How positive attitudes towards those with mental health conditions, dementia or learning disabilities will improve the care and support they receive

• Having high but realistic expectations of people’s ability is part of valuing them as people and recognising their strengths and resilience.
• When working with adults at risk we need to build their confidence and trust and develop good rapport with them.
• It is important to be sensitive to encouraging, developing and maintaining their skills in order to promote their self esteem, independence and social participation.
• If people are not give opportunities to use the skills and to build upon them to become more independent they run the risk of losing these skills.
• If we always ‘do things for people’ they may lose the motivation and confidence to do things for themselves even though they may have the potential to continue to do them and to build on these skills to do more for themselves.
• People with high self-esteem – i.e. those who feel in control of their lives and respected as an equal, rather than controlled by others, are more likely to achieve their full potential in terms of their independence not just in self care but in social skills too.
• Treating adults with learning disabilities as children or not enabling them to take managed risks can stifle their development and aspirations.
• People with mental ill health may have episodes of being unwell but also periods when they function independently and it is important to understand this and to adapt the support around how they are feeling on a particular day rather than to have an inflexible approach.
• Many negative myths and stereotypes exist about people with mental ill health, dementia and learning disabilities. Most people with these conditions do not pose a risk to themselves or others. In fact people with these conditions are far more likely to be at risk from others themselves.
• Help to reduce the stigma by making sure individuals are not isolated in social situations
• Promote wellbeing and provide opportunities for individuals to feel empowered and in control

Use to answer question 9.2a of the Care Certificate