In today’s post Karen Pigott, from programme partner Dorset Advocacy and Dorset Macmillan Advocacy, tells us about some recent training delivered after a range of delivery partners identified a need for support on complex case work:
On the 16th and 17th February 15 brave souls from a variety of projects across the country attended Complex Case Training in London. The training was commissioned by OPAAL for the Cancer, Older People and Advocacy programme and designed by Jenny Purcell from Dorset Advocacy and delivered by her and myself.
This was the first time the training was delivered so a big ‘thanks‘ to the participants for their suggestions and patience as we tweaked some timings and content to accommodate everyone’s needs.
There was a good mixture of volunteer peer advocates and paid staff with a range of experience which really added to the dynamics and depth of the two days. The importance of being able to share ongoing complex and challenging issues in a supportive environment with a problem solving approach cannot be underestimated.
At the end of the course all but one participant scored themselves as having increased confidence in approaching complex case work.
Every participant received a ‘Tool kit for Complex Case Training’ to enable them to cascade it through their own organisation.
It was an intense two days but hopefully everyone is confidently applying everything they learnt and shared in whatever situation they find themselves in!
Karen Pigott, Macmillan Project Coordinator, Dorset Advocacy
Older People Living with Cancer 