Many of you will associate ASCERT with the great work they do supporting individuals, groups and communities affected by substance misuse, and will already know how committed they are to best practice and positive outcomes. Gary and John have always been keen that every one of the staff team have the opportunity to develop and sustain their skills and knowledge in a bid to ensure quality experiences for service users. For the past four years I have been fortunate to have worked with ASCERT in their exploration of how Motivational Interviewing can be integrated into their developing role across Northern Ireland and in particular the many projects in Belfast and the S.E. Health & Social Care Trust area.
The most recent conversation with ASCERT staff was in Lisburn on the 10th & 11th November where we completed the Foundation Level 1 Motivational Interviewing workshop.
As is often the case with skills development training, participants had differing understanding of the purpose of the workshop and how it would benefit their practice, so it was vital to discuss and agree our agenda. With everyone’s goals identified and explored we set off on our creative and challenging fun filled two-days that had all of us thinking about what we do, how we do it and why?
My role as the facilitator is always most rewarding when I have the opportunity to work with a group who are curious and confident, who want to learn and are able to question why the learning will be of benefit to them and their clients.
Given that both administrative and helping practitioners attended the workshop, we were stretched to make the material relevant to all. It was recognised that engaging staff followed a similar process to that of supporting clients, while the content of the conversations were obviously very different sometimes the emotional experience was identical.
All who attended the training agreed that the two days of theory, exercises and practice benefited their understanding of why people do what they do and in they way they do it.
As is so often the case at our training events, participants also commented upon the benefits they experienced in their personal lives, feeling more motivated to achieve for themselves and recognising ways they could improve communication with family and friends.
Viv McKinnon kindly agreed to record a testimonial video (click on link below)
Viv McKinnon reflects on MI training
Post Training Feedback from Viv McKinnon (Just before she leaves to get married – Congratulations Viv & thanks)
with photographs recording the two-days also attached
