Page 18 - Leap Evaluation Report 2018

2.4 One to One Support
A key finding identified by people and families was the wide range of skills employed by Leap to offer one to
one support to people and families. From survey 1 a significant 98% of respondents listed one to one support (being available from Leap via phone, email, in person) as being a crucial aspect of their journey.
The importance of one to one support from Leap was further validated when conducting the telephone interviews and in-depth discussions. See below:
“Leap really was a life saver to our family and I cannot express to you enough how they completely changed our approach to dealing with disability. We really felt we had no control around anything when we met them, and now, well we are our own authority...it is hard at times, but I can always pull it back to us, the parents taking the lead advocating for our own family and not being led off down other paths which essentially mean poor services”
Another family member commented:
“ ...Leap was always at the end of the phone whenever we
needed them, and still are. Their experience is central to us as we know they understand what we are going through. They have attended meetings with us to support us, and now we can do that on our own because they have prepared us”.
This was further validated in the feedback sheets. Some comments are noted below:
“I’ve learnt to really listen to what family have to say, as they know their child better than anyone else”
(Professional)
“Building empowerment and capacity in families rather than taking on the role of problem solver”
(Professional)
“It is a change of mindset – it is challenging but it woke me up,
I loved hearing about a unique way to think, which I couldn’t see, because I was so stressed”
(Parent)
Relationship building was noted by over 90% of respondents:
“The importance of relationships for everybody. Importance of being included as part of a team”
(Professional)
Furthermore, the emphasis in Leap’s work is on building your valued roles, your relationships and your personal network and this created a shift in mindset for some professionals in terms of their role:
“I always think I have to be the problem solver, and that creates pressure. To see the family and their personal network working would be much more positive”
(Professional).
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