Quantum LEAP Enable Ireland New Directions Learning

Quantum LEAP – Enable Ireland New Directions Learning Event, Tullamore Court Hotel, May 18 th 2016.

Enable Ireland Adult Services Limerick offers a range of services to over 40 adults significant physical disability and or dual disability. These services include transport, personal development, independent living skills, rehabilitative training programmes, social and leisure activities as well as clinical and therapy supports. As an organisation our priorities are to enhance the quality of life of service users using a person centred approach and to support those using our service to achieve maximum independence within their communities.

Context to Development of Project Completion of 3 year RT programme by 10 adult service users. Challenge as what their expectations of an ongoing service might be and how it could support their own personal development. Through PCP process we found individuals had difficulty with: Self-determination and decision making Self Awareness Motivation and Creativity Explored Life Coaching as a way of addressing these difficulties

Profile of Adults Age Range 25 -45 Disability Primary Physical Disability Education All attended special schools RT Programme All completed 3 year LEAP in Limerick Centre. All participants had completed at least 2 level 3 FETAC modules. Living arrangement 9 living at home with parents 1 in community house with another provider Support needs All required assistance with activities of daily living Mobility and Transport needs All required access to adapted transport and PA support to access local community

Staff Profile Total number of staff 6 Part time WTE: 2. 5 Educational Background Education/Teaching (4) Care Assistance (2)

Overall Change brought about Development of Programme: Quantum LEAP follow-on programme upon completion of the LEAP Rehabilitative Training Programme Transition from group setting to individualised programme Promote planning and decision making Determine own goals Tailor to individual needs Personalise support Introduction of Life Coaching and Enneagram Personality System

Practical Steps Taken Consulted with Staff to explore ways to support service users in this transition Training needs Resources: transport, staffing requirements Consulted with Service Users and Staff jointly Regular meetings Devised Quantum Leap Programme together – Mission statement and objectives Incorporated Individualised Plan with 10 hours per week PA support Conducted and evaluated a Trial week Consulted with Service users individually Set goals Development of individualised plan Information night for parents/carers

Practical Steps Taken Evaluated PCP Achievement of Goals Results indicated difficulties in achieving goals Procrastination, Lack of initiative, difficulty in making decisions Explored Life Coaching as a way of addressing these difficulties Upskilled Staff in Life Coaching Introduced the Enneagram Personality System within the Life Coaching Process All participants and staff completed Enneagram Workshop day

Upskilling of Staff: On-line Course with CMIT e. Learning course with Tutor support accredited by ABC Awards (English QQI Level 5 Equivalent) 12 months to complete at student’s own pace and can start at any time of year (Average completion time 6 -9 months) Course fee € 395 and possible special offers with more than one enrolment Assessment through tutor marked assignments – No Exam 5 Assignments each taking an average of 10 hours Each assignment consists of 5 to 10 Short answer questions 6 Staff members enrolled in the course Offered TOIL for study days Supported each other to complete course

Challenges with changing staff roles Lone working Life coaching can bring up uncomfortable “home truths” Can leave staff open to complaints SU can bring up serious/challenging issues Upskilling in Life Coaching, Enneagram

How we overcame challenges Lone Working Protocol for lone working Supervision Life Coaching/home truths Solid team structure to allow debriefing Peer support Upskilled Staff Enrolled in the same Life Coaching course and offered each other support Held Training workshops/ Enneagram

On-going Challenges Numbers have increased since programme began Increase from 10 to currently 20 Service users Majority of staff out daily on a 1 -to-1/Life Coaching day Low staff numbers back in centre for larger number of service users Service users need to learn to organise “down-time” with meaningful activity to avoid boredom Transport Huge challenge as little or no public transport available Busses to be back for return home Bus not always available for individual use Individuals stopped asking to do things outside of normal hours

What changes mean for service users Service is tailored to their needs Increased: Satisfaction/More fulfilled Autonomy, Self-determination, Awareness and personal development Locus of control Relationship between Life Coach and Service User Builds trust and confidence Stable go-to person throughout the week

What Changes mean for the Service Provider Practical response to individual need Upskilled Workforce comfortable of working in one to one situations Supportive team structure

Principles of Life Coaching Creating a partnership between a life coach and an individual that is built on honesty, respect and trust in an open and safe environment Discovering what they want, what motivates them Committing to set personal, realistic goals, design action plans and find their own solutions. Discovering what is blocking them from achieving their full potential, overcoming these blockages and moving forward to a more successful, well-rounded and fulfilling life. Converting dream into reality and taking full control over their life and their happiness.

Outcomes of Life Coaching is designed to: Create a harmonious balance in a person’s life now and in the future without dwelling on the past Stimulate new thinking Challenge existing thinking and remove any blockages Clarify ambitions Identify existing strengths and build on these Motivate individual to find their own solutions.

How we Incorporated Life Coaching Signed “Life Coaching Agreement” with Each service user allocated 1 day per week to work with their Life Coach to set agenda, discuss goals, carry out action plans Service user has control of the LC day and any decisions to be made about their service Flexibility with time and place according to plans i. e. collect later from home to go out in evening as an attempt to dissolve centre “walls” and respond more to individual needs and wishes. Discovered the tool of the Enneagram Personality Test through the LC course and introduced same into the Programme.

Enneagram Personality Test Identifies 9 distinct ways of thinking, feeling and behaving and explains the underlying motivation for patterns of behaviour. Helps individuals to develop greater self-awareness, selfacceptance and to take personal responsibility for their behaviour Provides specific development paths and activities for each personality style

Resources www. cmit. ie The Life Coaching Handbook: Everything You Need to be an Effective Life Coach by Curly Martin (Crown House 2001). Life Coaching for Dummies by Jeni Mumford (John Wiley & Sons, 2007). Life Coaching: A Cognitive-Behavioural Approach by Michael Neenan and Windy Dryden (Routledge, 2002). The Essential Enneagram: The Definitive Personality Test and Self-Discovery Guide by David N. Daniels and Virginia A. Price (Harper. One, 2009). The Enneagram Made Easy: Discover the 9 Types of People by Renee Baron and Elizabeth Wagele (Harper. One, 1999). Bringing out the best in everyone You Coach: Use the Enneagram System for Exceptional Results by Ginger Lapid-Bogda (Mc. Graw-Hill, 2010). The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine personality Types by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson (Bantam, 1999).