This is a much-needed resource for families and professionals and is especially helpful at a time when people are considering the implications and opportunities relating to the new SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) system set out in the Children and Families Bill... One of the top ten Preparing for Adulthood messages is that local areas should raise aspirations for a fulfilling life, by sharing clear information about what has already worked for others. Thank you Jennie, Suzie, Helen and Jennies Circle for sharing your experiences. This book will help local areas achieve this and ensure other young people and families have positive experiences of moving into adulthood and better life chances.
from the Foreword by Nicola Gitsham, Programme Manager, Preparing for Adulthood
As President of The Association of Directors of Childrens Services (ADCS) for the year 2013/14, I have been privileged to work closely with a number of key people in central government departments, with colleagues across the voluntary and independent sectors and with other local authorities. There is enormous commitment across the country, at all levels, to bring about a culture change in the way we identify strengths and needs, and provide support to children with additional needs and their families. Suzies story reinforces my view that significant change should and can happen, and we must make it happen.
from the Afterword by Andrew Webb, President of The Association of Directors of Childrens Services Ltd (ADCS) and Corporate Director, Services for People, Stockport Council
This is clearly going to be a useful and inspiring resource for anyone wishing to support a person they care for to live the life they choose. What I like about it is that it goes beyond the rhetoric of personalisation to make it a reality by showing how those who know the person best can come up with creative and innovative solutions to overcome some of the barriers traditional thinking might put in the way of progress. The circle of support is a particularly powerful idea.
Mark Lever, Chief Executive, National Autistic Society
Personalisation in Practice
by the same author
A Practical Guide to Delivering Personalisation
Person-Centred Practice in Health and Social Care
Helen Sanderson and Jaimee Lewis
ISBN 978 1 84905 194 1
eISBN 978 0 85700 422 2
Creating Person-Centred Organisations
Strategies and Tools for Managing Change in Health, Social Care and the Voluntary Sector
Stephen Stirk and Helen Sanderson
ISBN 978 1 84905 260 3
eISBN 978 0 85700 549 6
Personalisation and Dementia
A Guide for Person-Centred Practice
Helen Sanderson and Gill Bailey
ISBN 978 1 84905 379 2
eISBN 978 0 85700 734 6
of related interest
Person Centred Planning and Care Management with People with Learning Disabilities
Edited by Paul Cambridge and Steven Carnaby
ISBN 978 1 84310 131 4
eISBN 978 1 84642 140 2
Personalisation
in Practice
Supporting Young People with Disabilities through the Transition to Adulthood
Suzie Franklin with Helen Sanderson
Foreword by Nicola Gitsham, Programme Manager, Preparing for Adulthood
Afterword by Andrew Webb, President of The Association of Directors of Childrens Services Ltd and Corporate Director, Services for People, Stockport Council
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia
First published in 2014
by Jessica Kingsley Publishers
73 Collier Street
London N1 9BE, UK
and
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
www.jkp.com
Copyright Suzie Franklin and Helen Sanderson 2014
Foreword copyright Nicola Gitsham 2014
Afterword Andrew Webb
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 610 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owners written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.
Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 84905 443 0
eISBN 978 0 85700 816 9
CONTENTS
Foreword
Last year Suzie and I attended a meeting of the National Childrens Personalisation Network. A recurrent theme was that families and young people needed good information on what personalisation really is and how it can help young people move into adulthood with choice and control over their lives and better life chances. I had followed Jennie and Suzies story with interest over the previous few years so was keen to see what she said. Suzie smiled and told me that she and Helen were writing this book and what did I think? My response was How soon can it be ready?
This is a much-needed resource for families and professionals and is especially helpful at a time when people are considering the implications and opportunities relating to the new SEND (special educational needs and disability) system set out in the Children and Families Bill.
Young people and families tell us time and time again that transition is bruising and bureaucratic. We also know that disabled young people are less likely to move into adulthood with good life outcomes (such as employment, independent living, friends, relationships and community inclusion). The Preparing for Adulthood programme is building on learning from key national transition programmes such as Valuing People, Getting a Life and the Transition Support Programme. This book gives some fantastic examples of what we now know is best practice in transition to adulthood for example, the following:
Starting with the end in sight and thinking about what a fulfilling adult life will look like too often the focus is on the next educational placement rather than the three questions posed in this book:
What is possible for Jennies future?
What do we want for Jennies future?
What are we going to do to move this forward?
The power of person-centred planning Jennies story beautifully illustrates the link between person-centred thinking and planning, person-centred reviews, personal budgets and developing Individual Service Funds. The book particularly highlights the importance of high quality person-centred planning and how to bring schools and other agencies together around a single plan.
The role of personal budgets in developing creative and personalised support the book dispels some of the myths around personal budgets and answers key questions raised by families.
The need to support the development of circles this is often the missing link for families and young people. Jennies Circle played a key role in helping her to find a life she loves, providing support while navigating her way and making the most of natural and paid supports.
