Social care training
How philosophy is improving social care training
The background
The Essex Autonomy Project (EAP) was established in 2010, with support from the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The aim of the project is to investigate and clarify the ideal of self-determination in history, theory and practice, both for its own sake, and in order to provide guidance to those who must apply this concept. The EAP works with health and social care practitioners, psychiatrists, lawyers, the police and researchers who face issues surrounding autonomy and mental capacity.
The issue
Health and social care practitioners must navigate a challenging ethical and legal environment which demands both respect for client autonomy and the protection of vulnerable persons. Whilst practitioners receive basic training on mental capacity legislation, the more complex ethical and philosophical questions raised through case work are often not fully addressed. Official guidance documents for practitioners contain case studies which are more simplistic than those encountered by practitioners on the ground.
The solution
The EAP designed several training sessions on key aspects of autonomy and mental capacity specifically for health and social care practitioners. Called Autonomy in Practice, the three-hour sessions provide advanced on-site training on current research, legal developments and the ethical issues surrounding the ideal of autonomy in professional contexts and are delivered by research staff from the EAP. Session topics include Capacity Assessments, Best Interest Decision-Making, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and Consent. Part of each session is devoted to the discussion of case studies which reflect the reality of social care practice. Autonomy in Practice was piloted in 2011 and is now being delivered to health and social care practitioners across the UK.
"The EAP has been really helpful to me in training. I train adult ‘safeguarding leads’ in the application of the Mental Capacity Act. I have revised the materials to raise questions of procedural/substantive autonomy, particularly in relation to vulnerability. This has helped leads to identify when the safeguarding procedures do and don’t need to be triggered."
John Leighton, Social Care Institute of Excellence
The benefits
Autonomy in Practice training brings the latest research and legal case law directly to practitioners in a concise and practical package. Through being delivered at the practitioner’s place of work, the training is rooted in the issues that are being faced by the individuals being trained, whilst the background of philosophy allows practitioners to investigate issues of autonomy from a fresh perspective. The inter-disciplinary nature of the EAP is reflected in Autonomy in Practice, giving health and social care practitioners an insight into the perspectives of other professionals working in the area of autonomy and mental health and the sharing of good practice across sectors.
Who to contact
For information about how working with the University of Essex can help your business or organisation, contact
T 01206 872925
E partners@essex.ac.uk
