my Life Sessions

Led by skilled facilitators, my Life sessions provide group learning opportunities to help explore how learning can be used towards better self management during and beyond the programme.

Each interactive session lasts 2.5 hours, with breaks and hand-outs. Carers or support workers are welcome to attend the registration session. Venues are selected for their accessibility and links to the community, i.e a local community centre, library, health facility etc.

Registration

In this session all participants get the opportunity to introduce themselves, acquaint themselves with the venue and facilities. They say a little about themselves. The content of future programmes is introduced, and the team supporting them as through coaching or peer mentoring. This, along with some self-determined ‘ground rules’ sets the scene for the rest of the programme.

1 - Taking Control

This session explores the wider aspects of participant’s health, well being and quality of life. The session explores:

• ways of taking control
• how people change
• using positive emotions
• developing happiness strategies
• using our strengths
• social networks

2 - Independent living – Using Technology

This session explores how people can choose and use digital technology and equipment to help self-manage, stay and feel safe in everyday activities at home and whilst out and about. Detail is directed towards the needs and experiences of group members, for example use of mobile phones and computers or domestic aids to living and mobility in the home.

3 - Through the Maze

This session helps people to better understand how to approach adult social care services when needed. We explore eligibility criteria and the assessment process. Personalised budgets (direct payments) and NHS personal budgets are discussed too.

4 - Getting Involved

In this session we explore what getting involved means, including volunteering and employability with the social, physical and mental health benefits that can be gained. Working in groups, terminology is explored as well as online search facilities for local volunteering opportunities. Local guest speakers make real the support available from their organisations including signposting to further opportunities.

Research Week. This week provides the opportunity for participants to seek out activities in their own neighbourhood. They are free to do this individually or together, bringing their findings to session 5.

5 - My Place

Building on the research week where participants explore their local community for activities and opportunities that maybe of wider benefit to themselves or other group members. This session brings together facts and learning around ‘where I live and what’s going on ?’ It forms an invaluable launch pad to their activity post programme.

6 - Follow Ups

There is great value for participants in meeting up again. We facilitate this one month post programme. The benefits of this include:

• incentive to maintain participant activity and goal achievement post programme
• further social opportunity and networking
• time to reflect on the programme and share back their feelings
• demonstration of the sustainability of the outcomes of the programme

7 - Evaluation

Our evaluation reports to Commissioners (coming soon)

We take our evaluations very seriously and are committed to continuous improvement. Learning from past programmes to improve future ones is central to our organisational approach and can be summarised as:

In addition, evaluation is part of our Quality Framework which is based on the QISMET standards for self-management