Leaping Deer Training and Development were commissioned by Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust to deliver training to clinicians from various departments as part of a year long project concerning the care of older people.

The brief of this part of the project was to encourage clinicians to see beyond the medical condition to the individual behind it. Part of our focus was towards the challenging behaviour that can be exhibited by people diagnosed with dementia, as well as a variety of other situations sometimes encountered by clinicians in their course of their work.

After close consultation with the trust, we began detailed research, followed by a period of devising the 20-minute piece of theatre. Once this was achieved we began a three-day exploration and rehearsal process. The delivery of the work took place over the course of an afternoon, the piece being shown first, followed by the facilitated forum. The clinicians involved enjoyed a productive, and often fun, way of solving some of the issues that occur when working in the care of older people.

Some reactions to the day were:

'well researched…realistic and challenging”

“good…very thought provoking”

“liked the teamwork of the whole group and the honesty and support shown”

“a powerful performance”

We have since returned to Portsmouth with a further piece of theatre under the care of older people umbrella - this time focusing on treatment of people in wards, dignity issues, and challenging behaviour, both from patients with dementia and between staff.

Ipsos MORI (market research)

Other work includes Ipsos MORI with whom we have a regular working relationship in respect of their in-house appraisals. This utilises our concept of "forum in a suitcase", as the forum is held in the small training room, using only two actors.

Our training takes place after the delegates have enjoyed a morning classroom-style session delivered by an independent consultant. We use the afternoon period to first show a piece of theatre which demonstrates a variety of potential scenarios around appraisals Then the delegates are encouraged to get involved and effect changes in a safe environment. They can use the knowledge gained from the mornings training straight away, in a real situation, which helps to lock the training creatively.

The session also provides a complete change from the usual classroom based day, and ensures the delegates enjoy and more importantly retain their training.

SANDWELL M.B.C.

One of our most exciting and challenging projects, in association with Yes training, was nine months at Sandwell M.B.C, implementing a customer care programme which quickly developed into real cultural change for the entire organisation. Over 8000 people attended the training over the nine month period, in a mix comprising front line staff through to senior management. A 45 minute piece of forum theatre was shown in three "acts", covering front line, office staff and senior management issues of customer care, collaboration and effective working. After a session where the employees discussed how to resolve the issues, and were shown various "tools" to effect the changes, the piece was shown again, and they were invited to intervene.

The programme served to unite all levels of the council, and there was real, measurable, sustainable cultural change within the organisation. Both the employees and customers of the council have benefited from the programme in terms of customer care and effectiveness, unity and community.

Testimonials

"I cannot emphasise enough how the project has changed the fundamental culture of the council. Because of the nature of the training these changes have been sustained, and are still growing - people are so much happier in their work."

Phil Challoner, department head, Sandwell M.B.C.

“Leaping Deer have produced a fantastic way to add value to training – I look forward to working with them in the future”

Liz Mansfield, independent trainer, MORI.

"Leaping Deer created a genuine and challenging piece of work  which caused great participation and discussion. They were able to incorporate lots of different issues in a creative, humorous and non threatening way which everyone received well."

 Jo Odell, project coordinator, care of older people, Portsmouth NHS trust.

Your energy and enthusiasm was infectious!

Partner, CGM solicitors

 

 

 

enquiries@leapingdeer.co.uk

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