Social care
Found 25 listings
Information sheet for social care professionals
This 2 page resource gives social care professionals an introduction to key information about PDA, including how PDA may present in children and adults, examples of good practice and helpful approaches plus where to find further information.
Published by: PDA Society, March 2022
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Identifying & Assessing a PDA profile – Practice Guidance
Practice guidance collating the professional practice and experience of a multidisciplinary group of professionals working in the NHS and private practice.
The goal of this document is to aid assessment of a PDA profile, to distinguish PDA from other presentations of marked demand avoidance, and to signpost appropriate support and [...]
PDA for social care professionals (webinar)
In this webinar about PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) for social care professionals, independent social workers Cathie Long, Mary Cartlidge and Rachel Gavin join PDA Society Trustee Vikki Threlfall.
The webinar includes presentations about:
assessing PDA in children and working with families in accordance with relevant guidelines and legal requirements (Mary)
[...]
PDA best practice – the professional voice
PDA best practice - what the professionals would like you to know
Professionals from a range of backgrounds explain why they feel it's important to identify PDA and share their tips for best practice.
This is one of two resources created for PDA Day 2021 that share best practice about PDA [...]
PDA best practice – the PDA community’s voice
PDA best practice - what the PDA community would like professionals to know
This is one of two resources created for PDA Day 2021 that share best practice about PDA for professionals from all sectors – including healthcare, education, social care, the law, therapists, counsellors, advocates and policy makers.
This video [...]
Beth’s story
Beth’s Dad Jeremy tells the devastating and disturbing story (trigger warning: this case study includes details of self-harm, restraint and abuse) of how Beth was ‘failed by the system’. Jeremy covers Beth’s early years, her 19 placements in 6 years, her first section aged 11 and her fateful move [...]
Local position statements on PDA
Local authorities, NHS trusts and other bodies are increasingly producing and sharing information about PDA within local areas. This page contains links to such information.
Local position statements
Some local areas have found it helpful to state their position on the use of terminology around PDA.
Examples of formal position statements include:
[...]
Introduction to PDA (2021)
An introductory video about PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance).
This video is just over 20 minutes long and covers lots of information, including:
What is demand avoidance?
PDA & Autism
Key features of a PDA profile
Research & clinical themes
Why identify PDA?
How PDA can feel
What are demands?
Demand [...]
Transition to adulthood
When we think about transitions we naturally think about the big transitions like leaving school or transferring from primary to secondary school. But transitions of any kind, at any time, may be difficult for PDA individuals. Starting a new club or activity, leaving home in the morning to go [...]
What is PDA? video
This short video gives a quick introduction to PDA and was created to help raise awareness of PDA with the general public and convey some essential information about PDA in a quick and easily shareable format.
Voiced by PDAers and PDA Society team members.
Available to watch and share below or [...]
EHCP guide
Education, Health and Care Plans to support a PDA profile of autism.
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is a document used in England to outline a child or young person’s special educational needs (SEN) and the provision that should be made to meet those needs.
Not every PDA child [...]
What is PDA? booklet
This booklet is designed to be an introductory guide to the Pathological Demand Avoidance profile of autism for individuals, families and professionals.
The booklet covers an overview of PDA, how PDA can feel, an insight into what demands are and how they’re avoided, info about identifying PDA, helpful approaches and [...]
Support for PDA adults
This page signposts some sources of useful information and support for PDA adults and their families.
The PDA Society takes considerable care to check the services that we signpost, however we’re not responsible for the quality, experience or outcomes from third party organisations.
When accessing services and support, it is likely [...]
PDA-related suggestions for healthcare passports
The National Autistic Society has created a health passport template that you can either complete online and print out, or print out and complete by hand, for yourself, your child or someone you care for.
There is also helpful guidance on the National Autistic Society’s website about how to fill [...]
Keys to care
A single page information sheet for supporting and helping a PDA person. Ideal for those working with individuals whose care-needs have been identified as relating to demand avoidance. Useful as a grab-sheet for members of staff - a regular reminder of what can help.
Also helpful for family members or [...]
Pathological Demand Avoidance: summary sheet
A one-page explanation of the PDA profile, produced by the PDA Development Group and published in June 2016. It describes the main features and the key approaches to supporting a PDA person. Please note that the PDA Development Group no longer meets.
View Summary
PDA: Why social workers need to know
Pathological demand avoidance: what is it and why do social workers need to know?
Cathleen Long explains how an understanding of this part of the autism spectrum can help support parents.
This article was published in Community Care - a leading online resource for social workers, in May 2019. It describes [...]
New Approach to FII
The Need for a New Approach to the Identification of Fabricated and Induced Illness
This discussion paper lays out some of the difficulties with the current approach to identifying Fabricated and Induced Illness (FII) and calls upon the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) to review the evidence [...]
NDTi – short introduction to PDA (2019)
NDTi has partnered with the PDA Society to help raise awareness and increase understanding of PDA – a profile on the autism spectrum.
Following the high profile programme File on 4 about Transforming Care, featuring the story of 17 year old Bethany who has PDA traits, it was felt that [...]
Support for parents & carers
This page signposts some sources of useful information and support regarding health, social care, justice, benefits and more.
The PDA Society takes considerable care to check the services that we signpost, however we’re not responsible for the quality, experience or outcomes from third party organisations.
When accessing services and support, it [...]
Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome in Children
A Guide for Parents, Teachers and Other Professionals
The first book ever written about PDA - it gives a comprehensive overview for everyone with an interest in the subject. It was written collaboratively by professionals and parents.
This straightforward guide offers a complete overview of Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome (PDA) and [...]
Can I tell you about Pathological Demand Avoidance syndrome?
Can I tell you about Pathological Demand Avoidance syndrome?: A guide for friends, family and professionals
Meet Issy – an 11-year-old girl with pathological demand avoidance syndrome (PDA), a condition on the autism spectrum. Issy invites readers to learn about PDA from her perspective, helping them to understand how simple, [...]
PDA – My Daughter is Not Naughty
Jane Sherwin's honest and uplifting account provides insight into the challenges of bringing up a child with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA).
After years of misdiagnosis, Jane's daughter, Mollie, was diagnosed with PDA at the age of seven, and we follow her experiences pre and post diagnosis to age 10 as [...]
The Explosive Child
A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children [Sixth Edition]
A groundbreaking approach to understanding and parenting children who frequently exhibit severe fits of temper and other intractable behaviours, from a distinguished clinician and pioneer in this field.
What’s an explosive child? A child who responds to [...]
Ben’s Story
Years of being misunderstood led to one failed placement after another before Ben was eventually sectioned age 29 and spent 3 years in an ATU. His first supported living placement was too unstructured with serious repercussions for Ben’s health and wellbeing. Under the Care Act 2014, Ben’s family now [...]