Working together as a support network

Working together as a support network (plain language) (download Word version for desktop) and working together as a support network (easy read) (download Word version for desktop) – are intended for behaviour support practitioners to use as resources to communicate effectively about support networks and their importance in the behaviour support process with participants.

You can also use this these as resources for people in their support networks, if helpful.

These documents explain what a support network and Circle of Support is. They also focus on the value of a support network and its importance in the success of behaviour support planning and implementation.

You may wish to use the picture cards resources that feature people who might be part of a person's support network or download picture templates from The Right Direction discussion mat resources to create personally meaningful images or key words, based on what you already know about the participant and their situation, needs and preferences.

Your support network includes people who might be family, friends, people you do activities with (eg: fishing) and people from your community.

When thinking about behaviour support planning, your support network is a group of people working together to help you with your plan. They are very important in helping your plan be successful and keeping both you (and others) safe.

Your support network will include paid professionals and also people from your life who are unpaid. A behaviour support plan is usually more successful if both groups work together to support you and help your plan work.

Your behaviour support practitioner will work with you to understand who could be part of your support network and what they will do to help with your plan.

You may work together to understand what your support network looks like, how you see yourself in your network and who are the most important people or groups for you.

It’s possible your support network will change, depending on your situation, needs and wants – sometimes this can change quickly (at different times of the same day, for example), which your practitioner will work with you to understand and plan for.

Some days your family or friends might be the most important people in your support network. Other days, it might be a support worker or your doctor. The most important people from your network can even change from hour to hour, depending on what is happening and how you feel.

The important thing is that you are always the most important person and your support network is there to help you, look after your wellbeing and keep you (and others) safe.

In addition to the details of what a support network is (above), the working together as a support network (plain language) (download Word version for desktop) and working together as a support network (easy read) (download Word version for desktop) documents also explain Circles of Support.

They work through how support networks and Circles of Support differ, why each of these are important in the behaviour support planning and implementation process and who might be part of each of them.

The resources are intended to be used for behaviour support practitioners and participants to use together, so consider downloading copies to take with you on home visits or using the plain language or easy read information to support you in explaining these ideas to participants as you work through other support network resources together.