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safeguarding

things would become possible and, I expected to answer it as it applied with equal exchange of cards, invitations
believe, would be welcomed by the great to yourself. and presents.
majority of both staff and those supported. A concept of “life sharing” was Each person supported is helped to
Supporting people with learning prevalent in organisations such as L’Arche keep a record, for example photographs
disabilities is long-term work. Many staff and Camphill, deriving from their positive and an address book with contact details,
work with the same individuals for many founding philosophies (Williams and which includes not only their own friends
years – in some cases a lifetime. This offers Evans, 2013). and family but also staff who they are
many opportunities for close friendship. This concept prevails where the pressure close to and their family and friends.
I know of several instances where to “professionalise” can be resisted. As
people without a family have been taken L’Arche (2021a) noted: “People with
home by one of their supporters, for learning disabilities have much to teach us People without a family have
example at Christmas, over many years, and contribute to the world. During the been taken home by staff, for
to stay overnight and be part of family last 50 years, we have learnt that one of
celebrations, but the supporters have the best ways to enable this is by creating… example to stay at Christmas,
been told it is now “unprofessional” and a culture of shared lives between people but supporters have been told
cannot happen. There is a great sense of with and without learning disabilities.”
loss on both sides. There is mutual benefit in such this is now ‘unprofessional’
relationships: “I got to know the three
Tyranny versus equality safeguarding guys quite well over the course of the
Before the advent of the tyranny and risk year, and it changed my life in ways that I Staff and people they support are
avoidance within current notions of had never expected. I was constantly encouraged to be each other’s friends on
safeguarding, evidence showed fostering amazed at how much I was growing social media. If they leave, staff are
equality and genuine friendship between through these friendships. encouraged to keep in touch and be
staff and those they support is beneficial “I had thought I was coming to this willing to continue friendship with the
and greatly needed. programme to do a good thing and help person they have supported, through
The British Institute of Learning people but actually it was me who was visits, communications and in other ways.
Disabilities in 1989 published a study of being cared for. I learned that I can If staff wish to consider fostering or an
relationships between social workers and experience meaningful, mutual friendship adult placement, who better to do this for
people with learning disabilities. In many with people who… are different from than someone they already know well?
cases, there was true friendship and myself” (L’Arche, 2021b). Only in this way can the devastating
sharing to the great benefit of everyone. A study of a Camphill community abuse of imposed loneliness, isolation and
It reported: “The social worker’s task involving life-sharing between people friendlessness be tackled seriously. I
was characterised by informality. It took with learning disabilities and the believe that experience of this is common
place within long-term relationships. extended families of their supporters among people with learning disabilities
Many people had their social worker’s came to this conclusion: “Living in and they are particularly vulnerable to it
home address and telephone number. extended families in a long-term social and concerned about it.
Many social workers described themselves relationship with co-workers/assistants I also believe that being a true friend to
as friends of the people with whom they enables both groups to become familiar someone and sharing your life with them
worked. Some service users shared this with each other’s pattern of is a much stronger safeguard against more
view and came to see their social workers communication: an essential step if a direct abuse than rules and so-called
as their friends too” (Atkinson, 1989). person with a learning disability is to “professional standards” (Williams, 2019).
More than 40 years ago, Values Into learn of the world and express choices Unfortunately, this issue has been
Action held what were called participation about what they want to do in it. exacerbated further by the Covid
workshops to foster equal relationships “It also helps generate a sense of restrictions. Now is the time to reconsider
between staff and those they supported. community in which they feel part of a what we are doing. n
A whole weekend event was structured readily available, supportive and
around equal sharing. Rooms, facilities dependable social structure.” (Randell References
Atkinson D (1989) Someone to Turn to: the
and activities were shared and, if you and Cumella, 2009). Role of Front-line Staff. BILD Publications
asked a question of a person, you were L’Arche (2021a) What We Do. https://www.
A hug, a family, a different approach larche.org.uk/what-wedo
This is what I would like to see. On arrival L’Arche (2021b) Meaningful and Mutual
to support a person, staff give them a hug.
Relationships. https://tinyurl.com/rxamst5j
75% When they ask a person what they’ve NHS (2005) Adults with Learning Difficulties in
England. Health and Social Care
been doing, they tell them what
Information Centre
they’ve been doing too.
Staff who wish to are
Disability. https://tinyurl.com/9evcywwy
Had no friends 19% encouraged to introduce Pitonyak D (2005) Loneliness is the Only Real
without learning the person to their own Randell M, Cumella S (2009) People with an
intellectual disability living in an intentional
disabilities family and friends and to community. Journal of Intellectual Disability
Had no contact take the person home to Research; 53(8):716-726.
with family experience family life. Williams P (2019) See people as friends to
members Birthdays, marriages, curtail abuse. Community Living; 32(4):6
births, festivals and funerals Williams P and Evans M (2013) Social Work
Source: NHS (2005) are celebrated on both sides, with People with Learning Difficulties. Sage
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 35 No 1 | Autumn 2021 13