International Working Conference Decision Making and Accountability
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International Working Conference Decision Making and Accountability 23 to 25 October 2015 Casa Emmaus, Maccagno, VA, Italy 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.