Circle of Adults - Supporting staff in problem-solving around challenging behaviour
The Circles of Adults approach utilises a structured form of colleague support to mobilise adult thinking about problem behaviour and to arrive at agreed strategies.
Circle of Adults sessions encourage consistent staff responses and a team approach to managing challenging behaviour.
A typical session includes:
- Setting ground rules
- Initial case presentation
- Building a rich, descriptive picture of the child’s needs and circumstances
- Developing empathetic thinking
- Reflecting on relationships
- Looking at the child’s context
- Exploring hypotheses
- Agreeing strategies
- A visual record of the session
Sessions last for 90 minutes and require a minimum of six and a maximum of 12 staff members, including the case presenter.
Circle of Adults sessions can be used:
- For single consultations for individual children with challenging behaviour
- To create a forum for multiagency discussion and problem solving
- As continuing professional development for those working with difficult and challenging youngsters (when delivered as a series of sessions)
Further follow-up and training can be offered so that staff can facilitate their own sessions.
Comments from previous evaluations include the following:
"Excellent session – liked the framework"
"Good to get staff together to talk"
"Enabled me to feel positive about this child"
"Total relief to sit and talk about this child"
"Brilliant – getting staff to agree and adhere to strategies"