Services for people with learning disabilities whose behaviour presents a challenge

1. Services for people with learning disabilities whose behaviourpresents a challenge Jo Poynter Policy to Practice Workshop 30th June 2010

2. VALUING PEOPLE NOW WHAT DOES IT SAY?

3. Including Everyone • Overall policy objective: all people with learning disabilities and their families will benefit from Valuing People Now. • It is important that this includes: people with more complex needs; ‘complex needs’ is used to describe a range of multiple and additional needs that people with learning disabilities may have. ...people whose behaviour presents a challenge. However, people’s needs are not fixed; they may ....display less ‘challenging’ behaviour once appropriate support is given.

4. Making it happen locally – key recommended actions • Commissioners and service providers to address the recommendations of the Mansell report and to include people with complex needs in the development of self-directed services in their area.

5. Mansell Report • WHAT • A report updating the earlier Mansell report on supporting people who challenge • WHY • Not enough change in delivery of support

6. Mansell – What did it tell us? Things have not changed!!

7. Mansell – What did it tell us? Same Old Problems

8. Mansell – What did it tell us? Reasons for the Problems

9. Mansell – What did it tell us? Develop

10. Mansell – What did it tell us?

11. What is Challenging Behaviour? “Behaviour can be described as challenging when it is of such an intensity, frequency or duration as to threaten the quality of life and/or the physical safety of the individual or others and is likely to lead to responses that are restrictive, aversive or result in exclusion” (Challenging behaviour: a unified approach, 2007)

12. Getting it the definition wrong! • Used like an illness label (diagnosis) – same as diabetes, flu, Downs syndrome • Use the words challenging behaviour as if the problem is in the person NOT in the persons world and the people who they meet or who support them • CANNOT HAVE “CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR” ON YOUR OWN

13. This can lead to Services putting too much time and effort into making specialist “challenging behaviour services”: • Segregated– people accused of challenging behaviour are pushed away from ordinary services • Stigmatised – if you are accused of challenging behaviour then people think badly of you (like “mad”, “bad” or “dangerous to know”) • If there are no special services in your area (or not enough) then the person may end up in hospitals or being moved away from home

14. SO WHAT? • National Strategy Group – Challenging Behaviour • Led by CBF & Tizard (University of Kent) • National Charter • Work plan

15. THE CHARTER

16. WORK PLAN

17. More Information nationalstrategygroup@thecbf.org.uk www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk

18. Making it happen • Good Local Practise • SHIEC – Getting people with challenging behaviour into employment • Alternative housing options: • Accommodation with support LEAVING A LEGACY OF GOOD COST EFFECTIVE SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN KNOWN AS THOSE WHO CHALLENGE

19. Jo Poynter jo@vpst.co.uk