Active Support in Disability Care

In the realm of disability care, Active Support stands as a beacon of empowerment, fostering independence and enhancing the quality of life for individuals facing various challenges. Understanding its profound impact is essential, not just for caregivers and support professionals but for society as a whole. In this insightful exploration, we delve into the core of Active Support, unraveling its essence, benefits, and the transformative ways it shapes the lives of those it touches. Join us on this journey to discover the profound significance of Active Support in disability care, and how it paves the way for a more inclusive and compassionate world.

This study used multilevel modelling (MLM) to identify factors at the person, service and organisation levels that predict the quality of Active Support. It involved a longitudinal study with data collection at 12-18 month intervals.

It’s a way of supporting people to engage in meaningful activities

In active support, people with disabilities encouraged to learn new skills and engage in more activities. This enables them to become less reliant on others and have more control over their lives. The approach also helps people discover their own strengths and create meaningful relationships with other members of the community. The concept behind Person Centred Active Support is that every moment holds the potential for a person to be engaged in a meaningful activity and develop a sense of purpose. To do this, staff customise their support to ensure the person’s needs met. This includes providing enough assistance but not so much that the person left feeling disengaged. It also involves giving them the opportunity to participate in a small part of an activity, rather than the whole thing, so they can take a break and come back to it later.

The method can use by individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities to build relationships with others and to live a full and active life. It is an important step toward a more independent lifestyle, but it requires a lot of training. It is also helpful to work with a trainer who has experience in the field and can provide the necessary guidance. The trainer can also teach other staff in the organization the skills necessary to implement the model.

This study identified factors that influence the quality of Active Support using multilevel modelling. The data came from a longitudinal study of services in Australia. The services managed by 14 not-for-profit organisations and provided 24-hr support for 1-12 people in ordinary community houses. The services sampled at one of seven data points between 2009 and 2017.

In addition to individual characteristics, service structure and organisational practices also found to influence the quality of Active Support. A positive effect on the quality of Active Support was associated with smaller settings and lower staff-to-user ratios. In contrast, services with very heterogeneous groupings of residents found to be associated with poorer quality of Active Support.

The findings from this study are consistent with other research in the area of person-centred Active Support, such as that by Mansell & Beadle-Brown (2012) and Rhodes & Toogood (2015). This research provides valuable information about how a person-centred support approach can improve the quality of life for people with disability and increase job satisfaction among the staff who support them.

It’s a way of building relationships

In disability services, active support focuses on people as individuals and what they want and need. It also promotes building relationships and fostering positive interactions. It helps develop skills for everyday living, while allowing people to build their independence. In addition, it ensures that people supported to engage in meaningful activities that make a difference in their lives.

The Person Centred Active Support model is based on the belief that any moment holds potential for a person to be engaged in meaningful activities and relationships. It also encourages us to maximise choice and control in all aspects of life. To do this, we need to consider a person’s unique strengths and preferences, which can find in their histories and in their relationships. This is why it is so important to listen to the person and take their wishes into account when making decisions.

This approach to disability service delivery has shown to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and increase job satisfaction for disability service staff. This is a key reason why it has become increasingly popular. It can use to help people with disabilities build their skills and gain independence. It can also use to build healthy relationships with friends, family members and community groups.

To assess the effectiveness of Active Support, researchers conducted a survey in which people with disability asked to rank their satisfaction with the opportunities they had to be engaged in meaningful activities and relationships. This was measure using a tool that included 15 items relating to opportunities, the extent of engagement, and the degree to which the support provided was person-centred. The survey administered to people in a wide range of residential services, managed by 14 not-for-profit organisations.

The results of this study showed that the quality of Active Support was significantly predictive of both the opportunity to be engaged and the extent to which engagement achieved. These findings are consistent with previous research on person-centred active support and suggest that these factors may be important predictors of outcomes for the people who use services. This is particularly true for the less able groupings of service users, which typically found in residential services.

It’s a way of giving people more control over their lives

Active support enables people to be more involved in their own lives and can help to reduce behaviour that challenges services. It also helps to build skills and confidence, and can lead to more independent living. The Active Support approach can help people take more control of their own lives, and may even improve health outcomes. This is why Hft is promoting the use of person-centred Active Support across its disability services.

The person-centred Active Support model encourages staff to customise support for each person and ensure their needs met. It takes into account a person’s abilities and preferences, and recognises that every moment holds potential for engagement in meaningful activities and relationships. It also provides principles and a set of skills for staff to guide their practice. This allows them to build relationships with people and provide the right level of support.

It can also help to make the most of a person’s strengths and abilities by providing just enough assistance for them to do what they want to do. For example, a shy woman might not be comfortable participating in a group activity, but if she is encouraging to try something else, she might find her comfort zone and gain new friends.

A recent longitudinal study examined the factors that predict quality of Active Support using multilevel modelling (MLM). The study included a sample of services managed by 14 not-for-profit organisations that provide 24-hr supports to people with intellectual disabilities in ordinary community houses. It collected data from service users and staff through questionnaires, structured observations and interviews. The study conducted over two to seven years, and the data merged at each of the seven time points.

The MLM model addressed shortcomings in previous studies of the predictors of the quality of Active Support by testing for variables at the individual (service user), service and organization levels simultaneously. This approach allowed for examination of the complex relationships between these factors and enabled the identification of features warranting attention by service providers, funders and regulators in ensuring the delivery and monitoring of high-quality Active Support.

It’s a way of reducing reliance on others

The Active Support approach is a way to empower people with disabilities to live their lives independently and reduce their reliance on others. It focuses on providing just enough help to allow people to participate in meaningful activities and relationships, irrespective of their level of intellectual disability or challenging behaviour. It also encourages staff to build meaningful and empowering relationships with people they support. This approach is ideal for enhancing the quality of life of people with disabilities and their families, as it allows them to live in a more independent manner.

The authors of the book explain the theory and research underpinning the Active Support model, as well as what needs to done on a day-to-day basis to implement and improve it. They explore how to adapt the model to individual needs and preferences, and show the communication style that needed for successful enabling relationships. They also outline how to integrate Active Support with other person-centred approaches, particularly Positive Behaviour Support.

To test the effectiveness of the Active Support model, the authors conducted a longitudinal study of services in Australia over a period of between two and seven years. They collected data on service users, staff, and the quality of Active Support using questionnaires, structured observations and interviews. The analysis used multilevel modelling to identify predictor variables at the person, service and organisational levels.

At the service level, the percentage of staff trained in Active Support was predictive of the quality of Active Support, consistent with previous studies. However, at the individual level, only one factor, higher levels of adaptive behaviour, was predictive of the quality of Active Support. This suggests that the quality of Active Support is largely dependent on the person and their capacity to engage in activity, rather than the skill and enthusiasm of staff.

At the organisational level, the presence of the four organisational management features identified by Bigby et al. (e.g., staff training, satisfaction and role clarity) was predictive of the quality of Active Support. It also relates to the number of services managed, time since Active Support implemented and annual turnover.

Conclusion

At Humanity Care Australia, we are committed to championing the cause of Active Support, recognizing its transformative potential in the lives of those we serve. By embracing this model, we not only empower individuals with disabilities but also create a nurturing environment where they can thrive. Through tailored support, personalized engagement, and a deep understanding of individual needs, we aim to make a difference, one life at a time.

As we move forward, let us continue to embrace the principles of Active Support, promoting independence, building meaningful relationships, and fostering a society where every individual, regardless of their abilities, can lead a fulfilling life. Together, with organizations like Humanity Care Australia leading the way, we can create a future where compassion, inclusivity, and empowerment are at the heart of disability care.