Group Interventions

Group Interventions Karlee Wilson Occupational Therapist Sussex on Quinn Day Therapy Centre April 2008 Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Why run groups? Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Types of groups facilitated • Educational • Illness education, relapse management, Recovery • Skill development • Assertiveness, Anxiety and Depression Management, Anger Management, Relaxation, Problem Solving • Recreational/social • Community Access, pool competition, ‘get thinking’ activities • Arts/crafts • Painting, wood burning, beading, photography • Support Groups • BPD support group Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Overall stages • Determine need for a group • Referrals, discussions with clients • Market the group and recruit appropriate participants • Flyers, emails, phone calls, attendance at team meetings, OT meetings • Generally 4-6 participants • Plan the group • Review resources, develop group proforma, discuss with clients during first group what their needs are • Facilitation • Generally 6-8 weeks • Group Closure • Evaluate the group • Pre and post measures (Goal attainment scale, knowledge questionnaires, BAI, BDI) • Summarise benefits to group participants, recommendations • Document participation • Chart documentation, liaise with Principle Service Providers Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Determine need for the group • Review referral forms and client charts • Liaison with health professionals and NGO’s • Therapist interactions with client • Therapist observation of clients Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Marketing the group • Present proposal for groups at team meetings • Demonstrate the effectiveness of utilising a particular approach • use literature and/or previous group evaluations • Flyers- send to key stakeholders and place at location of group • who, what, where, when, duration • Newsletters • Showcase previous benefits clients have experienced by attending the group Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Recruiting Appropriate Participants • Participants may require a particular intervention, but is a group setting the most appropriate? • Is the client ‘ready’? Is the client willing? • Explain the benefits of attending the group to both referrers and clients • Expected outcomes, feedback from previous participants, effectiveness of utilising a particular approach (ie CBT) • Attend consumer meetings • 1:1 discussion with clients- effective • Liaise with case managers/support workers obtain their assistance in encouraging client participation Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Planning the group • Consider needs of individual participants • Level of functioning, personality traits, assistance required to complete tasks • Consider resources available • Group programmes, literature, evaluation tools, funding, environmental, time • Location of group • Can be limited, will have effect on number of participants • Consider layout of room (circle of chairs is less confronting and more informal) • Length of the group Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Group Proforma • Complete group proforma • Overall aims • Objectives/problems or skills targeted • Facilitator/s • Group process • Target group and reason, optimal number, open/closed, contraindications • Session outlines • Evaluation methods • Documentation • Safety/security issues • Weekly outlines Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Session Outline Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Facilitation • Weekly/ fortnightly sessions • 30-45 minute sessions • Make it relevant to participants • Less is more: participants only retain 25-50% of information presented • Utilise resources • Workbook/ handouts for clients, whiteboard, DVD’s • Manage group dynamics • Assertive vs passive clients • Positive feedback regarding participation and progress • Summarise at end of each session • Encourage participation for length of group • Breaks in the middle of sessions can important • Make it fun and interesting • Snacks Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Group Closure • Review client/group goals and objectives • Feedback/debriefing • Review group content • Certificates to group members • Thank client for their participation • Plan for follow up measures, 4-6 weeks post group Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Evaluating the group • Pre and post evaluation • Goal Attainment Scale • Has the clients goal been met? Is there need for further intervention? • Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory • DASS • Knowledge questionnaires • ‘Before we start’ • amount of client knowledge relating to topic, topics/skills to be covered • ‘Now we have finished’ • Client rates: information gained, how well group met needs, overall group rating • What skills or other things learnt • Anything that still needs improving • Other measures Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Evaluating the group (cont) • Client feedback • Group content • Improvements for future groups • What helped them the most • Benefits of utilising resources • Length of group • Facilitators impressions/reflection • What worked, what didn’t work • What could be improved in future groups Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Documenting the group • Document evaluation results • SOQ utilise proforma • Name • Dates run • Group content based on • Evaluation tools utilised- Observation, pre and post evaluation, pre and post questionnaires, HoNOS, LSP, GAS, Other • Summary of Outcomes from Evaluation used • General feedback from participants • Facilitator impressions/ reflections • Recommendations for future groups • Client chart documentation • Weekly documentation regarding participation, progress • Assessment/screening tools placed in client chart Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Questions? • Thankyou for participating Kindly provided by Occuaptional Therapy - Townsville MHS

Group Interventions