Active support : enabling and empowering people with intellectual disabilities

Preface
Introduction
1. Engagement in Meaningful Activity and Relationships
2. The Enabling Relationship
3. Organising Staff Support
4. Practice Leadership
5. The Organisational Context
6. Integrating Active Support with Other Person-centred Approaches
Conclusion
Appendix I: Summary of the Levels of Engagement Reported in Available Studies and Additional Analysis of Available Data, with Adaptive Behaviour Scale Part 1 (ABS) Score Where Available
Appendix II: Summary of Data on Engagement and Support from Staff Following Implementation of Active Support
References
Index.

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"Active Support is a proven model of care that enables and empowers people with intellectual disabilities to participate fully in all aspects of their lives. This evidence-based approach is particularly effective for working with people with more severe disabilities, and is of growing interest to those responsible for providing support and services. The authors provide a comprehensive overview of Active Support and how it can be used in practice, based on the theory and research underpinning the methods involved. They describe how to engage people with intellectual disabilities in meaningful activity as active participants, and look at the communication style needed to foster positive relationships between carers and the people they are supporting. Highlighting the main issues for those trying to put Active Support into practice, they explain what is needed on a day-to-day basis to support the implementation, improvement and maintenance of the approach, along with possible solutions for the difficulties they may encounter. Finally, they look at how to integrate Active Support with other person-centred approaches, drawing on examples from various organisations and individual case studies." - PUBLISHERS WEBSITE

The purpose of this book, as stated in the preface is to draw together the available research about active support, along with the experience of academics and practitioners putting it into practice.

The introduction and Chapter 1 provides a definition of active support and explains what it is intended to achieve, before tracing its development in the UK.

Later chapters deal with engagement in meaningful activity and relationships and consequent quality of life; organising staff support, practice leadership in the coaching and mentoring of the support team; organisational context; integrating active support with other person-centred approaches.

The final chapter draws together the main lessons to be learned by those trying to use active support to improve the quality of life of people with severe or profound intellectual disabilities and looks to the future agenda for active support.

This may well be the definitive text on active support.