This training aims to help family and friends supporting a loved one with lived experience of mental health problems. It further develops their understanding and approaches, to create the best possible environment that supports everyone’s emotional and mental wellbeing.
Carers group KS2 Bath believe that carers, who can feel isolated and overwhelmed, should receive quality training in the same way that staff do. KS2 Bath commissioned and developed the Cares training in collaboration with St Mungo's and with support from AWP the local mental health trust and The Carers Centre.
The training consists of four sessions:
1. Understanding mental health challenges
An opportunity to explore what it can be like to experience mental health challenges & how mental health needs can impact on people’s behaviour
2. Support people with mental health needs to make changes
To explore some of the challenges of supporting people to make changes and introduces some techniques for working with change.
3. Conflict and crisis
Reducing and managing conflict and crises with the person you support
4. Learning, reflecting and support
To be better able to establish clear boundaries, positive communication & relationships
Trainers
Ralph Lillywhite is an experienced St Mungo's trainer who was keen to make the Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE) approach being used by St Mungo's and other organisations accessible to people supporting a loved one, who often receive very little training.
Mary Marchant is a carer, a founding member of KS2 Bath and a trainer who delivers training to mental health professionals.
The Approach
The Carers training is built on the Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE) approach which aims to create the best possible environment that improves the emotional and mental wellbeing of the people being supported and the people who support them. Creating improved understanding, relationships and coping strategies.
Upcoming Dates
Dates in 2022:
July / Aug
Thurs 14th, 21st, 28th July & 4th Aug
1:00pm-3:30pm
November
Thurs 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th
6:00pm-8:30pm
All sessions delivered online via Zoom.
The training sessions in more detail
1. Understanding mental health challenges
Aim – To provide an opportunity to explore what it can be like to experience mental health challenges and how mental health needs can impact on people’s behaviour.
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What is Mental Health and what are Mental Health issues
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Recognising distress and our reaction to it
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Understand why other people behave in the way they do
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How we all perceive the world differently - hearing voices activity
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Understand the experience of having mental health issues
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The importance of consistency and boundaries
2. Support people with mental health needs to make changes
Aim - To explore some of the challenges of supporting people who have mental health needs to make changes and introduces some techniques for working with change.
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Cycle of change and support
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Exploring different Caring Styles
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Identifying resistance to change – what can we do?
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Ambivalence to change and motivation for change
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What would be different if it wasn’t your relative or friend
3. Conflict and crisis
Aim - Reducing and managing conflict and crises with the person you support who has lived experience of mental health issues
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Understanding challenging behaviour
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Circular arguments (Drama triangle) and de-escalation for conflict
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Keep everyone safe – managing a crisis
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Non-listening & Listening activity
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PLACE – Playfulness, Love, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy
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I’m OK your OK – the aspiration
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Understanding The Vicious Cycle - Feelings, Behaviour, Body, Emotions
4. Learning, reflecting and support – what carers need to create more boundaried relationships
Aim - To be better able to establish clear boundaries, positive communication & relationships with someone with lived experience of mental health issues
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Wellness Action Plan (WAP)
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Managing overwhelming feelings - Containment/stress bucket
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Communicating - it's not enough just to listen
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Less good-support is better than lots of bad-support
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Setting Boundaries (e.g. no mental health talk/arguing at dinner)
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Remember to do “fun” things together too
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A model to help reflect when something happens - Gibbs reflective cycle
Resource Pack
Participants receive a resource pack which includes the models and tools from the four sessions.
Supporters who come on the course have usually been caring for over a year and are looking to enhance the way they provide support.