workforce
and that had a huge impact . From a research point of view , the outcome and the impact the icebreaker had was quite humbling for me . I learnt a great deal from that aspect .
The participants developed relationships with each other in ways that they hadn ’ t developed before through just working with each other day to day . That solid relationship created the trust for them then to really be able to explore the issues that they wanted to in more depth .
We got tremendous feedback from the icebreaker activity and also from the action learning . People said to us : “ You ’ re not coming in here telling us what to do , we ’ re working this out together .”
A lot of the activities that people identified that they wanted to do to improve quality of life for residents was things that they ’ d had in their mind that they wanted to do before but probably hadn ’ t had the reflective space and the support from each other to actually put it into action .
For some people , it took a bit of getting used to because action learning comes with a framework , a set of rules and that idea of positive questioning . The group themselves have to learn how to reframe and ask questions of their colleagues , rather than telling their colleagues that something won ’ t work . They actually use a question to help that colleague unpick the activity , refine it and improve it .
What impact do you believe the program had or will have on the care provided in the homes that took part in the project ? One of the most important things is maintaining momentum . The recommendation following the three workshops that we had in each of the nursing homes was that there then needed to be an ongoing program of action learning over a 12-month period . We needed to move on to leadership development in order to sustain and maintain the program . For lots of reasons , that didn ’ t occur . Often organisations go under restructures and those sorts of things . [ So ] there ’ s work to be done [ around ] maintaining momentum . That then requires leadership and champions of the appreciative inquiry and the action learning approach .
The feedback I got at the time when the research was conducted [ included stories about instances ] where there was significant impact on residents , particularly residents who had dementia , who had life memory boxes developed for them , life books . One of the organisations made some significant changes in the dining room in how residents have their meals . It was reported anecdotally that some people stayed at the meal table longer and that their food intake improved .
Obviously you can ’ t take a quantum leap from the evaluation we did of this program . Further research is needed [ looking at ] specific quality of life . We need to look at that in a different way and also interview residents if you ’ re then making claims about improving quality of life . But I think we definitely enhanced the lives of residents and helped staff think differently about their work .
What do you hope stems from this project ? Any sort of program that develops relationships that support staff to develop meaningful relationships with residents and family and any program that uses an appreciative inquiry approach . The aged-care environment is really tough . I think health professionals work extremely hard under really difficult circumstances . I don ’ t think it ’ s at all helpful when there ’ s the constant criticism of being told you ’ re not doing things well enough or properly – appreciative inquiry provides that opportunity to value-add and build on good work that ’ s already being done .
Any form of workshop or nurturing of staff that values what they do , supports them to develop individual relationships with residents , to spend time with residents , that challenge some of the traditional institutional practices that often are built up in nursing homes through the necessity of running them , and any program that facilitates people to think differently is worthwhile .
Appreciative inquiry and certainly then an action learning framework helps that . ■
For more information email : w . penney @ outlook . com
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