amy Anderson

‘Power’ a carer has They are an expert Knowledge can match a ‘professional’ Experience about the person they care for Carers are a free resource Carers rights EPIC Model Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

CARERS RIGHTS Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Carers Rights To ask for a ‘carers support plan’ To have a life outside of caring To choose what you are willing and not willing to do in your caring role To make decisions on behalf of someone who can no longer make decisions for themselves Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Carers Rights Be protected from disability discrimination ‘by association’ Ask for an Assessment of need for a child with additional support needs Raise concerns about a vulnerable adult. Potentially claim welfare benefits Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Carers Rights Become a ‘named person’ for someone who is mentally unwell Ask for flexible working arrangements Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Carers also have a right to: Be treated fairly Be given information in layman's terms Be given clear answers to you questions Have time to voice your concerns Feel your opinions are valued To have your needs considered To be protected against discrimination Presentation title, date, etc.

Carers rights Presentation title, date, etc.

‘Power’ the system has: Services Aids and adaptations Knowledge and information Gate keepers to specialist services law Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

The Balance of power is in the System’s favour Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

‘Power’ and the system Definitions of power How carers can make the most of a system they can’t control? Assertiveness Negotiation Self Awareness Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

ASSERTIVENESS Presentation title, date, etc.

What you understand by the term ‘Assertive’ ? Presentation title, date, etc.

Assertiveness Recognising our needs and asking openly and directly for what we want Recognising and respecting the rights and needs of other people Relating to people in personal and working situations in an open and honest way Feeling responsible for and in control of our own actions Not seeing situations in terms of win or lose, but being prepared to compromise Being able to resolve difficulties and disputes in a way that feels comfortable and just to those involved Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Aggressiveness Expressing feelings and opinions in a way that punishes, threatens or puts the other person down Disregarding the rights and needs of others. Aiming to get our own way no matter what If we ‘win’ and get what we want aggressively it probably leaves someone else with bad feelings, making it difficult to relate to them in future Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

… Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson Passiveness Not standing up for our rights. Allowing others to take advantage of us Avoiding responsibility for making choices – leaving others to make decisions for us Not being in control of our lives. Seeing ourselves as helpless victims of unfairness and injustice

… Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson Manipulative behaviour Unable to ask directly for what we want Trying to get what we want indirectly, by playing games or trying to make people feel guilty

… Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson Your experiences

Scenarios Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

NEGOTIATING Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Negotiating Important in getting carers’ voices heard Can be learned by anyone All parties need to gain something, so be prepared to compromise Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

…. Your experiences

Negotiating Preparation is key. Ask them to write down: What they must achieve? What they would like to achieve? What could they reasonably manage without? What would success look/feel/be like? Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Negotiating At the time Speak to the right person Be clear Be objective Be positive Ask for enough time Know when to stop Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Negotiating At the time Put their case succinctly Listen to the response Keep calm Look for areas of agreement Compromise where there are benefits Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Negotiating What is their strategy going to be? Their language Their approach and behaviour Their body language Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Putting it into practice Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

See further Self –Advocacy Toolkit resources on assertiveness and negotiation skills resources/self-advocacy Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Lunch Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

LANGUAGE Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Words, voice and language Key to getting your voice heard Convey facts, feelings and beliefs Mood, state of mind Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Disconnecting language Making judgements “this is cruel”, “this is dreadful” “he is heartless” Using extreme/polarising language “this is awful” “useless” “wrong” “rubbish” Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Disconnecting language – what happens to the listener? Defensive May go on the offensive Descends into a row Becomes personal and hurtful Takes away goodwill and energy No-one wins Can harm the relationship Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

How can we re-connect? By being objective Being specific Explaining the situation fully Even vocal tone Eye contact Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Reconnecting Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Fostering a carer’s autonomy Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Fostering a carer’s autonomy Be open at the outset Increase carers’ self knowledge Assertiveness and negotiation techniques Help with making decisions Help with jargon Practice in asking for things Explore thinking and realities Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Fostering a carer’s autonomy Mind your boundaries Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Fostering a carer’s autonomy When they just want you to do it for them Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

THINKING AND REALITIES Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Common carer beliefs Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Impact… of negative thinking… Reinforce a negative mindset Less responsive to positives Less responsive to alternatives Make it harder to negotiate Create lots and lots of stress!! Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Impact… of negative thinking… Could further harm the relationship they have with the professional(s) in their life. Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Re-balancing thinking Accept they have control over How they respond internally (thoughts and beliefs) How they respond externally (behaviour and actions) Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Re-balancing thinking Ask them: What is the evidence for their belief Have they contributed to this belief? Is there an alternative explanation for the reality? Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Professionals Have they given the professional all the info? Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Lunch Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Providing learning for carers around self-advocacy Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Organising training Identifying need What do you feel is needed? What do carers say they need? Do carers have a good grasp of their rights? How good are their communication skills? How high is their self-confidence? Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Organising training Learning Outcomes Learning outcomes are statements that describe what a participant will be able to do as a result of learning. Clearly stated learning outcomes help participants understand what is expected of them and help staff focus on precisely what they want participants to achieve. Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Organising training For example, learning outcomes for a 3 week stress management course for carers could be to: Enable carers to control their stress more effectively Support carers in maintaining their well- being Encourage carers to offer each other support after the course has ended Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Organising training - practicalities Time constraints 2-4 hours the usual length Content will also depend on the learning abilities within the group. Learning styles in the group (see Workers Resource) Other considerations Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Organising training Practicalities Publicising the event (4-8 weeks in advance) Evaluating the session afterwards Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Use the Carers Self- advocacy Toolkit! Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson

Feedback, thank and close Self Advocacy for Carers – Amy Anderson