Yesterday I enjoyed a great day in sunny Birmingham at the NAPLIC conference. All seven presentations made me think and several challenged some assumptions I’ve held for years. I came away with lots to consider and need time to figure out what to make of it all! Continue reading
Category Archives: Events
Using “yes, and…” to facilitate change
I’m in a transition phase; I’ve left my NHS role and started work as an independent therapist. I find change tricky. I had an interesting conversation with Abi Roper and Tom Starr-Marshall that made me think — why is change in the NHS so difficult? And in a solution-focused kind of way, what makes particular projects successful?
Looking back, there was a pattern to my attempts at service development (try and follow along with the diagram!):
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Check Out 10 New Lightning Talk Videos and a Call for Speakers
Happy New Year Everyone! How about some Therapy Ideas Live motivation to get 2013 started? All 10 lightning talks from our September 2012 event at UCL, are now on the website.
These 5 minute videos are bite-sized CPD opportunities about a huge range of topics from the Nuffield Dyspraxia Program to using gestures in therapy. There are talks on Lego Therapy, the importance of marketing in SLT and a story book project with adults with brain injuries. Have a look.
Putting Yourself First
We present a guest post by Cathy Sparkes and Sam Simpson, SLTs who work together as intandem. Here are Cathy and Sam’s reflections on supervision.
Ask yourself this question: Am I looking after myself enough in these challenging times? If your answer is ‘no’ or ‘not sure’ then read on!
The service you work in is probably being exposed to job cuts, a reduction in CPD funding and the demand to maintain clinical standards with ever-shrinking resources. In the midst of this you still need to put yourself first by making sure you’re receiving the quantity and quality of supervision you need. Over the past decade we have been supporting SLTs to access and provide good quality supervision. However, we often find that people don’t know what supervision is, have never experienced it or think they haven’t got time for it.
Therapy Ideas Live Won the Shine a Light Innovation Award!
Exciting news here at Therapy Ideas HQ: on Wednesday Therapy Ideas Live won the Shine a Light Innovation Award at a champagne reception in central London. TV star Paul Ross presented me with the award (check out the photo.) Woohoo!
The awards were first given out last year by the Communication Trust, in association with Pearson Assessment, as part of the Year of Communication. They were developed to celebrate excellent practice in supporting children and young people’s communication development. The Innovation Award is a new addition to the categories this year: the judges were after creative projects that achieved great results.
Using Evidence-Based Practice in Real-Life
I’ve been thinking about how evidence-based practice is relevant to daily life as a therapist. I enjoyed reading Arlene McCurtin and Hazel Roddam’s Review, Evidence-based practice: SLTs under siege or opportunity for growth? The use and nature of research evidence in the profession, in the International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders. Check it out!
Many clinicians and managers I’ve spoken to think that evidence-based practice (EBP) consists solely of evidence from systematic research. Which means the mantra – base service decisions on EBP, can seem punitive rather than supportive. Watch Kate Malcomess describe how clinicians can feel dismissed and devalued if they don’t have an evidence base, in her 5 minute lightning talk. McCurin and Roddam use a definition by Dollaghan (2007) that highlights there are three components of EBP: research evidence, the expertise of the clinician (internal to clinical practice), and patient values and preferences.
Redesigning Service Delivery for a Changing World: Roundup
On 26 June 100 speech therapists descended on the Mermaid Conference Centre in London to discuss how to redesign the way we deliver services with reduced budgets and changes in commissioning.
Kate Malcomess: Co-creating Solutions
Kate Malcomess opened the event. She began by describing the problem: constant firefighting, being told to do more for less, and therapists feeling isolated and helpless. She encouraged us to see the road ahead as an adventure and an opportunity, rather than a threat. Kate suggested we co-create solutions with like-minded people and produce evidence that we are making a difference. It was an uplifting presentation which gave me hope.
Invest in Yourself: Learn Essential SLT Skills for the Next Decade
When I remember the therapy package I offered “Freddy”, I wince. Over 18 months, I gave him four six-week blocks of therapy: 24 sessions in all. When I eventually discharged Freddy, he still couldn’t consistently produce velars—and worse, he still didn’t care. Even though his parents realised that I didn’t have a magic wand, they didn’t practise with him at home. So I didn’t achieve my objective and I wasted several precious days—days I could’ve used working with other clients. I had clients on a waiting list who were ready to engage with therapy and work towards realistic targets. What a waste.
Combine the Therapy Ideas Workshop with a weekend in London
The Therapy Ideas Workshop, Get Control of Your Time and be More Productive by Prioritising Your Caseload is on 12 October at Sadler’s Wells in London. That’s a Friday–so it’s a perfect excuse for a weekend away!
Therapy Ideas Workshop: Get Control of Your Time and Improve Your Productivity by Prioritising Your Caseload
With caseload and waiting list sizes increasing and staff teams shrinking, life for speech and language therapists is tough at the moment. We’re struggling to juggle large numbers of clients and mountains of paperwork while trying to provide a quality service.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of this, you should join me for the Therapy Ideas Workshop in London on 12 October 2012. This full day workshop will help you get control of your time and gain perspective by prioritising your caseload. You’ll improve your productivity, reduce stress, and learn how to negotiate expectations with clients, managers and yourself!
Full-day interactive workshop in Central London
We’ll have interactive presentations, practical activities, round-table discussions, and case studies. We’ll focus on gaining perspective by getting real about our commitments, prioritising, setting boundries and collaborating. I’m excited to be leading this full-day workshop at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London. It’s a bright, airy space with Internet access and plenty of coffee. Lunch is included, and you even get a discount on tickets to the dance shows!
Get your ticket now
The early bird price of £139 is available until 31 August, so check out the details, including the learning outcomes, and book now.
I’m looking forward to workshopping with you!
Photograph by BrittneyBush