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"Steven’s approach to teaching was phenomenal, engaging, supportive." Motivational Interviewing


This week I was very lucky indeed, not only did I get to spend a week with some truly fantastic staff members, I also met some folks who truly inspired me. They gave me hope for the future! I am of course writing about Shropshire Council’s very own ‘Stepping Stones’ team. Here is what they stand for and it is ABSOLUTELY the case:


“The aim of Stepping Stones is to keep children with their families in a safe and nurturing environment. Since April 2021 they have worked with over 170 children so far and still counting. Stepping Stones is a therapeutic team that provides individualised support for children and their families. The consent led outreach workers are flexible to the specific needs of their clients, with the overall aim for clients to live as a family together. Stepping Stones want families to be happy, healthy, safe and will strive to make this happen; by working with clients every step of the way.”


The other staff members from across the council were equally as committed to their roles and is it any wonder some of them are award winning team members. A big shout out to Jon for sharing his story and being so candid and authentic with us all, a legendary fellow by all accounts and I’m currently drawing him as the Godfather… Long story… 😊


Don’t forget folks, if you attend the training and want me to illustrate you, just holler, all I need is a recent photograph and a theme and no I don’t charge, it’s my gift to you!


The folks from Shropshire Council spent two days with me, taking part in my Inspiring Change – Motivational Interviewing training. As my loyal readers will be aware, I created the course bespoke for the learners from Shropshire and it was clearly evident that the troops understood how much effort I put into creating my course. The new version of the course includes interviews, training films, hands on kinaesthetic learning aids etc. The process of learning can be made to look easy; it really isn’t. It was encouraging to read how the learners understood my commitment to training.


Here is what the troops had to say about the training and yes of course it is 100% positive feedback – onward and upward!


“All areas of this course will be beneficial to me moving forward within my role so thanks you for that. I recognise I already do a lot of reflection with the families I work with because I like them to feel heard, but this offers me so many more tools to extend on this. If I’m honest I felt a little uncomfortable within the break out room completing the final task of motivational interviewing but I feel this is more to do with my self-belief that I can do it rather than the course content, who wants to ‘Get it wrong?’ This has definitely been one of my favourite courses to date. Not only because of your lovely way you delivered the course, you being hilarious but also actually feeling like I have come away with new knowledge, a better understanding and most importantly a better way of communicating. Thanks for being great.”


“Despite having trained in motivational interviewing and person-centred theory before, I learned a lot from Steven over the past two days! The session was equal parts interactive and informative allowing us as learners time to digest and apply theory. The light-hearted approach to teaching fostered a safe and very welcoming environment that I felt happy to share in and it allowed me to engage 100% with the training instead of feeling concerned with being watched or judged. Steven’s approach to teaching was phenomenal, he was engaging, supportive and congruent throughout and I genuinely thoroughly enjoyed the training session. Not just was the teaching great but the content of the session was manageable and clearly thought out with clear objectives and aims. The resources were clear and informative – I couldn’t speak positively enough about my experience! Thanks Steven.”


“This was great I must admit I was concerned about two days’ worth of zoom but such a good couple of days, felt like we were all friends afterwards and it was so interactive which was great and a good way to make everyone feel more comfortable. Steven was a great laugh but also an excellent trainer. Although he did call me thick for thinking my mobile phone was a practical survival tool for a remote desert island ha-ha (next time I will say something more practical). Genuinely best training I have done in ages. I will really use what I have learnt today as interview techniques are something I have been finding difficult in my new role as a NQSW so really please I signed up for this 😊. Hopefully I will do more training with Steven as his way of teaching is my best way of learning if that makes any sense! Thanks Steven!!”


“I absolutely loved this course – I have done a motivational interviewing course many years ago as a Probation Officer but this was a different level. Aimed at all style of learner – it was visual, the pace was good, lots of humour and felt a very safe environment in which to learn. Facilitator was great – Thank you for the learning I will be using this for many years to come.”


“Brilliant course, which was well presented. It has given me some real positive skills and ways to approach families and young people in my new role. I would love to do the advanced course as a follow up to this in 12 months.”


“It was a very enjoyable course and I feel I learnt new techniques. It was fun and interactive and I enjoyed it a lot. Steven was very knowledgeable, based on real experiences, which it shared this made the course more relevant.”


“I do not like online training courses due to the lack of opportunity for discussion and personal engagement from the instructor however this course has been the opposite. It was very engaging and allowed many opportunities for me to discuss and practice tings with my colleagues which very much suits my learning style. It has been a very informative course and although some of the skills I learnt were already there it has made me more conscious of these again and how to develop these into work practices within my new role. Cheers Steven.”


“This course has made me look at my interactions with families and young people in a new way, a really useful tool to have. Thank you for making it enjoyable, relatable and informative.”


“Really informative and learned many new skills. Steve, was extremely knowledgeable and knows how to get the best out of people. Authentic.”


“I just wanted to say how great the training was. I enjoyed motivational interviewing in all of its glory! A really enjoyable two days and I do feel that I can put a lot of what I learnt into practise, I just need to control my ‘buts’.”


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