MERTHYR ’ ‘ This is an example of partnership working at its best!
Key Transition Worker from Merthyr Selena Elliott discusses the Methyr Hub Team’s recent annual review success at Greenfield school. One of the big challenges for anyone who organises annual reviews is getting families and the young person themselves to attend and take part. This is before even thinking about making the review person centred. This challenge is one that schools and Real Opportunities know only too well. In fact, prior to the reviews starting this year, Greenfield School thought that to achieve 40% family attendance would be optimistic and 20-30% was more realistic. However, since the multi-disciplinary Key Transition Worker Training that took place in February 2012, Greenfield School had made a commitment to trial out the Helen Sanderson approach to Person Centred Reviews. This would mean that the young person whose review was taking place would be invited to attend and to contribute in a way that was personal, friendly and inclusive. Parents and carers would be welcomed and supported to contribute more fully and discuss all aspects of their child’s life, not just education. An action plan would then be drawn up, in agreement with the young person and their family about what happens next to support the young person’s transition.
fully supported by the school in the reviews and Real Opportunities came away with many new referrals and lots of actions to chase up as a part of the Key Worker’s role.
The difference in family turnout for the reviews was phenomenal, with a 76% parental attendance marked so far, and an expected total of 80% once the last reviews this term take place. Feedback from different agencies has been excellent, with Real Opportunities sweeping praise for efforts in preparing families and supporting them to attend, working in good partnership with the school, and the variety of support offered, including accredited work. Feedback from families has also been excellent, both for the school’s efforts in the new annual review process and for the dedication and provision from Real Opportunities, both in and out of school. Previously, when asked to attend annual reviews, parents often felt as though they were going into school ‘to be told off’. Since the Helen Sanderson reviews have taken place, the responses are very different. Parents have fed back that they now feel listened to, and as if they are included in the decisions about their child’s future. Greenfield School should be very proud The Real Opportunities team took this opportunity that their dedication and hard work has paid off. of change to approach families of participants and meet with them to explain the new process, As a result of the highly positive responses, designing leaflets that highlighted what will Sarah Bowen, Inclusion Manager for Merthyr happen and offering support in a variety of ways. Tydfil, would like to see if this method can be This preparation meeting helped to promote the rolled out to all the schools in Merthyr Tydfil for new style annual reviews, go over any concerns their annual review processes. that they may have, but also to give them the Real Opportunities have played a huge part opportunity to plan ahead so that they didn’t feel in the success of the reviews this year and in overwhelmed or caught off guard by anything that encouraging parental attendance, so well done. may be asked of them at the review. This is an example of partnership working at its The Real Opportunities team supported the best! families during the reviews to express their views by doing things like writing things down, mediating/explaining, and by helping to plan how to get there if needed. The project was 7
By Selena Elliott Transition Key Worker Merthyr Hub Team