Transcript Resilience and Optimism in Disability Work

Resilience and Optimism
in Disability Work
Presented by Catherine Pillars
and Paul Lappin
from
Wesley Disability Services
Services Offered by Wesley
Disability Services
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Behaviour Management
Development of communication resources
Assessment
Therapeutic intervention
Guardianship Reports, applications and reviews
Staff defusing
Training
Clinical Consultancy
Systems review
“what has kept you working in the
area… when maybe others have
gone”
Potential of Resilience as a
framework
• For us as workers- through activating resilience we can
grow
• We can provide supports to staff- to assist them to adapt
and cope better in the face of tough times
• We can design organisation to have hope and optimism
• We can use resilience to enhance our capacity as a
whole.
“Life breaks everyone and afterwards, many are
strong in the broken places”
Earnest Hemmingway
Our aim today:
• Resilience as a framework of support for
the Disability field
• Note the role of supporting staff
sustainability- particularly where there is
high levels of challenging behaviour
• Encourage thought on how resilience can
be utilised in the disability area
Resilience
has been
studied for
many life
events….
The word resilience
Latin word for ‘Jump’
Definition
“The ability of people to roll with the punches
and cope with life events, both negative and
positive”
(Dryden,2005)
Definition
“Resilience is about bouncing back from harm
…rather than immunity from harm”
(Garmenzy 1993)
Definition
“Resilience is an individual's capacity
to maintain healthy symptom free functioning
following stressful life events”
( Bonnano,2004)
In Short:
“A set of
qualities and circumstances
That fosters success despite
Risk and adversity”
( Bonnano,2004)
Bouncing back/
Rebounding
Mental/ toughness
Spirit
Hardiness
Endurance
Staying power/
Survival
Origins of Resilience
• First Based in Physics
Origins of resilience
• Norman Garmenzy- Pioneer of resilience research (1970’s)
• Emily Werner and Ruth Smith- ( 1992) study in Kauai, Hawaii, of
500 children- where over a third thrived besides coming from difficult
conditions
• Al Siebert- founder of the resiliency centre and completed research
into nature of highly resilient survivors
"The flower that blooms in adversity is the
most rare and beautiful of all."
From the Disney Film Mulan
We don’t know if the roof is going to leak
…..until it rains
Protective factors
Moderate to high
intelligence
Positive
temperament
High levels of
self determination
High self esteem
Strong academic
skills
Warm but demanding
parenting style
Optimistic outlook
on the future
Family composition
Secure childCare giver
relationship
Parent employment
Parent level of
education
Access to mentor
/role models
Risk factors
gender
Family history of
mental illness
race
Low school
attendance
History of medical
problems
Low socio economic
status
Emotional problems
History of child
maltreatment
Harsh and disorganised
parenting style
Family composition
High level of crime, violence and
poverty in community
Poor social problem solving skills
“In this world, without quiet corners,
there can be no easy escapes from history
from hullabaloo, from terrible, unquiet fuss”
Salman Rushdie
Consider the Complexity of Disability Work:
Industry Context – Evolving and changing
Service Context – Different Approaches
You are the primary person interacting with our clients
Exposure to
Challenging behaviour
Impact of challenging behaviour
When the rubber hits the road
Physical, Emotional and Professional Crisis
Managing
Conflict
Working
with
families
Limited
resources
“Resilience is a strategy
(including skills in problem solving) that can be modelled
and mastered through education”
( Edward Et al. 2008)
The resilient person is able to…
Practice positive emotions
Able to tolerate pain and
Distressing emotions
Can reflect and
have insight
Able to take responsibility
for person choices
Have hope
Can embrace failure and
Learn from it
They are able to treat
Themselves with
appreciation
Able to be autonomous
Are flexible
Can engage humour
Optimism is….
• An outlook that maintains a view of the
world as a positive place
• Is the opposite of pessissm
• Optimists generaly believe people and
events are inherently good
Role of optimism & hope
• Helps staff maintain a good morale
• Protect the physical and psychological
health of carers
• Ensure a better quality of care
The pessimist sees difficulty in
every opportunity.
The optimist sees opportunity in
every difficulty.
- Winston Churchill
Resources
David Pitonyak
www.dimagine.com
Practical Ideas to enhance our resilience
response
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Reducing Burnout/ stress
Reduce absenteeism
Promote Job satisfaction
Alleviate our risk factors
And in doing so:
• Promote Hope & Optimism
• Promote Resilience
What can Supervisors do
to increase our ability to bounce back?
Opportunity
For
Development
Social
supports
Organisations can reduce stressors &
increase ability to bounce back
Early Intervention
Clear boundaries
"A clay pot sitting in the sun will always be a clay pot.
It has to go through the white heat of the furnace to become porcelain.
Once porcelain, it can never be clay again."
Author Unknown
We are still here….