St Luke's 2008 Spring School

Bendigo, Victoria

Mon 13 - Fri 17 October 2008

This year we have the following exciting events:

Two-day introduction to the Strengths Approach

13-14 October 2008

Facilitated by Di O’Neil, Executive Officer, Professional Development

Cost $360 plus GST

Extensive handouts, morning teas, lunches and afternoon teas provided.

This two day workshop explores and considers the essential nature of the strengths approach to human services. It covers the underlying principles and processes of strengths-based practice and highlights the core skills. The workshop provides experiential practice opportunities using some of the tools useful in identifying and mobilising strengths and tapping aspirations as a basis for concrete goal setting. The workshop is suitable for those wanting an introduction to strengths-based practice.

Expected Outcomes:

• Participants will have considered the core principles of strengths-based practice
• Participants will have identified the processes and skills of the approach and their implications for practice
• Participants will have practised the skills and considered parallel processes.

The Travelling Toolshed

13-14 October 2008

Facilitated by Russell Deal.

Click here to download a Fact Sheet.

Tools for Teambuilding and Group Work

15 October 2008

Facilitated by Russell Deal.

Click here to download a Fact Sheet.

Celebrating Girls

15 October 2008

Facilitated by Jane Bennett.

Click here to download a Fact Sheet.

Facilitated conversations

all on 15 October 2008

Cost $60 plus GST

Morning tea lunch and afternoon tea provided

Facilitated conversations are designed to share ideas with people who have already undertaken an introductory course; who engage in strengths based practice and want the opportunity to consider applications of the approach in different situations. All conversations are day-long, and will run concurrently on the same day, so unfortunately you can only attend one. These conversations will be based on participants sharing ideas, concerns and solutions. Each conversation will be hosted by a St Luke’s staff member and attended by two or three St Luke’s field workers.

We will expect that participants in these conversation have studied and practiced strengths based approaches compatible with St Luke’s approach.

Possible topics of conversation (depending on bookings and interest) include:

1. Having difficult conversations.

What are the things that make it difficult to raise concerns with a family when as a worker we are practicing a client directed competency based approach. Is it possible to raise difficult issues and still maintain the philosophy and practice of a strengths approach? What are the ways that people have developed to address hard conversations, and do these adapt themselves to difficult conversations with colleagues or people whom we supervise.

2. Strength-based Practice, Faith and Spirituality – are there connections?

This conversation will look at the place for facilitating exploration of our spiritual journeys. What is it that keeps people going against all odds? Where do belonging, connectedness, resilience and optimism come from? Is it important to have conversations about spirituality? If so, why? What can these conversations look like? How do they value uniqueness and self determination? The facilitated conversation will draw on Innovative Resources’ Signposts and other resources as we journey together.

3. Holding to a strengths approach in partnering arrangements.

There are many different understandings and interpretaions of a strengths approach and hence different implications for our practice.  At times this can create challenges in our partnering relationships.  How do we do that balance between staying true to our beliefs and justifiable practices without attempting to colonise the rest of the world?

4. The importance of respectful information sharing.

Recent changes in Victorian Child Protection legislation have increased the authority of the Child, Youth and Family Service sector to share information without a family or individual’s knowledge or consent. A key feature of strengths-based practice relates to transparent sharing of information in a manner which optimises our client’s authority and ownership over the information sharing process. This conversation will investigate ways in which service providers can maintain a commitment to information sharing practices which are transparent, respectful, support open and respectful conversations about safety and risk and optimise the potential for sustainable client-driven change.

5. Holding onto hope; the impact of the mental health system on people living with long term mental illness.

Most workers in mental health have worked with clients who demonstrate the impact of “institutionalisation”. These are the clients who are often viewed, professionals, as being beyond rehabilitation, those who are simply supported. The clients who are often referred to as “chronic”. Putting on the strength based cloak, working on the premise that everyone can enact change in their lives, can be particularly challenging when confronted with resistance to the notion that change can occur and that hope can be instilled, when working alongside a mental health system based on a strong medical model. Change is slow and sometimes imperceptible to those around the client, at times it might be a 1 step forward, 1.5 steps back journey. This conversation will explore how workers in the mental health area can maintain hope and make a positive contribution to the lives of the client, using a strengths based approach.