Group Leader Training Workshop

 

You're Invited!

 

 

Group Leader Training Workshop

 

Register your place now

 

Saturday 25th May 2013 at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15

Registration and Membership Packs @ 1:30

Welcome Packs with Manual, Membership and Introduction

- Claire Whyte

 

Training Session @ 2-3pm

Manual on CD-ROM

Using your manual 'Teaching Hometrain Social Skills Groups'
- Claire Whyte

Running Social Skills Groups
- with talks from Group Leaders and Support Staff.

Questions and Answers

Practical Workshop @ 3-4pm

1st Event of the Group Leaders Network!

'Social Skills Activities for Groups'

Group Leaders will work together creating activities for Social Skills Groups, covering a range of topics suitable for different ages and abilities. All materials provided.

 

Presentation of Activities.

 

There will be time for more Q's and A's after 4pm, and a small selection of toys and equipment available for Group Leaders: free to take for use in their groups.

 

Saturday 25th May 2013 at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15

 

Registration Fee is €150 - includes Training, 1 year's Membership to the Group Leader's Network, the Group Leader Manual 'Teaching Hometrain Social Skills Groups'

 

Important: Closing Date for Registration is 3rd May

Register your place now



 

More about the benefits of becoming a Group Leader: http://www.hometrain.ie/leaders/

More about Hometrain Social Skills Groups: http://www.hometrain.ie/group/



10 FAQ's about being a Group Leader

Hi – I’ve been meeting up with and chatting to many of you who are planning to be Group Leaders for Social Skills Groups.

Here are 10 FAQ’s that I have come across, and might be useful to read:

 

About being a Group Leader:

1)      What does the €150 fee include? The €150 covers your training workshop, the manual ‘Teaching Hometrain Social Skills Groups’ and a year’s membership as a Group Leader.

2)      Do we pay Hometrain anything else – i.e. from our takings/income from our groups? No, once you have bought your manual and membership, you do not pay us a cent from your income. The Group Leader is responsible for the finances of their own groups.

3)      What is the next year’s membership? The following year’s membership is just €50.

4)      What does membership include? Posting your information, and advertising of your group and news on our website. Having an @hometrain.ie   email address for parents and other group leaders to contact you. Also having the support of the Group Leaders network, including Claire Whyte, Groups Co-ordinator to help you set up and run your groups.

Membership also includes regular additional teaching resources on our Pinterest boards, and via emails from Claire. This will include arts and crafts, seasonal events and network events. The free resources on our website are always available.http://www.hometrain.ie/resources/

5)      What about insurance? We have a deal with our insurance company to provide public liability insurance for groups at a small fee to Group Leaders. This is yet to be confirmed, but possibly around €50.

6)      Are there any other resources available to us as Group Leaders? Yes, there are plenty of paper resources in the manual that you print from the CD-ROM. We have a small amount of games, puzzles, sports equipment and toys that can be shared out on 25^th May to groups that need it. The equipment will be brought back the following year and exchanged with other Group Leaders.

7)      Can I set up more Groups? Yes, once you have the manual, you have curriculums for 3 different groups. You can have as many groups as you feel you can manage. Some Group Leaders take on others to help if they have more children than they can teach.

8)      Will there be any other Hometrain Groups in my county? The first person to organise a group is important to us, and any other Group Leaders in the same county will be given the option to either: 1) Set up their group in a different area  or 2) Join forces with the existing Group Leader, developing the service provided with a new group, possibly in a different age category. Groups are listed by County: http://www.hometrain.ie/group/

9)      What happens after 25^th May? All new groups leaders then get their @hometrain.ie address, and their groups are advertised straight away. Claire will then link in with each of you to help in any way and we have the summer months to get you ready to start in September.

10)   Can I have the manual now? No, it’s preferable to wait until 25^th May when it’s presented. Most of your questions will be answered on 25^th and it’s better that all new Group Leaders get the same information at the same time.  Claire is available from now to meet and discuss  running groups, and to answer any questions you have.

For more about becoming a Group Leader: http://www.hometrain.ie/leaders/

To book your place and pre-order the manual 'Teaching Hometrain Social Skills Groups': https://www.hometrain.ie/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=81

About the Manual 'Teaching Hometrain Social Skills Groups'

I am so delighted that this May 25th, we launch this manual which is a definitive guide for all our Group Leaders. It begins with how to set up your groups, how to use the 3 curriculums, with activities and resources for each section.

As the Groups Co-ordinator, my role is to support Group Leaders in setting up and running their groups, providing and sourcing information, and developing the Group Leaders Network.

It was my job to write and research the manual. I have year's of experience in groupwork of different kinds, across a wide cross-section of the community, and Hometrain Social Skills Groups have been running for four years. We have a great reputation among parents, and have referals to our service from HSE and Enable Ireland.

In order to replicate our groups in other areas, I wanted the manual to be practical - a 1-stop-shop for our Group Leaders - and to include everything I needed to run a group elsewhere.
The contents page includes:

Introduction and Contents:

How to set up your groups.

Ideas and protocol for planning your groups.

Section 1:

Curriculum outlines and activities for pre-schoolers 3-5 years.

Curriculum outlines and activities for Pre-School 3-5 years

Section 2:
Curriculum outlines and activities for 6-9 years.

Curriculum outlines and activities for 6-9 years 4

Section 3:

Curriculum outlines and activities for pre-teens 10-13 years. 5

 

 

 

Then also: 

1) Undesired behaviours - how to work with different behaviours effectively in a group setting.

2) Writing reports - what to include, what not to include, how to write and evaluate. 1

3) Keeping records - which record to keep and for how long.. 1

4) Staff and finances - finding and working with support staff, organising payment. . 1

5) Networking with other members - how to get invloved, share your ideas, exeriences and good resources.. 1

6) Administration Forms and Useful Resources - Everything you need to help set up, print and run your groups! Posters, Code of Conduct and Mission Statement are all here.

There are also useful sections on Play and Groupwork.

The manual has been created on a CD, so Group Leaders can print all admin and resources straight away, and not have to spend hours photocopying. It also means that updates can be added easily - such as further programmes, resources and Summer Camps.

I am sure Group Leaders will enjoy the manual - 'Teaching Hometrain Social Skills Groups' - it does exaclty what it says on the cover!

Any further information about our manual and how to become a Group Leader can be found at: http://www.hometrain.ie/leaders/
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