This is flexible. It would be applicable either directly to participants or to participants and practitioners, or to practitioners alone. It does this through deepening understanding of the issues and implications of the principles of the Strengths Approach,  strengths assessment and planning. It uses the Personal Development Planning process developed by the EMILIA Project

On successful completion of the training package, the participant will be better able to: 

• Understand a Strengths approach to the application of Strengths Principles based on partnership and collaboration
• Understand how and why a Strengths approach can aid them in the path of recovery
• Understand hwy this approach will help them build positively from their present situation without taking anything away
• A capacity to communicate, explore and explain the socially excluded ‘half-life’ typically experienced by mental health participants
• A capacity to explain and explore the internal and external stigma typically experienced by mental health participants  
• A capacity to undertake the development of user support networks
• A capacity to define the ups and downs of the road to recovery
• A capacity to undertake Personal Development  Planning
• Explore how the Stengths Approach might influence the service user’s perception of the nature of time, and how time passes in their experience of their life
• To examine the concept of labelling and ‘ perceived normality’ from a mental health standpoint, to explore the disempowerment  and stigmatisation consequent from being excluded from ‘perceived formality’ and the consequences for frustrated aspirations
• To explore gender and ethnicity differences and the socio-economic consequences

This training package addresses issues pertaining to the Strengths Approach. It emphasises a process of identifying the strengths, achievements and aspirations of the participant. It seeks to enhance the participants’ capacities to define and meet their needs and aspirations within their own local neighbourhoods and communities both by acting individually and collectively. It does this by making extensive use of the EMILIA personal development planning tool (PDP).

A combination of participants and staff of the Mental Health and Social Work academic group.