Transcript Peer Led Groups

Peer Led Groups
Principles, Process and Practice
Wasi Daniju & Jane Stokes
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Co-facilitation
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(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Introduction
• Jane Stokes
• I have aphasia
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network)
connect training
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On presenting
• I have aphasia – speaking
under pressure is difficult
• I have prepared this talk
with help from Connect,
but these are my words.
• I may go off script, but I
can lead a group!
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
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Where do I co-facilitate?
• Music groups
• Conversation groups
• Drop-in sessions
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
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How does it work?
• People with aphasia
• Supported by trained
volunteers
…working together
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network)
connect training
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Using resources, writing key words,
using gesture, drawing
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network)
connect training
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© 2008 Connect
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network)
connect training
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In a balanced way
X no good
Centre dominates
✔ Good
Gives a
balance
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network)
connect training
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With an underlying structure?
• Mentor
– Interest
– Recruit & train cofacilitators
– Provide resources
– Review and keep things
running
– Problem solve
– Organise the balance of
roles
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network)
connect training
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Roles within this structure
• Facilitation
• Volunteer support
• Group members
• Mentor
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connect training
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Conducting the group
The
Facilitator…
…is like a
conductor
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network)
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What will I do?
• Introductions
• Listening
• Watching
•
•
•
•
Co-ordinating
Supporting
Encouraging people
Shutting others up!
• Moving on
• Clarifying
• Encouraging others to
feed in
• Setting the pace
© 2008 Connect
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How?
• Talk?
• All talk?
• Eyes – watching,
looking, and seeing!
• Hands – directing,
showing, pointing…
• Face – expression…
• Intonation – quiet,
questioning…
© 2008 Connect
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network)
connect training
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The volunteers
• Support
communication
- message in and out
• Support me!
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network)
connect training
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The group members
•
•
•
•
•
•
Have a go
Listening
Encouraging others
Working together
Responding
Support each other
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Benefits of working together
• More ‘natural’ conversations
• Sense of ownership: ‘our group’
• Sharing a structure
• Conversation
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
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Introduction
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(communication disability
network)
connect training
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Peer led groups
Principles
Process
Practice
• We will now consider:
– Principles – the ethos behind peer leadership
– Process – logistics of peer-led groups
– Practice – what peer-led groups look like in
different settings
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Peer-led group work
• Ethos of Connect – people with aphasia at the centre
of all we do
• Shift from volunteer/professional led
• People with aphasia taking the lead and supporting
their peers with aphasia
• Support and underlying structure crucial
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Principles
Principles
Process
Practice
• Balance – each role plays important function – no
gaps
• Each role needs to be classified, understood, shared
and collectively owned
• Authentic equal partnership and involvement
• Recognising people with aphasia as experts
© 2008 Connect
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network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Principles – Equal partnership
Principles
Process
© 2008 Connect
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network)
Practice
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Process
Principles
Process
Practice
• Co-facilitation training – for people with
aphasia and volunteers without
• Organic process – continuum of peer support
• Group decision – importance of consultation
• Process must be driven by people with
aphasia
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Practice - models within Connect
Principles
Process
Practice
• Many contrasting models of peer-led groups:
– Centre Based/Community Based
– Pre-existing – challenge of change
– Formal/Informal
© 2008 Connect
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network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Principles
Centre-based/Community-based
Process
Practice
• Music Group (centre based)
• Wandsworth Conversation
Group (community based)
• Venue:
• Venue:
– Purpose built
– Accessibility, suitability
• Other practicalities:
– Comfort of staff nearby
– Location: central London
– Transport!
– Church hall
– Accessibility, suitability
• Other practicalities:
– Facilitators alone
– Location - close to home
– Transport!
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Facilitator’s experiences - Wendy
Principles
Process
Practice
• Facilitates at two conversation groups – centre
based and community based
• Experience of both peer-led, and volunteerled groups
• Emphasis on empowerment of people with
aphasia
© 2008 Connect
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network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Wendy’s experience
Principles
Process
Practice
• Volunteers without
aphasia? “Best if they are
mostly silent!...not be the
first person to speak, but
the last”
• “there are many people
who have aphasia but still
fully able to think, but not
to say…the fact that you can
say things with others who
have aphasia – that’s
different – it’s a difference,
that we ourselves have
aphasia”
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
The challenge of change
Principles
Process
Practice
• Challenges:
– Existing group - resistance to change
• Solutions:
– Time
– Consultation
– Working with the group
• Examples:
– Tate Modern Art Group;
– Wandsworth Conversation Group
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Facilitator’s experiences - Elaine
Principles
Process
•
•
•
•
Practice
Collaboration with Tate Modern
Transition from expert-led to peer-led
Gradual, prolonged consultation process
Support structure in place for facilitators and
group members
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Facilitator’s experiences - Elaine
Principles
Process
Practice
• I’m very glad they are behind us… people like
Michael [a volunteer without aphasia]– we can look
at him when we get lost – it’s very comforting to
have someone there who we can look at ‘help!’
• I think I am able to say things to them that you might
not, having aphasia. … might say ‘well, have a try - I
can do it, you can do it”
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Principles
Formal/informal
Process
Practice
• Conversation group Vs Drop-In:
– Set format, timing, attendance
– Dedicated resources
• Important note:
– Drop-In has very clear structure and process around it e.g.
drop-in box, day notes
• NB: ‘Informal’ ≠ ‘no planning’; ‘invisible structure’
– Structure put into place before the group started
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Invisible structure…drop-in
Principles
Process
Practice
• Project lead – person with aphasia
• Working group – people with aphasia recruited and trained.
Met 6 times a year
• Trained to run the activities
• Volunteers without aphasia to support the people with
aphasia
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Basia … drop-in
Principles
Process
Practice
“really it’s like we want to show people that you can
do normal life, not normal life but normal living, you
know.
Not just surviving but just do different things”
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Top tips – remember…
• Consultation – people with aphasia involved
at all stages
• Balance – authentic equal partnership
• Clarity – structure and clear roles
• Accessibility – communication and
participation
• Recognition – people with aphasia as experts
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©
Final thoughts
© 2008 Connect
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network)
connect training
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Contact details
www.ukconnect.org
[email protected]
020 7367 0840
© 2008 Connect
(communication disability
network)
connect training
www.ukconnect.org ©