Category Archives: Podcast Interviews

A Strengths Approach, Person-centred working, Podcast Episodes, Podcast Interviews

Podcast Episode 023: Wanda Rusiecki Interview Part 2

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TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2In this second part of the interview Wanda Rusiecki talks about the work she does as a case manager with specific service users, ‘getting on the healthy side’ and supporting people to exercise more control over their own lives. She recognises the real reasons behind the cynacism and mistrust that some people come with, and how the focus on the conversation and humble listening helps to create a different experience of services for many people.

The issue of ‘time’ is discussed; it is the service user’s time, so we need to ask how they want to make best use of it, rather than succumbing only to systems needs that serve more bureaucratic requirements. Helping people to search for satisfaction also brings greater satisfaction in the work for practitioners.

Wanda also reflects on working alongside the criminal justice system through court order treatment, the importance of integrating mental and physical health care to be truly holistic, and the role for peer services employing service users to tap into their experience and talents.

For the full content of this episode click on the links to iTunes and Sound Cloud (or go to Stitcher Radio):

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/023-wanda-rusiecki-interview/id867043694?i=318839498&mt=2

https://soundcloud.com/stevemorgan57/023-wanda-rusiecki-interview

A Strengths Approach, Podcast Episodes, Podcast Interviews

Podcast Episode 022: Wanda Rusiecki Interview Part 1

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TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2Wanda Rusiecki has been working in ‘intensive case management’ services in New York State for 25 years, supporting some of the most vulnerable people experiencing mental health problems within the state system. Wanda describes her experiences working intensively with small caseloads of people with very complex problems, who require a stronger degree of linking and co-ordinating of services as well as more creative ways of engaging trusting working relationships.

Wanda’s reflections pick up on her value base that emerged from childhood as a theme for connecting with those who present as different. She identifies the importance of ‘strengths’ in her own approach of developing the conversation and listening more through ‘looking for the healthy side of people’. Wanda identifies the characteristics of what makes for a good case manager and what has sustained her to stay in this line of work for the long-term, as well as the challenges that the ‘system’ presents when trying to deliver best practice. The true meaning of ‘recovery’ is identified through eliciting each individual to tell their own story and identify their own priorities.

To hear the full content of this episode click on the links to iTunes and Sound Cloud (or go to Stitcher Radio):

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/022-wanda-rusiecki-interview/id867043694?i=318296261&mt=2

https://soundcloud.com/stevemorgan57/022-wanda-rusiecki-interview

A Strengths Approach, Person-centred working, Podcast Episodes, Podcast Interviews

Podcast Episode 018: Sue Jugon Interview Part 2

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TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2Sue Jugon describes her interest and influence on developing a unique assertive outreach team within a rural locality of Northamptonshire in England over 10 years. She explains how this type of service connected with her fundamental values and principles for working with some of the most vulnerable people.

She questions what services are actually doing to engage with people needing appropriate services, and the importance of identifying the staff members who she felt would work in different ways and form a genuine ‘team approach’. ‘Funky Mental Health’ is a description of Sue’s vision for the different type of service needed, and she identifies the need for ‘skilled misfits’ if you are truly going to deliver something out of the ordinary.

For the full content of this episode click on the links to iTunes and Sound Cloud (or go to Stitcher Radio):

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/018-sue-jugon-interview-part-2/id867043694?i=317187437&mt=2

 

A Strengths Approach, Person-centred working, Podcast Episodes, Podcast Interviews

Podcast Episode 017: Sue Jugon Interview Part 1

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TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2An interview with Sue Jugon exploring the influences on her practice as a mental health nurse, team and service manager. Looking at the early influences of growing up in a farming background, and coming into nursing from initial experiences within learning disability services.

A strong emphasis emerges about taking opportunities to have a go at things, without being constrained by the possibilities of failure. Sue is a person for whom working with the most vulnerable people is a life-long passion, and her career path has never deviated from the values and principles that remain focused on the needs of the most vulnerable.

She also talks about her own continuing aspirations, and a natural talent for exploring the playing of different musical instruments. Above all else, it is the love of her children that keeps her focused on who she is, and continues to bring out the best of a dedicated person.

For the full content of this episode click on the follow links to iTunes and Sound Cloud (or go to Stitcher Radio):

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/017-sue-jugon-interview-part-1/id867043694?i=316896842&mt=2

A Strengths Approach, Person-centred working, Podcast Episodes, Podcast Interviews

Podcast Episode 014: Steve Onyett Interview Part 2

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TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2In Part 2 of this extensive interview Steve Onyett explores his work interests and influences. With a focus on the current challenging and exciting times faced by health and social care services he discusses ideas around leadership, the role that solution focused approaches have played in his practice as well as development of others, and the ‘bonkers’ nature of the system that has emerged across the last couple of decades.

In relation to the priorities of the ‘system’ the question arises as to whether there is a place for the Sacred Fools to make a real impact? As for the next steps in his journey he explores the importance to him of becoming involved in the ‘Way of Council’ approach to personal development, and also outlines the true meaning of listening as he explores the idea of ‘listening from the heart’.

Steve embodies an excellent example of how and why we should honour both our ancestors as great influences on our own development, but also our successors through our care for the planet and the legacy we pass on to the next generation.

For the full content of this episode click on the links to iTunes and Sound Cloud (or go to Stitcher Radio):

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/014-steve-onyett-interview/id867043694?i=315887798&mt=2

 

A Strengths Approach, Person-centred working, Podcast Episodes, Podcast Interviews

Podcast Episode 013: Steve Onyett Interview Part 1

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TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2Professor Steve Onyett reflects on the values that have influenced his work and personal development across the last 30 years, including where those values have emerged from. He identifies two particular people who have been influential, one specifically on his professional roles in mental health services, and the other offering him a mentoring role in his development as a spiritual being.

Steve is a well respected facilitator, coach, researcher and writer, but this interview also explores his aspirations in areas of environmental activism and the wider humanistic approach to personal development and his desire to support others. He is particularly engaged in the ‘Way of Council’, and the idea of a deeper ‘listening from the heart’.

For the full content of this episode click on the following links to iTunes and Sound Cloud (or go to Stitcher Radio):

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/013-steve-onyett-interview/id867043694?i=315557844&mt=2

A Strengths Approach, Person-centred working, Podcast Episodes, Podcast Interviews

Podcast Episode 008: Satsanga and Anna

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TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2An interview with Satsanga (Lawrence Borish) where he details the story of Anna, a client from the early days of his Social Work career, and the challenges of supporting Anna to achieve her dreams within a system that unintentionally institutionalises people. The case study illustrates how a strengths approach can be put into practice, and the challenges and risks that have to be overcome in order to support people in a genuinely person-centred way.

The full content of this episode is available on iTunes at the following links (and on Stitcher Radio and Sound Cloud):

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/008-satsanga-and-anna/id867043694?i=313414010&mt=2

A Strengths Approach, Podcast Episodes, Podcast Interviews

Podcast Episode 007: Satsanga Interview

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TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2An interview with Satsanga (Lawrence Borish) about his life in Social Work, exploring his values and reflections on the role that a strengths approach has played in the way he engages with people. He also reflects on some of the barriers he has encountered to other people thinking and working in this way.

For the full content of this interview go to the following links to iTunes (or to Stitcher Radio or Sound Cloud):

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/007-satsanga-interview/id867043694?i=313159228&mt=2