Press Release
29th August 2008
We are delighted to have been named a finalist in the prestigious National Training Awards for our work delivering "Good To Great", our innovative training and development programme, in partnership with Helen Sanderson Associates.
This is particularly gratifying as the National Training Awards are so rigorous in assessing training programmes, with detailed interviews and site visits conducted before finalists are announced. The winners will be announced in September. Their press release is below:
Making good lives great for people with learning disabilities
A training programme has transformed the lives of the people supported by a charity, and brought greater job satisfaction to staff.
Known as 'Good To Great', the programme emphasised teamwork and provided problem-solving tools for frontline staff.
It has won a place in the finals of the National Training Awards 2008 for the charity United Response, and its training partner Helen Sanderson Associates.
Jaime Gill, public affairs manager, explains that United Response is a top 100 community-based charity, supporting more than 1,500 people, learning disabilities or mental health needs, and employing more than 2,000 staff.
"..the people we support experience real obstacles. 80% of our services include people with complex and multiple requirements. 40% have no speech and many have additional impairments, including physical disabilities," said Jaime.
"As a result of these obstacles, people with complex learning disabilities were spending just 11% of their time engaged in meaningful and fulfilling activities in 2000…"
For years, the charity had tried to work in a person-centred way. But as clients lived more active lives they faced more day-to-day challenges and dilemmas.
"Some still found it difficult to … make the leap to a genuinely involved life."
To take the next step, United Response partnered with Helen Sanderson Associates to develop the 'Good To Great' programme. An innovative structure was created in which 80 staff in the North West participated in an initial two days of intensive training, after which 15 participants became the coaching team and 15 managers became the leadership team. A joint handbook was produced to give staff access to the person-centred tools.
Ground-breaking research undertaken by United Response with the Tizard Centre proved that person-centred approaches worked. Most people now spend up to 50% of their time taking part in activities compared with less than 6% of their time in 2000.
Following the successful launch in the North West the programme began rolling out countrywide in April 2007.
Nick Rogers, Divisional Director, said: "In 27 years in social care, I've never seen a programme have the impact of Good to Great."
He added: "One man, Graham, uses a wheelchair and doesn’t communicate verbally. For years the most significant part of his life was attending a day service where there was over-reliance on dull activities, like jigsaws.
"By using Good To Great tools – working out Graham's abilities, what was important to him – we realised he suited office work. He consequently attended a JobCentre interview … and now works at the Derbyshire Centre for Integrated Living. He has thrived there, is happier, more engaged and more communicative, and Good To Great made that happen."
Ends
Entry name: United Response; Helen Sanderson Associates
Entry no: 80369
Region: North West
For further information contact:
Natalie.D'Angelo / Kathryn Crookenden: 020 7612 9261
or Natlie.DAngelo@ukskills.org.uk / Kathryn.Crookenden@ukskills.org.uk