1. Psycho Education Training (ASD)
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Primary Mental Health Team
Susan Vaughan and Philip Hanford

2. Background: RCT Children and Young People Plan 2008-2011
Identifies the need to provide:
“Improved facilities for access to services and support for individuals affected by Autism.”
“Develop and implement an effective multi- agency training programme to increase the awareness and skill of a range of staff in supporting children and young people”

3. Preliminary work
Discussions between Ontrack, CAMHS and PMH agreed the need for ‘something’ to help families post ASD assessment, and diagnosis.
PMH floated the idea that training could be introduced thereby addressing critical elements of the PMH role
A pilot training opportunity was agreed, working collaboratively with Ontrack

4. AIM OF TRAINING PROGRAMME
To provide an informal meeting place where parents / carers of a child with a diagnosis of Aspergers can meet.
To provide an educational / training facility that parents /carers can access to update their knowledge and skills regarding Aspergers.
To empower parents so they are aware of, and may access local and national services.

5. AIM OF TRAINING PROGRAMME
To develop the dynamics of the group prior to inviting guests and speakers.
To help the core of the group identify professionals who may be useful to their developing understanding of community services.
To invite identified professionals who can inform and educate parents / carers regarding the remit of their agency

6. AIM OF TRAINING PROGRAMME – Tier 1 professionals
To provide an informal training programme that Tier 1 professionals can access, and receive, training from both the ‘guests’ and parents / carers.
To offer Tier 1 professionals a holistic perspective regarding topic based training, and challenges for carers and professionals.

7. Referral Process Referrals to Group 1 came from CAMHS, PMH and OnTrack
Referrals to Group 2 came from CAMHS, PMH, OnTrack and Consultant Paediatrician.

8. Referral Meeting
PMH met with each family referred to the training, and informed them of the format.
Families were invited to commit for the duration of the training programme, which was anticipated to be approximately 15 sessions.

9. Honey and Mumford: Typology of Learners

10. Kolb: Elaborations of the Experiential Learning Cycle

11. The ‘CORE’ of the group - issues.
Parents own mental health issues
Parents with undiagnosed / diagnosed Aspergers
Open /closed group

12. The Facilitators
‘Thinking group’ means focusing on the group as a whole – ‘considering everything that happens in terms of the group context (also the wider context in which it is embedded –social, political, organizational) because this is where meaning is manifest’ (McDermott, 2002)
Smith and Smith (2008)

13. Group Facilitation – John Heron
What I mean by a facilitator… is a person who has the role of empowering participants to learn in an experiential group. The facilitator will normally be appointed to this role by whatever organization is sponsoring the group. And the group members will voluntarily accept the facilitator in this role.
By experiential group I mean one in which learning takes place through an active and aware involvement of the whole person – as a spiritually, energetically and physically endowed being encompassing feeling and emotion, intuition and imaging, reflection and discrimination, intention and action.

14. Theories – Groupwork Bruce W. Tuckman (1965).

15. Reflective Learning
“A learning system… must be one in which dynamic conservatism operates at such a level and in such a way as to permit change of state without intolerable threat to the essential functions the system fulfils for the self. Our systems need to maintain their identity, and their ability to support the self-identity of those who belong to them, but they must at the same time be capable of transforming themselves.” (Schon, 1973)

16. ‘Guests’
Guest speakers
Guest observers

17. EDUCATION /TRAINING GROUP (Aspergers) GROUP PROGRAMME 2012 – 2013
13 April 2012 PMH Introductions / ‘Group Rules’ / Preparation for Group Programme
23 May 2012 PMH Anger Management
17 May 2012 Young Carers RCT Information Sharing opportunity
31 May 2012 Ed Psych Behaviour Support School Support Service and ASD
14 June 2012 Little Inspirations ASD – A Shared Experience
28 June 2012 Special Educational Needs
12 July 2012 Child & Educational Psychologist Social Stories
20 Sept 2012 Transitions Project, Real Opportunities

18. EDUCATION /TRAINING GROUP (Aspergers) GROUP PROGRAMME 2012 – 2013 Cont’d
4 Oct 2012 Cerebra
18 Oct 2012 CAMHS Consultant
8 Nov 2012 Education, Aspergers and Self Esteem
15 Nov 2012 CAMHS, Swansea Specialist ASD / ADHD services
22 Nov 2012 Head of Children &Young People’s Service Redesign / ASD Lead & Chair of ASD Steering Group and Emotional & Mental Health Project Officer, Cwm Taf Health Board
6 Dec 2012 Final Meeting Evaluation and Endings
Ongoing support to be provided at agreed points

19. Challenges Clarification of PMH Role Venue – location and costs
‘Needy’ individuals
Challenging group dynamics
Last-minute speaker cancellations
Commitment to attend

20. Evaluations (Core of group)
Individual: Baseline / Session evaluations
Mid Point Review
Individual
Group
Objective (2011)
Handout copies of completed questionnaires.
An initial baseline questionnaire is completed by all parents and carers.
All training is evaluated and all members complete them (parents, guests and observers).
RCT Primary Mental Health Team
Psycho Education Training Forum (Aspergers)
INDIVIDUAL COMMENT
Please use this if you feel you would like to make an individual comment about your experience of attending the group. We welcome all feedback, and hope to use your comments to benefit any future groups, so please feel free to share your thoughts – good and bad – as honestly as you feel able to. Envelopes are provided to make sure that comments are anonymous). We would particularly welcome comments about your journey, from when the group started to where you are now, your thoughts, feelings, relationships within your family and any ways you feel you have developed your skills and knowledge.
Evaluation
Is there anything the facilitators could have done differently? Is there anything you could have done differently?
What has been good about the sessions so far?
Is there anything you feel needs to be improved about the group, or done differently in the group?
How did you feel before / when the group sessions first started?
This may include how you felt about your child, yourself, the diagnosis of Asperger’s, the services provided (or not available), etc
With that in mind, how do you feel now?
What are the main differences, if any, between then and now?
Please turn over ……. there’s more on the back
Do you feel that your understanding of Asperger’s and your child has improved? Has attendance at the sessions changed the way you think / feel? Is there anything that you now do differently?
How do you hope to feel by the end of this programme?
What else would you hope to learn, achieve or get advice on in the coming months?
What has been the ‘best bit’ so far, what has been most helpful?
What main piece of advice would you give to parents of a child newly diagnosed with Aspergers?
Thank you for your contribution
(October 2012)

21. Group 2 – Attendees (Apr – Sept 12)
Parents 56
Education 53
Health 5
Social Services 1
Voluntary Sector
Other
Total
116

22. Group 2 – Evaluation (Apr – Sept 12)
As part of the evaluation all attendees were asked to score a range of statements on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 as poor and 10 as excellent). Collective results (shown as a percentage) for all sessions during April to September 2012 are as follows:

23. Quotes
“I think every parent with a child with Aspergers should be able to take part in groups like this” (2012)
When I first heard about this group I didn’t know what to expect but as I felt isolated why not give it a chance I thought. From day one it has been informative and educational…. The benefits have seen me go from strength to strength mentally and physically and I no longer feel alone” (2012)

24. Quotes
“Knowledge is power. We feel more empowered to challenge professionals involved in our children's education, treatment etc” (2011)
“Understand my child more and feel more able to cope with the difficulties they present” (2011)
“Reassured that choices made are the appropriate ones. Support with decisions to make” (2011)
“Mixed gender. Good to see dad’s” (2011)
“Family life has changed for the better. My mental well being has improved thanks to the group, its facilitators and group members” (2011)
“Not judged” (2011/2012)

25. Benefits
A cost effective training tool that utilises specialist Tier 1 professionals to disseminate information regarding their agency.
The ‘core’ of the group continued to meet outside of the training forum, thereby offering continued support to each other.
Group 2 are aware of Group 1 and have met some members.

26. The RCT PMH training programme is:
R Realistic
C Comprehensive
T Thorough
P Positive / Practical
M Mental (this relates to Phil mostly)

27. The RCT PMH training programme is:
R Realistic
C Comprehensive
T Thorough
P Positive / Practical
M Measureable

28. The RCT PMH training programme is:
R Realistic
C Comprehensive
T Thorough
P Positive / Practical
M Measureable
H Holistic

29. References
Heron, John (1999) The Complete Facilitator's Handbook. London: Kogan Page
McDermott, Fiona (2002) Inside Group Work. A guide to reflective practice. Crows nest NSW.: Allen and Unwin
Schön, D. (1987) Educating the Reflective Practitioner, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Schön, D. A. (1973) Beyond the Stable State. Public and private learning in a changing society, Harmondsworth: Penguin
Smith, Mark K. (2001; 2009) 'Facilitating learning and change in groups', the encyclopaedia of informal education

30. QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?

31. Thank you
(A ‘pie chart’ for Phil!)