Partners in Change: Skills for Inclusion
Organisational Change
2012 Training
A sector development initiative to assist disability sector
organisations to evolve their practice consistent with self directed
services for people with disabilities and their families.
The Disability Services Commission is pleased to offer this intensive program
exploring contemporary values, attitudes and models of service and focusing on
community inclusion. Participants will develop their capacity to work in
partnership with families to plan and manage the resources they need to
support their family member to lead a good life, and for the family to be
supported in the caring role.
The Partners in Change training program (purchased through Perth Home Care
Services) was developed by Heather Simmons and Chris Kerr, drawing on work
by colleagues locally and internationally over the past twenty five years.
Who should attend?
Disability sector organisations with strong commitment to providing flexible and
responsive support underpinned by person centred thinking and practice are
encouraged to apply. We are looking for motivated people and organisations
with a passion for something better, an interest in creating personalised service
solutions, and a vision of social inclusion.
To establish a critical mass for change, participating service providers will
nominate up to seven people who relate to the specific area, program or service
on which the organisation wishes to focus. Organisations that commit to
participate will be expected to bring a cross section of stakeholders (such as
CEO, Middle Management, direct care staff, service users and families to
ensure the greatest likelihood of cultural change. Those involved will together
work to create change in the chosen area.
Participants’ commitment to attending the entire eight day course is essential,
together with organisational commitment to providing ongoing support for the
team in the participation of the training and the emerging processes of changing
practice.
Board members are encouraged to attend either the full training course or to
join in on Day 7 for the development of each participating organisation’s Action
Plan.
What will be offered?
Training is delivered in seven full-day sessions over four consecutive weeks,
examining the following questions and ideas:
Day 1: Who are we and why do we do what we do?
Day 2: What’s the problem we are trying to solve?
Day 3: What it means to offer support
Day 4: Connecting to the community
Day 5: Who is this person (we support)?
Day 6: What kind of life do they want to live?
Day 7: What would it take for them to get it?
On Day 7, each team and up to six others from their organisation will create a
dream for their organisation and an Action Plan to work out the first steps in the
process of moving their organisation closer to their dream.
A single day follow up session will be held after five weeks to review progress
and share stories of success and opportunities for learning.
When and where will training be held?
Organisations can express preference to attend either of the two courses
scheduled for 2012.
Day
1
2, 3
4, 5
6, 7
8
Course 1
Tuesday
Tues, Wed
Tues, Wed
Tues, Wed
Wed
6 March
13, 14 March
20, 21 March
27, 28 March
9 May
Course 2
Tuesday
Tues, Wed
Tues, Wed
Tues, Wed
Tues
8 May
15, 16 May
22,23 May
29, 30 May
3 July
Each course will be held in the Perth metropolitan area (venue to be confirmed).
Course Leaders:
Mike House has worked in the Disability Sector for the past 25 years,
championing a better life for people with Disabilities. He has managed change
projects with organisations serving people with disabilities and authored a book
and a number of papers on Person Centred Practice. Over the past 5 years
Mike has been extensively involved in the delivery and development of practical
training for people working in the sector, and he has a passion for seeing
genuine shifts in practice as a result. Mike also works as a leading Arid Area
Survival Instructor and his passion for the outdoors and understanding of
people in difficult environments adds colour and diversity to his facilitation style.
Mike has been involved with Partners in Change since its inception, and has
delivered the program to a wide range of audiences.
Heather Simmons has worked extensively and in diverse roles within the
disability sector since 1994.
She has designed and delivered training
specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of people and organisations in the
areas of disability services, mental health and aged care. In 2008 Heather coauthored Partners in Change with Chris Kerr.
Heather has many stories to tell...her passion is working in the ‘grey areas’ of
human services and she loves the challenge of finding ways of applying the
ideas she talks about everyday to the day to day practice of people working in
the sector.
Cost:
The workshop cost will be heavily subsidised by the Disability Services
Commission as part of its commitment to assisting organisations to partner with
people with disabilities and their families in developing the resources they need
to live a good life. Participant organisations are asked to contribute $2000
towards the cost to demonstrate their own commitment to organisational
change. In some circumstances the Commission may waive the cost for
organisations that would experience difficulty in meeting it.
Disability sector organisations are invited to express interest in joining the
‘Partners in Change: Skills for Inclusion’ training program in 2012 by completing
the attached form and returning it to the Commission by Friday 27 January
2012.
If you have any questions, please contact Bronia Holyoak, Manager Sector
Development, on 6104 9586.
Partners in Change: Skills for Inclusion
Expression of interest
Service development opportunities 2012
Organisation name:
______________________________________________
Contact person:
______________________________________________
Position/Role:
______________________________________________
Work address:
______________________________________________
Contact phone:
______________________________________________
Mobile:
______________________________________________
Email:
______________________________________________
Please indicate your preference for training dates:
□ Course 1 (from 6 March)
□ Course 2 (from 8 May)
□ No preference
Please address the following headings, using additional paper if necessary:
Who will be take part in the training? How do they relate to the area of
your organisation that has been selected as the focus of this change?
Why have they been chosen to lead the training and change process?
Please provide the names and organisational roles of up to six additional
people from your organisation who will join in the planning session on
Day 7 to work out the first steps of your change process.
How will your organisation support these participants to attend the full
training schedule and to implement the Action Plan that will be
developed?
Please describe your organisation’s relevant experience and commitment
to self directed services and organisational transformation (eg prior
training, participation in sector initiatives in this area, grant applications).
If any participants from your organisation require specific aids or
assistance to take part in the training, please provide their name(s) and
details.
If any participants from your organisation have
requirements, please provide their name(s) and details.
special
dietary
Endorsement of CEO (or equivalent):
Signature:
Name:
Please return your completed form by Friday 27 January 2012 to:
Monique Williamson
Executive Director Community and Sector Development
Disability Services Commission
PO Box 441
West Perth WA 6872
Fax: 9321 3010