What is person-centred active support?
Definition and rationale
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What is person-centred active support Training in person-centred active support PCAS: Information and resources
| What is person-centred active support?Person-centred active support was developed as a way of helping people with learning disabilities to engage in meaningful activity and relationships as active participants. Instead of doing things for people or to people, it involves working with people to enable them to take part in all the activities of everyday life, no matter how disabled they are. The inclusion of the phrase "person-centred" along with active support, denotes that this approach involves more than just providing opportunities and direct assistance for activities - the ultimate aim is to support people to live the lives they want to live, doing the things they want to do, following their agenda and respecting their decisions. For many people, especially those who have experienced limited opportunities and support in their lives so far, staff and carers will need to support and encouragement them to try new things and experience success.
Why is it important to facilitate people to participate?Taking part in activities is the basis for personal growth and development, for developing new relationships and increasing social inclusion and for increasing choice and control over one’s life. Evidence from research shows that the quality of support which staff provide is one of the most important factors influencing the quality of life of people with learning disabilities – especially for people with higher support needs. Person-centred active support is a way of providing the right kind of support. Although specifically focusing on people with higher support needs, active support is also used successfully to promote independence, provide real choice and control for people and support social inclusion in those with lower support needs as well other user groups such as people with physical disabilities. What are the main components of person-centred active support?
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