Great Interactions Story - Beulah House

All Day Every Day!

At Beulah we have always communicated well but thanks to the Introduction to Great Interactions: Facilitation module everyone is more aware of what makes a great interaction, for example staff take more time to get eye contact and to position themselves appropriately.

On our handover forms we have a space for self reflection on what’s gone well or what we might do differently next time. We are always looking and thinking of how we might improve.

I was thrilled when I signed to one of our ladies that we were going for a bath and she signed back that she wanted food, so we had something to eat first, she was pleased I understood her—in the past we wouldn't have picked up that she had signed.

Whether it is cleaning, cooking or making music — staff know how to make it better for the people we support. Staff are also happy knowing that the way they are now interacting is making a difference.

Taken from a story by Carol Groom, Head of Service

Great Interactions Fund - Wingrave School

Wingrave School applied to the Great Interactions Fund for an art project, with the help of artist Jan Niedoojadlo they wanted to build a sensory pod.

The film below is a short photo story of the project

Over the course of three days lots of people helped to build the structure of the pod and each student made an individual piece of artwork to be put inside the pod. Different materials were put into the pod to increase the sensory experience, this even included some sound tubes and guitar strings.

All students had the opportunity to help at any time and the work never stopped, the whole project was a fantastic opportunity for many many great interactions.

At the moment the pod is being relocated to a new site around the school and this is being used as an opportunity to update the artwork, creating even more opportunities for fun and exciting interactions.

Taken from a write up by Kevin Haynes, Wingrave School

Great Interactions Story - Reps on Board

Remembering the facilitation skills with Reps on Board

Martin is well over 6 foot tall meaning that he towers above most people, this height difference is even more marked when Martin joins a sitting discussion group during training. Together Martin and I have worked through the facilitation module and we have discussed great interactions, particularly we have worked on body positioning and eye contact.

During a recent training session with Reps on Board and its supporters Martin joined a group in his usual fashion, standing above them. I whispered 'Great Interactions' to Martin and he immediately remembered the work on positioning we had been doing and he knelt down to talk with the group at their eye level.

By Alison Wright, Reps on Board