Oxfordshire Intensive Interaction Regional Support Group Meeting
13th September 2012
Present:
Rosie Bailey (Intensive Interaction Co-ordinator, Penhurst School); Jules McKim
(Intensive Interaction Co-ordinator, Oxfordshire LD NHS Trust – Ridgeway
Partnership); Liz Pond (Project Leader, Witney Daytime Support, Social Services);
Aija Hastings (Project Leader, Headington Daytime Support, Social Services);
Rebecca Todd (Psychology undergraduate)
After introductions we decided to talk about the following things:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Updates from organisations
Watching youtube videos
Intensive Interaction cafes
Study weekend in Yorkshire
Research
Updates
We had a long discussion regarding the general uptake of Intensive Interaction across
all organisations and how, without management support and direction, this was not
progressing as fast as we would want. It seems that certain staff just ‘don’t get’
Intensive Interaction and perhaps never will. It is hard to define who these people are:
they don’t fall within any identifiable group.
Liz and Aija talked about continued training across Oxfordshire day services and
supporting staff to undertake the Assessed Practitioner award. In Headington a new
service-user is a prime candidate for Intensive Interaction. Rosie is supporting three
people through the Assessed Practitioner award. The trampoline at Penhurst has
become a great place to use Intensive Interaction. Jules spoke about Ridgeway’s
planned merge date with Southern Health on 1st November. This will increase the
workforce and service-user numbers significantly so Jules hopes there will be more
staff involved in Intensive Interaction training, development and support.
Youtube videos
Dave Hewett has been posting up short videos on youtube. We watched a number of
these. Miray and Jess, Sacha and Riana and Jennifer and Lana, plus an interview with
Dave. All provide good promotion of the Institute and are useful clips to show on
training. Dave does a voice-over and the fundamentals of communication are
presented at the end too.
We also had a look at the ‘push-chairs’ clip which is great too. Some of the other clips
are clearly not Intensive Interaction!
Intensive Interaction Café
We discussed possible ideas and issues around starting Intensive Interaction cafes in
the day services in Oxfordshire. Alice from the Albion Centre in Oxford is keen to
have a go. Jules and Alice have set a date, which needs confirmation, but plan to have
a go and review afterwards.
A major concern was whether staff would tend to chat amongst themselves and ignore
the people they are supporting. It was felt that it was vital to set ground-rules: perhaps
to have an interaction hour, then a more relaxed chat hour where staff could ask
questions and be given support. Would staff be committed and confident enough for
this to work? Would staff feel shy to do interactions in-front of other people?
Available parking is an issue in the centre of Oxford. There are good changing
facilities available. Rotating across services is envisaged as the way forward.
Moorlands in Witney would be good, as would Redlands in Banbury, especially with
their history of doing Intensive Interaction. We also talked about using a public café
to perhaps promote the approach – the Mill Café in Chipping Norton was mentioned.
This would need some careful planning.
Study weekend in Yorkshire
This is on 10/11 November in Malham, Yorkshire, the theme being research. Jules is
going, Rosie is hoping to go. A Speech Therapist and an Occupational Therapist from
Bucks are also going. As well as critiquing research papers, ideas for future research
will be discussed.
Research
Graham Firth’s intern has a piece of research on Intensive Interaction and challenging
behaviour submitted. Sarah Henry, a clinical psychologist here in Oxford is
researching paid carers’ views on relationships changes through using Intensive
Interaction. Jo Stuart, another clinical psychologist, is planning to research staff fear’s
around doing Intensive Interaction in public.
Next meeting:
Thursday 6th December 1 to 3.30pm
Moorlands Daytime Support,
6, Moorland Road,
Witney,
Oxfordshire
OX28 6LF