About this resource
People are more than their challenges. This profile records strengths, talents, skills, interests and what others appreciate, with ideas for using strengths in daily life and support plans.
Purpose
To make strengths visible and use them in support planning.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Positive behaviour support practitioners. Also relevant for disability support workers, educators and school support staff.
Client or participant group: People supported by positive behaviour support teams.
Practice setting: Behaviour support assessment and planning.
Suggested uses
- Behaviour support assessment
- Team meetings
- New staff
- Transitions
Instructions for practitioners
- Gather views from the person and people who know them.
- Be specific.
- Use strengths in strategies.
- Share widely, with consent.
Instructions for clients or participants
- Say what you are good at.
- Say what you enjoy.
Accessibility considerations
Use photos and the person's communication.
Scope and limitations
A strengths profile.
Research basis
The strengths model, a recovery-oriented approach, builds on people's own abilities, interests and resources. Person-centred planning shows positive but limited evidence of improving community participation and everyday choice for people with intellectual disability.
- Rapp, C. A., & Goscha, R. J. (2012). The strengths model: A recovery-oriented approach to mental health services (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.
- Ratti, V., Hassiotis, A., Crabtree, J., Deb, S., Gallagher, P., & Unwin, G. (2016). The effectiveness of person-centred planning for people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 57, 63–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2016.06.015
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
