Action to manage your support An interactive workshop at Autscape 2008 by Yo 1 of 13 © Yo 2008

Structure 1.What help do I need? 2.What can support do anyway? 3.How do I get a support worker? 4.Do I have to do a lot of paperwork? 5.What if something goes wrong? 6.How can support help me meet my goals? 2 of 13

1. What help do I need? Making your world fit you better Writing a support plan If you need help ask a social worker, advocate, support broker, family or friends Getting your support plan accepted by the local authority Deciding who will manage the money 3 of 13

1. What help do I need? Your Support Plan – first steps How much money has your LA agreed for your support? Can you make decisions yourself or do you need help? Who would you like to help you with writing the plan? 4 of 13

1. What help do I need? Activity: Thinking about you and your needs If you would like to talk with another person about one of these questions raise your hand (you can just think and write by yourself if you prefer) Either in your pairs or on your own choose just 1 question (for now) from the list Thinking about you and your needs Think about/discuss how you might answer Write down and/or decide with your partner how each of you might answer this question in just a few sentences. 5 of 13

1. What help do I need? 6 of 13 Thinking about your support

2. What can support do anyway? Discussion: What would you like support to do for you? ? Executive Function 7 of 13

3. How do I get a support worker? Agencies Specialist services Recruiting your own Activity: Write your own advert 8 of 13

3. How do I get a support worker? Know what skills they need Be clear about hours Find out their employment record Get your questions checked Get help to begin with It isn’t as hard as you might think! Interviews don’t tell you as much as you might want (especially if you can’t ‘read’ people) 9 of 13

4. Do I have to do a lot of paperwork? 10 of 13

5. What if something goes wrong? Oh no! You’ve hired the world’s worst support worker …… or even just one who is less than perfect ….. Role play: What now? 11 of 13

5. What if something goes wrong? Prevention is better than cure Job description Regular feedback Tell them the positive Have a contract Make a decision chart 12 of 13

6. How can support help me to meet my goals? Have a review process Use support creatively Take action to manage your support effectively. 13 of 13