The role of the
gatekeeper in the community
Contents
The gatekeeper:
The
gatekeeper:
(http://www.answers.com/topic/gatekeeper)
"1.
One that is in charge of passage through a gate.
2. One who
monitors or oversees the
actions
of others.
3. A primary-care
provider, often in
the
setting of a managed-care organization, who coordinates patient care
and
provides referrals to specialists, hospitals, laboratories, and other
medical
services."
In all communities there is some form of leadership, hierarchical
structure or
mechanism that:
... Provides the
structure of the
community
... Provides direction for the community
... Is designed to protect the members
... Is accountable to the community
The gatecrasher:
Gate-crasher:
(http://www.yourdictionary.com/gate-crasher)
"Informal: a
person who attends a
social
affair without an invitation or attends a performance, etc. without
paying
admission"
Any person or group that tries to gain admittance without an
invitation,
approval or sanction risks being removed. Communities are no different
in this
respect. Any person that tries to force their presence in a community
risks
eviction.
The definition also states that there is a price to pay:
... Some form of
currency or
value needs to be offered in exchange for admission.
... Often people bring skills and resources that are valued within
the
community.
... There is a value in the person becoming a part of the community
... There is some form of negotiation between the gate-crasher and
the
community
... There may be some form of rite of passage or pass that entitles
the
holder
to free admission
Where a person does not have any skills or resources to bring to the
community:
... An organisation or
service provider
acts as a negotiator or a link in introducing the gate-crasher to the
community
... SRV is an important strategy in creating a valued role for the
person
... The community may accept the person through familiarity,
understanding and accepting the person.
... The community may accept the person by providing a valued role for
its members in supporting the person.
A group of cyclists, for example may be riding along a road in a park.
Along comes a person on a motorcycle and wants to join the group. The
group may allow the person entry if known to others or there is some
value in the motorcyclist being a part of the group, or may call
(mobile phone) the police or security to have the person removed.
Communities are no different. If a person is known to others, has
something of value for the members, or is able to negotiate entry, the
person will be accepted into the community and become a part of the
community. If the person is not accepted, he/she will be ignored, asked
to
leave or forcefully removed.
When providing the most
appropriate
care for people with high support
needs ...
1) The community is not
where the
person is living, but where the
person participates, shares experiences and has valued relationships
with others.
2) People with high support needs (severe disability, aged etc.)
will always need support structures as a part of their lives.
3) The amount of participation in a community (living, education,
employment or recreation) is directly related to the skills and
resources of the person, and, the skills and resources of the
community that the person wishes to participate in.
4) Institutions are going to be around in one form or another
whether we like it or not, It is the way that they are used that is the
problem.
5) The institutions of a society towards a particular group
determine the way the group participates in society.
6) The institutions of a particular government department,
organisation,
profession or service define the way the person is supported within
that society.
7) Facilities that support people with high support needs do not
need to be the nursing homes or prisons in the
sense
that they are today, but can become warm inviting community places that
offer a range of services to the community, as well as be a part of the
wider community within that society.
8) People with high support needs are a minority group in our
society, and will have the same problems as other minority groups in
being a part of society.
Peter Anderson
http://www.psawa.com
