Support Planning (1-2 days)

This course, designed for support workers, aims to provide the knowledge and awareness of skills required to enable them to construct effective, progressive and systematic Support/Care Plans.
The course focuses on the five stage model composed of Assessment, Goal setting, Planning, Implementation and Evaluation. Each stage is explored in terms of good practice issues, essential skills for workers, potential challenges and Person Centred work. Throughout the course participants are invited to consider the Support Planning process from a variety of perspectives, including that of the service user, other team members and the multi-disciplinary team. The advantages of using Support Plans as a support tool are considered.
This course provides the underpinning knowledge requited for NVQ and CIS and the links are indicated on the post training certificate.

Learning objectives:

By the end of the course participants should understand:

• What a Support Plan is
• What is meant by ‘Human need’
• A brief history of Support Planning (from its roots in the ‘Nursing Process’ through to Person Centred Planning)
• Why Support Plans are necessary
        -To include reference to National Standards
• What is meant by the 5 stage model and what the components are
• The advantages and disadvantages of Support Planning
• How we can prepare for and overcome the disadvantages
• How Support Plans could be experienced as being oppressive by service users
• How a Support Plan could be inappropriately used to exercise staff control
• The safety measures that can protect service users from undermining and inappropriate Support Plans. To include:
        -Supervision
        -Team input
        -Organisational policies
        -Advocacy etc.
• What is meant by Assessment
• The different ways that we can make an assessment: e.g. Discussion, observation, reports etc.
• How to maximise service user input and control
• What the skills are that a worker needs to make an effective Assessment
• What skills are required for effective 1-1 interactions (This is very limited on the one day course)
• How to conduct a formal Assessment interview
• How to conduct a less formal interview
• What is meant by ‘Goal setting’
• What is meant by the SMARTER goal model
• What to do when a service user’s goal seems unrealistic
• What to do if a service user does not wish to set goals
• What to do if a service user does not seem to have the ability to set their own goals
• How to plan effectively
• The common problems that tend to emerge when planning: To include:
        -Team resistance
        -Lack of resources
        -Time constraints
        -Family issues
        etc.
• Good practice when Implementing a Plan
• The importance of multi-agency input
• How to Evaluate the Support Plan/outcomes:
        -Different ways in which the Plan can be reviewed
        -How to make this a positive experience for the service user
• Getting away from success and failure – the fluidity of the 5 stage model

Training Methods:

• Tutor presentations
• Small group work
• OHP/PowerPoint
• Case studies
• Word shower
• Practical application
• Chalk & Talk
• Simulations
• Handouts
• Examination of policy/legal requirements

CP8/4.9