Day Four began with everybody rocking to a well-worn track.
♫ Help! I need somebody
Help! Not just anybody
Help! You know I need someone
He-e-elp! ♫
From the old to the young – and the so much younger – we all need help in many ways. In times of need we turn to those we trust, feel connected to or safe with, to help us grow, cope, participate and thrive. The right support at the right time can be transformative. When daily life depends on it, the quality of support shapes the quality of life.
After an illuminating game of Can I help You, revealing those prepared to go the extra mile through mime, Bee asked, ‘What does good help look like?’
For Katie, it’s important to ‘do things with me, not for me.’ In the past, receiving ‘too much help’ with daily tasks like cooking, washing and cleaning undermined her independence and self-esteem. ‘Doing things myself makes me feel good and want to do more.’ Through the Trust’s commitment to active support – an approach that fosters both inclusion and independence – individuals feel ‘more confident’ and in ‘control’ in all aspects of their lives. (‘Unfortunately,’ for Ann, including ‘budgeting and food shopping!’)
For Janet, a priority is ‘support to plan ahead’ to make the best use of her allocated one-to-one hours. Like others in the group, she relies on and looks forward to this time to ‘meet up with friends and get out and about in the community.’ Equally important is ‘making sure that there’s enough staff, so I don’t miss out on doing things.’ In a climate of persistent staffing challenges, this remains a shared concern for those who need support and those working to deliver it.
When it comes to the qualities of an ideal support worker, notions of good help become increasingly specific.
‘Someone who can keep up with me! … likes karaoke … shares my sense of humour … loves dogs as much as I do! … can drive … provide emotional support … see my abilities…. handle an Andrew Lloyd Webber superfan … explain things clearly … up for adventure (speedboats, Disneyland!) … can help me reach my goals of work/ my own flat/ a holiday with friends and preferably, take full control of food shopping!’
Unique preferences position those who need support as key decision-makers. From the outset, who we ‘trust,’ ‘feel connected to’ and ‘safe with’ is deeply personal, and as Beth points out, ‘important for both sides.’
To date, few studies have examined the extent to which adults with learning disabilities are involved in recruiting their own support staff or the impact this may have on staff retention, continuity of support and quality of care.
Day Four closed with the group in full agreement that the best help is ‘the right support for me.’
And a call to spotlight those who go the extra mile in real time. Support workers like Cache, Jason, Emily, Amy, Nicky, Denise, Denise and Simon, committing to the kind of help that breaks down barriers and opens up the doors.
Support workers to really sing and dance about.
♫ Oh we do appreciate you being around
To help us get our feet on equal ground …
To Help me! Help me-e-ee! Oooh ♫