The 'Better Lives' approach is all about allowing 'people to be as independent as they can be.' Carry on reading this blog for insight into what the approach means and how London Boroughs are using it.
What’s it all about?
The 'better lives' approach being used by London Boroughs is all about making a significant difference to the lives of people that social workers work with.
Practitioners are equipped to work with people in a way that unlocks their abilities, makes the most of what is available in their communities and promotes their independence.
The approach also focuses on reflective practice and enabling practitioners to learn from each other, including having difficult conversations about the levels of support people receive.
Andrew Chapman, manager of the community team for people with learning disabilities, said: “The advent of the Better Lives agenda has made a really positive impact on the service.”
“The main objective is to support individuals to maximise their levels of wellbeing and independence via family and community networks. It’s very much about traditional social work values.”
What does it look like in practice?
A social worker named Annah Dines who works for one of the councils using the strengths-based model, told Community Care about her experience of supporting a woman with high-functioning autism.
“She was known to children and families for a long time because her mother had been consuming a lot of alcohol, and her partner as well, and there was quite a lot of abuse in the home. When she came to us, her teachers were worried about her and she was not eating and not concentrating. Because she was 18, she wanted to live independently, which she felt might improve her independence and relationship with her mum. We felt that supported living would be good for a while for her to be able to gain skills to be independent in the community.
“We looked at what she can do and what areas she wanted support with. When she moved in, I did a review to see how things were going. I informed her mum, with her consent. It means she can be supported to be as independent as she can.”
If your local council has any adults or children's social care vacancies, give us a call on 0203 8929 344 or email us via info@imperiumsolutions.co.uk to discuss what staffing solution we can provide you with.
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