CREATIVE FACILITATION

Check list

WHO AM I WORKING WITH?

How many people will be in the group?

Will this number be constant?

What are the ages of the group members?

Are they more or less the same age?

What are the abilities of the group members?

Is there a common link between members of the group?

Do I know everything I need to know about the members of this group?

WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A LEADER?

In what capacity am I being employed?

What am I expected to do with the group?

Is my job to engage the group directly in creative activities or am I employed to seek actively to change specific behaviours?

If my job is to change specific behaviours, what is the time frame in which I am expected to do this? Is the time frame realistic?

Am I capable of carrying out what has been asked of me?

PRE-SESSION PLANNING

When is the session timetabled? How often do I see the group and for how long each session?

Do the group members know where and when we meet? Do the other professional staff know this information?

What space do you need to work in? Is the space adequate? Running water, chairs, comfortable,

WHO WILL ASSIST

Will I have any assistants? Will they be volunteers or professionals? Do they know the group members? Do they know my way of working? Do they know what my goals are?

PLANNING THE SESSION

Given all the information I now have, how can I best achieve my goals?

What activities will best match my strengths with the perceived needs of the group and their abilities?

How much structure do I need to provide for the group so they can actively engage in these activities?

EQUIPMENT AND ROOM

What equipment will I need? Is this to be provided for me?

Is the room with which I have been provided still going to function for me?

PRIOR TO SESSION

Is all the equipment I need here?

Are all the group members here?

What is the general mood of the group?

Is it in keeping with my plans for this session?

RUNNING THE SESSION

Did I introduce myself? Do the group know why I am here and what we will be doing together? How do they react to this?

Do I know the individuals in this group?

Am I warming up the group for the activities to come?

How are group members responding? Who is outgoing?

INTRODUCTION TO GROUP Am I introducing the activities in a way that people can understand? Am I working at their pace?

Am I providing the right amount of structure to allow the group to be creative?

Am I meeting the individual needs of the group?

PROGRESS IN GROUP

Am I aware of changes occurring in these needs throughout the session?

Am I simply filling the session up with ‘busy time’?

Am I enjoying myself?

How can I end this session on a positive but relaxing note?

AFTER THE SESSION

Does everyone know when the next session will be?

Has everyone got all the possessions that they arrived with?

EVALUATION OF SESSION How did the group respond? To me? To my activity? To other members of the group? Was this expected?

How did I feel about the session? Ca I pinpoint the reason for this?

Did I meet any of my goals this session? Did I identify new goals during the session?

Have I made a written note of my observations and feelings about the session yet?

PLANNING FOR THE NEXT SESSION Am I basically on the right track?

Do I need to change my approach? My material? My medium? Do I need to renegotiate my contract?

Who are the individuals in the group who need special attention? How can I best meet these needs without disturbing other members of the group?

What shall I do next? How can I link it to what we have already done so that it builds on these expectations?

Have I made sure that I have scheduled time for me to have a break between sessions?

REMEMBER

We are all human.

We all have good and bad days. Frustration Elation Failure Success

Helping others to expand their own human horizons is challenging but very worthwhile

END