Page 27 - Community Living Issue 31-3

inclusion
Part of the community?

Small homes allow people to develop true friendships and be part of wider
society. However, recruitment issues in an age of austerity present a genuine
danger we may recreate institutional ways, fears Peter Rainford

he pioneering work to get people out “No, she is very well in with them all – I was with us but, for many people with
of large institutions and integrated the one excluded.” That remark still makes learning disabilities, this is not the case.
Tinto communities of the 1980s and me smile because it is such a powerful Helping people develop a strong
1990s was strongly values based, using the indicator of successful integration. friendship circle is one of the biggest
teaching of Wolf Wolfensberger (1973). challenges facing services, and it seems to
Such values and practice included ‘Your lot’: size and integration me that some simply give up or do not
respecting people’s privacy in their own While one or two people with learning start in the first place.
homes, with staff not automatically having disabilities can easily become accepted and A good way to begin is with volunteers
keys but instead knocking on the door and welcomed members of an existing activity with shared interests. At Integrate, a
asking for permission to come in. This may group, larger numbers will almost always volunteer called for a fellow football fan
seem a small matter but, as someone who be viewed as a group – often negatively so on his way to watch Preston North End
has lived in a supported group home during – and excluded. This may even happen play every home game and, gradually, a
a period of ill health, I can attest that having where a person is already part of a group. friendship developed. Friendship groups
staff entering without knocking is a powerful When a local learning disability team took and a real community presence are better
daily reminder of your disempowerment. a group to an old time dancing club which protection from poor standards of care,
When I worked at provider organisation had two long-term members with learning disrespect and abuse than any inspection
Integrate, spare keys were held at the disabilities, these two members were almost system – abuse thrives on isolation.
office for emergency use only. If staff are immediately told: “your lot are over there.” The loss of people who hold these values
given keys to people’s homes, the risk is So we know that numbers are important and their replacement by staff with little
they will use them routinely. to integration. Austerity cuts, combined time or knowledge, along with austerity
People were also supported to have a with a recent ruling on sleep-in payments, and the use of often distant assessment
community presence through engagement means we are sadly seeing bigger schemes, and treatment centres, have combined to
with local activities and groups, even if or lots of people grouped in blocks of single create a situation where indifference
this meant some community development flats with one on-call night employee. This prevails and where the old institutions are
work to establish a new local resource. is incredibly short-sighted as it absolutely being recreated. We can counter this only
Local people came along to a “sewing mitigates against integration. by speaking out and supporting others who
circle” set up by an Integrate staff member We need creative solutions, such as do so, as with the #JusticeforLB campaign.
in a Preston community centre, including organisations renting a one-bed flat close The recruitment of good staff with the
Ms A, a keen sewer who soon became an to several homes as a sleepover place and right values and respect for the people
accepted and valued member of the group. staff base. At Integrate, this model was built they work with is by far the biggest
When Ms A was accompanied by a into early developments, allowing safe, protection against poor services.
different staff member, this employee gradual withdrawal of sleepovers, which Whatever the difficulties, we must stand
reported back to the director that the increased independence and reduced costs. firm on recruitment standards.
sewing circle was very cliquey. “Oh dear, We all take it for granted that we have One person who inspired me with his
was Ms A excluded?” the director asked. people in our lives who are not paid to be work and values was the late activist and
academic David Brandon. He once
suggested a test for staff quality – “How
many of these people would you allow
near someone you love?” Apply the
Brandon test and, if you cannot answer
“yes”, do not recruit the person. n
Peter Rainford is digital inclusion officer at
Disability Equality North West and a
wellbeing, recovery and mental health
activist. He worked in social core for 30
Ross Bradley/Wikimedia Commons (www.imagineindependence.org.uk)
years, including at Integrate (www.
integratepreston.org.uk) and Imagine
t @peterjrainford

References
Wolfensberger W (1973) The Origins and
Nature of our Institutional Models. Human
Common interests – such as watching Preston North End – can help to build genuine friendships
Policy Press, New york
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 31 No 3 | Spring 2018 27