In this course we explore how we have attempted to build inclusive circles of support around individuals and contrast this with a radical approach to problem solving with parents – the Parent Solutions Circle. Parent Solutions is a brand new approach to problem solving with parents based on our live group work in schools. A focus on challenging behaviour brings interest, energy and commitment. Course Category Inclusion Peer Support Parents and Carers Behaviour and relationships Description In this course we explore how we have attempted to build inclusive circles of support around individuals and contrast this with a radical approach to problem solving with parents – the Parent Solutions Circle Parent Solutions is a brand new approach to problem solving with parents based on our live group work in schools. A focus on challenging behaviour brings interest, energy and commitment. Essentially the approach involves gathering a group of parents and carers together who recognise how challenging their own children are and would like some help to figure out how to be with them or how to manage an aspect of their behaviour. The process is facilitated but majors on the parents offering each other their wisdom and ideas. The directness that only peers can provide to each other makes the work both powerful and effective. Mobilising the wisdom and experiences of parents in a safe way is a delicate art. In this training we will explore how this can best be done. Parents who have been on all the courses and had all the professional advice in world love this way of working because they get to offer each other their experience, ideas and wisdom. The approach is capacity focused, person centred approach to working with parents rather than the dominant deficit oriented and ‘medical model’ of viewing and planning for parents. We work with rather than do things to a group of parents. This training can be modelled with a group of parents or can be demonstrated with a group of professionals. We prefer mixed groups. Learning Objectives For participants to learn how to set up a Parent Solutions Circle For participants to understand the underlying rationale and ethos of this way of working To learn the facilitation process and stages of the Circle process Who Is It For? Anyone interested in working with parents and carers in a way that builds and makes use of their capacities rather than focus on their challenges and difficulties. School leaders and managers Social Care teams Community organisers Psychologists Course Content True parent empowerment Facilitating groups Problem solving process Handling group communication Allowing direct feedback and challenge between participants in a safe way Building relationships Creating natural circles of support that can provide peer support and mutual problem solving If you liked this course you may well like: Creating Community Circles
How can we interrupt the isolation of disabled, challenging and other ‘different’ children and adults? This is our lead workshop/training day and is both a values primer and a practical guide to successful strategies for developing inclusive practice in educational and non educational settings for children and young people of all ages. This is practical plus being a ‘hearts and minds’ day. What does inclusion mean? Can we imagine what an inclusive school look like? What do we have to do? The day gives those present opportunities to reflect on their attitudes and practice in relation to the inclusion of children and adults who are different or challenging. The Keys can be presented as a powerful interactive Keynote for large conferences. A great way to launch a conference as the first key is ‘welcome’. Learning Objectives Increased confidence regarding developing inclusive practice in mainstream schools and other settings Access to a wider range of practical strategies to impact on behaviour problems Deeper understanding of core values surrounding inclusion of disabled and challenging children and adults Opportunity to reflect on professional attitudes and behaviour towards parents and pupils New skills and processes to make inclusion successful Course Content The course answers the questions : Why inclusion? What is inclusion? How do we go about including high profile children or young people? What does inclusion have to do with me? Best delivered over the course of a full day, ‘Keys to Inclusion’ introduces participants to 6 guiding Ideas that underpin inclusive practice. The importance of WELCOME Inclusion is about Adults’ learning Taking the Long View Giftedness as a new paradigm for understanding disability and difference The Intentional Building of Relationships – ‘Circle of Friends’ work as an example of this Not doing it alone – the importance of Teams in developing inclusive practice.
This workshop gives an opportunity to focus on the emotional needs of girls and how to meet these. We lift the lid on a less well explored inclusion issue, meeting the emotional needs of girls. Everyone knows a girl or woman. They may be pupil, daughter, sister, parent or partner. Course Category Meeting emotional needs Behaviour and Relationships Inclusion Early Years Description This workshop gives an opportunity to focus on the emotional needs of girls and how to meet these. We lift the lid on a less well explored inclusion issue, meeting the emotional needs of girls. Everyone knows a girl or woman. They may be pupil, daughter, sister, parent or partner. Girls will often withdraw, attack or even hurt themselves when under emotional stress and this is not always obvious in the way it is with boys. 1 in 4 women experience domestic violence and every week 2 women are killed by a current or ex partner. Whilst the world assumes girls have no problems processing their emotions, we lift the lid on this and question what is really happening for girls this century? Testimonials Learning Objectives Increased understanding of girls’ emotional needs Access to a wider range of practical strategies to impact on meeting emotional and behaviour problems Deeper understanding of core values surrounding inclusion Opportunity to reflect on professional attitudes and behaviour towards girls and their emotional challenges New skills and processes to make girls’ inclusion and achievement more successful Who Is It For ? Early years and school based practitioners Key workers Teaching Assistants with support roles Heads and deputies SENCOs Advanced skills teachers Primary and secondary classroom teachers Parents Local Authority support services Course Content The course explores the questions : Is there an invisible problem with girls? What can we do to meet the emotional needs of girls? What helps? What should our priority be with girls? This workshop will explore: Cultural and historical expectations of girls in our society Shared experiences of teaching and parenting girls Circle of Courage as a way of understanding emotional needs Fathers, mothers and daughters Solution Circle Problem Solving around girls’ needs What girls really need If you you want something similar, but not gender specific try: FRESH APPROACHES TO BEHAVIOUR AND RELATIONSHIPS or you may like: RESTORATIVE INTERVENTIONS
Person centred rehabilitation is designed to create a better life for an individual by the provision of an intense input designed to being about social change. This usually entails a series of visits focused on getting the person out and about to increase confidence, social skills and presence in their local community and to pursue goals and dreams. Usually, the work is carried out under the close clinical supervision of a practicing psychologist. Course Category Inclusion Person Centred Planning Visioning and Problem Solving Peer Support Description Person Centred Rehabilitation Person centred rehabilitation is designed to create a better life for an individual by the provision of an intense input designed to being about social change. This usually entails a series of visits focused on getting the person out and about to increase confidence, social skills and presence in their local community and to pursue goals and dreams. Usually, the work is carried out under the close clinical supervision of a practicing psychologist. PERSON CENTRED PLANNING A Person Centred Planning event would be carried out using the PATH or MAP process – majoring on dreams and goal setting leading to precise action planning. Facilitators would carry out the PATH or other person centred process. A large graphic will be one of the outcomes of the meetings this is a great visual record and a shared memory of the event. This will also inform the priorities for the later follow up inclusion facilitation work. Following the PATH event a ‘scoping report’ is created outlining what Inclusion Facilitation could offer and highlighting what dreams and goals the individual has. INCLUSION FACILITATION The PATH is also provides a good opportunity for the Facilitator to meet the focus person in a comfortable positive environment. Agreed visits from the Inclusion Facilitator are then carried out over a 3 month period. After this intensive input the Inclusion Facilitator will hand over to the existing family, carers and PA team to carry on where he or she has left off. This transition time is planned from the outset. An experienced psychologist needs to be there to support the facilitator at all times and will guide all work done by the inclusion facilitator. Is this just Support work? No! This is proactive engagement – doing whatever is required. This is not passively or reactively providing what is asked for – we are actively pursuing a good life for the individual. The work is built on careful research around a person’s interests and what opportunities exist locally There is community mapping There is work to tackle an individual’s own resistance and reluctance to engage more socially There is a need to engage with people in social settings that the individual attends to build bridges and connections – we are bridge builders You will need to build circles around a person There is a need to create the conditions in which friendships can flourish There is a need for direct psychological supervision and support throughout This work is short term and intense. The facilitator’s main aims will vary depending on the dreams and goals of the focus person. The basic aim of the inclusion facilitator is to better the focus person’s quality of life. Learning Objectives 1 To create a better life for the Individual. 2 Give Individual and family a clear vision of a good life and to support first steps towards this 3 To maximise individuals inclusion and connection with the wider community. 4 To help with friendship, social connection and education 5 To increase confidence, social skills and presence in their local community and to pursue goals and dreams. Who Is It For? Anyone who is involved in the rehabilitation of children or adults who have become disabled through accident or trauma and who is committed to helping them get their life back on track. Course Content Understanding ordinary needs – the dimensions of social inclusion Pursuing the dreams and goals of the individual Improving social skills Community Mapping Being comfortable in social environments Developing conversational skills Having a positive mindset Staying physically active Building relationships Help in meeting new people Create natural circles of support Creating a community circle Having positive body language Employment of support staff Pursuing personal interests If you like this you will almost certainly enjoy: Person Centred Planning using PATH and MAPs
Local authorities are being encouraged to seek the views of young people in relation to the services they receive. Schools and the whole range of support services (e.g. behaviour support, youth offending teams, social services, CAMHS etc.) are being expected to routinely ask young people for their views. This goes beyond involving young people in plans that concern them e.g care plans, individual education plans, pastoral support plans etc. Online Course now available via Teachable Platform – Ask the Children Learn at your own pace… lots of text and video support Course Category Peer Support Description Local authorities are being encouraged to seek the views of young people in relation to the services they receive. Schools and the whole range of support services (e.g. behaviour support, youth offending teams, social services, CAMHS etc.) are being expected to routinely ask young people for their views. This goes beyond involving young people in plans that concern them e.g care plans, individual education plans, pastoral support plans etc. This training will focus on how young people can be effectively engaged in giving their views and will present a model for use in evaluating services to young people based on the concept of resilience. This model enables young people to be clear about what has helped and hindered them in being able to overcome difficulties. It also provides a framework for evaluating the extent to which services are reducing risk and increasing protective factors to enable young people to develop the resilience. Testimonials ‘Yet again inspiring and opening more doors than I can go through’? ‘This opened a lot of avenues for thought and reflection. It will help me to help colleagues to see where they can improve practice to create a more inclusive environment within the whole school.’ ‘Some great ideas and restored my self belief! Fantastic’ Learning Objectives Strategies for engaging young people Knowledge and Understanding of resilience In relation to system and environmental factors Strategies for reducing risk and increasing protective factors In relation to Individual young people and services Evaluation framework for services to young people Who Is It For ? Youth offending teams Social services CAMHS Primary and secondary teachers Heads and Deputies SENCOs Learning Support and Guidance staff Advanced Skills Teachers Parents Local Authority Support Services Community Development workers Early Years and School based Practitioners Social work staff Health Services Course Content The course answers the questions : How can we truly involve pupils? Practically how do we go about listening to pupils views? What if we do not like what they tell us? How can we involve our most disaffected young people? Key themes Tools for engaging young people and gaining their views The concept of resilience System and environmental risk and protective factors that impact on young people’s resilience Reducing risk and Increasing protective factors Resilience planning for Individuals and services Evaluating services to young people If you liked this course you may well like: CIRCLES OF FRIENDS
Peer Support as an anti-bullying strategy for schools is now routinely recommended by the DCSF and Ofsted. Many schools in the UK have individual schemes which show good practice within their own setting. However, it is rare to find co-ordination of multiple schemes within a Local Authority , or part of a Local Authority, or even within families or clusters of schools. Course Category Behaviour and Relationships Inclusion Peer Support Meeting emotional needs Description Peer Support as an anti-bullying strategy for schools is now routinely recommended by the DCSF and Ofsted. Many schools in the UK have individual schemes which show good practice within their own setting. However, it is rare to find co-ordination of multiple schemes within a Local Authority , or part of a Local Authority, or even within families or clusters of schools. Coordination of schemes provides opportunities for networking, sharing ideas, and mutual support amongst both adults and young peer supporters creates excellent practice. This approach also leads to: Stability and consistency of training A wealth of back up materials for adults and young people Consistent telephone and email support Opportunities for professional development for teachers, Teaching assistants and Learning Mentors Opportunity for national accreditation from MBF Testimonials The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation described this scheme as “a benchmark for Local Authorities Learning Objectives To discover how a centrally led Peer Support scheme enhances and promotes anti-bullying work across a number of schools. To take away from the day the means and the inspiration to set up a local scheme. To deepen insight into impact of strategic approach to peer support To learn about a real way of reducing bullying across a Local Authority Who Is It For ? Suitable for Anti-Bullying Leads Behaviour Support staff CAHMS TAHMS Learning Support and Guidance Staff Childrens Services Support Services Educational Psychologists Course Content The training day will be led by Inclusive Solutions, and a representative from a Local Authority who has successfully managed such a scheme for 10 years. This will be an interactive day with lots of opportunity for questions and exploration. What the day includes: How this work fits with an Inclusive Local Authority Key aspects and issues in running multiple Peer Support schemes from the centre Graphics workshop The 3 legged stool of Peer Support: Selection, Training and Supervision A chance to view and purchase some of the nationally accredited materials successfully used and developed over many years. f you liked this course you may well like: PEER COUNSELLING AS AN ANTI-BULLYING STRATEGY
In this course we explore Mental Health and address how such needs can be met in mainstream classrooms. Course Category Behaviour and Relationships Meeting Emotional Needs Description This is our lead workshop/training day on understanding mental health, behaviour and relationship work in schools other settings and is both a values primer and a practical guide to successful innovative strategies for improving behaviour and strengthening relationships for challenging children and young people of all ages. Not just another day on ‘Behaviour Management’ – Our Mental Health Day goes well beyond a rewards and sanctions approach to ‘behaviour’. We will be focused on those young people for whom rewards and punishments do not always work and who confuse the adults who work with them. We aim to take a relationships-based approach and to give those attending an opportunity to think more deeply about why young people do the things they do and what our part as adults is in creating, sustaining and changing these behaviours. The day gives those present opportunities to reflect on their attitudes and practice in relation to children’s behaviour and relationship building. If your usual approaches to managing tackling mental health needs aren’t working with particular individuals then take a tour through this range of cutting edge strategies for bringing about positive behaviour change, and for meeting challenging emotional needs Learning Objectives reinforce and affirm good practice re-energise, stimulate and challenge thinking about inclusion of challenging pupils and children increased understanding of mental health increased confidence in managing challenging pupils in mainstream schools access to a wider range of practical strategies to impact on behaviour problems opportunity to reflect on professional attitudes and behaviour towards mental health in families and pupils Who Is It For ? Anyone concerned with understanding and meeting emotional and mental health needs Course Content Circle of Courage – belonging-achievement-generosity – independence – model for understanding mental health Compass of Anxiety – understanding and going deeper Active listening – Listening to the person underneath the behaviour Involving other children and young people in solutions and interventions - Circles of friends: peer support, counselling and mediation Team Problem Solving – Solution Circles: a 30 minute group problem solving process to get Teams ‘unstuck’ and to generate positive first action steps Restorative justice and restitution: principles and practice of this approach to repairing harm and restoring relationships without reliance on punishment Understanding the effects of Separation, Loss, Trauma and Neglect on children’s learning and relationships in school and what adults can do to reach and support these children
This workshop gives an opportunity to focus on the emotional needs of boys and how to meet these. We lift the lid on an emerging urgent inclusion issue,namely meeting the emotional needs of boys. Everyone knows a boy. They may be pupil, son, brother, parent or partner. Boys when they become adults are over represented in the prison, and mental health system. Course Category Meeting emotional needs Description This workshop gives an opportunity to focus on the emotional needs of boys and how to meet these. We lift the lid on an emerging urgent inclusion issue,namely meeting the emotional needs of boys. Everyone knows a boy. They may be pupil, son, brother, parent or partner. Boys when they become adults are over represented in the prison, and mental health system. In one recent year 1300 young men committed suicide in the UK. In the UK the commonest cause of death among those aged 16-35 is suicide. Three men for every one woman kill themselves every year (Guardian, June 2006). 1 in 4 women experience domestic violence and 2 women a week are killed by a current or ex partner. Boys and men are a major concern. We need to find ways to allow them to unclench their hearts and learn to experience, process, communicate and manage their own emotional lives for their own and for the good of the wider community. Testimonials ‘Thanks for a super day, lots of good ideas for our citizens of the future. We need to offer them the best and what we would offer our own children’?? ‘Enjoyed the day very much. Brilliant ideas and lots of food for thought. Will use the solution circle. A great tool!’ ‘went well and the ethos/participation was commendably facilititated. well done’. ‘Wonderful day!’ ‘Still getting lots of positive messages this end.’ Learning Objectives Increased understanding of boys’ emotional needs Access to a wider range of practical strategies to impact on meeting emotional and behaviour problems Deeper understanding of core values surrounding inclusion of boys Opportunity to reflect on professional attitudes and behaviour towards boys and their emotional challenges New skills and processes to make boys’ inclusion and achievement more successful Who Is It For ? Early years and school based practitioners Key workers Teaching Assistants with support roles Heads and deputies SENCOs Advanced skills teachers Primary and secondary classroom teachers Parents Local authority support services Course Content The course explores the questions : Is there a problem with boys? What can we do to meet the emotional needs of boys? What helps? What should our priority be with boys? This workshop will explore: Cultural and historical expectations of boys in our society Shared experiences of teaching and parenting boys Circle of Courage as away of understanding emotional needs Fathers, mothers and sons Drinking and drugs: filling the emotional void Depression and suicide Anger and violence Solution Circle Problem Solving around boys needs What boys really need
In this practical workshop session we will explore ways of including people who have been labelled as being on the autism spectrum. The session will be values based and practical and will aim to allow the sharing of experiences and good practice as well promoting innovative approaches to inclusion through the design of best practice. Online Course now available via Teachable Platform – Understanding Movement Differences Learn at your own pace… lots of text and video support Course Category Autism and Communication Inclusion Parents and Carers Behaviour and Relationships Description In this practical workshop session we will explore ways of including people who have been labelled as being on the autism spectrum. The session will be values based and practical and will aim to allow the sharing of experiences and good practice as well promoting innovative approaches to inclusion through the design of best practice. Family perspectives and experiences will also be explored. This is not a ‘medical model’ day on autism. Our motto for the day is ‘People do things for a Reason (and the reason isn’t autism).’ We make full use of first hand accounts of the experience of autism – the autobiographies – to deepen participants’ understanding of what it means to be labelled ‘autistic’ “We are all much more simply human than otherwise, be we happy and successful, contented and detached, miserable and disordered, or whatever.”HARRY STACK SULLIVAN Testimonials ‘Very respectful of people on the spectrum.’ ‘Really gave me an idea of how people feel.’ ‘Ways of reaching a person not a condition.’CLAIRE Learning Objectives Increased confidence regarding including autistic people Access to a wider range of practical strategies to impact on communication and behaviour issues Deeper understanding of core values surrounding inclusion New skills and processes to strengthen the inclusion of autistic people Who Is It For? Social Care workers Personal Assistants Early years and school based practitioners Heads and deputies Guidance staff Learning support teams SENCOs Primary and secondary teachers Parents Brothers and sisters Local authority support services Community workers and carers Course Content The course answers the questions : What is autism? How do we go about including autistic people? What does autism have to do with me? Key themes include: Movement differences Strategies for Facilitating Communication Supports and Accommodations for Sensory Sensitivities Developing Friendships and Peer Support School and Family Partnerships Learning to Listen Positive Behavioural Supports
Give your team the opportunity to pause and reflect on what matters most to them about the work they do. The act of listening to each other creates relationship and strengthens trust and inclusion within the team – in creating a shared vision, groups of people build a sense of commitment together. Using the PATH or MAP processes of group facilitation and the creating of a large wall sized graphic we will provide a School Improvement Plan to be proud of! Course Category Visioning and Problem Solving Person Centred Planning Strategic Work Team Building and Leadership Description There is an old Japanese proverb, “Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare” “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about” MARGARET WHEATLEY – ‘TURNING TO ONE ANOTHER’ (2002) Give your team the opportunity to pause and reflect on what matters most to them about the work they do. The act of listening to each other creates relationship and strengthens trust and inclusion within the team – in creating a shared vision, groups of people build a sense of commitment together. They develop images of ‘the future we want to create together’, along with the values that will be important in getting there and the goals they want to see achieved along the way. Unfortunately, many people still think ’vision’ is the top leader’s job. In schools, the ‘vision task’ usually falls to the Headteacher and/or the governors or it comes in a glossy document from the local authority or the DfES. But visions based on authority are not sustainable. Drawing on the planning tools MAPS and PATH (Pearpoint, Forest and O’Brien 1997) and other facilitation sources we use both process and graphic facilitation to enable the group to build their picture of what they would love to see happening within their organisation/community in the future and we encourage this to be a positive naming, not just a list of the things they want to avoid. ??Let us join you to explore your vision and the ‘roadblocks’ to your vision. Testimonials “Thank you so much for the work you did with us yesterday – I have since been in 2 schools today and have spoken to an number of other colleagues who were present – all were totally overwhelmed by the session – they loved it.” “I was totally blown away, so nice to reflect and realise what a long way we have come” “That was so powerful and motivational” “Our Primary is now an OFSTED rated ‘Outstanding School’ – we were in Special Measures – the Visioning and Planning using the PATH process for 3 years has seriously contributed to this”. Learning Objectives To create a far reaching and shared vision of the future for the school team/group you are working with and ensure that each person present contributes to this To create a visual representation (a graphic) of the vision and use this to plan future actions and to inform school improvement and development plans To facilitate the group in thinking through what some of the barriers to achieving their vision are and to begin work on how these can be removed To build a sense of commitment, common purpose and trust within the team/group Who Is It For ? Headteachers School managers EIP Managers Whole staff – including everyone Course Content The facilitation of a shared vision can be delivered as a full or a half day but, unlike our other training days this day depends on your and your team’s needs and the time you have available The course will cover: Creating the vision The Story So Far Headline Themes Naming the Nightmare A Year from Now Naming Roadblocks and Barriers Building strength Who will we need to take with us on the journey towards the vision Who are we? – Gifts, Strengths and Talents Charting Specific Actions