The previous blog (read here) described the development of a set of symbols to prompt discussions around identity.  In this blog, the authors illustrate how the symbols can be used to support practitioners to consider their own ideas about identity and how this may influence the clinical relationship.

The completed resource was trialled with practitioners working in a variety of settings.

Feedback

‘It   help me understand and reflect on my own biases and how I am slowly working to be more aware of them and ask the right questions’

‘This Talking Mat  was an eye opener about my worries and anxieties around saying the wrong thing’

Overall practitioners reported that using the resource helped;

•             understanding and reflection on own biases and challenge default assumptions

•             consideration of wider aspects of identity that were not routinely thought about

•             holistic thinking by encouraging seeing clients in a wider context 

•             stimulate ideas about different questions to ask

•             provide a safe platform for staff to open up

•             address your own anxieties as a professional about getting it wrong and fear of ”putting your foot in it”.

It was also agreed that the resource could be used in diverse settings and not only within AAC.

Next steps

At the start of the process we were not sure where the discussions with the original project group would lead but the results of the pilot have shown that this Talking Mats identity resource is helpful for practitioners to mindfully reflect on their practice, allow unconscious bias to rise to the surface, consider all aspects of  their clients’ identity to develop their practice, contribute  to reducing inequalities and improving the responsiveness of services.

If you would like to know more about this resource and how it can support practitioners, please join Lois, Nikki and Lucia for an online webinar on

Tuesday 13^th August 2pm – 3.30pm

The Talking Mats Foundation Training is a course that builds people’s confidence in using and applying Talking Mats to their work. Organisations can access this as a group ensuring staff can embed the Talking Mats approach and principles into their practice. The training also gives staff a common language for embedding a patient centred approach at the heart of a service.

We offer online training by;

1. giving organisations access to our online training platform – this is designed as self-directed course, supported by a Talking Mats tutor, with a variety of activities and resources to support learning
2. zoom/teams sessions
3. a combination of both 1 and 2.

2020 saw an increase in organisations approaching Talking Mats for online team training and this has continued into 2021.  We will work with you to find the approach that best suits your staff group.

Online learning does not suit everyone and comments from participants are mixed.  Some really like the flexibility of being able to work at their own pace and find the site user friendly whilst others miss the interaction that face-to-face brings. As a team we miss the face-to-face training too but believe that our online training and the support we offer organisations is an excellent alternative.

It is easier to discuss the impact of an organisational course by giving an example. We recently ran a course using our online learning platform combined with short introductory and a follow-up session on Zoom for 24 staff working in an NHS Paediatric service.  Taking part on the course were Nurses, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Dieticians and Speech and Language Therapists. It was great working with such a multidisciplinary group.  They all have communication at the heart of their practice and were keen to learn about a framework that could help them improve the effectiveness of their work.  There were different reasons for doing the course, but a common theme was wanting to have more ways of directly engaging and building relationships with the children they were working with rather than relying mostly on carer views. They wanted to be able to involve young people more meaningfully in some of the complex issues that surrounded their care.

It is always positive when a course has immediate impact and this staff group applied their learning in very different ways, for example Talking Mats was used to;

• communicate with a young person with selective mutism,
• involve a young woman who was self-harming to contribute to the strategies that help her reduce those behaviours ,
• involve children in physiotherapy interventions.

One course participant said ‘I have practised with a couple of patients and it has made a massive impact on their lives already. One patient’s behaviours have dramatically reduced as I was able to support her to show how she felt about aspects of her care and resolve this.’ And another participant said ‘I have now used Talking Mats with a couple of young people with complex neurodevelopmental difficulties and this has helped engagement considerably, where things had felt stuck before’

An important part of Talking Mats training is to help participants think about their own communication style and how it impacts on interactions and relationships.  Staff said;

• this course increased my awareness of my communication style and made me reflect more on how I communicate with my patients but also what I presume from my patients.
• I am more aware of the communication demands I place on others as a clinician/therapist and am more confident in engaging people with communication difficulties.
• It has made me think more about the language that i use during interactions.
• It has definitely made me reflect on my own style of questioning, and helped improve my pacing and language skills. 

The feedback from this varied and engaged group of staff was positive and is summed up in this comment; ‘The course was very engaging, interesting, and easy to follow and understand. I have learned a lot from this. The reflective work throughout the modules really helped to connect the theory with the practice of Talking Mats. The course leaders were very involved, supportive and helpful!’

Our training is relevant to organisations working within Social Work, Advocacy, Dementia Support and Education as well as Health and Social Care.  If you think you would like to organise a course for your staff group please get in touch at info@talkingmats.com to talk it through.