Three things to know about innovation coaching
In this blog, coach Rob Callaghan brings us three things you need to know about our innovation coaching service.
In the year since launching our free innovation coaching service, we’ve learnt a lot about how to explain what we do.
It’s got to be quick, clear and come with real-life examples.
So, with that in mind, here are three things you need to know about our innovation coaching service.
1. What is it?
Our innovation coaching service gives you access to a team of coaches who’ll help you develop your ideas to improve practice, processes, services and outcomes.
It uses innovation tools and a coaching approach to develop both the new way of working and your own skills.
Innovation tools help people solve the sorts of complex problems people working in social care face every day, while coaching empowers people to find their own solutions. Our work brings these two things together.
We offer up to 12 hours of free coaching to individuals or teams. The service is online and available in both English and Welsh.
Visit our innovation coaching page for full details of the service, or read a previous blog about the types of application we’ve received.
2. What do people get out of it?
People who’ve used our innovation coaching service have told us it's helped them to:
- refine their goals
- accelerate their progress
- make their work more impactful for people accessing services
- feel empowered to try new ideas at work
- gain new skills, knowledge and tools.
When asked to sum up what they value most from the coaching, people often mention how we offer support while also challenging them to think in a different way.
“I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I signed up for coaching. I’d never been coached before, but from the first session I’ve found it extremely helpful … Having the space to reflect, discuss ideas and be shown tools that allow me to see the bigger picture has been invaluable… I’d absolutely recommend coaching to others.”
Kate Aubrey, Lead Manager for Practice at Rhondda Cynon Taf children’s services
“Without wishing to sound too corny, I think we created something beautiful - a protected learning and exploration space where ideas seamlessly flowed… Would I recommend coaching to others? Well that’s a resounding yes! Be brave, dive in and go with it. Trust in the process and the results will come.”
Richard Davies, Strategic Manager on Swansea Council's direct payments support team
3. How do I access it?
If you’re interested in accessing our innovation coaching service, please complete our short expression-of-interest form, or send us a video or voicenote by email.
We’re happy to talk things through with you first if you’d prefer. Just send us an email and we’ll schedule a call with you.
We’re also exploring new ways of supporting more people to develop their ideas.
We know not everyone can commit to 12 hours of coaching without knowing more about it. That’s why we’re trialling a free two-day training course which gives attendees a taste of what we offer, as well as tools they can take away and use in their work.
Our current dates are full, but add your name to the waiting list and we’ll let you know if we arrange more sessions. Find out more or contact innovationcoaching@socialcare.wales to add your name to the waiting list.
Need more information?
Visit our innovation coaching page or contact innovationcoaching@socialcare.wales if you'd like to know more about the service.