Tools for engagement
Once we started the Project and had our training we started to use some of the tools to help our residents to engage more in their lives. I supported all key workers to discuss with their key clients if they would like to make any changes or add in activities to their Personal Care Plans. This we do now on a regular basis. As a first line manager I was able to support staff on shift with changes in their own personal support by implementing some of the tools we had discussed during the training.
We also changed the way we asked people what they wanted to do. We stopped putting our ideas to the residents first. We tended to take over more, before we understood what Active Support was. We also realised that some staff were pre-empting what the person wanted, instead of waiting to see what the person wanted to do eg. around meal times.
We reintroduced and thought more about task analysis. It refocused us and reminded us what we should be doing ie. supporting in steps and not taking over the whole activity. This was especially useful for new staff – changing from caring to enabler.
The training really made a difference to staff attitudes and support which of course has really benefited our residents. One of our residents who has lived at our Service for a number of years has really developed in his independence and confidence. He engages now with taking part in choosing new activities which he enjoys. We have spoken to him about what he would like to do in the future and staff are working with him to achieve this on a daily/weekly basis.
With staff support residents have become more involved in areas of their own health and taking more responsibility.
The Project has helped us see how engaging people more has had an impact on a persons confidence and self esteem as well as their health. With staff support residents have become more involved in areas of their own health and taking more responsibility. Staff have found ways of supporting people in taking responsibility for example in remembering what appointments they may have coming up and who they may need to speak to. Eg. remembering that they have a dentist appointment, and what they need to do to prepare for it – oral hygiene. Another area around health outcomes is a reduction in smoking. One gentleman was a heavy smoker. As he is doing more in his life he has been able (with support) to dramatically cut down on smoking. He has also been able to reduce his medication for mental health and is a lot happier and wants to do more. We have also noticed a reduction in his behaviour of about 40%.
The support from the Project helped us to focus as much on what a person was not doing ie. disengagement as well as what a person was doing and could the person do something different.
We have had comments from families noticing their son/daughter seem more relaxed and happier and pleased with how they have been able to develop new skills. The psychologist connected with the service has also commented on the reduction in behaviour and the improvement in mental health with the people in the Service. We have had really positive comments from commissioners and the local council.
We have now introduced Active Support into our induction process so that staff know how to support and why we support people in this way. Care plans are more detailed. We review achievements and set new goals. There is always a manager on shift to help support the staff team.
In the early stages of the Project we did struggle with a high staff turn over (50%) both at support level and management. Some staff struggled with the change from carer to enabler but with support from the team and manager have been able to make those changes. Active Support gave us the tools to do what we do now and will continue to do so.
Thank you for the support given to our Service.
Netra Pandiyan
Registered Manager
Quality Care