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MSA2008
Perspective on Supporting Individuals
Apr 11 2008, 1:54 PM EDT | Post edited: Apr 11 2008, 1:54 PM EDT
One of the issues that we seem to be facing in some of our supports is a perspective that some employees have regarding their role and practices in supporting individuals. We hire people trained in community support work but the type of supports that individuals deserve seems to fall within a personal assistant mentality. A personal assistant will help an individual with what the individual directs and will take a back seat role during encounters with the individual and others in the community. A personal assistant is not there to be the spokesperson for the individual unless directed to do so by the individual. A good personal assistant mentality puts the individual first realizing that they work for the individual and if the individual is not happy with the way their personal assistant is working with them, the individual will not want the personal assistant in their life.

We are in the process of retraining some of our employees to be better personal assistants in their role as community support workers. Hopefully we will be able to change some attitudes that are clearly off track.

Not sure if anyone has anything to add, comment on, etc. Do you find this valuable?    
Keyword tags: supporting attitude

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