The Latest Bulletin

Not sure what the Avenue Professional Development Programme online learning community is all about? Watch this two-minute video to find out. Based on principles of self-directed learning, this programme is geared towards developing reflective practice. It works by bringing together a group of learners who support one another, under Neil’s guidance. Click here to watch the video

‘I couldn’t help it’, ‘I had no choice’ and ‘It wasn’t my fault’ are commonly heard comments, but how often are they actually true? How often are we unaware of the choices we have been making or are actually trying to disguise the fact that what we did was based on a choice (or set of choices) we made? Of course, there will often be situations where we don’t have a choice, where things are beyond our control. For example, if we spill water on our lap, we can’t choose whether or not to get wet (although we could choose to try not to get wet by putting a plastic sheet or equivalent across our lap – if we wanted…

For years, the mantra in public services has been that patient participation and user involvement are key, and that service providers should listen to what their customers want. Here lies the route towards empowerment and cost-effectiveness. A whole literature and new ways of working have developed, and requirements for such involvement are enshrined in law. Over the past 40 years, this movement for participation has led to some profoundly important innovations in policy, practice and research. User involvement in professional education was pioneered in social work, where service user and carer involvement is required at all stages. Students, service users, carers and educators all strongly support such involvement and see it as a key way of improving the culture of practice. Click…

Homelessness can force people into isolation, which affects their ability to share, communicate, and work with others. When a person who is homeless gets involved in football, they build relationships; they become teammates who learn to trust and share. They have a responsibility to attend training sessions and games, to be on time, and to be prepared to participate. They feel that they are part of something larger than themselves. The sense of empowerment that comes from participating in street football helps people who are homeless see that they can change their lives; and our National Partner organisations give them the tools they need to do just that. Click here to read more

Having high levels of emotional intelligence has been linked with improved wellbeing and resilience. With this in mind, L&D teams have an important role to play in developing collective resilience among employees through times of high pressure and disruption.Greater individuality, along with reduced community and social responsibility, mean that the basic human emotional needs required for individual wellbeing are no longer being met. Click here to read more

When Jessie Williams was 30, she went on maternity leave and gave birth to her first baby. But things didn't go as planned. "My baby died during labour," Jessie says. "It was an unexpected event and it happened two weeks after he was due." Instead of having months off to spend with her young son, Jessie found herself returning to work four weeks later. The way her workplace supported her when she came back to work changed her life. Now she helps other workplaces do the same for their employees. Click here to read more

Palgrave have kindly extended the special offer of a 25% discount on the books Neil published with them. It was due to come to an end on December 31st, but has now been extended to January 20th. Click here and use the code THOMPSON25 The Routledge offer of a 20% discount on three of the books he has published with them is still running too. Click the relevant link and use the code FLR40 at the checkout. Applied Sociology www.routledge.com/9781138629707 Social Work Theory and Methods www.routledge.com/9781138629783 Mental Health and Well-being www.routledge.com/9780815394396

I didn’t like to say’ is a comment commonly heard when it emerges that somebody has faced a difficult situation, but preferred not to address it. For example, imagine Person A is stereotyping Person B, but Person B feels uncomfortable about challenging this and therefore chooses to say nothing and accept the negative consequences of being stereotyped. The idea of assertiveness is that an assertive person is someone who tries to achieve win-win outcomes – that is, tries to make sure that each party benefits from the interaction. However, the ‘I didn’t like to say’ approach is actually likely, in many cases at least, to lead to a lose-lose outcome. Consider this possibility. Person A treats Person B in a…