Establishing Trust
Participants will learn strategies to establish and build trust with ageing individuals with intellectual disabilities, recognizing the fundamental role of trust in fostering positive relationships.
What is trust?
• Trust is the basis of human relationships. When you trust others, you feel safe and that you can cooperate.
• There are two types of trust that you need to know: practical trust and emotional trust.
•Practical trust: This is the more traditional type of trust, and the one that usually first comes to mind when thinking about how to trust someone.
Types of trust
Emotional trust: People are less likely to be aware of this type of trust. You create
emotional trust by going above and beyond what’s expected of you, and creating
meaningful bonds with your team. It requires a level of emotional intelligence.
Trusting relationships between
service-users and staff
In order to achieve trusting relationships between ageing individuals with intellectual disabilities and staff, the following is needed from staff:
• A genuine desire to help the beneficiary/ service user
• Sensitivity to the beneficiary’s/ service user’s needs
• Understanding their feelings (i.e. showing empathy).
Assignment
Thinking about each of the following important factors in a trusting relationship, how do these play a role in your work? What does displaying these factors look like?
• A genuine desire to help the beneficiary/ service user
• Sensitivity to the beneficiary’s/ service user’s needs
• Understanding their feelings (i.e. showing empathy)
Guiding principles
The guiding principles that govern working with people with intellectual disability include a person-centred, recovery-oriented, and inclusive approach.
• The person with intellectual disabilities should be the focus, supported by different members of their team (multidisciplinary approach) working towards the person’s goals.
• In line with a recovery-oriented approach, people with intellectual disabilities should be seen as an expert in their own life, whilst professionals can share management knowledge, working in close collaboration with ageing people with intellectual disabilities.
• Imagine the world of social care as a vast network of bridges, connecting individuals with the support they need. At the heart of each of these bridges lies a crucial element – trust – ensuring safe passage over turbulent waters.
Building rapport and trust
People with intellectual disabilities report that they find it easier to communicate with professionals if they feel comfortable and trust them.
Encourage active engagement and participation of the person in their provision of services by:
1)finding out about their communication, sensory and mobility needs and preferences in advance of appointments/sessions
2) discussing their goals
Encourage active engagement and participation of the person in their provision of services by:
3) considering what will assist the person to actively engage in their care (e.g. provision of Easy Read information, appointments at their home, or at a time when public transport is readily available)
4) identifying their strengths and support structures e.g. friends, community groups.
Pillars of trust between Ageing People with Intellectual Disabilities and staff.
•Building Confidence and Security
•Promoting Well-Being
•Enhancing Independence
•Trust in Decision-Making
•Providing Effective Care and support
•Strengthening the Care and Support Team
•Professional Development
•Improving Quality of Care and Support
•Fostering Accountability
•Building Stronger Communities
•Ethical Considerations
Assignment
Think about the following pillars of trust. How do these play a role in your workplace?
• Enhancing independence
• Building confidence and security
• Fostering accountability
• Promoting well-being
• Ethical consideration
•What else could be done to ensure these pillars are addressed?
Conclusion
• In conclusion, the development of a mutual trusting relationship between the staff and the beneficiaries/service users is vital for quality of care.
• This process presupposes mutual effort so together they can build the foundations for a more optimistic and hopeful future.
• In this way the staff will get positive feedback about the services they provide and the beneficiaries will feel empowered and valued..