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Support to other organisations

Peer support has a unique and valuable role to play in achieving outcomes for parents, babies, families and communities but they need to be designed and implemented to succeed.

We offer a range of workshops, resources and support packages to help you to achieve this:

  • How to best use perinatal peer support;
  • How to make it sustainable;
  • How to design and implement it.

We aim to deliver these packages flexibly ensuring they are bespoke to each local context and building on existing strengths and expertise.

We would be happy to talk in more detail about what you need and develop a bespoke costed package of support for your area. 

The volunteer coordinator post is pivotal. Relational capability is a vital key thread throughout all aspects of programme delivery.

Who for:

Volunteer coordinators, development workers and trainers; and professionals who are working in partnership with the programme.

N.B. This workshop is appropriate if a programme is about to be launched or already being delivered.

Numbers:

Up to 15 participants.

Delivery method:

Facilitator-led workshop (presentation/questions/course handbook/discussion/small group work).

How long:

2 full days.

Content:

  • Emotional intelligence/spirit of motivational interviewing/overcoming resistance from professionals/appreciative feedback;
  • Supervision model;
  • Skills practice: interviewing a potential volunteer; supervising a volunteer; gaining professional buy-in; 
  • Links with the Investing in Volunteers accreditation process;
  • Quality processes that nurture development of effective peer support skills. 

Into the A Better Start volunteering evidence review and accompanying implementation framework.

Who for:

Heads of service (maternity, health visiting, early years), commissioners, providers (local networks).

Numbers:

Up to 50 participants.

Delivery method:

Facilitator-led workshop (presentation/questions/discussion/small group work) with expert input.

How long:

Half or full day.

Content:

  • A summary of the key findings of the review (including background, rationale and highlights);
  • Focus on the models and roles of volunteers;
  • Insights on how volunteering in pregnancy, birth and beyond can reduce local pressures on the system (the evidence);
  • Practical application using the accompanying framework and implications for your local area.

How to commission successful volunteer programmes.

For who:

Service leads, commissioners, providers and other stakeholders.

Numbers:

Up to 20 participants.

Delivery method:

Facilitator-led workshop (presentation/questions/discussion/small group work) with expert input.

How long:

Half or full day.

Content:

  • Exploring the potential of peer support to enable parents/children that would most benefit from identified services to access them better.

Post workshop:

Document summarising key reflections and agreed outcomes.

Volunteering as part of local maternity (Better Birth) and Healthy Child programme strategies.

Who for:

Commissioners, transformation leads, heads of service.

Numbers:

Dependent on requirement.

Delivery method:

Remote and face-to-face taking a co-production approach (methods agreed locally).

How long:

Allocated according to requirements.

Contents:

Critical friend support that will guide senior leaders on how to integrate volunteering into local plans through:

  • Developing an understanding of the benefits (to all stakeholders) through existing meetings and networks;
  • Articulating the relevance to NHS indicators/targets around breastfeeding, child outcomes etc;
  • Creating a local volunteering implementation plan (based on key components derived from evidence of what works);
  • Training for key staff.

Supporting high-quality implementation and adaption. Highly recommended.

Who for:

Local decision makers, commissioners, planners, providers and beneficiaries.

Numbers: 

Variable by session/support (for full stakeholder workshops up to 50).

Delivery method:

Combination of action learning, facilitated workshops and remote support.

How long:

9 months to 1 year.

Content:

Designing, adapting and implementing a volunteer programme (drawing on implementation science).

  • Stakeholder engagement and local ownership from the outset;
  • Alignment of the volunteer programme objectives with the local context, goals and priorities;
  • Step-by-step approach including building consensus around direction and reviewing fit with local strategy;
  • Reviewing the Theory of Change that underpins the volunteer programme;
  • Development of a Logic Model and Implementation Plan for delivery;
  • An academic/evidence into practice approach - modeling the process.

Full description available upon request.

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