THE WAY LIFESTEPS WORK

At LIFESTEPS we will
 

​Envisage - The life to be lived

Enable - Passing on skills, knowledge and walking beside people for a time

Enrich- Engaging with others in the community

• Will work in a person focused way placing people with disability at the centre of all the work done.

• Will begin working with people where they are at and will walk beside them for a time learning from them about their life experiences.

• Will get to know people properly through listening to them with eyes, ears, head and heart.

• Will encourage people to reflect on life now and how life could look into the future imagining the best possible life for themselves.

• Will encourage people to develop goals and aspirations that have purpose and meaning for their own lives.

• Will engage in regular conversations with people – exploring ideas and sharing stories about other people’s experiences.

• Will assist in developing a person focused plan that will state the goals, strategies and supports (funded and unfunded).

• Will encourage people to reflect on their own individual lives as a way to identify what they would like changed in order to move forward.

• Will build the capacity of people by passing on knowledge and skills so that people and their families can continue to move forward and have control over their lives.

• Will work in a flexible and innovative way which encourages people to consider a variety of ideas and strategies when making their own decisions about the lives they choose to live.

As the lived experiences of people with disability and their families are highly valued they will be listened to about their ideas and how they want their lives to be.

At LIFESTEPS relationships are important and will therefore always aim to build mutually trusting relationships with people built on respect, trust and honesty.

LIFESTEPS will not provide direct support to people but their role will be to plan and assist people on how to develop strategies for living great lives that are sustainable in the long term. There may be at times the need to negotiate, facilitate and influence decisions so that people can achieve their dreams and passions.

In all work with people LIFESTEPS will explore ordinary opportunities and ideas for people with sound safeguards in pursuing their dreams, aspirations and choices which is contrary to the segregated and restrictive practices normally offered.

LIFESTEPS will not tolerate abuse, neglect or exploitation of people and will respond proactively where we observe or are concerned that people's human rights are being abused and/or restricted.