Exchange of good practices and experiences in relation to everyday rehabilitation of people with high support needs Erasmus Project

Project Title

Exchange of good practices and experiences in relation to everyday rehabilitation of people with high support needs

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Disabilities – special needs; Inclusion – equity; Quality Improvement Institutions and/or methods (incl. school development)

Project Summary

The aim of the project was the training and exchange of experiences of workers who deal with the everyday rehabilitation of persons with intellectual or/and psychosocial disability with high support needs living in residential care homes, residential centres and supported housing.
The primary target group of the project was formed by the social care workers, professionals and leaders who carry out the everyday rehabilitation. Through study tours, partner meetings and short-term trainings we made available good practices based on the most up-to-date pedagogical and communication methodology as well as many years of experiential knowledge. The training was provided by professionals and institutions which are also at the forefront in this field at European level. Methodology of the study tour was practice learning at institutions with possibility of professional sparring and hands-on learning. Methodology of the training was lectures and questions, group work, professional supervision, sparring and coaching, case studies.
All in all 33 persons from 6 partner organizations participated in the project activities. When selecting the Hungarian partners the primarily factor was the presence of different target groups of people with high support needs in their work. The three partner organizations /institutions are dealing with people with profound, multiple disabilities and people with psychosocial disabilities who are dangerous to society. The Romanian partner has a 25 years’ experience and achieved significant success in the social inclusion of people with disabilities. The Danish partners delegated professionals to the cooperation who have outstanding professional skills at European level regarding both target groups.
Deinstitutionalization (DI) took place 30 years ago in Denmark very drastically: persons belonging to all target groups living in institutions were moved to small residential care homes, and were under the supervision and support of pedagogical staff. Over the past decades tremendous valuable experiences have been made in relation to how the target groups’ life has changed and which kind of housing and support has been proved the best for them. These experiences show that there are people with high support needs who cannot follow the standard protocols after leaving the institution. Forms of housing and support suitable for the majority of the affected cannot be applied, or only with certain changes and there are also certain concerns about their integration into the community.
If we want to support the process of deinstitutionalization and help these institutions, it is worth studying the Danish experiences, the forms of housing, services, methods and support Denmark provides in order to maximize the social inclusion of people with high support needs.
As a result participants could learn practical methodological techniques in relation to the work with people with high support needs living in residential care homes and supported housing and who are the greatest challenge to first line workers and professionals. Besides these techniques they could also learn good practices regarding the support and housing of these people. Both these techniques and good practices gave immediately usable knowledge for partner institutions taking part in deinstitutionalization, for newly established residential care homes and institutions providing supported housing and for institutions providing basic health care and day-care service. As there are two institutions among the participants that regularly serve as place of practice for future professionals, therefore the multiplier effect of the practical knowledge and experience gained within the framework of the project is granted.
One of the best ways of learning is to get acquainted with “good practices” as we can acquire new professional knowledge and learn new methods. Theory becomes „tangible”, we can get answers to our uncertainties and questions. Our horizons are broadening, we get feedback on our activities during the collaboration, we can have a greater “insight” into our own work with the help of an external professional and judge it more realistically. With the help of these good practices – together with the professionals – we could reinterpret our daily work and define our goals.
This renewal and the expansion of possibilities regarding the solutions in everyday life will increase the quality of life of the residents, which was and still is the most important goal of our work.
New practical answers to questions and challenges that are frequently arise in professional debates regarding the implementation of deinstitutionalization and about people with high support needs can provide a satisfactory solution for all who are concerned in European countries, including professionals, institutions, the local service providers, as well as the interest organizations.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 82356 Eur

Project Coordinator

Mohács-Kölked Református Társegyházközség Pándy Kálmán Otthona & Country: HU

Project Partners

• Tovább Élni Egyesület
• Asociatia Romano-Germana Alsterdorf
• REGION MIDTJYLLAND
• VIBORG KOMMUNE
• Szellemi Sérült Testvéreinkért Alapítvány