PARENT PARTNER ORIENTATION TRAINING

PARENT PARTNER ORIENTATION TRAINING

SESSION ONE

�Welcome

Acknowledgement of the traditional custodians of the land

Introductions 1

� Name, one thing people might not know about you

Introductions 2

� Talk to one other person� Find out from them why they would like to do

this job

Program today & tomorrow

� Introduction & overview � Establish how we will work together� Safety & wellbeing�What is peer support anyway?

� Hand out note books and slides �Wall notes:

� Questions /issues for later

� Questions for others

Group Agreement

�What are the things we should agree to do so that we can work well together in the four days but as a team as well

Your role

� Be an active participant� Be in the space� Discuss & ask questions

There are no stupid questions� Share with your colleagues� Practice skills� If you need a break for any reason say so� Group agreement applies whenever we are together

Activity

Think about any learning you have doneWhat made it a better experience ?What were things that made it less helpful?

1. On your own2. With a partner3. Large group debrief

Should we add anything to the Group agreement?

Safety

Safety Statement

� You are here because you have had experiences that mean you can better understand

� You care about others� This makes you more vulnerable

Safety

� Vicarious Trauma – you experience trauma from hearing about other people’s experiences

� Trauma Triggers – eg court, people you knew previously, situations that can make you relive your feelings of trauma

Safety – we are here to look after you

� Lyn – I am the first point of contact� Project management team: Jess, Lou,

Nicola� Each other

Safety

� You have to notice what is going on for you� You need to think about who in your life

helps you manage �We need to all be there for the others in the

team

Activity

� What can you do to protect your wellbeing?� What could other people do to help? Team or others

1. On your own2. With a partner3. Large group debrief

Introduction

� In pairs � Find out three things about one other person� Tell everyone what you have found out

What is peer support?

What is peer support?

�What do you think this would mean ? �What would you have found helpful when

you were in Court?

Other kinds of peer support

� https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeamIZ_KjLU

� Youth peer support� https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSne9iWi6O

Y� https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iDLnAfsT1

w

What is peer support for parents?

�Write down some of the things that might make “good” peer support for parents?

1. On your own2. With a partner3. Large group debrief

What do I need to know to do this well?

Draw a picture of someone who would be a good peer support person

Empathy vs sympathy

� https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw

What will I be doing?

Responsibilities

� Light Touch � Listen to their story and fears - Provide emotional support� Help families navigate through the system(s) � Help family members understand all possible options and

make informed decisions � Promote productive partnerships between parents and

professionals

More Specifically … in Courthouse waiting room

� Greet parents /family waiting to go into the Broadmeadow Children’s Court, explain your role ( there will be some waiting around)

� Provide brochure / business card / information sheets

� If parent would like to talk, provide brief information and emotional support

� Invite parents to the workshops

�Write brief notes on interactions with parents and family you speak to – as a memory prompt for you not as a record for the court

Workshops

� Attend workshops on dates to be agreed �Work with Lyn & other team members to co-

facilitate & provide peer support in workshops. These workshops are to help parents feel more confident when facing the care and protection system

Supervision is part of the job

� Meet with Lyn after each “session” in the Court & after the workshops

� Identify issues, ask questions, be aware, be focused in the job, clarify role, identify problems in the role or resources that might assist parents

� Leave work at work & leave home at home

Group Supervision

�Meet once per month for group supervision with all parent partners and other team members

We are not a collective or a dictatorship

� Lyn is team leader� Team members will take responsibility for and

contribute to decisions

Requirements of UON

� Professionally represent Newcastle Law School and the project at all times through professional conduct, dress and in all communications and in line with the University of Newcastle Code of Conduct and relevant policies on social media and confidentiality pertaining to the project.

Social media 1

Social Media 1 how can we best manage this?

1. On your own2. With a partner3. Large group debrief

Pay

� The University will be paying you after submitting a time sheet

Any questions so far?

INFORMATION HANDOUTS

STEERING COMMITTEE

PROJECT MANAGEMENT Law School University of

Newcastle, Uni of Newcastle, FISH, LWBLou, Jess, Nicola, Lyn

Information workshops for parents PEER SUPPORT IN COURT

Brochure

Children’s Court Magistrate; FACS, Legal Aid, ALS, Disability L.S, Agencies – Samaritans , Family Support, RA,

Mental Health Services….

Law & Justice Foundation funds projectResearch

CommitteeLou, Jess, Nicola

FISH WEB REDESIGN FISH MORNING TEAS

Business card

Rachel Brien from UON approves timesheets

Lyn - Coordinates project supervises

PP

Practice Principles

How we work

� Peer support is voluntary � Peer supporters are hopeful � Peer supporters are open

minded � Peer supporters are

empathetic � Peer supporters are respectful

� Peer supporters facilitate change � Peer supporters are honest and direct � Peer support is mutual and reciprocal � Peer support is equally shared power � Peer support is strengths-focused

Do these all apply to us? Are there others?

1. On your own2. With a partner3. Large group debrief

Ethical Principles

Example of ethics in practice

� Avoid doing harm to others � Honesty - hopeful but honest with parents and colleagues, eg

confidentiality has limits� Transparency- clarity about role, eg you are a peer not a friend, � Reliability - do what you say you will do, don’t make promises

you can’t keep, be at work on time & for the time focus on the work

� Empathy - Listen to others’ stories without judgement

� Self-Care – be proactive in taking care of yourself� Confidentiality – respect confidentiality � Report any concerns that someone might be at risk of harm to

project coordinator immediately� Report any conflict of Interest issues immediately eg you know

parents from previous interactions – ask the other parent partner to meet with them

� Avoid being involved in drama or conflict – leave the space, protect yourself, call Lyn

You are a mandatory reporter

� By law you need to report risk of significant harm – discuss with Lyn as the first step

� This includes parents you meet, or a parent partner (or other colleague)

Confidentiality

What should be our rules ?

1. On your own2. With a partner3. Large group debrief

Confidentiality

� Do not discuss any of the conversations with parents, other peers or anything that happens in the Court. with anyone apart from project team staff, unless otherwise directed

� Do not post on Social Media any information or photos from the project, or about any family you meet from the project

� Do not voice record conversations with parents � Keep any written records secure� Do not provide parents or family you meet at the Court or in the

workshops with your personal phone number or contact details. Use the project email as primary way parents can contact you.

Social Media 2

� You are now a UoN employee� Social media represents who you are to the

rest of the world� Email from & to the Uni is monitored

Ending on a high note!

�What was the most helpful part of today?�What would you like to discuss some more?� Read your notes – think up some questions –

write them down!