Autism Care UK, Rother Heights

Over the period of time we have been supported by ARC, we have had many changes across the service. All staff have attended the active support training. Some were a little bit confused initially as they already supported the people we support in a person centred way, however they really took on board the advice and training given and continue to integrate the principles of Active Support into their daily practice.

Consistency is key and we have found that Active Support marries well with other interventions we use in support plans such as PECS and TEACCH as it too helps ensure a consistency of approach… 

The staff team now regularly support people who communicate using a range of complex behaviours, and these individuals all have very specific needs in relation to how their autism impacts upon their view of the world. Consistency is key for this group and we have found that Active Support marries well with other interventions we use in support plans such as PECS and TEACCH as it too helps ensure a consistency of approach regardless of who in the team is supporting an individual at a particular time.

Active Support has also been integrated into our 12 week development plans that support individuals to achieve their life goals and increase their independence. For example, a person with diabetes who we work with is now coping with his illness in a much more competent fashion than previously. Further positive outcomes have been achieved with a young lady who previously found it difficult to access the community safely due to her autism and associated behaviours. She now goes shopping and goes for regular walks in the community, she has lost weight and is starting to talk rather than write everything down, her confidence levels increase daily.

One of the people we support who used to live in Fence House is now in his own supported living flat, supported by the same staff team, able to live on his own, due entirely to the confidence of this staff and his increased independence due to us actively supporting him.

Improving our organisation

Across the service as a whole, we found taking part in this project very exciting and we realized that some of the things we do, could be improved. Firstly we are altering our documentation to use a daily diary, which means that staff monitor as it happens and not at the end of the shift, it highlights activities and positive achievements and ensures that we monitor each persons day in a positive way.

We also now have a Knowledge and Skills Framework, which supports the staff team to reach goals, and clearly outlines their achievements, ensuring that in each supervision, each staff member is clearly working to their individual goals in a clear manner.

Reflective practice is important in our organisation … active support principles support this reflection and sometimes challenge attitudes as to how staff view the person and their potential

Reflective practice is important in our organisation in that we want staff to continually reflect on what they do and how they do it in terms of providing support in the most empowering way. As such, active support principles support this reflection and sometimes challenge attitudes as to how staff view the person and their potential to continually develop in independence (be this a small or large achievement or goal). Our involvement has also proven to us that Active Support principles can be integrated into anyone’s support plan, regardless of the complexity of their presenting needs.

Peter Cross
Head of Strategy,
Autism Care