Social skills are among the most important life skills a person can have as they are essential for the formation of meaningful relationships that will enrich everyday life. Improving social skills can be a difficult task, particularly for adults with complex needs. This is where social skills training groups come in.
What are Social Skills Training Groups?
Social skills training groups are run by expert facilitators and are designed to offer participants a wide range of benefits, including enhancing everyday interactions, boosting confidence, and establishing a sense of understanding within a peer group.
If you are looking for care home jobs for learning disabilities in Basingstoke ahead of making your next career move, you are certain to see a significant difference in the social skills of service users you are supporting after they have joined a social skills training group.
What Happens Before Social Skills Training Groups Begin?
Ahead of every social skills training group, participants will be given an initial consultation to ensure that both the facilitators and the wider team understand the needs of each individual. In addition to determining whether the subject and level of the training group are appropriate, this consultation will ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the participant will be equipped with valuable skills and knowledge that will enhance their everyday life once the training group has concluded.
Social Skills Training Groups are Shaped to Suit Participants
To ensure that social skills training never feels overpowering, groups are shaped to suit the needs of the participants. This might mean that complex social skills will be broken down into more manageable, realistic and actionable steps. New ideas and changes will typically be made gradually and in a single area at a time, but the pace can be slowed or increased depending on participants’ needs.
Social Skills Training Groups are Validating for Adults with Complex Needs
Importantly, facilitators of social skills training groups believe that validation is essential to ensuring that participants, particularly those who have complex needs, feel accepted. This means that the inner experiences of the individual will be believed and accepted, which will enhance the outcomes the training group has been designed to deliver. Without this sense of belonging and acceptance, the potential benefits of the group will always remain out of reach for all involved.
Training Groups are Safe Spaces to Rehearse and Reinforce Training Skills
The benefits of social skills training groups are reinforced by their ability to both introduce skills and provide a space for them to be immediately rehearsed. This rehearsal will reinforce the knowledge, thereby delivering an instantly positive social experience that participants will remember. It is important that the complex needs of participants are properly understood to ensure these opportunities for rehearsal will help and not hinder progress.
Explore Care Home Jobs for Learning Disabilities in Basingstoke
If you are looking to take the next step in your career or move into the support work sector, applying for care home jobs for learning disabilities in Basingstoke can be a rewarding step that will allow you to make a tangible difference in the lives of adults in your local community.