Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 9 of 9
A leap of faith
- Authors:
- MARSHALL Catherine, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 13(5), September/October 2013, pp.26-27.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
An account of how a partnership of family and professionals helped a man with learning disabilities to move from residential care to a personalised supported living bungalow. The article looks at the challlenges and the role Hertfordshire County Council's Positive Moves team and the care provider Look Ahead played. (Original abstract)
Conundrums of supported living: the experiences of people with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, BOULD Emma, BEADLE-BROWN Julie
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 42(4), 2017, pp.309-319.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Dissatisfaction with the inflexibility of the group home model has led to the growth of supported living that separates housing from support and is thought to have greater potential for better quality of life outcomes. Comparative studies have had mixed findings with some showing few differences, other than greater choice in supported living. By investigating service user experiences of supported living this study aimed to identify how the potential of supported living might be better realised. Method: Thirty-four people with intellectual disability participated in 7 focus group interviews and 6 people in an individual interview. Data were analysed using grounded theory methods. Results: Although participants experienced greater choice and control over their everyday lives, they did not feel they controlled the way support was provided and experienced restrictions on lifestyle associated with low income. Despite their use of community places and varied social connections to family, friends, and acquaintances, most experienced loneliness. Conclusions: If the potential of supported living is to be realised, shortcomings of support arrangements must be addressed by, for example, greater consistency of support worker skills, consumer control over recruitment and rostering, and more skilled support to build friendships and manage difficult relationships. (Publisher abstract)
A review of assistive technology and its impact
- Authors:
- BYE Gary, GIBSON Mark
- Publisher:
- Life Path Trust
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 13p.
- Place of publication:
- Coventry
This report, by the charitable company Life Plan Trust, reviews the assistive technology they have installed into the homes of people with learning disabilities in Coventry since 2007. The assistive technology comprised a control panel connected to a mains supply and telephone landline along with wireless sensors which when activated signalled the control panel which dialled a pre-programmed number, a call centre or a carer. The charity supported service users for a few hours a week or more, but some needed support staff 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Examples of sensors are personal alarm triggers, bogus caller alarms, bed occupancy mats, epilepsy mats and flood detectors, all fitted with failsafe systems and excepting the personal alarm were passive and required no input from the users. Life Path Trust staff responded by talking through the control panel to clients and were with them within 30 minutes or the emergency services were contacted if necessary. A number of case studies illustrate how this technology promoted independence without intrusion and resulted in assistance and reassurance for the user, their family and friends when needed. Detailed analysis of the financial benefits is appended and considered in the context of taking control of personalised budgets.
Quality development in supported living services for people with learning disabilities: introducing AQUA-UWO
- Author:
- ASELMEIER Laurenz
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 10(4), October 2005, pp.41-48.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This paper reports on the manual AQUA-UWO, an instrument for quality development in supported living services developed by a research group at the Centre for Planning and Evaluation of Social Services at the University of Siegen in Germany. AQUA-UWO identifies key issues for supported living and formulates professional standards for work in, and management of, supported living. Service user rights for self-advocacy and self-determination form the basis of quality assurance and development of supported living services. The first part of the instrument covers conceptual foundations, quality comprehension and methodical procedures. The second part covers key issues, identifies working procedures and clarifies quality standards. The third part includes materials which can be used to support the process of quality development.
Supporting roles
- Authors:
- KINSELLA Peter, WARD Linda
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 22.7.93, 1993, pp.24-25.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
A shadow has been cast over group homes for people with learning difficulties. Research on the schemes revealed that many residents in the homes do not really choose where they are going to live, with whom, their support staff, their routines or their expenditure. As the major residential alternative to hospitals and hostels for people with learning difficulties the life style offered is still often powerless and controlled. In the United States there has been a strong movement towards Supported living, where many people receive a mixture of paid and informal supports which are individually planned and arranged around them; and in the UK the National Development Team for people with learning difficulties is just launching its Supported Living Initiative. Looks at the future in supported living.
Living with support: experiences of people with mild intellectual disability
- Authors:
- GIESBERS Sanne A. H., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 32(2), 2019, pp.446-456.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: To enhance social inclusion of people with intellectual disability, policy is aimed at increasing informal support networks. Nevertheless, staff continue to play a vital role in their support networks. Method: Six individuals with mild intellectual disability, living in community‐based settings, were interviewed following a semi‐structured format. In‐depth accounts of participants’ support experiences were established using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Three main themes were identified: relationships with staff placed within a personal history, relationships with staff within an organisational context, and staff support and interviewees’ place in the world. Conclusions: Relationships with staff were often one of the closest and most significant social relationships participants had. As living in the community had not necessarily led to meaningful inclusion for participants, the findings point at the important role of staff in supporting and facilitating friendships and close relationships of people with intellectual disability. (Edited publisher abstract)
Revolving door of service providers
- Author:
- DRINKWATER Mark
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 24.11.11, 2011, pp.28-29.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Competitive tendering of services to non-profit organisations and profit making companies can be very disruptive for staff and service users, especially when involving supported living services for people with learning disabilities. The difficulties people with learning disabilities can face when changing service providers and the concerns that local authorities should address are discussed.
Knowing where you stand: agreements for supported housing organisations and residents
- Authors:
- KEEBLE Monica, FORBS Duncan
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Publication year:
- 1999
- Pagination:
- Book, 2 leaflets.
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
Report introducing a new model 'support charter' designed to function as an agreement between organisations providing support and services and residents in supported housing. It is a non legal agreement, setting out the relationship between them and detailing expectations and standards of support services. Also contains, in separate leaflets, an abridged version of a model charter for people with learning difficulties, and a model leaflet explaining what a support charter is and how it can benefit tenants. An audio cassette for people with learning difficulties accompanies the book, but is not available from the NISW library.
Emancipation and self-determination of people with learning disabilities and down-sizing institutional care
- Authors:
- LOON Van Jos, HOVE Van Geert
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 16(2), March 2001, pp.233-254.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In Arduin, an organisation for services to people with learning disabilities in the Netherlands, the emancipation and self-determination of people with learning disabilities has been positively adopted as fundamental in order to secure the best possible quality of life of the clients. In this article the background and developments in perception are outlined, and those dimensions in quality of life are elaborated that are seen as most essential in the innovation: inclusion, self-determination and personal development. The choices that were made as a consequence in Arduin and most fundamental the choice to dismantle the institution are described.