enablers2

ENABLER/S

an exciting career opportunity for a graduate (or similar),

enabling and empowering a gifted young

disabled person seeking a future in the Arts.......

applicants must have an excellent command

of English, be mature, and be willing

to undergo lengthy training to master

the child's means of communicating.

salary: regrettably a pittance, actually up to £12,148,

further details from 01227 456625

hojoy@rmplc.co.uk

I am dependent on hands-on help for everything. When I was much smaller I trained 5 people to empower me. Because of acknowledged injustice by my County Council, I have not had opportunity to escape increasing dependency on my mother for a number of years. Now my Council are advertising for new assistants for me. Because I am very anxious to ensure that I obtain committed and loving and intelligent helpers, I am pasting up this plea. If you have any serious interest in helping me strive for my goals of self-determination and fulfillment, in facilitating my self-expression whether through writing, conversation, composition, art etc, please read on and get in touch for further particulars.

You will find out more about me and my development at the editor's homesite, especially under cv or disability. There is also a document called "How I Communicate" that may be informative for you. FTW diary also describes what Time Digital (19th February 1999) called my "understandable bitterness" and also something of my lifestyle.

Those who know me (eg my clinical psychologist and the OT who helped to develop my means of communication) are unanimous in agreeing that the ideal is as follows:

THE ROLE OF THE ENABLER

(prepared for KCC, October 1998)

BACKGROUND

Hero has been deprived of opportunity to escape dependence on her mother over the last 5 years. In consequence, she has been subjected to scepticism about her abilities that has made her distrust strangers, and she has become habituated to relying for all practical purposes solely on one person.

Her greatest need, therefore, and this was reflected in her Statement of SEN dated 14 June 1996 where it was identified as the key objective, is to train people to assume responsibility for her so that she is no longer dependent upon the continuous presence of her mother. This is a life skill that needs to be acquired and as such takes priority over any narrow view of education as being about accessing a curriculum during school hours.

Training is likely to be a lengthy process, taking many months. There is a lot to learn, a lot of practice needed before a fair degree of competency is probable, and a lot of emotional hurdles to cross.

It is only going to succeed if a person/s is appointed of a suitable aptitude and attitude. In the autumn of 1996, a demonstration of the social and cognitive processing skills that a candidate will have to acquire during training in order to be able to do the job of enabler was given to Trish MacCaffrey, LEA Educational Psychologist, Bryan Mitchell, Customer Services Manager, and Marlene Morrissey, now Mid Kent SESM; and on separate occasions to Joanna Blamires, later LEA Keyworker, and Carolyn Morley, Director of the LEA's Partnership With Parents Service. As a result of this and ensuing discussion, the Authority agreed that they would have to re-define their JD and person spec. This has not yet been done, nor has consultation and discussion taken place with those best placed to advise.

We are therefore offering the enclosed document as the basis for this discussion that we feel should be taking place in order that the key objective contained within Section III of Hero's Statement be properly implemented. This reads:

"all adults involved with Hero must be aware of the significant changes she faces and the demands they place upon her and of the need to act with sensitivity towards Hero as she moves back into formal education and becomes accustomed to being independent of her mother again. Helping to make the new enabling relationships successful must be the key objective."

We are happy to discuss further how the enclosed document keys into advice previously received. We do not believe that it is either surprising or unreasonable given the individuality of the child's position.

It is extremely improbable that suitable candidates will be attracted to the job when it is advertised and described as a bottom of the range classroom assistant job (as has happened last month and despite our advice). Doing this seriously misrepresents the responsibilities involved and the skills and knowledge background required. Taking responsibility for Hero and empowering her requires a high level of intelligence, practical skill and resourcefulness.

We hope you find the enclosed document useful and would urge you to re-think your strategy with regard to the recruitment and deployment of enablers. The length of the spec enclosed reflects the unique/individual nature of the job. The hours of working should be discussed but must take account of the input (7 hours) Social Services have been waiting since June 1994 to make.

We think it appropriate that people who know and understand the child are on the appointment panel. Ned Mueller, Clinical Psychologist, has indicated a willingness to participate in this way, as has Wendy Clarke, Occupational Therapist.

Hero's parents would appreciate being kept informed at every stage of the recruitment process.

INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE ENABLERS

the child

Hero is uniquely and profoundly physically disabled and requires complete care. She is a wheelchair user without speech and unable to gesture or vocalise pain. She also has epilepsy.

Hero is exceptionally intelligent, being eg a performed composer of classical music

Hero is very self-aware for her years

Hero is often depressed by her situation and fears for the future

Hero has become over-dependent on her mother, and needs to feel confident that she can learn to function well with the hands-on help of someone other than mother

Hero has not attended school for 6 years

Hero has a surprisingly varied and interesting life

Hero is 13

description of work involved in being Hero's enabler

in the first instance (phase 1) :

to train to assume responsibility for Hero during daytime hours, such that she can continue to lead a fulfilling life with opportunity to develop her many evident talents without the necessary continuous presence of her mother

to learn the full range of techniques that will empower Hero to lead as full and independent and self-determining a life as is possible

to befriend Hero, building a close and personal relationship that is nevertheless professional

to develop a happy working partnership with Hero's mother, Pauline

to work as part of a committed team

To do these things will involve working closely with Pauline & Hero primarily in the family home, and becoming trusted by Hero such that the appointed person can learn to enable Hero's communication and empower her participation in the full range of activities she currently pursues. This will involve hands-on involvement since Hero employs a facilitated means of spelling, and facilitating this is the single most important aspect of the job.

thereafter (phase 2):

to take responsibility for Hero

to empower Hero to lead a full and self-determining life

accurately to convey or act on Hero's communications as she requires, and, during working hours, be available as continuously as is practicable for her to feel freely able to communicate

to ensure Hero's safety, comfort and sense of well being during hours of working

to work with the family support workers (who give assistance with personal care and physical activities, and are in post) and agree their daily deployment with Pauline. When Enabler and FSW are working together, the FSW will work to the direction of the Enabler.

to be able and willing to give all necessary personal care to the child (though in practice there will often/usually be a Family Support Worker on hand)

to work with Pauline, Hero, keyworker and tutors in developing an IEP

to help Hero work on the self-expressive activities that are so important to her

to enable Hero to meet and converse with her friends, both in person and utilising various media (snail, fax, phone, e-mail)

to help Hero to access reading matter

to help Hero to take exercise and stay fit, in line with advice from physiotherapist and Pauline

to enable Hero to communicate with her personal tutors and take part in such activities as they together arrange

to enable Hero at her sessions with her clinical psychologist, should that be Hero's wish

to help Hero to rest, relax and recreate

to accompany Hero on outings

to help Hero during illness as well as when in good health

to keep daily records of work done

to liaise with other staff and with the family

to provide written reports when required by the LEA or Social Services

to be available for some weekend and evening working

to protect, encourage and praise Hero as appropriate

to be able to explain Hero to those new to her such that she can be taken seriously in her communications

to respect Hero's need for "privacy" and "solitude"

to be willing and able to drive and use the adapted family vehicle

to help Hero develop her activities and access new opportunities

to be aware of the enabler's role in Hero's personal development and act with sensitivity to her emotions

to continuously train to improve their skills and keep up with changes in Hero

to maintain confidentiality

eventually (phase 3) :

to participate in the training of further enablers so that Hero does not have to fear dependence on one professional person, and so that she acquires a greater fluency and confidence in training new enablers (upon whom she has a life-long dependency)

enablers are responsible to

in contract terms, the enabler will be line managed by the LEA Keyworker, although jointly funded by KCC Education and Social Services Departments. In day-to-day terms, the enabler must be guided by Hero's mother and, once trained, will be in loco parentis.

training

Training will take place where Hero is, ie primarily in the family home in Canterbury but also out and about, eg at the hydrotherapy centre, the RDA, the Manwood School, Canterbury Christ Church College, KIAD, Glyndebourne, the Environmental Studies Centre.

The training will be delivered primarily by Pauline but there will be components contributed by Carolyn Morley, Director of the LEA's Partnership With Parents Service; and Wendy Clarke, Head of Paediatric Occupational Therapy with the East Kent Community Healthcare Trust.

The successful applicant will be expected to learn something of Hero's history and condition; learn to use all the equipment Hero needs; will meet with all those with whom Hero is involved - family, friends, and professionals; will be expected to learn the required skills first through observation and demonstration of current practice, and then through carefully staged and supervised hands-on experience, with the gradual assumption of responsibility as experience, competence and confidence grows; will be expected to demonstrate an increasing awareness of the issues the child faces as a disabled young person and the strategies employed to help her to cope; will be encouraged to practice certain techniques at home in her own time in order to better build a habit of working; will be expected to watch and discuss video material; will have opportunity to discuss concerns with other key professionals; will be expected take their own notes and to keep a record of their training; will be expected to complete training in or demonstrate existing efficiency in First Aid at Work; Lifting & Moving; Health & Safety at Work.

Evaluation will be carried out informally, but one will be expected to be able to explain how to cope with eventualities that may arise, to demonstrate practical skills that have been acquired, and to articulate an understanding of Hero's situation.

the ideal enabler must be/have:

a woman who is right handed, probably in her thirties

able to provide stability and continuity; ie free to commit herself to the lengthy training required and stay on the job for a number of years if the relationship works out well with Hero

someone who enjoys a challenge, enjoys variety, is excited rather than daunted by the prospect of working with this child, and can work with perseverance and determination to acquire the necessary skills, is interested in the whole child

an excellent command of English, ability to be precise and interest in the use of language
excellent memory and powers of concentration and stamina

possess excellent social skills and confidence

excellent general knowledge with proven ability in languages, maths or music

be unafraid of the close contact that the job involves

be at ease with computers and competent with word-processing on a pc

have possessed a full clean driving licence for at least 3 years

warm, caring personality with excellent listening skills

capable of demonstrating resourcefulness, taking on great responsibility, and working on own initiative. self-disciplined and well-organised

reliable, enthusiastic, energetic, compassionate, calm, resilient, sensitive, pragmatic, highly intelligent

fit and healthy

quick on the uptake both in an intellectual and a practical way eg the use of equipment

knowledge of first aid, and willingness to train in first aid, health & safety at work, lifting and moving

a non-smoker

able to delimit personal and professional boundaries

it would be preferable to have:

an interest in the arts

some proven ability in the field of enabling or empowering others, paid or voluntary

experience of working one-to-one for protracted periods of time as a personal assistant, taking direction from the client

an enjoyment of the outdoors

pay and conditions

The LEA have control over this. They have been advised that the salary level should be comparable to a teacher or senco's.

The post/s will be dependent upon Hero's Statement of SEN and will therefore be subject to at least annual review.

closing date:

open to applicants Autumn 1999. All interested parties are encouraged to apply for further details.

I want to believe that there is someone out there who could be a good enabler for me, even on an initially paltry salary. I dream of someone like Annie Sullivan.