The approach we take to facilitation is person-centred. Being person-centred for us means having mutual respect, dignity, care and compassion. It is about seeking ways to include everyone, encourage participation and to collaborate. It has the goal of helping others, as well as themselves as facilitators, be the best they can be. Person-centred facilitators are constantly learning – about themselves, the process of facilitation, those they are working with, as well as the enablers and barriers that exist within the context.
We drawn on the Critical Ally Model by Hardiman and Dewing (2019)*. The model emphasises the importance of relationships. Critical Allies ‘host safe spaces’ individuals and groups so they can engage in an ongoing trusting and supportive relationship and feel brave. The purpose of such relationships is learning. Person-centred facilitators therefore walk alongside individuals and groups, – to ‘be with’, rather than ‘to do to’ or ‘do for’ others.
*Hardiman, M. and Dewing, J. (2019). Using two models of workplace facilitation to create conditions for development of a person-centred culture: A participatory action research study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28, 15-16, 2717-3041 Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jocn.14897
The following pages contain resources that we might use to co-create safe spaces and would use collaboration, inclusion and participation (CIP) principles. We encourage you to give them a go to help groups/teams you are working with create collective caring cultures.