From reactionary to activist: a model that works

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to invite readers to consider a model of compassionate leadership to contribute to the prevention of abuse in collective care settings. Design/methodology/approach -This paper examines a model of leadership based on theories of attachment and parenting and draws on evidence from practice. The framework, which we call Total Attachment, originated in a foster care organisation which was designed around the approach as a way of supporting carers to care for children who were, largely deemed as unfosterable. It explores literature examining workplace culture and the potential for detachment as workers try to survive their employment. It then offers an approach which has been adopted by a Safeguarding Adults partnership to implement a prevention framework into collective care settings for older people. This has placed Total Attachment at the heart of its promotion of compassionate care giving. Findings -Consultation from the launch of the prevention framework indicated that Total Attachment had a resonance with providers and was readily understood and its value, tangible as a whole systems approach to enabling compassionate caring. The efficacy of the model in supporting workers to be resilient and effective is quantified by data from the foster organisation. Research limitations/implications -Total Attachment draws on transference of practice learning and experience across life span services. Attachment theory is largely considered a framework informing child care, however, this model recognises the attachment story across the life span.Practical implications -This model shows how compassionate care can be led rather than simply taught; how carers and workers can be shown a way of working that connects deeply with their own need for care giving and care seeking. Originality/value -This paper shares creative, innovative practice that can be implemented in services across the life span. It offers a model for leading compassionate care in a whole systems approach with an evidence base of its efficacy.This paper aims to present a fusion of practice-based evidence as a framework for leadership to counter a culture of reactivity with regard to the safeguarding agenda. The development of this approach is a move to a more proactive position which means to set aside blame, judgement and disappointment when things go wrong in the people who are paid to care, the places they

Contributing factors to providing an effective community-based forensic service for people with a learning disability: a literature review

“…Article 3: Graham et al (2016) resolve: a community-based forensic learning disability service specialising in supporting male sex offendersour model approach and evidence base for effective intervention This is a recent and relevant paper incorporating the principles of the Transforming Care Agenda. The aim of the paper is to address best practice in therapeutic approaches within a community-based forensic residential service in order to promote an innovative service model based on the attachment theory of Schofield and Beek (2006) and referred to as Total Attachment (Harbottle et al, 2014). The authors of the paper are registered service managers within the organisation.…”

Resolve: a community-based forensic learning disability service specialising in supporting male sex offenders – our model, approach and evidence base for effective intervention

“…The whole systems approach developed by Resolve largely comprises the following components: total attachment (Harbottle et al , 2014) in which professional “parenting” is used throughout the services; clear boundaries, structures and avenues of communication; a knowledgeable and compassionate workforce; a suitable environment; detailed, pre-admission assessment; and multi-agency involvement in care planning and risk assessment.…”

“…total attachment (Harbottle et al , 2014) in which professional “parenting” is used throughout the services;…”

“…Bates interpreted this as evidence that the work streamed in the “tough” from the working classes, in the same way as Oxford and Cambridge attracted public school boys. Harbottle et al (2014) believe that the explanation for the “care girls” behaviour had less to do with their class of origin and more to do with them being overwhelmed by the caring task and unsupported in their work thus leading to their emotional detachment as a strategy to survive their employment. total attachment outlines a way of working to enable workers to attach and feel supported and offers the same approach to scaffolding a secure base across the whole service – for service users as well as for staff.…”

“…With an awareness of the corrosive power of negativity in an environment where intensity is necessary to maintain boundaries and where vigilance is essential to ensure that risks are managed, this approach to compassionate care has helped to maintain and grow staff resilience and kindness. As described above with regard to Bates’ observations of carer detachment, Care is withdrawn in order to look after the self – “to look after me, I won’t look after you” (Harbottle et al , 2014). Thinking meetings at Resolve, promote personal growth, fulfilment and development.…”