Supporting People: Towards a Person-Centred Approach

Peter Beresford; Jennie Fleming; Michael Glynn; Catherine Bewley; Suzy Croft; Fran Branfield; Karen Postle

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1847427626 ISBN 13: 9781847427625

Publisher: Policy Press, 2011

It is widely agreed that there is a need to transform care and support services. "Supporting People" explores for the first time with service users, practitioners, carers and managers what person-centred support means to them, what barriers stand in the way and how these can be overcome. It offers both theoretical insights and practical guidance and highlights the importance of a participatory approach. Based on the largest independent UK study of person-centred support and written by an experienced team that includes service users, practitioners and researchers, it demonstrates how change can be made now, and what strategic changes are needed for needed for person-centred support to have a sustainable future.

Review:

"This book is another of Peter Beresford and colleagues' incisive accounts of what those who need person-centred support say about how it should be developed to effectively increase their life chances. They get to the heart of what "nothing about us, without us" means and stays true to that principle. By synthesizing the experience and knowledge of those who require person-centred support, they have managed to answer the questions that many have yet to comprehend: What is person-centred support? What are the barriers to its realisation? And how can these be overcome? This book gives readers the opportunity to answer these questions from the perspective of those who are the experts in person-centred support - those who use it." --Baroness Campbell of Surbiton, DBE

"This highly original book on social care and the prospects for person-centred support is most timely. It provides essential and stimulating reading - for all concerned - on making changes in the 21st century." --Carol Thomas, Lancaster University

"Supporting People' is quite simply one of the best books I've read on 'social care'. It is without doubt an essential read for everyone involved in the delivery and receipt of services and support." --Colin Barnes. Professor of Disability Studies, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Leeds

About the Author:

Peter Beresford OBE is Professor of Social Policy and Director of the Centre for Citizen Participation at Brunel University and Chair of Shaping Our Lives. Jennie Fleming is the Director of the Centre for Social Action at De Montfort University and a qualified and registered social worker. Michael Glynn is the Personalisation Programme Manager with Solihull Care Trust. Catherine Bewley is Director of Values Into Action (VIA) and Specialist Sexual Abuse Caseworker at Galop. Suzy Croft is a Social Work Team Leader at St John's Hospice in London Fran Branfield is the Director of Shaping Our Lives. Karen Postle is a registered social worker who teaches part-time at the Universities of Portsmouth and Southampton.