A very positive experience at the end of an exciting year!

I was recently invited to an open evening at our service in Wheathampstead which was hosting the annual “meet Santa” for the local children, organised by the Rotarians. It was a great evening and there was a real sense of community with the people living at the service central to all that was going on. This was really pleasing to see and during the evening what struck me most was how MacIntyre colleagues, despite all the fun and commotion, were so positively engaged with and focused on each individual to maximise their enjoyment and inclusion.

The facilitation skill level was fantastic; not just from colleagues working at Wheathampstead but also those of colleagues from other visiting services. It was very noticeable how people were thinking about their interactions (not just because I was there- honest!); adjusting their body position, being creative about how to engage in activities, observing how people were responding etc and just being totally engaged. I was really impressed by colleagues old and new interacting at such a high level of skill.

It didn’t surprise me to learn later that the local manager, Kirsty Peachey, had herself facilitated an away day for her team to focus on the development of Great Interactions. Clearly this had worked, it was no coincidence, but the result of positive action and training and the people being supported were getting the benefit.

So a very positive experience at the end of an exciting year of MacIntyre’s Great Interactions work and one which I believe is being replicated throughout the organisation. We have still only started this journey and I am really encouraged by reading so many interesting and thoughtful contributions from people using this blog- a big thank you to all. Having reflected on our learning for the year we will start 2012 with some fresh ideas and I look forward to it being Great Interactions gold medal year!

Bill Mumford, Managing Director

Sharing - It's the way that we do it!

Having recently attended the ‘Advanced Great Interactions’ training with my fellow senior colleagues, we decided it would be of great benefit to our service, the people we support and the support staff to use ‘Great Interactions’ as a regular agenda at our team meetings.

We wanted to be sure that all staff were aware of:

‘What makes a Great Interaction?’

At first some staff were unsure, but once we explained the course, re-discussed the e-learning modules, and the Great Interactions booklets we had been given, we really got the ball rolling.

We reminded staff of the 10 facilitation skills and discussed how we use these, and can improve on using them, on a daily basis. As seniors we have found these discussions really useful. We ask staff to reflect on what skills they have used or could be using more of and we look for ways to improve our interactions.

We found the exercise ‘Care vs Support’ really useful as it promoted discussion and got the team thinking about how we involve people in everyday things.

Fortnightly, we take what we have learned to the staff team to share and others bring their own positive approaches and ideas. Now as a team we feel able to use the phrase ‘It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it!’ with confidence.

Team meetings are beginning to be a turning point at Crosby Close and we are able to evidence that we are great at ‘Great Interactions’, and still trying to improve!

We would like to share some photos with you as we think that sharing our pictures, ideas and learning is how we can all get better at ‘Great Interactions’.

Lucy Watson, Senior Support Worker

We all count!

My name is Martin Oakey I am Training and Development Officer for the Reps On Board project in Derbyshire. I have been working for MacIntyre for almost 5 years.

Before that I went to a Day Centre for 20 years. When I was there some members of staff spoke to me as if I were a kid. They would tower above me, order me about, and even pat me. It was hardly a Great Interaction! I didn’t feel I got respect from some of the staff there.

Now that I’m working I have noticed that people treat me in a very different way. People speak to me in an adult way. I feel I get treated with respect. No-one would dream of patting me or raising their voice to order me about now!

I have learned a lot from working in MacIntyre. I am over 6 foot tall, and I have learned that if I’m not careful, I too can tower above the people I am supporting. I have learned to sit down so that we are at the same eye level.

So maybe I’ve changed the way I behave a little and have become more responsible. But I’m still me - Martin Oakey. I still have a learning disability.

When I go back to visit my old Day Centre I have found that everyone treats me in an adult way. Suddenly I seem to count - but we all count and that’s my message.

We all count.

Martin Oakey

Training and Development Officer, Reps on Board

(with support from Alison Wright)