CHRISTINE HARCOMBE
"As one of the originators of AS, the principal architect of Interactive Training and a long-time resident of North Wales I am delighted to see the dissemination of AS thoughout the principality and happy to contribute however I can."
Sandy Toogood, University of Wales, Bangor
What is Active Support?
Active Support is a method of supporting someone to be engaged, take part and be included in everyday activities and relationships that make up day-to-day living. Staff teams learn how to work as a team in a person-centred way by giving just the right amount of support each individual needs.
Being involved in all activities is the basis for personal growth and development, incerasing social inclusion and for increasing choice, independence and control over one's life.
Active Support translates Person-Centred Plans into Person-Centred Action, a method of support for people with a learning disability, older people, people with dementia, children's services and especially with people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges.
Considerable research has been undertaken on Active Support which shows that Active Support is an effective way of increasing the participation of service users, including those with severe/profound learning disabilities, in everyday life. Providers who already use Active Support have remarked at its enormous benefits to both service users and staff teams. Service users become more engaged with the support they receive and staff feel empowered and have said that they encounter less behaviour that challenges.
Active Support Training
The Active Support Project offered training to staff teams, as well as presentations to raise awareness of Active Support amongst service providers. Both training and presentations were provided FREE to service providers within Wales. Training and presentations were delivered by our Active Support Project Coordinator/Trainer, Christine Harcombe. If you would like to find out more about Active Support you are welcome to email Christine:
christine.harcombe@arcuk.org.uk or phone 07701 990861.
The Active Support Network
There is an established Active Support E-Network with over 100 members. The e-network is a source of information, resources for organisations delivering Active Support within their service and keeps organisations up to date with current research. If you would like to be included in the Active Support E-Network please contact Christine Harcombe.
Active Support Newsletters
Download the Summer 2009 Active Support Newsletter
Download the Spring 2009 Active Support Newsletter
Download the Winter 2008 Active Support Newsletter
Download the Autumn 2008 Active Support Newsletter
Active Support Conferences
To view conference presentations click on these links:
South Wales in December 2006
North Wales in April 2008
Active Support Links
The following links are to external resources for Active Support:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability (vol. 33 (3)) - an Australian publication. This issue is devoted to Active Support and is freely available online.
- Making Life Good in the Community - reports from a study carried out in Australia.
- The Tizard Centre Active Support Network - at the University of Kent.
- Close to Home is a free-to-download book about the early beginnings of Active Support by David Felce and Sandy Toogood.
ACTIVE SUPPORT PROJECT EVALUATION
If you took part in our Active Support Project we would be grateful if you could take time to fill in a copy of our questionnaire and email it back to the ARC Cymru office.
Please select the appropriate version to download:
UK ACTIVE SUPPORT PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT SERVICE
