Items 3 and 4
Items 3 and 4 are about how the worker supports the person to participate in activities and social interactions.
3. Providing opportunities to be engaged
Good support means the worker breaks activities into simpler parts to create opportunities for the person to be engaged.
Many activities have multiple parts or steps. As previously highlighted when discussing Item 1, making a cup of coffee is an activity that comprises multiple steps. The worker in the video for Item 1 broke the activity of making coffee into simpler steps and then used them as opportunities for the person to participate. For example, to turn on the kettle, get a cup and a spoon, and put coffee in the cup.
Item 3 is about the worker recognising the parts of an activity and providing the person with opportunities to participate in them.
In this video, a worker breaks down the activity of counting and organising money into parts and uses them as opportunities for the person to participate.
RATING
3
The worker provided many opportunities to be involved in activities or parts of them.
The worker in the video provided the person with many opportunities to be involved in the activity and would be rated a 3 for this item.
The opportunities to be involved included:
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writing on an envelope
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counting money
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putting the money in the envelope
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sealing the envelope
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putting the envelope in the tin
The worker recognised the steps of the activity, as indicated by performing it in a deliberate and sequential order.
RATING
2
The worker provided some opportunities to be involved in activities or parts of them, but there could have been more.
If the worker supported the person to put money in the envelope and seal it, but the worker did all the other steps themselves without involving the person, then the rating would be a 2.
RATING
1
The worker did not provide opportunities to be involved in activities or parts of them.
If the worker completed all the parts of the activity with the person just sitting at the table and not being involved (e.g., just watching), then the rating would be a 1.
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What are the parts of the activity?
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Has the worker provided the person with opportunities to participate in the parts or steps of the activity?
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What parts of the activity does the person participate in?
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Were there missed opportunities for the person to participate in the activity?
When observing, pay attention to:
4. Providing the right type and amount of assistance
Good support means a worker provides the right type and amount of assistance to enable a person to participate in an activity or social interaction. Not too much and not too little.
A worker can provide assistance in different ways:
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Asking: “Can you get the milk from the fridge?”
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Instructing: “Press the switch on the kettle”
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Prompting or gesturing: Pointing to the cupboard to get a cup
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Demonstrating: Showing the person how to hold a carton to pour milk
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Guiding (hand-over-hand assistance): Both the worker and the person holding the kettle to pour hot water into a cup
Providing the right type and amount of assistance will depend on the person and the situation. In one activity, the worker may only need to provide the person with verbal instruction to perform a step, but for another step the worker may need to guide the person. Sometimes the worker ‘standing back’ so that the person can do it themselves is the right assistance.
In this video, a worker uses different types and amounts of assistance to support a person to make an omelette.
RATING
3
The worker provided the right type and amount of assistance in most or all instances.
The worker in the video provided the person with the right type and amount of assistance in all instances and would be rated a 3 for this item.
The assistance included:
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guiding to cut broccoli with a knife
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instructing to break broccoli florets
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instructing to put broccoli into the container
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asking the number of eggs needed and gesturing
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standing back when the person cracks the eggs because the person can do this themself
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gesturing how to grind salt
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instructing how to lock in the blender
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prompting and instructing to turn on the blender
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instructing and gesturing to turn on the oven
Providing the right type and amount of assistance meant the worker enabled the person to participate in the activity.
RATING
2
The worker sometimes provided the right type and amount of assistance, but it could have been better.
If the worker provided the right assistance by guiding the person to cut broccoli with a knife and instructing to break off the broccoli florets, but then provided too much assistance by guiding the person to crack the eggs when the person can do this independently after being asked, then the rating would be a 2.
RATING
1
The worker did not provide the right type and amount of assistance.
If the worker only provided verbal instruction to cut the broccoli with a knife (not enough assistance), guiding to crack the eggs when the person can do this independently (too much assistance), and asking the person to turn on the oven when gesturing was also needed (not enough assistance), then the rating would be a 1.
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What assistance does the worker provide the person?
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Is it the right type and amount for the person and the activity?
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Is it too much or too little assistance?