This paper reports on one community-based service in England that uses a growth-focused approach to support people with learning disabilities to gain skills for employment in their communities. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature.
This paper is based on a literature review and case studies from one community-based service with people with learning disabilities. A literature review was undertaken to identify relevant literature, theories, policy and law, aimed at supporting adults with learning disabilities to gain skills for employment in their communities.
The community-based service uses a growth-focused approach to support people with learning disabilities to gain skills for employment within their own communities. Staff members provide intensive, one-to-one support for three service users, working with each individual for up to year. This targeted approach allows staff to tailor their support to each person’s specific needs and goals, preparing them for the workplace.
This practice-based paper focuses on adults with learning disabilities, and not on children. It draws on experience from one community-based service rather than present empirical research.
This paper shows how one community-based service applied theories of growth development, relationship-based practice and community of practice theory to inform its practice approach, to support adults with learning disabilities gain skills for employment in their communities.
