Personal Development Matters : A Guide and Step-by-step Educational Workbook for Helping Young People Aged Roughly 11-16 with Complex Needs to Get to Know Themselves Better

Providing extra help and support with personal and emotional development to any young person, for whatever reason - this is the goal of the step-by-step workbook in this educational resource, complete with guidance for anyone who is undertaking long-term interventions with young people. The workbook can be used in or out of education time, with young people who have complex needs, including those who: - are 11-16, or perhaps a bit older or younger - have complex needs, and are receiving support and intervention from workers, for example those who: o are being looked after by the state, (For them, it can also be a useful prelude to doing life story work at a later date.) o have special educational needs including those who have statements, whose targets include improving behaviour, increasing self-esteem and expressing emotions more appropriately. o are in any other context where workers are struggling to adapt mainstream material for teaching the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) to one-to-one or small group settings. The Coalition government may change what such work is called, and may even choose to cease declaring that 'Every Child Matters'. But there will still be young people who need the extra help and support that this manual can help provide. The introduction can help a wide range of people to prepare for this educational work, including teachers, learning mentors, youth justice workers, social workers, residential care workers, key workers and foster carers.

Psychologists, therapists, counsellors and other professionals involved in long-term interventions with young people may also find it useful. Many of them have been involved in trialling the workbook contained in this manual.

Focussing on personal awareness, feelings, behaviour, relationships, self esteem and confidence, it builds from safe exploration of tasks and activities that can help forge a positive and trusting relationship between the facilitator and young person; and then explores more difficult issues. It can be used either step by step, or by using separate sections independently to address specific needs.

Ideal for one-to-one sessions, for one hour per week, over the course of a year; it can also be taught in a small group setting by facilitators who are comfortable with the extra demands of such group work; or as needed. The worker's manual contains a complete copy of the workbook and ample guidance on its use, for reference by them whenever needed.

It permits incidental, partial copying for use in training, and for when working with young people on just a few sections.

Significant discounts are available on looseleaf copies of the 190-page workbook (available from the publisher) allowing each young person to work with their own copy over time.

Alternative covers - one for boys and one for girls - help engagement in suitably different ways.