Over the past year I have learnt a great deal about my role as a Support Worker and that is down to Great Interactions.
I have had the opportunity to work with a great team of people whom have a wealth of experience and have helped me to develop within my new role.
Through observations, training courses and spending time with people and staff, I feel I have a greater understanding of MacIntyre’s Great Interactions Policy and how important it is to understand that each person we support is an individual and should be treated as such, and that the way I do things will have a big impact.
As I progress through my role I have realised that no two days are the same and each day brings a new learning curve for me to reflect upon.
My first year at Seymour Drive has flown by. During this time I have supported people on holidays and with various
activities, which have not only brought positive outcomes for the person, but have enabled me to become more confident and skilled in my role. I feel I am learning from every interaction.
One activity which stands out for me is a bowling tournament to celebrate MacIntyre’s ‘Go Purple’ day. Everybody
joined in on and thoroughly enjoyed this day, but it was the process, and planning that were really important. It began with a group discussion on how we would like to celebrate and ‘Go Purple’. During the discussion I took advantage of making sure I was using the key facilitation skills. I made use of my skills in Makaton, and observed body language and facial expressions. I listened carefully to the sounds people made, when showing pictures of various activities they might like to do. Taking the time to really listen and understand what people wanted from the day ensured everyone was heard, and everyone contributed to the final decision. The day was a great success, because people were fully involved and felt positive and in control.
Taking on board all that I have learnt over the past year I look forward to a new year at Seymour Drive, with new experiences and more learning.
Ali Babakordi
Support Worker - Seymour Drive, Cheshire