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“Where there are people, there will be problems, but there will also be potential” is a key part of Neil’s work. And that is precisely what this manual is all about – equipping practitioners from various professional disciplines to help people address their problems and realise their potential. Part One provides an extended essay on the nature and significance of problem solving to lay solid foundations of understanding. Part Two then offers guidance on using 101 problem-solving tools that can be used in a wide variety of circumstances.

Available from https://neilthompson.info/shop/ or Amazon

It’s all about people: visit Neil Thompson’s humansolutions website

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From time to time we find ourselves in situations where we are finding it difficult to comprehend what has happened – times of loss, crisis or sudden change, for example. It is as if our head knows, but our heart hasn’t caught up, and so ‘it doesn’t seem real’ can be a thought that runs through our mind. This is a perfectly normal phenomenon and nothing to be concerned about in itself. However, we need to be wary of two potential problems. One is that, when we find ourselves in such a situation, we may make decisions that we later regret because we have been destabilized by the change that has occurred. For example, some people can respond quite rashly in situations where they are confused about what is happening. Second, if we are trying to help somebody who is in a ‘heart hasn’t caught up with head’ situation, we have to bear in mind that they may not be taking on board what we are saying to them because of the sense of emotional shock they are experiencing. We therefore have to choose our moments carefully in interacting with someone in such circumstances.

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A Career in Social Work: Part biography, part overview of social work careers

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With over 20 years of experience in workplace inclusion, we know that when lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) employees feel safe and valued at work, it transforms the workplace culture to make it a more welcoming, diverse and inclusive space for everyone.

Join the thousands of employers – both large and small, local and global – who have benefitted from our Diversity Champions programme, which gives employers the confidence and tools they need to meet the needs of today’s diverse workforce and empower LGBTQ+ employees to thrive. Join today and transform your workplace culture into one that can attract, retain and nurture the top LGBTQ+ employees.

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The Authentic Leader A new approach to leadership in Neil’s important book.

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Through the passionate efforts of a great many people in the Neurodiversity Hub community of practice, some fabulous resources have been assembled that we hope will go a long way in assisting students and young adults get through their university and college studies, obtain a job and start a career. There are resources for autistic students and young adults, parents and carers, employers, university staff, aspiring entrepreneurs, architects & building designers and senior secondary school students.

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LinkedIn: Connect online & join Neil Thompson’s HUMANSOLUTIONS discussion group

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There are 14 million Disabled people in the UK, and we make up a fifth of the population. We are not a homogenous group: we have different impairments, are different genders, sexual orientations, come from different backgrounds, and live different lives.

​Some of us experience greater injustice, but we have many things in common. We all want to live in an inclusive society where everyone has a fulfilling life and feels connected and valued. We know our lives are not valued equally to others, we experience discrimination and oppression in our daily lives and disabling societal barriers to our inclusion and full participation.

​Disabled people have been the hardest hit by austerity, the COVID pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis. Evidence shows that we are disproportionately living in poverty, achieving poorer outcomes in education and far more likely to be unemployed or earn less. Many of us are forced to live away from society, our communities and families in order to get support or education. Societal infrastructure, such as housing, transport and street environment, consistently fail to meet our needs.

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A fresh look at social work theory and methods

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Connect with Neil online

If you’re a social worker come join us in the Social Work Focus Facebook group!

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Have you joined the Neil Thompson Academy yet?. There you will find information about Neil’s books, e-learning provision and his other services. Membership is free and gives access to a growing number of free learning resources. Don’t miss out, sign up today at www.NeilThompson.info.

Effective Teamwork: The importance of working together

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Communication goes awry quite regularly, which is not surprising when you think about how much of it we do in any given day. One common way in which communication breaks down is when what is said (or written) does not cover both topic and comment. The topic is what we are talking about and the comment is what we are saying about it. They can be articulated separately (‘You know that book on stress I lent you? [topic] I will need it back if that’s OK [comment]’) or together (‘Can you please let me have back that book on stress I lent you?’). Either is fine when both topic and comment are covered, but often, there is a topic identified, but it is not clear what the comment is (‘You’ve got my book on stress, haven’t you?’). Is this simply a comment to check that the book is still in their possession or is it an indirect request for it to be returned? It is not clear. Similarly, effective communication can be undermined by making a comment without specifying the topic – something that commonly evokes a response along the lines of: ‘Sorry, I’m not clear what you’re referring to?’ or ‘Sorry, I’m not with you’. What can be much worse, though, is when the topic is not specified and the person listening makes a false assumption about what the topic is – and then we have a recipe for major misunderstanding and miscommunication. So, it pays to make sure that we are always clear in communicating both topic and comment.

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Learn with Neil Thompson: Sign up to Neil’s YouTube channel

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More than 7 million people of working age in the UK has a disability or long-term health condition. The need for disability workforce reporting has been increasingly debated by employers and policy-makers. While there is no mandatory requirement to do so currently, is there a business and moral case to drive support for voluntary reporting of workforce disability data?

For organisations, publishing disability workforce information would signal a commitment to fairness, equality and human rights that would boost a business’s external reputation. By demonstrating that you value diversity, it would also boost attraction, helping employers to tap into a wider pool of talent and skills that could culminate in performance and productivity gains.

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How to Do Social Work: A basic guide from one of social work’s leading authors

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Local or organic? Hybrid or electric? Paper or plastic or neither? Nearly all decisions today affect the environment, and figuring out which choices matter most often feels impossible. That’s why we made Treehugger, the only modern sustainability site that offers advice, clarity, and inspiration for both the eco-savvy and the green-living novice. With 2.6 million monthly users, Treehugger is one of the world’s largest information sites dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream.

Staying informed and making smart choices is critical during this time of environmental change and opportunity. But our nearly 20-year-strong library of sustainability content is here to help. Our articles can give you the confidence to purchase a better dishwasher, build a green beauty routine, or simply learn more about the world around you. We don’t care if you’re just starting to BYO bags or have been composting for decades, welcome to Treehugger. Sustainability for all.

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Facebook: Connect with Neil Thompson on Facebook

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