Adults Supporting Adults is a not for profit organisation in Lincolnshire. ASA provides community based support to adults either in their own homes or in the home of the ASA Provider. The ASA Provider works on an individual basis with the person following a matching process to achieve the Client’s identified needs. Each person is supported to be independent within their community being encouraged to make their own decisions and choices about what they as individuals want to achieve.
ASA has a strong belief and commitment to ensuring Clients are involved in the organisation especially in the recruitment of its staff. The person receiving services is recognised as someone who has the experience and knowledge to ensure an appropriate choice. For ASA it was a natural step to recruit and train potential clients to become Co-Workers on the interviewing panel. It was important that the Co-Workers became a part of the interviewing process. This has been achieved and Clients now participate fully, voicing their opinions which contribute to the decision making process. During the years since the Co-Worker Group has been operating the contribution the Group has made to the recruitment of staff has be invaluable, on many occasions their experience of people in the interview process has led to those individuals not being employed by ASA.
ASA believes the contribution from the Co-Worker Group to the recruitment and selection process of its staff is realistic and meaningful, it epitomises the core beliefs and values of the organisation and what it strives to achieve with and for its Clients.
The Co-Worker Group and Staff from ASA attended the Skills for Care Conference in September to play a role in the running of two workshops, which were well attended and received excellent feedback. The Group felt able to contribute with their views and ideas about the role they play in the interviewing process of ASA. We hoped through our contribution to the Conference to enthuse and motivate other groups and organisations to look at their own way of working creatively to involve their Clients and reap the benefit of such valuable knowledge and experience from the wonderful feedback the Group received.”
