Practice Leadership: the only way to
ensure we do as we say
Bev Ashman
Individualised Support
Development
Skills teaching
Employment
Health
Assistance
Empowerment
Expertise
Active Support
Person Centred Thinking
Positive Risk Taking
Community
Intensive Interaction
Qualified, experienced staff
Security
Rights
Respect
Supported Living
Competence
Person Centred Planning
Choice
Independence
Relationships
Circles of support
Working with families
Dignity
Communication
Positive Behaviour Support
Practice Leadership
Mindfulness
Practice Leadership
“One cannot, however well qualified, lead from an
office. Nor can one write person centred policies or
plans from ivory towers. To begin to try and apply
some degree of person centred thinking, not
managers but leaders are needed by organisations.”
(Osgood, 2003)
Effective practice leadership is vital for the successful
implementation of person-centred approaches and to
ensure individual wishes and goals are clear, and
responded to as the priority.
United Response | www.unitedresponse.org.uk
Exercise
practice leaders
United Response | www.unitedresponse.org.uk
Practice Leadership
Focusing in all aspects of our work on the quality of life of the people we support and
how well staff support this.
Allocating and organising staff to deliver better support, when and how the people we
support need and want it.
Coaching staff to deliver better support by spending time with them providing feedback
and modelling good practice
Reviewing the quality of support provided by individual staff in regular one-to-one
supervision and finding ways to help staff improve it.
Utilising regular team meetings to review how well the staff team are enabling the people
we support to engage in meaningful activities and relationships and to find ways to
improve.
United Response | www.unitedresponse.org.uk
Ensuring Practice Leadership Happens
 Who are your practice leaders?
 Are they clear about their role and responsibilities?
 Do they have the knowledge, skills and resources to be
successful?
 Is their work recognised and valued?
Mansell, J. & Beadle-Brown, J. (2012) Active Support: enabling and
empowering people with intellectual disabilities. London: Jessica
Kingsley Publishers
Mansell, J., Beadle-Brown, J., Ashman, B. & Ockenden, J (2005)
Person Centred Active Support: A multi-media resource.
Brighton: Pavilion Publishing
Ashman, B., Ockenden, J., Beadle-Brown, J. & Mansell, J. (2010)
Person Centred Active Support: A Handbook. Brighton: Pavilion
Publishing
Promoting Person Centred Support and Positive Outcomes for
people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: DVD
Available from www.unitedresponse.org.uk