Training in the Psychoeducational-Inspired Proximity Support Approach

Workforce training, strengths-based support approaches, and professional culture transformation in disability service. 

National

Support services were organised around deficit-focused approaches, with barriers between professional practices and insufficient involvement of the person and their network. Inspired by Quebec's psychoeducation discipline, the Approach aims to support people with disabilities in their everyday environment by promoting self-determination and active participation. It is based on an assessment that focuses on capabilities and resources rather than deficits and involves family members and friends to strengthen the support network. Nearly 1,000 professionals have been trained since 2021 within the Mutualité Française network and the RFDSL.

The Approach practice was independently evaluated in 2021 by the Agence Nouvelle des Solidarités Actives and is currently undergoing an impact assessment financed by Mutualité Française. Outcomes include: for individuals – valuing abilities, strengthening trust, autonomy and empowerment, greater respect for wishes and expression; for professionals –new perspectives, rediscovering the meaning of practices, unblocking complex situations; for institutions –mobilisation of teams around shared values and construction of common practices. The training is Qualiopi-certified by the French Ministry of Labour.

Nearly 1,000 professionals trained since 2021: specialised educators, educational instructors, establishments' directors, social advisors, occupational therapists, psychologists, psychomotor therapists, working in care and support facilities, specialised schooling, and home interventions. Indirectly: people with disabilities of all ages, and their families and friends.

This practice is built on universal principles – self-determination, inclusion, co-construction, strengths-based assessment – making it adaptable across audiences, settings, and national contexts. It has already been extended to elderly care services, and its modular design allows implementation from home-based support to institutional settings. The RFDSL community of practice extends its reach across French-speaking countries. Simple, replicable tools and a certified training structure mean it does not require heavy investment to adopt, and its pedagogical flexibility makes it scalable across diverse organisational environments. 

Silvia Romano – European Affairs Director / silvia.romano@mutualite.fr