Spectrum Care Definition for Valued Social Roles!

Spectrum Care Definition for Valued Social Roles!

Valued Social Roles are very important for everyone’s quality of life as they can give us dignity, help us make friends and give us opportunities to learn new skills. However, there has been some confusion about what Valued Social Roles really are at Spectrum Care.

What’s changed:

We’ve looked intowell-known theories (CQL, Social Role Valorisation and so on) and pulled together a working definition for Valued Social Roles for Spectrum Care so that we are all on the same page. This will be the definition we use to measure how many Valued Social Roles the people we support have from now on.

There are two parts to the definition. The simple definition itself is one sentence and should be understandable for the people we support. The context gives some more guidance so that deciding whether or not a role is socially valued is quite clear.

What you need to do:

Read the definition and context and then give the examples a go. The final page has the answers and an explanation about why the example is a Valued Social Role or not. Discuss this with your team and make sure everyone understands it.

Please remember that there are a lot of different definitions for Valued Social Roles. You may believe a different definition, which is fine in your daily practice, but not for data collection. This definition has been developed for Spectrum Care’s use organisationally, so we will use this definition in surveys and for the Outcomes process from now on.

Any questions

Let me know if you have any questions

Definition

A valued social role is when a person does something regularly that is important to other people.

CONTEXT:

A valued social role must be perceived by others as being important. Something that is valuable to the person but is not valued by other people is not a valued SOCIAL role. A role like this may still provide the person with enjoyment and satisfaction so continue doing it, just count it under a more appropriate measure rather than a socially valued role.

Valued social roles are about contribution to other people, this contribution can be small or large so long as other people value it

Valued social roles can occur anywhere, both in the community and in the home

A person should aim to have several valued social roles not just one or two. The more valued social roles a person has the more chances they have to make friends, be involved with different communities and be provided with opportunities to access the good things in life.

A valued social role can have value because it requires special skills

A valued social role can have value because it makes other people feel good

A valued social role can have value because the output is valued

A valued social role can have value because it connects with other people who are valued

A valued social role is ongoing

A valued social role can be tested by other people noticing that they are missing

A valued social role can bring a sense of satisfaction to the person

A valued social role can provide an opportunity for personal growth for the person

A valued social role can be meaningful for the person

Are these Valued Social Roles?

1. Allison belongs to a community Kapa Haka group and she attends practice every Wednesday. They perform at local rest homes the last Sunday of every month. Allison leads the Karakia at each of these performances. Last month Allison was ill and couldn’t attend, the other members in her group texted her to find out if she was OK and a number of elderly people also asked the group where she was.

1. Sam has not seen nor spoken to his family for years, but he does receive a Christmas card from his grandfather every December with some money to buy himself a gift. He does not respond to his grandfather’s cards.

1. A video of Wilson busking was uploaded to YouTube. His performance included jumping up and down accompanied with incoherent chanting while being watch by the public. The film was titled “Check these dance moves out” and in the back ground you can hear people cheering him on to go faster. At the end he is visibly exhausted,and is bent over catching his breath while the members of the public clap and toss some lose change into his cardboard box.The video has had 1202 views, with 150 likes and 25 dislikes, the comments that are posted are generally making fun of his dance moves.

1. Kate lives in a shared home with three other people and 24/7 staffing. She is more able than some of the others living in the home and is therefore rostered to clean the dishes, vacuum and wipe down the bathroom most days. The staff and the parents of the other people in the house thank her regularly and Kate is clearly proud of her cleaning ability.

1. Mary has a voluntary role packing boxes of leaflets at a charity for half an hour every week. She does this in a back room, by herself and hardly interacts with anyone else while there. She always goes at a different day and time, and sometimes doesn’t go at all which may not be noticed for several weeks.

Explanations

1. Allison belongs to a community Kapa Haka group and she attends practice every Wednesday. They perform at local rest homes the last Sunday of every month. Allison leads the Karakia at each of these performances. Last month Allison was ill and couldn’t attend, the other members in her group texted her to find out if she was OK and a number of elderly people also asked the group where she was.

Answer: Is a Valued Social Role

Explanation:

-Allison’s role is clearly perceived as important by her Kapa Haka group and the people she is performing to. She has been given a leadership role in this group which indicates perceived value of her skills.

-The role clearly gives Allison more chances to make friends and to be involved with different communities

-Leading the Karakia and performing in the Kapa Haka group requires a set of special skills

-The performance is enjoyed by the local rest home residents which is a clear contribution to the community and a valued output.

-It is noted by a number of people when she is not present in her role and they enquire after her wellbeing

-It is a culturally meaningful activity to Allison and allows for continuous learning of new skills.

1. Sam has not seen nor spoken to his family for years, but he does receive a Christmas card from his grandfather every December with some money to buy himself a gift. He does not respond to his grandfather’s cards.

Answer: Not a Valued Social Role

Explanation:

Valued social roles are about contribution to other people;

-Sam is not actively taking part and so is not making a contribution

-Sam is not utilising any particular skills

-Sam is not creating anything of value

-Sam has not connected with his grandfather

-Sam is not growing in his ability to do any of the things above.

1. A video of Wilson busking was uploaded to YouTube. His performance included jumping up and down accompanied with incoherent chanting while being watch by the public. The film was titled “Check these dance moves out” and in the back ground you can hear people cheering him on to go faster. At the end he is visibly exhausted,and is bent over catching his breath while the members of the public clap and toss some lose change into his cardboard box.The video has had 1202 views, with 150 likes and 25 dislikes, the comments that are posted are generally making fun of his dance moves.

Answer: Not a Valued Social Role

Explanation:

A valued social role must be important to other people, while this one clearly is not.

-Even though this is happening in the community if Wilson was not busking he would not be missed.

-People are encouraging Wilson on to make fun of Wilson for their own entertainment

-Jumping up and down with incoherent chanting is NOT a valued skill

-Even though the act made people laugh and cheer they were more laughing at him

-Even with the exchange of lose coins for the act does not make it a valued role, beggars are not a valued role

-Even in the circles of buskers this would not be seen as a valued role or even true busking

-The negative comments show that the role is devaluing, that people think less of him due to his performance.

1. Kate lives in a shared home with three other people and 24/7 staffing. She is more able than some of the others living in the home and is therefore rostered to clean the dishes, vacuum and wipe down the bathroom most days. The staff and the parents of the other people in the house thank her regularly and Kate is clearly proud of her cleaning ability.

Answer: Is a Valued Social Role

Explanation:

-It’s important for Kate’s flatmates that the house is clean and tidy

-Kate regularly does the housework and it would be missed by her flatmates (and the staff) if she didn’t do it

-Kate has special skills that others in the house don’t have

-Kate is contributing to the people in the house, not just herself

-Other people recognise Kate’s contribution

-Kate is proud of her cleaning skills.

1. Mary has a voluntary role packing boxes of leaflets at a charity for half an hour most weeks. She does this in a back room, by herself and hardly interacts with anyone else while there. She always goes at a different day and time, and sometimes doesn’t go at all which may not be noticed for several weeks.

Answer: Is not a Valued Social Role

Explanation:

Volunteer roles are often considered to be Socially Valued Roles because they contribute to the community. However this one is not because the behaviour of the charity shows that the role is not considered important and Mary is not enjoying any of the benefits of a Socially Valued Role.

-Mary has very little interaction with anyone else, therefore it’s not social at all and there is no opportunity for building relationships with other people or making friends

-Mary isn’t missed when she doesn’t attend which shows that both the job and its outputs are not valued highly and nor is her presence

-Mary does not go regularly.