Over the years we’ve developed or been certified in and delivered various training programs, including Non-Violent Crisis Intervention.   One of our areas of specialisation is folks who come to us with long histories of challenging behaviors that have not been resolved, which we hope to reduce or eliminate.   Several years ago after doing some research among various of our colleague agencies and looking at various possibilities offered, we decided to focus on Mandt training because it seemed to us to resonate with our own values.   This is currently delivered by Debra Vining and Susan Wilson, both of whom have accrued a lot of experience in various areas and are dedicated to the Mandt system of training.  

Training takes place over two or three days, and participants are certified through a sequence of success-oriented tests.   Anonymous feedback is elicited at the end of each session and the feedback has been consistently positive.   Our goal is to offer Mandt training six times a year to about 25 participants in each session.   Sessions mostly occur in the common room of one of the co-ops in which three of our folks live.   Rental for the space is a very good deal and it’s a great space, and the costs of the staff attending (who are paid) and trainers makes an average session’s costs several thousand dollars (that might suprise you!).    Certification and re-certification of our trainers is not included in this estimate. 

One of the things we like about Mandt is that it replaces many of the training modules we previously delivered, around comunication, support strategies, postive programming and program develpment.   From their website:

“…building healthy relationships in the workplace is our ultimate goal.  We use information from the Canadian Policy Research Network (CPRN, 2002) to define the components of healthy workplace relationships.  We also provide staff with a framework to understand the behaviors people use as they communicate their fear, frustration, anxiety and tension, which we believe are at the root of what many people term “challenging behaviors.”

“We consciously focus on teaching people concepts prior to teaching them technique.  We utilize an approach pioneered by the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies (http://www.behavior.org) that has 10 elements in a “Behavior Based Safety” approach which they teach to factory workers, retail employees, etc., to increase safety in the workplace.  Teaching concepts before technique is important in that if staff only know techniques, they will probably encounter a situation for which the technique is not appropriate.  Without knowledge of the underlying concepts, they will find themselves unable to respond appropriately.
We have built a framework within which we teach our program.  It comes from an article by Robert L. Katz, first published in Harvard Business Review, in which he stated that businesses needed leaders with Relational, Conceptual, and Technical skills.  We have organized The Mandt System® using this framework.” 

for more information about the uses of Mandt in our field, check out http://www.mandtsystem.com/DD/dd.ms

In other training news, we are hosting AIMING FOR THE STARS: A Workshop Series in Goal Setting, Coaching and Leadership, Facilitated by Laura Appleton-Jones and Supported by Aaron Johannes

Using presentation, group discussion, video, role play, handouts, and exploratory exercises Laura will guide participants through learning in self development, goal setting and supportive coaching techniques aimed to enhance their understanding and capacity for effective leadership in their own lives and the lives of those they support.  “We can only truly guide others when we learn how to guide ourselves.”  Individual coaching sessions will be available to participants throughout the duration of this course to assist in motivation, recognition of strengths and moving through personal obstacles toward optimal potential.

Facilitator Laura Appleton-Jones is currently enrolled in the Life Skills Instructor and Life Coach Diploma course at Rhodes Wellness College and is planning to continue through into their Professional Counsellors Diploma. She has a 15 year history of supporting adults with special needs in a variety of settings, and for the past 2 years has also immersed herself in learning about Person Centered Planning and Individual Lifestyle Options for the people we serve through workshops and mentoring by leaders in the field internationally.  Laura’s passion is in using the Coaching, Counselling and Group Facilitation skills that she has learned toward the ideals of inclusion, community building, and the empowerment of individuals served. Supporting those who support folks with disabilities is an important aspect of this vision.  She is thrilled and honoured to create and facilitate the curriculum for this set of workshops at Spectrum as a part of her practicum requirements for college and as a stepping stone toward her own personal and professional goals.

Spectrum’s investment in this workshop series is in the idea that participants can work towards personal, professional, agency and supportive goals (for the folks we support) at the same time, to the mutual enrichment of all the stakeholders.   

While this session, beginning in April is full, if there is enough interest we may follow up with further training around this idea.   Talk to your manager or coordinator if you are interested, or email aaron@spectrumsociety.org

Intro to ASL

Amy Tutekaluke and Allisen Clemens, with the support and assistance of Satinder’s microboard members, organized a successful six month “intro to American Sign Language and Deaf Culture.”   They arrived at at great curriculum which moved through language focused on relationships and communication with family and friends, to directional strategies (how to name rooms, how to give directions), to story-telling and narratives.   The class was augmented by a powerful and moving talk by Jaime Powers, one of Satinder’s dads and a member of her microboard, and then again by an introduction to intervening strategies (which focus on supporting deaf-blind folks) by Cathy Alpaugh, former E.D. of the Deaf-Blind Rubella Society and a great friend to Satinder (and also a Microboard member).  

Several participants were motivated to attend classes that were deeper and more intense from this introduction, and the idea of deepening our pool of trained ASL staff was one of our goals.   Another goal was making Spectrum, which has always served a number of folks who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, more “deaf culture friendly.”    A nice part of the class was the participation of folks from the front desk and accounting as well as CSWs and management staff and neighbours.    The class was really well facilitated by Allisen and Amy; Amy demonstrated a wonderfully comfortable and inspiring teaching style.   A little known fact about her is that her background is in linguistics and dance, and that she and her husband spent time in Asia teaching English there before returning to Canada and embarking on a successful career in ASL interpreting, which led to her meeting Satinder and coming with her and her family to Spectrum where she and our agency have been lucky enough to grow together in mutually enriching ways.    Amy is currently the Senior Manager of our Acquired Brain Injury program.  

Amy and Allisen intend to re-offer their “Intro to ASL and Deaf Culture” curriculum up to twice a year, but during shorter periods of time (perhaps over six weeks, once a week).   if you’re interested in participating, talk to your manager.   the next suite of classes will focus on an introduction to augmentative communication as well as ASL culture and language.

Leadership – 1st annual Coordinators’ Retreat

We organized a fun and energising “spa day” for our leadership team in which we looked at “deepening the bench” of our leadership team – how to plan for increased opportunities for new leaders, as well as our strategic planning processes and our core values.  It was a great day for everyone.

Upcoming

Plan to join Susan Wilson who will facilitate an evening training session on: Abuse and Neglect: recognition and response – definitions and discussions

Studies have shown that people “with disabilities” are more likely to be abused than people “without disabilities”.   During this time together we will discuss possible reasons for this and what we, as people who support people who are potentially vulnerable, can do to respond to this.  Creating a safer organization and safer communities.  Monday, April 06, 2009 4:00 PM – 8:00 pm, Spectrum Society Boardroom.   To register please contact judy@spectrumsociety.org  Space is limited.  

Susan Wilson has had a long career in this field during which she has had many roles, most recently as a Coordinator with our agency. Supporting teams to examine their perceptions of power and support and how to identify and deal with abuse is one of the topics that she has looked at. Susan currently serves on a provincial CLBC committee looking at day services and inclusion

Managers Training Day

agenda:

an accreditation update

progressive discipline

attracting and supporting the right staff for your team

and much much more!

Date: Tuesday April 7th,  Time: 9:30a – 4:00p, Location: South Burnaby Metro Club at Bonsor Recreation Complex

Address: 6550 Bonsor Ave, in Burnaby. The Metro Club is attached to the Bonsor Rec Complex but has it’s own entry doors to the left of Bonsor’s main entrance.

Personal Support Networks within Spectrum: Facilitation skills for Community Support Workers, with Susan Kurliak and Aaron Johannes.   April 17th at the Inn at New Westminster Quay, all day.   Limited Space.  To register, contact judy@spectrumsociety.org