
Embracing our shared values as Supported Living teams drives excellence and empowers those we support. Theimpact of our values on team performance, outcomes for individuals, and overall quality of support can be transformative!
The strength of any team lies in the collective values they uphold. These shared values not only shape the team’s identity but also shape the quality of support they provide to individuals. What are the values of your team? Here we consider some common Supported Living values and discuss why they are so impactful:
1. Embracing Individuality
At the heart of our values lies the recognition of each individual's unique personality, preferences, and needs. By celebrating individuality, we can tailor our support to reflecteach person's specific circumstances, fostering a more nurturing, personalised experience. This approach ensures that individuals feel seen, heard, and valued for who they are,crucial to their well-being and sense of belonging.
Achieve this by:
• Supporting individuals to show up consistently as their authentic selves
• Referring to individuals with a learning disability in a way which is accepted by them
• Creating a personalised support journey with each individual
2. Fostering Independence
Independence is a cornerstone of Supported Living, supporting individuals to exercise autonomy over their own lives. Teams that promote work hard to empower individuals, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to make their own decisions and lead fulfilling lives. Promoting independence not only enhances residents' self-esteem but also instils a sense of responsibility and self-reliance.
Get this right by:
• Role model behaviours which show that people with disabilities can be independent, expert, and successful
• Using the perspectives of individuals we support in the design, delivery and review of services
3. Leveraging Experience
Each team member brings a wealth of experience to the table.This is enhanced tenfold when integrated with lived experience of each individual they support. When teams actively share and integrate their collective knowledge and expertise, they provide more comprehensive, nuanced support. This collaboration creates a learning environment where innovative solutions and best practices thrive, ultimately enhancing support provision.
Get this right by:
• Embrace lived and professional experience to inform co-production opportunities
• Use a trauma-informed approach to design and deliver inclusive, person-centred services
4. Empowering Support
Empowerment is about supporting individuals to make decisions about their own lives while providing information, advice and a friendly ear to navigate challenges. Supported Living teams who empower do so by creating a positive culture, where individuals feel motivated to pursue their goals and aspirations. By fostering an empowering atmosphere, teams help individuals build resilience and a sense of agency.
Top tips to achieve this:
• Radiating a positive energy which focuses on outcomes; enabling individuals to live their best lives!
• Listening to, and supporting colleagues to help them feel confident in their roles
5. Ensuring Fairness
Fairness provides all individuals with equitable support and opportunities, regardless of their background or circumstances. It underpins our commitment to social justice and equality, guiding teams to advocate for and protect the rights of those they support. By championing fairness, we are contributing to a more inclusive and just community.
Top tip:
• This one’s a no-brainer; let’s see it across the board!!
By tapping into our shared values, we can significantly enhance performance and outcomes. Sharing good practices across the team leads to continuous improvement and innovation, ensuring high-quality support. Achieving Care Quality Commission (CQC) compliance becomes more attainable, as shared values help in raising standards and providing clear evidence of Outstanding support. As a result, individuals experience better outcomes, benefiting from a cohesive support system tailored to their needs and preferences. Moreover, a strong sense of shared values fosters better teamwork, creating a harmonious and motivated work environment; our happy place!
In summary, our shared values are the bedrock of effective teams. They unite team members, drive our actions, and elevate the standard of support we provide. By embracing individuality, fostering independence, leveraging experience, empowering residents, and ensuring fairness, we will not only enhance the lives of those we support but also build a stronger, more cohesive team dynamic.
As teams move forward, our development lies in acommitment to these core values. In making this commitment, we unlock the true potential of both our teams and the individuals we support, creating a brighter and more inclusive future for all!
Ready to transform your team’s values into actionable policies and practices?
Book a call with me to discover how bespoke training can help your team weave their values into every aspect of their work. Together, we can elevate your team's performance and the quality of life for those you support.
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