In this article, we look at the work MacIntyre’s Inspired for Training (i4t) group in Derbyshire have been doing with Ashgate Hospice.
Productive partnerships
MacIntyre i4t is a group of people who have a learning disability and deliver training. We’ve worked with organisations including the National Trust, Derbyshire County Council and the NHS. We’ve spoken to volunteers, social workers, therapists, learning disability nurses and many more.
Ashgate Hospice
Recently, we’ve worked with our local hospice, Ashgate Hospice. This followed an introduction by MacIntyre’s Dying to Talk project to their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Liz Allam.
Putting people at ease
Liz came to see the i4t to talk about the hospice. There was a certain amount of nervousness from some of the group, as with many people the word hospice is associated with death. Liz was soon able to put the whole group at ease as she explained some of the things the hospice do, apart from look after dying people.
Understanding what a hospice can do
It is important to the hospice that people with a learning disability are able to use the services they offer. But they realise that few do, and this needs to change. This is where i4t come in!
Liz wanted to know how much people were aware of the hospice’s work.
Did we know that they have a team of community nurses who visit people in their homes? Did we know they offer a day service, giving people who need their support an opportunity to drop in for a cuppa and get involved in things such as arts and crafts?
Liz wanted to work with us to get these messages across in ways that people with learning disabilities can understand.
A Great Interactions™ workshop
The first thing we did was invite hospice staff to a Great Interactions workshop. Because of the pandemic, it had been more than two years since we’d delivered a workshop. We had a bit of stage fright! But we couldn’t have asked for a better return! The people that came along were fun, interested and understanding.
We explained the Great Interactions concept. We covered how we use our own words and pictures so that the group understood what makes a Great Interaction.
Then we introduced them to our gigantic Snakes and Ladders game and pairs game. All these have been devised and made by group members so as to be able to deliver the workshops properly in a way they can understand.
Learning lessons
This was an important lesson for the people from Ashgate Hospice, as it taught them that medical jargon isn’t often isn’t the best way to explain things to someone with a learning disability.
Some emotional feedback
The i4t team always ask for feedback on our workshops and we’ve had some lovely comments over the years.
This workshop was no different. One of the people who attended is a nurse. She has a young daughter who has Downs Syndrome. She said
My heart is filled with hope for my little girl to know that there is a future for her with organisations like MacIntyre out there. All I ever read or hear is negative so this has been amazing, so positive.
Such a wonderful day, and an excellent example of what can happen with true co-production.
