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Individual planning: an exploration of the link between quality of plan and quality of life
- Authors:
- ADAMS Lynn, MANSELL Jim, BEADLE-BROWN Julie
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 34(2), June 2006, pp.68-76.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
In this study individual plans for people with intellectual disabilities were evaluated for quality and effectiveness in improving quality of life. Quality was assessed by rating whether goals were relevant, observable, age appropriate, necessary, timetabled, developmental, measurable, realistic, assigned to staff and improving at least one of O'Brien's five service accomplishments. Effectiveness was assessed by examining quality of life outcomes for participants with and without individual plans rated as higher quality. No significant difference in outcomes associated with having a higher quality individual plan was found. Findings present a challenge to current expectations that presence and quality of individual plan goals are associated with improved outcomes. Written individual plan goals may not be directly correlated with actual practice, and further research is required to examine this.
A valued life: developing person-centred approaches so people can be more included
- Authors:
- ASHMAN Bev, BEADLE-BROWN Julie
- Publisher:
- United Response
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 20p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report describes a project by United Response in partnership with the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent to evaluate the impact that person-centred approaches are having on the lives of people with learning disabilities. This extensive observational study looked at the needs and characteristics of people supported by United Response, looking at the extent to which these people engaged in meaningful activities and social interaction. Baseline assessment was carried out in 1999/2000 with observations made of 343 people with learning disabilities living in 76 residential and supported living services in England. Reassessment was made in 2005/2006 with trained assessors visiting 138 services, where they observed 469 people being supported in their own homes. Questionnaires were also completed by 425 staff, and information collected on 649 people with learning disabilities. The results show that person-centred approaches have resulted in the people supported by United Response being significantly more engaged in everyday activities, with the greatest change being seen among people with the most complex needs. In 2000, 35% of people were largely disengaged; this reduced to 14% in 2005/2006. The number of people engaged for more than 50% of the time increased from 13% to 31%.
Person-centred approaches and quality of life
- Author:
- BEADLE-BROWN Julie
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 11(3), July 2006, pp.4-12.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This mainly conceptual paper summarises the current conceptualisation of personalisation as it applies to people with learning disabilities. It goes on to map out how the drive towards the personalisation of services, its most recent iterations of person-centred planning, person-centred funding and person-centred action, contributes to a better quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities using quality of life domain indicators (social inclusion, physical well-being, interpersonal relations, material well-being, emotional well-being, self-determination, personal development and rights). In doing so it describes what you would see in services where person-centred approaches were being successfully implemented.
Defining and measuring rapport: implications for supporting people with complex needs
- Authors:
- GUTHRIE Kamisha Sherene, BEADLE-BROWN Julie
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 11(3), July 2006, pp.21-30.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This research aimed to identify behavioural cues of rapport and warmth, in order to enable the construction of a valid measurement tool that would support existing methods of behavioural analysis. A number of general research questions were put to six focus groups. Participants were individuals with learning disabilities, professionals working for the NHS or a local authority, and support workers. Data obtained was qualitative in nature and was examined using content analysis and comparison between participants' experiences. Methods of interaction and communication with people who were either liked or disliked were generally similar across groups, although this varied by specific category. Behavioural cues of rapport were identified and categorised. Most of these would be of use in the creation of an assessment tool, although some adjustment is required so that they can be measured. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Too far to go: out-of-area placements of people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- BEADLE-BROWN Julie, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 11(1), February 2006, pp.24-34.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This mainly exploratory study was a one-point-in-time survey of the situation of one English county. The study involved a survey of all social care homes in the country, followed by measures of quality of life/service for a random sample of 30 people identified by the survey, interviews with home managers, service users, family carers and care managers, and focus groups with members of four community learning disability teams. The total number of people placed out-of-area was estimated to be close to 2,000 (1,500 were placed by the local authority within the country). The main reason for such placements was lack of good local services, but cost also seemed important. For many of those who had been in long-stay hospital, locality appeared not to be important. Effects varied, but at least a third of people were experiencing very poor service quality and quality of life. Family carers generally felt their relative was happy, but fear of loosing placement was a strong theme. For local community learning disability teams, the main problems included increased workload, reduced provision for local residents, difficulty in dealing with placing authority and the poor quality of the homes. Challenges for public agencies include provision of better local services, management of the cost incentives, especially for London Boroughs, and a system where funding follows the person wherever they chose to live.