I observed an interaction between Barry and a member of staff called Jon.
Jon has worked here for 8 years. Barry and Jon have a very good relationship. Barry will only talk about what Jon has done with him or where they have been even if other staff members have been there as well, so other staff rarely get a look in even if we have interacted with Barry too. Needless to say if ever anyone has met Barry all he talks about is Jon this, and Jon that. They really are very close.
So one particular day I thought I had caught Barry’s eye smiling at me as I came out of the kitchen. I stood there for a few minutes thinking great what a lovely interaction and a massive opportunity to smile back and feel a connection with Barry. But when I looked closer at Barry and thought ‘right here’s my chance to interact and be a memory for Barry’, it wasn’t me Barry was smiling at. It was... wait for it... It was Jon! Jon was standing behind me and Barry was looking past me at Jon and it was their special moment, their Great Interaction, not mine.
I want to improve my interactions with Barry so I asked Jon what was it that made Barry smile, what was it that he was doing to have a Great Interaction with Barry. Jon said that while he was in the kitchen he was singing and he continued to sing on leaving the kitchen because he knew Barry would hear this and like it. So Jon was being creative before the interaction really started and then used eye contact to catch Barry’s eye, and make a connection, on leaving the kitchen. So that’s where the big smile came from and that’s all you need to see to know you have made a difference in somebody’s life: A GREAT BIG SMILE.
I’m going to try some of Jon’s ideas and maybe, just maybe, I too can make Barry really smile.
Katrina Ryan
Senior Support Worker
The Cherries