Commissioner comments

“Greg has delivered SFBT training to both staff and managers within Touchstone and feedback has always been very good. For this reason, Touchstone commissioned a series of follow up training days to consolidate the learning and test out staff’s practical application of SFBT across services. As a result, our work with service users has become much more positive and colleagues feel more confident about the range of techniques now at their disposal to support vulnerable people in crisis. From a management perspective, it is now the norm to use SFBT within supervision and appraisal and all Touchstone staff report that this has proved enormously beneficial to relationships at work as well as to their personal effectiveness.”
Alison Lowe – Chief Executive
Touchstone Leeds

“Greg’s Solution Focused training course has been very popular with our foster carers. It offers an excellent balance of theory and practice and carers comment that Greg has a good understanding of their role. Other professionals have begun to comment positively on carers using Solution Focused techniques with children and young people. The training has always been well planned and delivered and we will continue to offer this as part of our core training.”
Sheila McKeand – Foster Care Development Officer
Bradford MDC

“Useful Conversations has twice won tenders to provide SBFT training to addiction treatment professionals on our behalf; evaluations have been very positive, as has informal feedback from participants. On this basis, I would have no hesitation in recommending this training to others.”
Davis Turkington – Drugs and Alcohol Co-ordinator
Eastern Drugs and Alcohol Co-ordination Team (N. Ireland)

“The two days were excellent – the planning process was simple and straightforward and truly collaborative. He presents ideas clearly and accessibly, and was obviously skilled at directing the team, ensuring he fitted the material around their interests and experiences. We’ve learned a lot. 1200 quid well spent”
Jon Beech – Co-ordinator Community Development
Touchstone Leeds

“Family Action Bradford worked with Greg for our team day. The pace that Greg enabled was just right in that it gave people time to work well without the rush to complete a bit of a luxury really, particularly when compared to our daily working life. Greg spent time with the team before the day, developing his understanding of our specific needs and thus the day was suited to our particular needs rather than an ‘off the shelf approach). This ‘pre’ awareness’ contributed to the day being a success, provoking lots of thought and awareness and a good dose of fun and laughter thrown in for good measure. The day received positive feedback from those in attendance and as a consequence there in no doubt that we will use Greg for other Family Action Bradford activities and training.”
Simon Jackson – Operational Manager
Family Action Bradford

Quotes from Participants on Training Days

All quotes below are taken the evaluation forms completed by participants at the end of training days provided by Greg over the past four years:

Developing staff skills and knowledge

It helped me develop my listening skills and to see clients have the skills and knowledge to find solutions (Substance Misuse Worker)

Learnt new tools of working and confident of using these tools with some clients
(Mental Health Support Worker)

Workshop really built on skills I use and increased my level of confidence in using these skills.(Substance Misuse Worker)

“I really enjoyed this course. It was brilliant to be able to come on training and leave with a new skill you can look forward to practicing at home. All carers should do it” (Foster Carer)

I feel that following the training I am more confident to utilise this approach more within my clinical area.. (Substance Misuse Worker)

Evoked a lot of other thoughts questions about how I do things – self reflection.
(Substance Misuse Worker)

An interesting outlook on another technique to help with my practice which also throws another light on someone who after 32 years of learning is reaching burnout and cynicism at times. A change can be re-motivated in me. Thank you – a solution not a problem. Eh!
(Substance Misuse Worker)

Content of Course

The content is down to earth and applicable to real life situations
(Mental Health Support Worker)

Enjoyed the activities and practice
(Substance Misuse Worker)

Variety of group work discussion video and PowerPoint. Good use of breaks throughout the day.
(Substance Misuse Worker)

Doing the exercises, putting skills into practice (Mental Health Support Worker)

Realising that we already do some of this as a matter of course. However it has been brilliant to learn more and use this more effectively. (Foster Carer)

Understanding how to use the model in practice and role play / feedback
(Substance Misuse Worker)

Learning how to adapt the questions to different situations (Substance Misuse Worker)

This is the most informative training I have attended recently. The skills / beliefs in these techniques were evident from the trainer’s enthusiasm and ability to engage with the group. Well done! (Mental Health Support Worker)

Trainer skills

I found the trainer to be very helpful and made me feel at ease during the three days which enabled me to learn more. (Substance Misuse Worker)

Trainer constantly recapping – very important (Substance Misuse Worker)

The leader demonstrated experience and commitment to the approach and used lots of examples which were most helpful (Substance Misuse Worker)

Motivating and enthusiastic speaker – evidenced – in passion for subject.
(Substance Misuse Worker)

The presenter was very clear interesting and enthusiastic. He was also a good listener and very approachable. (Substance Misuse Worker)

Trainer was flexible to group needs. (Substance Misuse Worker)

Friendly, relaxed, engaging and professionally delivered. Inspiring trainer who made the training easy to understand and accessible. Was delivered at a comfortable pace.
(Substance Misuse Worker)

Prompts and guidance from trainer and his ability to engage and explain clearly
(Mental Health Support Worker)

Other

Fabulous, so grateful to have had this opportunity. (Substance Misuse Worker)

Rewarding (Mental Health Support Worker)

Thoroughly enjoyed the course Thanks. V. enjoyable and inspiring (Substance Misuse Worker)

Enjoyable, thought provoking and definitely practical. (Substance Misuse Worker)

Well taught. Thanks. (Substance Misuse Worker)

Thank you. It was a worthwhile use of time. (Substance Misuse Worker)

Thoroughly enjoyed three days 3 days training – I feel scaling questions will be very beneficial particularly when managers audit our performance. (Substance Misuse Worker)

Really enjoyed the training. Trainer was energetic and positive and made the information very accessible. Learnt a lot and improved in confidence. Will use my new skills in my daily work and personal life. Would recommend course for anyone. About time we all started to focus on the positives!! (Substance Misuse Worker)

To be made part of basic training for all carers (Foster Carer)

Good for my own mental health and reason to continue working with people(!)
(Mental Health Support Worker)

Best course I’ve been on for a very long time (Foster Carer)

Recommend this course to others (Mental Health Support Worker)