Trainer Handbook

STEP 5: FIELD PRACTICES

STEP 5: Exploring Shared Field Practices - “A Day on My Shift”

Note to the trainer: This step has two aims: to enable participants to learn from one another's experience and to convey the message ‘You already know a great deal; this programme will organise that knowledge’. Do not underestimate the wisdom of field practice; connect it with the theoretical framework.

Method: Sharing ideas.

Materials: Whiteboard.

Implementation steps:

Question: The trainer divides the participants into small groups of three or four and asks: “A child in the institution suddenly has an anger outburst - shouting and throwing objects. What do you instinctively do at that moment? Discuss this in your group for three minutes. If you have a method that works in practice, share it.”

Large-group sharing: A representative from each group presents its findings. The trainer writes good examples on the board and notes the principles on which they are based (for example, ‘leaving physical distance’ → personal space; ‘speaking quietly’ → co-regulation). The trainer continues:

“As you can see, you already do many things correctly on an intuitive level. The purpose of this programme is to place that intuition within a framework - to understand why it works - so that you can apply it consistently and consciously.”