By Kate Boyer, Intensive Interaction Facilitator & Mentor
An unplanned plan
I have so much I want to say about our Intensive Interaction journey, but where do I start? The truth is, I don’t think we ever really did.
There was no big moment when someone said, “Right, this is what we’re going to do.” It evolved – an unplanned plan.
When I started at MacIntyre 21 years ago, there was no social media, but ideas still travelled; through newsletters, conferences, meetings and conversations. Somebody tried something, it worked, and someone else thought, I’ll have a go at that – a sort of domino effect.
For me, there is still nothing quite like being inspired by somebody else.
Finding our way
Our Head of Service knew Dave Hewett, who came to MacIntyre School and delivered a day of Intensive Interaction training.
We had already been using it, almost by default. But suddenly we understood it better; we knew what we were doing and, more importantly, why.
Our relationships with the people we supported began to change.
It sounds wonderfully straightforward. It wasn’t.
To really embed something, you need everybody on board; people leave; new people arrive and leadership teams change. The people we support move on, and new young people come in.
Just when you think you’re getting somewhere, you can find yourself having to build that understanding again.
Intensive Interaction was always there, though.
Keeping it going
We were fortunate to have a Senior Leader who really believed in Intensive Interaction, and her determination and tenacity made such a difference. She knew its value, but she also understood what we were up against.
Dave Hewett came back, this time with Jules McKim, and our Head of Best Practice worked with the Senior Leadership Team to put a development plan in place, which we stuck with.
It wasn’t easy. Far from it.
We had to practise, reflect, watch ourselves back and learn from each other, and most importantly, had to keep going when something didn’t work as we expected.
Our Head of Best Practice became an In Service Trainer, so every new cohort of staff could learn Intensive Interaction. Then the domino effect started again.
Someone saw a meaningful interaction, and wanted to have a go, themselves, which in turn, inspired someone else.
The small wins
In 2017, we set ourselves a target of 12 Competent Practitioners in a year, which at the time felt like a very tall order.
We got 13.
It might not sound like much now, but back then it felt like a win.
We celebrated those awards in assemblies, monthly briefings and team meetings. One person being recognised often gave somebody else the confidence to try.
Slowly, we were getting somewhere.
Far from easy
Video evidence became part of the Competent Practitioner process. Staff recorded themselves using Intensive Interaction, received feedback, reflected with a mentor and tried again.
The videos were invaluable. They helped us see what was happening, share practice and notice changes in social communication.
But getting the right people and the right moments on camera wasn't always easy. We had to find the right person to operate the camera, capture an interaction as it happened naturally and make sure it never felt staged or forced. These days, every young person has an iPad for evidencing their learning.
And knowing how to use Intensive Interaction wasn't enough. We had to understand why.
From 13 to 106
Today, we have 106 Competent Practitioners.
Training is now a requirement for staff across our school and children’s homes, followed by annual renewal. Some colleagues are approaching their ninth renewal.
It has taken commitment and persistence, but people have kept learning, kept sharing and kept the domino effect going, and now Intensive Interaction is now part of everyday life at MacIntyre.
Why it matters
For many of the people we support, Intensive Interaction is more than an approach. It is a way of being with other people.
I’m reminded of someone who once could only tolerate being around others from the safety of a corner of the room.
Now they sit on the sofa and move to one side, making space for someone else to join them.
That’s what all the learning is for.
Still learning
I have the privilege of being the In Service Trainer, Facilitator and Mentor for Intensive Interaction across our school and children’s homes.
I kind of fell into the role by default. Another unplanned plan, but I’ve completed training modules through the Intensive Interaction Institute, and my 10th annual renewal as a Competent Practitioner is coming up.
I genuinely enjoy my job. Actually, I’d go as far as to say I love my job.
Our days can be chaotic; things don’t always go to plan – But within that chaos, wonderful things happen. Those moments of connection, sometimes unspoken, sometimes lasting only a few seconds.
We had to learn how to notice those moments, and then learn how to make more of them.
And after 21 years, we’re still learning.
