Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Don't leave people behind
- Author:
- BATES Peter
- Journal article citation:
- A Life in the Day, 12(4), November 2008, pp.16-18.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The modernisation of day services presents many challenges. One key challenge is not to abandon the people that these services have traditionally supported. The author, from the National Development Team, makes a plea for a modernisation process that clearly recognises the needs of this important group.
Moving to inclusion
- Authors:
- BATES Peter, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, April 2006, pp.16-18.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
People who have mental health issues or learning difficulties tend to spend a lot of time in segregated places when, in general, services should be helping them move more into places used by everyone, and to get involved in activities open to everyone. The National Development Team had developed an 'inclusion traffic lights' system to help staff think about what they are doing now, and how they could support service users towards greater social inclusion. This article describes the model and then shows how it had been used by day services.
Almost invisible – providing subtle support in community settings
- Authors:
- BATES Peter, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 17(4), 2012, pp.156-162.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
For some people, their only opportunity to connect with the community occurs when staff accompany them. However, subtle support that allows a person to become more independent, less reliant on services, and more socially included is a complex business. This article aims to investigate some of the pitfalls and potential of supporting people on a one-to-one basis in their community in order to stimulate improvements in practice. It discusses a range of situations via several vignettes and draws advice out of these for support workers and their managers. Staff are encouraged to plan carefully so that they can hold back from doing too much for the person, engage as full participants rather than passive bystanders, and seek opportunities for the person to develop informal connections in the community. Managers are encouraged to develop risk management systems that promote contact with ordinary citizens and a culture of community participation through training and mentoring support staff. In order to overcome the many pitfalls of supporting someone in the community, staff need training, time to discuss their experiences, and recognition that it is an ongoing challenge with no easy solutions.
Should social care staff be Facebook friends with the people they support?
- Authors:
- BATES Peter, SMITH Sam, NISBET Robert
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 17(2), 2015, pp.88-98.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Local policies often prohibit care staff from online contact with the people they support. The purpose of this paper is to review the reasons put forward for this ban and seek explanations. Design/methodology/approach: The paper examines relevant literature on the use of social networking by disabled and nondisabled people. This paper offers a critique of common policies and justifications and poses a challenge to those who impose such regulations. Findings: The paper finds no support for current policies. Research limitations/implications: The authors found only a limited amount of research in this area, and research findings were not commonly utilised by policy makers. Practical implications: Policy makers and regulators need to take a more rigorous and person-centred approach to rule making in respect of social media. Social implications: A widespread ban on the use of social media in communications between staff and the people they support is exposed as paternalistic and exacerbating infantilisation and exclusion rather than seeing disabled people as digital citizens. Regulators and those with responsibilities for safeguarding need to adopt a more empowering and person-centred approach. Originality/value: This paper will only make a difference if regulators and those with responsibilities for safeguarding adopt a more empowering and person-centred approach rather than the fear-based blanket prohibitions that have applied to date. (Publisher abstract)