About the course

This is a basic level course with a practical focus, aiming to provide participants with the basic skills and knowledge to begin to work with a client's feeling of ambivalence towards their substance mis-use. It will help workers de-mystify the pre contemplation and contemplation stages of the Procheska and DiClemente Transtheoretical Model of Change, which is widely used in the field of addiction work. Motivational Interviewing as a technique works well in situations where formal counselling is inappropriate or impossible. This course is for Supported Housing staff who work with residents who have concerns with their drug or alcohol use but have not yet made a commitment to change their behaviour.

It is likely that this course will be too basic for specialist addiction workers who will have a thorough understanding of this technique already.

Course Content

• A basic definition of the “Model of Change”
• Motivational interviewing as an intervention”
• The five principles of Motivational Interviewing”
• Helping to build a clients’ self efficacy (motivation to change)”
• Conducting a brief Motivational Interviewing session (Role Play)”
• Evaluation”

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course participants will:

• Know when it is appropriate to use motivational interviewing”
• Be aware of the different stages of the “Model of Change””
• Have a deeper understanding of what motivates people towards change”
• Have a basic toolkit to facilitate movement through the “Model of change””
• Have the confidence to begin working with motivational issues using this technique”

Steve Pepper runs his own private training business specialising in Supported Housing, Health & Safety (including Food Hygiene) and staff development.

Steve is a graduate of the HCIMA and CIPD and a corporate member of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health.

Prior to his current role he spent a number of years as a training centre manager for a national registered charity delivering Apprenticeships, train to gain and working with people who faced significant disadvantages in life. He was also a Support and Resettlement Manager for ECHG in Leeds.

While working for Harrogate Health Care as a Training and Project Manager he gained invaluable experience as a control of infection rep and as taking the lead role on Pest Control Management for the Authority. He is an IRCA accredited ISO9000 series Auditor and has implemented a number of quality systems including PQASSO, ISO 9002, Customer First and various "In House" systems. Steve has recently undertaken a Diploma in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and is working towards being accredited as an NLP Practitioner.