Active Support – a working method to increase the influence and participation of people with intellectual disabilities?

Marie Cederschiöld University has being conducting the research project Active Support since 2020. This is a research study that aims to introduce the Active Support working approach into group homes for people with intellectual disabilities. The group homes will be monitored longitudinally with repeated measurements over four years. The project is funded by Ersta Diakoni.

The study's research questions are:

1) How does Active Support affect the participation, activity and influence of the residents?

2) How has training and supervision in Active Support affected the working methods of the staff and the manager?

3) Which individual, group-related, organisational and contextual factors, both those that enable and hinder, affect the implementation process and explain the successes and shortcomings in introducing and maintaining Active Support?

4) What adjustments need to be made to the Active Support working method in relation to its use in Sweden?

Active support has been systematically implemented internationally in group homes and there is scientific support for the method, but experience from Sweden is lacking. Introducing the working method to staff and managers of group homes in Sweden provides a unique opportunity to investigate whether Active Support can be adapted for use in a Swedish context. In addition, the project will evaluate whether it leads to changes in the staff’s working methods so that people with intellectual disabilities have more influence, more choice and increased engagement in activities in their everyday lives. The project will be followed by two reference groups consisting of people with intellectual disabilities, representatives from FUB - The Swedish National Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability - and from various authorities. The results of the study will be presented in a doctoral thesis, in scientific journals, and at national and international conferences.

Social issues to work with in the future

Our education is linked to the UN's 17 global goals for sustainable development. These are goals that you can work with in the future:

U.N's global goals: No povertyU.N's global goals: Zero hungerU.N's global goals: Good health and well-beingU.N's global goals: Quality Education

About the project:

Contact:
Project group/collaborators:
Time period: 2020-2023
Research area: Social work
Project status: Ongoing
Financier: Ersta diakoni

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Last updated:
4 January 2022