Community

KEY MESSAGES

• All people need to belong somewhere, to be recognised and wanted.
• Believe in and discover people’s gifts.
• The first message about community that a person should get is that they and their team are in it together.
• Discover what brings out the best in the people you support and find how to help them get more of it.
• Don’t be scared about the community; the community is generally a safe place and support staff need to be brave.
• Staff and their family and friends can be a very valuable source of connection. This might be a good place to start but shouldn’t be the place you finish.
• Community can be anywhere, it can evolve and strengthen from any connection with careful support.
• Give community options but never impose them.
• Believe in the value of community and the importance of feeling that you belong.
• Take as much time and thought to support people with friendships and relationships as with the rest of your work.
• Being known and seen makes people safer.