Resources concerning supports for people with complex needs (e.g., long-term severe neurological conditions, serious deficits in adaptive functioning).
*Note: These contents are assembled from several web sites, some of whom are now defunct. Although I have the documents in my records, I've provided the current links to available items. Copies of material from defunct sites, as well as my works, are provided below. Copyright belongs to the authors and/or publishers of the material according to the information contained in the documents. An internet search of the titles or of content from the material should be made for referencing purposes. The owner of this web site only claims authorship where indicated within the material.
A Literature Review on Multiple and Complex Needs (Scotland, 2007) — This review evaluates existing research to understand the processes through which people with multiple or complex needs engage, or do not engage, with services to resolve their problems and identifies good practice.
Challenging Behaviour – National Strategy Group (CB-NSG) Charter (2009) — Valuing People Now (England) says “The vision for people with more complex needs is the same as for everyone: inclusion and participation in all areas ofcommunity life, including living independently and having paid work. More at: http://www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/strategy-group/
Design of Community Supports for Individuals With Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Needs (Beasley, 2003) — Individuals with developmental disability and mental health needs can be served in the community when there is a planned continuum of supports that accommodate chronic, acute, and emergency psychiatric needs. In addition to having appropriate supports, it is essential that there is a community system of collaborators that communicate and plan services. The use of the Crisis Prevention Plan is a critical element to avert situations that pose adverse outcomes for people with developmental disabilities.
Developing better commissioning for individuals with behaviour that challenges services (2010) — by the Tizard Centre and Challenging Behaviour Foundation The Tizard Centre is one of the leading academic groups in the UK working in learning disability and community care. http://www.kent.ac.uk/tizard/ The Challenging Behaviour Foundation is a charity supporting families, professionals and other stakeholders through education, information, research and partnership working. http://www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/
From House to Home: Housing, Tenancy and Support for People with Complex Needs Related to their Disability 2010 — This report includes a range of housing and property designs and tenancy and support arrangements for people who require sustained formal and informal assistance over their lifetime. It explores supported accommodation models that provide for a range of lifestyle preferences and maximise the ability of the whole community to be welcoming and inclusive of citizens with a disability.
No Simple Solutions for Complex Needs 2005 — People with a psychiatric condition plus an intellectual disability or addiction suffer the greatest unmet need. Successful reform must incorporate new payment models for professionals who serve those with the most complex needs, new methodologies targeted at behavioural and non-pharmacological strategies, an action plan to address fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and other preventable disabilities, and alternatives to incarceration for persons with complex needs.
Paving the Way: Meeting transition needs of young people with developmental disabilities and serious mental health conditions (2010) — Youth and young adults aged 16 to 24 who have dual diagnoses of a serious mental health condition and a developmental disability experience significant challenges as they transition to adulthood. The purpose of the study was to identify and describe best practices for transition to adulthood services for young people aged 16 to 24 who are dually eligible for mental health and developmental disability services.
People with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities: Understanding and realising their needs and those of their carers 1999 — People with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities present significant challenges to those who care for them, and those who commission and manage the services they receive.
Raising our sights: services for adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (2010) — This report, commissioned as part of the Valuing People Now delivery plan, highlights the most important parts of planning and delivering support for people with the most complex needs. also at http://kar.kent.ac.uk/24356/1/DH_2010_Raising_our_sights.pdf
Safeguarding disabled children: practice guidance 2009 — This practice guidance makes clear that disabled children have exactly the same human rights to be safe from abuse and neglect, to be protected from harm and achieve the Every Child Matters outcomes as non-disabled children. Disabled children do however require additional action. This is because they experience greater and created vulnerability as a result of negative attitudes about disabled children and unequal access to services and resources, and because they may have additional needs relating to physical, sensory, cognitive and/or communication impairments.
Services for people with learning disability and challenging behaviour or mental health needs [Mansell report - revised edition 2007] — This good practice guidance sets out the actions that should be taken in order to effectively meet the needs of people with challenging behaviour.
Supported Living – Making the Move Developing Supported Living options for people with learning disabilities 2010 — The aim of supported living to achieve choice, control and community inclusion has been much less of a focus. The result has been a focus on the housing ‘mechanics’ and as a consequence housing rights are often denied in practice, institutional practices continue in supported living and community inclusion and networks are not achieved by people.
Supporting Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities & Mental Illness: What Caregivers Need to Know 2015 — In this open access book, we provide practical explanations of what caregivers can do when supporting individuals with both intellectual disabilities and mental illness (dual diagnosis). Achieving quality services and care depends critically on understanding client behaviours. This understanding can direct support workers and other caregivers in developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to do their job well. Such understanding can promote positive changes to the overall quality of the environment in which people live, work, and play. An inclusive environment contributes to the quality of life for people with dual diagnosis.
Supporting the housing of people with complex needs (2007) — This report focuses on the issue of providing housing and support to people with complex needs, specifically people with physical disability, people with intellectual disability, and people with mental illness.
Supporting the housing of people with complex needs 2006 — The project aims to focus upon the options for people in Australia with complex needs to access “regular” or “ordinary” housing, as distinct from “cared accommodation”, and have the required supports provided to them within such settings.
Top Tips for supporting and meeting the needs of people with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) (2012) — Despite such serious impairments, people with PMLD can form relationships,make choices and enjoy activities. The people who love and care for them can often understand their personality,their mood and their preferences.These Top Ten Tips have been developed to support everyone, professionals and carers alike to help the person with PMLD live a fulfilling, happy and healthy life.
Upside Down and Inside Out- supporting a person in crisis (2009) — the most common reason for a crisis is a breakdown in relationships (the person loses someone important or becomes conflicted about a person they love). A person in crisis needs people who care, people who have hope about the future, people who take the long view. More at http://www.dimagine.com/