What does empowerment mean in intellectual disability social care? V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The vulnerable empowered? An exploration of political reform in social care for adults with intellectual disability
IRAS ID
151542
Contact name
Carys Anna Banks
Contact email
Research summary
What does empowerment mean in intellectual disability social care support?
Personalisation (also known as ‘selfdirected support’) is the current term used to describe the model of social care and support which is provided to adults with intellectual disabilities in England (also known as people with learning disabilities). Based on the belief that people’s quality of life can be improved if they are able to live independently and as part of their community, this model aims to give control to people in receipt of support so that they are able to
choose which services are provided to them, and to enable them to receive these services within their own communities.
The government is increasingly moving towards providing social care support through the personalisation model, and there is a belief that this approach to supporting people is a good way of improving quality of life as well as providing cost effective services. In recognition of the widespread usage of personalisation within social care and support, this study aims to explore they ways this approach works in practice. This study is hoping to gain an understanding of how this takes place at an everyday level, and in order to do this it will focus specifically upon understanding the ways that support works in practice. In aiming to achieve a wellrounded
understanding of these support practices, this study will focus on support provided in people’s homes as well as the support they receive when taking part in activities when away from their home. It is anticipated that support practices can be best understood by asking support workers and service users about their experiences of support practices, as well as over a long period of time (for 8 months) observing the ways that support is provided and received.REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
14/IEC08/0019
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion