"No other trainer out there quite like Steven. He makes learning fun + interesting, great team building too.” Front Door Training with Stoke Council and Insight Academy
Greetings one and all,
I recently created a brand-new course to a brand-new team at Stoke Council. The Front Door Team has adapted an innovative, dynamic approach to working with residents from across Stoke on Trent. Utilising their social care skills, the team will be the initial point of call when people are accessing or wish to access support. Each and every one of the learners were enthusiastic, committed to their new role and determined to make it a success. We laughed, we learned, we discussed, we assessed and we reflected. Just like last time, the new films went down an absolute storm. A legend has been born in the character of the ever so delusional and rather repellent; Sasha Montpellier.
I created the entire thing from scratch, which included a new board game that was specific to the people attending the training – yes, it even had their names on it. Luckly no one was offended and they loved it!
Stoke Council is thinking differently, equipping their staff with new skills and encouraging change in a positive and rewarding fashion. All the while being supported by Expert Citizens Insight Academy. I’m very proud to have been a small but important part of this new way of working. Onward and upward!
On with the feedback!
What did you learn?
“How to communicate effectively, reinforced my knowledge and skills.”
“I found it all helpful.”
“A reminder to use open questions not use SMOG & why!!”
“I learned about the purposes and role of the front door team as well as communicating with them.”
“SMOG, WHY & BUT - Don’t use them, acknowledge, probe, summarise, paraphrase, reflect.”
“That it is ok to paraphrase & clarify what a client is expressing & what they are saying.”
“Training was excellent, covered all relevant topics related to the job role.”
“Info to improve my skills to motivate others & other effective communication skills to improve outcomes. Brilliant videos, great audience participation - NEVER BORING.”
“Session was very informative and really made me realise how important motivational interviewing is.”
“To live my life, motivational interviewing techniques - refreshed & brought to the fore, no great training.”
“Reflection on my own natural tendencies within a team & being a positive team member. Appreciated practical practice of ways to speak with clients to make a positive impact.”
“Refresh on motivational interviewing, how the use of language can change the amount of detail gained.”
“I learnt lots from the training and feel more confident going back onto the front door and communicating with service users over the phone. The training met all expectations.”
“How to get people to open up without making them to feel judged.”
“I feel I have gained a breadth of knowledge, new to the front door it has enhanced my previous knowledge greatly.”
“What I learnt, it was quite insightful, I struggled with asking the right questions as a social work student, however the session on motivational interviewing explained how to do so without being to intrusive and respecting peoples human rights and value. There are a lot of sessions where we had to work as a team and I learnt how to do so and actively listen to people.”
“Reinforced knowledge and person-centred practice and collaboration.”
“Motivational speaking, reinforced knowledge.”
“Reinforced knowledge in relation to my role.”
“How to rephrase questions.”
“Re-learnt motivational techniques.”
How will you work differently now?
“It is essential to the role I undertake and allows me a greater understanding on interviewing techniques.”
“Enjoyed networking and this will be helpful in practice.”
“I will be able to apply motivational conversations in my daily life.”
“It will remind me to ask less questions & to keep summarising.”
“By applying the communication techniques learned e.g. paraphrasing, reflecting.”
“I will think about how I respond to people to understand what they are trying to reflect.”
“To continue to paraphrase, clarify & express compassion with each client.”
“It will provide me with the skills to approach conversations with individuals.”
“Increased confidence - understanding, reflective practice.”
“I will no longer use SMOG! session has given me confidence in talking to people whilst empowering them.”
“It will help me "connect" with service users better and will enable me to "reach out" to those who need help but for many reasons find it difficult to accept / ask for help.”
“I will try to be more aware of how I function in a team, try & remember the positive experiences rather than focus on the difficulties I will try to implement some of the motivational interviewing techniques.”
“To ask open questions, reflect & paraphrase.”
“I will practice in paraphrasing & continue to use it.”
“It will help me communicate better with service users; I will do better in telephone assessments.”
“I will use the five key concepts, open questions and also know how to understand how to have better conversations with service users.”
“It will shape how I speak to people, over the phone or physically. Though I need to continuously practice all I am taught, I am mindful of areas of what I need to work on.”
“More knowledge and understanding.”
“Motivational interview techniques, don’t ask why ask how, what, when.”
“Open up conversations & aid a better understanding of individuals.”
“Stronger knowledge, increased confidence.”
“Knowledge to discuss & speak to adults in a more proactive way.”
“Discussions with service users, listening to their experiences, ensuring their voice is captured.”
Did your learning improve? Other comments:
“Yes!! engaging, knowledgeable, passionate - meets all the outcomes set out at the beginning.”
“Yes, V Useful for communications skills, excellent course.”
“Yes, it was very informative.”
“Yes, we were all smiling both at the beginning and the of the 2 days, very thought provoking.”
“This training would be beneficial to anyone working with adults.”
“Most definitely.”
“Definitely.”
“Absolutely, Fun / Interactive / trainer was so knowledgeable, and all contributions + views of participants were valued. Enable good team building.”
“Yes, informative & easy to engage in.”
“Definitely it is interactive, positive and V informative.”
“Yes, great training.”
“Yes, very interactive and knowledgeable”
“Yes, very much Steven is so knowledgeable and experienced.”
“Yes, especially to social work students.”
“Yes, very interesting.”
“Yes! Steve is always enthusiastic he seems get you thinking outside the box and reflects on own practice. Always a good laugh, always friendly & professional.”
“Yes, inspiring & knowledgeable.”
“Yes, very enjoyable & informative.”
“Absolutely X.”
“Brilliant trainer + course.”
“Yes! No other trainer out there quite like Steven. He makes learning fun + interesting, great team building too.”
“No brilliantly delivered, good team building training sessions.”
“The training was very enjoyable & interactive. I will take a lot from it Thank you :)”