People with learning disabilities are entitled to lives which are as full as anyone else’s.
Although every one of us differs, there are some core things we all have in common. It is important for most people to:
- be part of a community
- have good relationships with friends and family
- have relationships that last
- have opportunities to develop experience and learn new skills
- have choices and control over life
- be afforded status and respect … and …
- be treated as an individual.
So important are these core elements of life that they have come to define what we mean by leading a socially valued lifestyle.
Engagement in a full range of typical activities is part and parcel of such a lifestyle. Basic requirements for a full life are the opportunities to:
- participate in the full range of activities that everybody else does
- be involved and share interests with other people … and …
- develop relationships, skills, and experience.
When a person is not able enough to do typical activities independently, he or she will need support to do them.
The New revised Active Support Handbook
Active Support is designed to make sure that people who need support have the chance to be fully involved in their lives and receive the right range and level of support to be successful. Several research studies have shown that it is effective.
The Authors and ARC Cymru have updated the original 6 booklets to create a useful Handbook.
The Active Support Project was a highly successful project in Wales, which has now become the UK-wide Active Support Practice Development Service.
Active Support is proven to improve the lives of service users, making it easier to live independently and have greater quality of life.
The Active Support Handbook is organised into four sections:
- Part One: An Overview – This looks at what Active Support is, how to implement it and why it is so important.
- Part Two: Interacting to Promote Participation – This looks at supporting engagement, dealing with problems and thinking in steps.
- Part Three: Activity Support Plans – This part details what an activity support plan is, how it can be used, keeping track of these plans and administration.
- Part Four: Maintaining Quality – This looks at working as a team, being consistent, positive managerial support, using the information recorded and quality assurance.
The Active Support Handbook is a useful resource for anyone supporting people in an adult social care setting with learning disabilities, autism or challenging behaviour.
Active Support works well alongside other approaches such as:
- Person-centred plans
- Opportunity or Learning Plans
- Positive Behavioural Support
- Communication plans
Active Support is designed to make sure that people who need support have the chance to be fully involved in their lives and receive the right range and level of support to be successful. The Active Support Handbook is an invaluable guide for any support organisation.