International Working Conference Decision Making and Accountability

23 to 25 October 2015 Casa Emmaus, , VA,

Experiential Group Relation event for Community & Mental Heath Service Workers Methodology: Learning from Action

The idea of these Working Conference originates in the early 2000s from the joint thinking and cooperation between Robert D. Hinshelwood and Enrico Pedriali, who sadly passed away in July 2009. The “Learning from Action” Working Conference draws on the Group Relations model (www. ilnodogroup.it) and aims to help community staff and carers to explore and study the value of their daily activities as a form of communication. The primary task of this working conference is to offer an opportunity to explore how unconscious and non-verbal communication shapes decision making processes and influences accountability and various other aspects of ‘working together’ in this temporary learning community. The experiential learning happens through action and participation within the temporary organisation, through the interaction between individuals and groups. Participants learn directly by sharing their life and forming a Temporary Learning Community for the length of the event, developing fundamental skills for all those who work in residential or semi residential institutions, and more generally in mental health institutions within the public service. Such skills are highly valuable for a wide range of professionals such as educators, nurses, administrators, managers, consultants, psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, neuro- psychologists, social workers, etc. Professionals working in other areas may join the conference too.

The main learning objective of the conference is to enhance the participants’ understanding of conscious and unconscious dynamics affecting decision making processes at an individual and at a group level, along with their organisational and institutional implications. Individual members will have a chance to explore their own role and the way they operate within and on behalf of the whole system (the temporary learning organisation), reflecting on non-verbal and unconscious communication. Consequently they will be encouraged to take responsibility for their contribution whilst taking part in the daily life and relationships within the community.

Members of the conference and staff together will constitute a Temporary Learning Community. A further learning objective of this event is to explore the various dimensions and connections between action, thinking and learning, so that the understanding acquired can then be transferred and applied to different workplaces and practices. The working conference will create an opportunity for a direct experience of the different elements that come into play when making decisions, and will stimulate reflection on what might constitute a democratic practice and an environmentally sustainable use of available resources in a healthy institution. All learning will be experiential and led by action with no formal teaching or lectures.

For all participants there will be an opportunity to share everyday life within the community, becoming involved with organising, sharing, cohabiting and reflecting individually and as a group. The focal themes will be decision making processes and accountability as a way of thinking and as a practice.

This is a residential event and all participants are required to attend for the whole length of the conference. It is highly recommended that participants attend the conference at least twice. Those who attend for the second time will form a Senior sub group within the event and will be offered a personalised programme with specific learning opportunities.The programme for the senior group begins on Friday 23 October 2015 at 10.30 am. In order to facilitate the learning process, it is important that participants read through this brochure carefully.

Accommodation for participants is in shared rooms (min 2 to 3 beds). Participants will be responsible for managing and tidying up their personal space. During the conference groups will form, with the aim of performing real tasks within the temporary community, such as catering, cleaning and tidying of communal areas, organising leisure activities and other activities agreed during the course of the conference.

Like in any other community or institution, participants will witness the emergence of interpersonal dynamics related to cohabiting and sharing, such as giving and delegating responsibility , making decisions, relating to authority and leadership, managing relationships between individuals and within groups, using or wasting resources and many more.

In order to achieve these learning objectives the conference employs a “learning from action” methodology and is organised around a programme with a number of daily events:

• OPENING PLENARY: This meeting provides staff and participants with an opportunity to get to know each other. It represents the formal entry to the Conference and it encourages participants to explore the different meanings of crossing such threshold, both practically and emotionally. • DECISION MAKING PLENARY AND DECISION MAKING GROUPS: This meeting provides staff and participants with an opportunity to get to know each other. It represents the formal entry to the Conference and it encourages participants to explore the different meanings of crossing such threshold, both practically and emotionally. • ACTIVITY GROUPS:These are aimed at reflecting and learning about the different modalities of, and possible struggles with, working together and relating between small/medium groups. • MORNING COMMUNITY MEETING: This plenary meeting represents a place for exploring in the here and now participants’ sense of identity and belonging to the whole Temporary Learning Community through sharing of feelings, emotions, expectations and dreams. • EVENING COMMUNITY MEETING: These plenary meetings aim to explore the tensions manifested in the course of the day activities, during free time and within groups. • REFLECTION MEETING: These particular plenary meetings will be aimed at exploring the tensions which will manifest in the course of the work, during the free time and within the relationships between groups. • REVIEW GROUPS: The purpose of these small groups is to facilitate reflection on the experiences, the learning and the roles that participants may have taken up during the Conference. • APPLICATION GROUPS: These small groups allow members to reflect on the learning that takes place during the Working Conference and on the potential applications of such learning in their workplace. • CLOSING PLENARY: This whole group meeting marks the formal exit from the conference and provides an opportunity to explore the process of ending and separation within the larger group.. • EMERGENCY MEETING: This meeting is called only if necessary in order to discuss and reflect on potential violations of rules or on incidents during the conference. The Director will decide to conveene it if needed. PROGRAMME

FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER 11,45 - 13,00 Welcome and registration (coffee and snack included) 13,15 - 14,15 Opening Plenary 14,15 - 14,40 Break 14,40 - 16,10 Decision Making Event 16,15 - 17,30 Decision Making Groups 17,30 - 19,15 Activities 1 19,30 - 20,30 Evening Community Meeting 20,30 - 21,45 Dinner 21,45-22,30 Community Free Time

SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 08,00 - 09,00 Breakfast 09,00 - 10,00 Morning Community Meeting 10,00 - 10,30 Decision Making Groups 10,30 - 11,00 Break 11,00 - 12,45 Activities 2 12,45 - 14,15 Lunch 14,15 - 14,45 Decision Making Groups 15,00 - 16,30 Review Groups 16,30 - 16,50 Break 16,50 - 17,50 Evening Community Meeting 17,50 - 19,40 Activities 3 19,40 - 21,30 Dinner 21,30 - 22,10 Community Free Time

SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 07,00 - 08,00 Breakfast 08,00 – 08,50 Morning Community Meeting 08,50 - 09,20 Decision Making Groups 09,30 - 10,50 Application Group 1 11,00 - 12,00 Activities 4 12,00 - 13,00 Light Lunch 13,00 - 13,30 Washing up & communal cleaning 13,30 - 14,10 Application Group 2 14,15- 15,10 Final Plenary 15,10 - 15,30 Leave-taking

Staff may chenge the programme according to need and circumstances. Participants would be timely informed of such changes, before or during the conference. People who are going through a period of considerable emotional or psychological stress may not be suitable to attend the conference. STAFF

Director: Luca Mingarelli. Psychologist, Specialist in Psychiatric Rehabilitation, founder and director of therapeutic communities for adolescents, director of the charity “Rosa dei Venti Foundation”, member of the board of directors Il Nodo Group and “Mito & Realta’”, member of OPUS, staff member of GRC ALI since 2006. Founding member of the International Network Democratic Therapeutic Communities. Author of the book “Difficult Adolescents”, Ed. Ananke. 2009..

Associate director and Director of activities: Giada Boldetti. Consultant psychiatrist, Director of the National Health Service Clinic ULSS 16 in Padua. Within this clinic she coordinates 4 in-patients services (therapeutic communities and residential homes) and directs the development of residential rehabilitation pathways. ALI Staff Member since 2010.

Project Administrator: Simona Masnata. Professional Educator, administrator for Professional Educator, administrator working in communities and social cooperatives, organisational and management consultant. She has completed a training in the Group Relations Model and in organisational dynamics at Il Nodo Group and at CESMA. She is a certified ICF coach and a member of the Board of Directors of Il Nodo Group.

CONSULTANTS will be chosen from the following: John Diamond Director of the Mulberry Bush UK. An international expert in Mental Health Communities for children and adolescents, he is the author of several papers and books in this area. Organisational consultant with a Tavistock training, he is an Associate of OPUS and a member of the International Journal of Therapeutic Communities. He has a passion for painting.

Gilad Ovadia Clinical Psychologist and Supervisor, Founder and Director of the Psychological Community Centre Hevel Eilot. Member of OFEK and of the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Giovanni Foresti Consultant Psychiatrist and Visiting Professor at the Scuola di Specializzazione in Psichiatria, University of Milan-Bicocca, Giovanni Foresti works and lives in Pavia. Ordinary member of the Italian Psychoanalytic Society (SPI) and of the International Psychoanalytic Association (IPA), member of IL NODO Group, Turin, and an Associate of OPUS, London. He is also a supervisor and organisational consultant.

Simone Bruschetta Clinical Neuropsychologist, Head CT ‘Calimero Group “Villa Angela, Catania - Head office of Catania, Laboratory of Group Analysis. Representative of the Associazione Italiana Residenze/Risorse per la Salute Mentale in Sicily - Co-founder of the International Network of Democratic Therapeutic Communities (INDTC).

INTERPRETER: Anna Reali Child and Adolescent Therapist, lives and works in the UK, where she leads a team of therapists and mentors based in schools and works as a consultant in the field of mental health and education. She has been a staff member of GRCs and is currently Director of Public Events at OPUS, London. Before completing her clinical training she carried out research and worked as a translator both in Italy and in the UK.

SCIENTIFIC CONSULTANT (not attending the Conference): Robert Hinshelwood. Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst, former director of the Cassel Hospital, London. Member of the British Psychoanalytic Council, fellow member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Professor at the Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex, UK. TIME BOUNDARIES

The International Working Conference will start on Friday 24 October at 13.15 and will end on Sunday 26 October at 15.30. We recommend that participants arrive on time on Friday for registration and allocation of rooms between 11.45 and 12.30. Lunch on Friday is not included. A snack will be available.

FEES

The fee for the conference is €540+IVA for enrolment by the 2nd of October 2015 and €690+IVA for enrolments after the 2nd of October. A few bursaries up to €100 are available to participants upon application. Deadline for application is 16 September 2015.

A 10% discount is available to participants from outside Italy and to affiliated organisations. Registration is now possible through our website www.ilnodogroup.it

HOW TO GET THERE

BY TRAIN From Milan: take the Gallarate-Maccagno or Alpena – Maccagno train, leaving from either Milano Centrale station or Milano Porta Garibaldi station. From Malpensa: take the regional train Tilo (line S30) Malpensa – – Maccagno. From Turin: arrive in Milan and change at either Milano Centrale, Milano Porta Garibaldi or Rho Fiera. Take train to Gallarate-Maccagno as above.

Once you arrive at Maccagno Train Station: Exit on the high street and turn right. After the main supermarket turn right again, walk under the railway bridge, then continue for approx. 100 mt until you find Via Al Giona on your left, then follow directions for Casa Emmaus.

BY CAR From Milan: take A8 motorway (Autostrada dei Laghi) towards Varese and exit at Varese Citta’. Cross the city center and take the “Valganna”road. Exit at Ghirla road and follow directions for Cunardo- Luino. Drive across Luino. Maccagno is 8 Km past Luino. Once in Maccagno cross the bridge, take the first left near the supermarket parking space and then follow directions for Casa Emmaus. From Piemonte: take the motorway A26 towards . Exit at Sesto Calende and take the coastal road in direction Luino Lake. After 8 km you will reach Maccagno. From -Como: take the highway Como-Lugano. Exit at Lugano Nord and follow directions for Lugano Ponte . As you approach the national border with Italy keep to the right and follow the Swiss side of the road towards Fornasette. The road will continue reaching a roundabout (with olive trees) in the proximity of Luino Lake. After entering the roundabout, take the first left towards Maccagno. Those exiting the motorway at Bellinzona need to follow directions for -Malcantone until they reach a major roundabout, where they need to follow the signs for Lago Maggiore-Customs Dirinella. After customs you will find signs directing you towards Maccagno. BY PLANE For those arriving at Malpensa: take the train Malpensa Airport to Maccagno (duration 1h 33’) For those arriving at Linate there are two possibilities: • take the local bus to Milan Central Station and from there the train to Maccagno • alternatively, take the transfer to Malpensa and then the train to Maccagno

MACCAGNO

THE LOCATION

Maccagno is a coastal village on . Due to its location at the estuary of the River Giona, the village is divided in two sections: Maccagno Superiore, North of the river and bordering with Vedasca Valley, and Maccagno Inferiore, South of the river, nested within a natural, sheltered harbour along the coast. CASA EMMAUS

Casa Emmaus is surrounded by a park and a private parking area. It is conveniently located right by the lake shore, within a quiet, green residential area. The structure is formed of 7 independent units. It has a central hub for community activities including a conference hall, a large dining room, a kitchen and a leisure room. USEFUL LINKS

http://www.fondazioneemmausdinocusin.org Casa Emmaus: Via Val Giona, 2 http://www.comune.maccagno.va.it 21010 Maccagno (VA). Tel. 0039 332 560582

THE SPONSORING ORGANIZATION

Il Nodo Group is a consortium formed by a diverse group of professional consultants, sharing a passion for an ethical and democratic approach to studying and working with group and organizational dynamics. Its central mission is to promote scientific cooperation between a variety of professionals in the health and welfare, corporate, education, charity and public administration sectors, in order to foster cross disciplinary competence and skills. Since 1998 Il Nodo Group is the main sponsor and promoter of the annual residential Group Relations Conference “Authority, leadership and innovation” (ALI), in cooperation with the Tavistock institute of Human Relations. We have also promoted this GR event (LfA) and the international GRC ECW(Energy, creative collaboration and well-being in organisations) Its Primary Task is to promote the exploration and understanding of conscious and unconscious relations in individual, groups, institutions and society, as instruments of change and support to the development and well-being.

CONTACT US

www.ilnodogroup.it

Agenzia Mosaico Via San Secondo, 31 - 10128 Torino (Italia) Tel. +39 011 5681238 / +39 011 5684423 Fax + 39 011 505421 e-mail: [email protected] Simona Masnata: [email protected] PARTNERSHIPS

Fondazione Rosa dei venti onlus Laboratorio di Gruppoanalisi www.rosadeiventi.org www.laboratoriogruppoanalisi.com

TCTC (ex ATC) Airsam www.therapeuticcommunities.org www.airsam.it

Mulberry Bush Organization INDTC www.mulberrybush.org.uk www.indtc.org

Mito & Realtà CNCA www.mitoerealta.org www.cnca.it

FENASCOP Thalassa HAZ-Budapest www.fenascop.it www.thalassahaz.hu