Person centred newsletter may 2013
-
Upload
mark-trevaskis -
Category
Documents
-
view
215 -
download
0
description
Transcript of Person centred newsletter may 2013
............. Northcott Person Centred Newsletter • May2013 • 1 ............
Our monthly newsletter offers small and real examples from people we support
who are having a stronger voice, more control over their lives and more choices.
New champions
working well
May 2013
Supporting people to develop the confi dence and skills to
have stronger and more effective voices is one of the key
outcomes of Northcott’s Champions Program. Ellen Howe,
a new Champion, charts the Champions’ fi rst steps:
NoNo trthhc tottt PPerson CCentred Newsletter • May2
g p
As one of the new Champions, I wanted to tell you how we are all doing.
We have 9 champions – 4 staff and 5 clients - across Roselands and
Casula offi ces. Everyone is enjoying being able to help others in their own
way. I feel that staff and clients are working better on getting more voice
and control – here are some examples:
Voice:
• I have always wanted to help others like me with Charge Syndrome.
In July I am going to the 11th International CHARGE Syndrome
Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona (www.chargesyndrome.
org) and I plan to tell some of them about person centred
tools when the opportunity arises.
Skills and Tools:
• A lot of us are using the assertiveness tools we learnt in
the training and it is really helping. Clients and staff are able
to tell other people how they are feeling using the ‘When
you do that, I feel like this’ formula and it has really helped.
• I am now able to tell people “No” if they try to push me.
Just today someone pushed me at Bankstown Centro and I said,
“No thank you, I can do it!” In the past I would have let them push me
up the hill. I, myself, feel that I am becoming better a person because
I am able to do more for myself be more independent, without staff
having to direct me.
Control:
• One of our PATH goals was to start up a Coffee
Club. The purpose of the Club is to discuss how we
can have more control over our program. Aaron has
been helping in everything; he also runs our Coffee
Club and makes sure everyone is on the right track.
Ellen Howe
p p
e
d I saiiaiddd,
em push me
e
s
.
............. Northcott Person Centred Newsletter • May2013 • 2 ............
Dubbo PATH day
The Dubbo team took a day
out recently to refl ect on their
rich person centred culture
and to envisage what their
services might look like in a
year’s time. They focused on
how to:
• Reach out to the people
and families in Far West
NSW
• Enhance staff skill
development
• Be more visible in the
Dubbo area
• Provide services to more
people and families in the
Dubbo area.
How Dubbo team members felt about their PATH experience...
............. Northcott Person Centred Newsletter • May2013 • 3 ............
Our Group CultureDubbo office
We will be
responsible and
accountable
We will treat each other and everyone who comes into our office with dignity and respect
We will be polite,
welcoming and helpful
We will listen to each
other, by hearing and
observing We will celebrate each
others' differences,
acknowledging and
embracing uniqueness
and knowledge
We will take the time to understand others and appreciate them
We will be
encouraging and
compliment each
other on a job well
done
Asking questions
is encouraged
We will work together and be
a supportive team
We will uphold Northcott's values of being:Friendly and ConsiderateInnovative and Responsive
Ethical and CourageousProfessional and
Competent
We will remember to maintain the privacy and confidentiality
of others at all times
Taking advantage of being in Dubbo meant that Ben and Sarah had a stroll and peddle around Dubbo’s Western Plains Zoo.
Families seeking ideas and answers!
Families and Northcott staff from the Dubbo area came to a short presentation about person
centred practice to seek ideas on how person centred approaches could improve their child’s life.
Most families were also curious to know more about how the NDIS would affect them in the future.
The NDIS website had a 'Frequently Asked Questions' section which might provide some answers!
(http://www.ndis.gov.au/about-an-
ndis/frequently-asked-questions/)
haaakingg advantageg of being in Dubbo meant that Ben and Sarah
d t ll d ddl d D bb ’ W t Pl i Z
g p
Tah
Nick and his Aunty Sharon, come along to hear about Person Centred support.
The Dubbo team displays their Group Culture poster for all staff, people and
families to understand the values underpinning their service
............. Northcott Person Centred Newsletter • May2013 • 4 ............
Imagining Better - What would it
look like if your service was better?
You probably work or use a service that is quite person centred – the people are friendly and the
service is good – but have you ever asked yourself, “What would it look like if it was better?” The
importance of having a vision and imaging better was the take-home message for Northcott's
Family Therapist, Sue Campbell-Ross, who was inspired by Michael Kendrick’s mantra of
‘Imagining Better’ at the Centre for Disability Studies' Breakfast Conversation recently.
Michael recalled Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream...” speech in
which King imagined a land in which black and white people would co-
exist peacefully, a world that at that time did not exist. Over 50 years
later, an African-American is President. Michael Kendrick encourages
people to question systems, challenge them and imagine how they
could be better.
This Conversation stopped me in my tracks and forced me to ask myself
the question, “What would my role look like if it was better?” It helped
me to broaden my view, which tends to shrink when I am busily trying to
just get on with the job of the day. With the families that I support, this
question helps them to look beyond the practicalities and overwhelming
concerns of today and focus on how they would like things to be. It
is easier for an exhausted family to answer, “What would it look like
if it was better?” than to be asked to create a vision or a list of goals.
As families reveal how things would look, it helps me as a worker to
understand where we can offer support and focus our attention. In
my experience, this builds hope and capacity and gives the family
something to work towards.
Kendrick detailed that creating a picture of ‘better’ is the beginning.
Persistence and courage is needed for ‘better’ to evolve. A vision
will often challenge us, it will crash and burn, be rebuilt, tested and
problems will be solved or learnt from.
So, be courageous. Build a vision. Encourage hope. The future is
waiting to be born!
Sue Campbell-Ross
............. Northcott Person Centred Newsletter • May2013 • 5 ............
Moving from 'system-centred' thinking
to 'person centred' ways of being
Lorna Sullivan, the Executive Director of Disability ACT challenges organisations that wish to innovate to focus on what is possible. Don’t waste time focusing on money or disability, both are secondary issues. Focus on:
• What could be possible in this the life of this person?
• What would make their life better, more enjoyable?
• What are they passionate about?
At the CDS Breakfast Conversation No 4, Lorna suggests that we have to challenge the stereotypes and assumptions we have about people with disabilities as organisations often refl ect society’s view of disability, thereby reinforcing it. Ask yourself, how many people with disabilities are employed in my organisation. Not many? Why’s that? What can do you do about it?
Having been challenged by Lorna, the fi rst step I'm taking is asking the three questions to some people I know who have told me that they want to have bigger and better lives.
Liz Hopkins
Shirls and Lorna having a chat about how to innovate
• Read more about
Lorna on Disability
ACT’s website:
http://www.dhcs.
act.gov.au
• Read more about
ImagineBetter, the
organisation which
Lorna used to work
for: http://www.
imaginebetter.co.nz
............. Northcott Person Centred Newsletter • May2013 • 6 ............
The people who know me well and see my ability, support my choices.
If people can’t see my abilities, then they don't know who I am, or what
I am capable of, and they treat me differently. People who know me, are
supportive and encourage me to do my best.
When I realised that technical innovations like iPads, emails and
iPhones would help me to communicate and express myself, I wanted
to use them so people would hear my views, my opinions and ask
me questions. I now have independent communication and that feels
great. People now see me as more than my disability.
Shirls Wong
Seeing past my disability to what is
possible – a personal reflection
CDS Breakfast Conversation 4: Innovation
............. Northcott Person Centred Newsletter • May2013 • 7 ............
What is Grets up to with her
Self Managed Package?
Grets is using her Self Managed Package to attend University of Western Sydney.
Hey guys, I'm sorry for not writing in a while, I've been loving Uni!
So, in terms of my Self-Managed CPP program it's going along great, although only some of my personal staff have been trained up. I've been loving getting to know my Northcott carer, Kylie, who comes to Uni for me for two hours over lunchtime. I'll be stoked to be working with her on some Tuesdays in a few weeks. I am also excited to start with two of my personal carers in a few weeks, this will mean I will have the opportunity to start my recreation activity like swimming, horse riding and getting involved in social events such as political stuff.
Grets Serov
Grets at Uni
............. Northcott Person Centred Newsletter • May2013 • 8 ............
If you have any small example of people having greater choice, voice or control in their
life or in the work place, we would love to tell others about it in our Newsletter – so
please give me a call on 9890 0517 or email me on [email protected].
Thanks, Liz Hopkins.
Send us your great person centred news!
FOCUS ON ANDY WAITE: Northcott’s
Website Designer and Developer
Ben Keyte interviewed his friend and fellow Australian Powerchair Football player,
Andy Waite, on what his job means to him.
My job is Website Designer and
Developer for Northcott, I’ve been in
the job since April 2007. Most of
it’s pretty good, sometimes it’s a
bit boring, but you get that in most
jobs!
Before I started work, I completed
a Cert IV course at TAFE, and I
was then supported by Transition
To Work (a program at Northcott,
which supports people into
employment). I had some work
experience in Northcott’s I.T. team,
which then became a proper job.
I’d say my biggest achievement is helping set up Northcott’s intranet,
which is called NIGEL. My main job is now to keep NIGEL up-to-date.
My plans for the future are to continue with this job as long as possible.
I’ve also started my own business as well, which is in the ‘start-up’ stage
-that’s to make a bit of money on the side!
For me having a job is a huge part of being independent. Although staying
at home can be cushy, having a job gets me out of house every day!
Andy Waite
i t Northcott’s intranet
Andy & crew!