Empowering Choice for Rough Sleepers:Appreciative Inquiry and Personalisation

Leo RichardsonRiverside ECHG

Plan for the session

1. What is Appreciative Inquiry?2. Appreciative Inquiry and personal support

budgets - Pilot project at King George’s - July 2011

3. Appreciative Inquiry for staff development of personalised support at Acre Lane (Brixton) - January 2012

What is Appreciative Inquiry (AI)

• Strengths based approach to organisational development: David Cooperrider, 1980s (Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland)• ‘Bottom-up’ not ‘top-down’• Grounded in peoples’ existing strengths• Harnesses positive creativity for the future

Let’s have a go!

• Get into pairs and ask each other the questions below.• When the first person asks the question, they should

allow their partner to respond in as much detail as possible. Use active listening and ask open questions to bring out more detail.• After one person has answered, then swap over.• ‘Tell me a story about a time you achieved something

that you were proud of. What were the stages you went through to achieve this? What made you want to do complete this achievement? How do you feel thinking back on what you did?’

AI at King George’s

• AI was originally introduced at King George’s in early 2010• Whole staff team 2 day session• 2 ½ day residential trip for residents (8) and staff

(5) in June 2010• Follow up work involving regular AI workshops

and incorporation with key working• Stunning results with hard to reach clients

Resident’s vision from first AI residential tripJune 2010

AI and personal support budgets – July 2011• Participating residents signed agreement to

engage with AI and have up to £60 per week for 11 weeks to spend on support.• Support goal must be related to education and

employment, reduction of drug use, or move on.• 8 residents signed up, 5 continued to engage in

the pilot• 1 resident is making use of their personal

support budget

Resident’s vision from latest AI residentialOctober 2011

But……..

• All residents taking part in the pilot have:1. attended training courses2. worked to reduce their drug use3. developed clearer visions for the future4. used AI techniques.

‘Goose Egg’ activity from resident’s personal journalDecember 2011

Conclusions from this pilot

• Personal support budgets are a small part of the picture• The barriers to making use of support are lack of

motivation, self-confidence and a clear way forward• AI is a very useful approach for helping dissolve

these barriers• The principles of AI fit perfectly with

personalisation

AI and personalisation at Acre Lane, Brixton• 2 days, whole staff team (25th and 26th January

2012)• Appreciative conversation focused on staff skills

relating to personalisation• Follow up work is essential

Communication skills brainstorm by Acre Lane staff teamJanuary 2012

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Staff team vision for personalisation at Acre LaneJanuary 2012

Applications of AI to personalisation1. Residential trips for residents and staff2. On-going workshops and coaching for residents

(and staff)3. Whole staff team development – bottom up

approach to personalisation4. Staff and residents: whole system AI summit for

personalisation

Envision a personalised future!Leo.Richardson@Riverside.org.uk