Learning for Tomorrow

Whole Person FacilitatingA radical programme of experiential, peer-based learning for

facilitators and those wanting to develop a deeper, more effective facilitative approach to leading change

Who is this for?• For those already working as a facilitator and longing to go deeper with groups

and individuals

• For those who want to be part of a challenging and supportive community of practice

• For those who want to develop advanced skills to work on the development of

groups and teams within their own organisation

• For those wishing to forge a career in the development of others

• Those working with partnerships, external stakeholders and practitioner developers

You might have a job description that includes facilitation, or perhaps are someone

who recognises the importance of facilitation skills in your leadership or management

approach without it actually being acknowledged in your role profile.

The programmeThe year provides you with an integrated blend of theory, practice and experience. The

modules introduce tools for designing and facilitating from a human relations approach.

This process will enable you to apply the skills and methods you have developed, to best

meet the needs of your own particular group and situations. It offers opportunities for

reflective practice, paired, small and whole group work, with support from experienced

facilitators, to design a facilitation solution and style of your own.

The programme is designed to appeal to you as someone who can undertake to work

as a self-responsible agent and who is therefore excited by the idea of negotiating the

degree of shared and collaborative content within the overall framework outlined below.

If you want to progress further, there is an option for a second year which focuses on

the work of the change agent.

The questions we work with:

• How do you facilitate a process from initiation to closure?

• What boundaries are essential for you, the facilitator, to manage and which are the

responsibility of the group?

• How can you assist a group to operate when complex issues and questions arise?

• How to help a group make a decision when uncertainty abounds?

• Decision making in a group: who, how and when?

• To what extent do you bring your whole self to a facilitation process?

• What role can information technology play in enhancing collaborative learning

processes?

• How do you manage some of the feelings that arise in facilitated processes?

• How do you work with the issues of power, authority and influence?

• How to adapt and combine methods and techniques to ensure an appropriate process?

• How do you know who should be involved and when?

• How can you tell if you, and the participants, have succeeded?

Elements

Depending on the specific needs of participants,

themes, tools and techniques covered in the

programme could include:

• Understanding change and the role of facilitation

• The interpersonal underworld

• The relevance and implementation of participation,

collaboration and engagement

Core programme areas:

The image of the person – What informs the facilitator’s stance to who is

involved? What is the nature of individual contribution to group development?

What is the place of feelings and expression?

The role of facilitator – Styles and influences within practice, how to work with

power, control and authority; difference and diversity; conflict and competition;

exploring the inner life and signature preferences of you as facilitator.

The structure and purpose of the group – What is to be accomplished, by

whom, and with what ‘givens’ or ‘parameters. How is contracting undertaken?

The process of the group – How do you determine where the group or team is

in its process? What is useful for what kinds of group?

The means of assessment and evaluation of the effort – Who needs to

be involved about deciding the what, who for and how of assessment? How

to manage the balance between group participants and external agency, i.e.

managers, stakeholders, etc.

The content and method of working – What are the mechanics and

mechanisms of managing a group process, topics, duration, style of content

delivery, levels of involvement?

Format

The programme uses a combination of mini inputs, individual and paired work,

experiential and structured sessions, practical exercises, work-based practice, facilitated

group reflection and discussion.

Assignments

• Learning journal of reflective practice – utilising alternative approaches to individual

preferences

• Applied practice project with peer based and tutorial support, a written account that

identifies your facilitator style and your influence in your specific work setting

• Seminar based sessions designed within small group settings for engagement of all

participants on a negotiated and relevant topic

• A reflective piece that demonstrates integration of theory and experience alongside

a deeper sense of self as instrument of change

Assessment

The programme will use and model a self and peer based assessment process.

MODULES

Locating your whole person in the nature and art of facilitation

Working with the interpersonal underworld of groups and teams

Performance, pitfalls and pizzaz

• Applied model for determining intervention choices

• Whole Person Learning Approaches

• Tools for stakeholder analysis and planning stakeholder involvement

• Framework for Focused Decision Making

• Introduction to tools and techniques for monitoring and evaluating participatory

processes

Schedule

Three modules, applied practice and peer working groups between meetings. There will

be a gap between the first and second module, designed to provide opportunities to

establish work based projects for the next year, form peer learning groups, undertake

desk based research and initiate mentoring support. Get in touch with Pippa Farrington

for more information on dates – pippa@oasishumanrelations.org.uk/01937 541700.

Developing with The Oasis SchoolOasis has developed facilitators since 1985. We offer an intensive development

approach rather than a training based methodology. Whilst there are courses that focus

on improving your training skills, Oasis offers a series of unique intensive development

programmes to help you become the ‘instrument of change’ by developing your applied

practice, supported by facilitation frameworks and approaches that work.

Oasis develops facilitators and offers facilitation, equipping learners with necessary

skills, understanding and experience, as well as doing it ourselves. We facilitate short

and longer-term programmes within organisations and communities, shape and

design participatory approaches, develop teams, and facilitate strategic thinking and

practice. We have experience of facilitating processes within UK settings, globally with

multicultural participants, as well as working in culturally specific settings, including

Asia, Africa, South America and Europe.

Whether you are just setting out or experienced and want to develop deeper confidence

and a broader skills base, or want to hone your style through peer based and facilitator

feedback, our programmes are demanding, supportive and progressive. Longer

programmes provide experiential learning, reflective practice, negotiated content, self

and peer assessment, as well as opportunities to work with the inevitable power and

authority issues involved in peer based learning approaches.

The Facilitation Team

The programme has been designed by a core team at Oasis including Nick Ellerby,

Claire Maxwell and Glyn Fussell. They bring over six decades of experience working as

experiential educators and facilitators through personal development groups, global MBA

modules, one day skills orientation to two year Advanced Diplomas, developing senior

teams and innovative global communities. Working with a variety of settings from the

Cabinet Office to small third sector social

enterprises, from global companies to

radical entities, they have deep interests

in groups as a means of learning and

change, and the potency of personal

empowerment through self and peer

approaches and whole person learning.

FeeThe fee covers all aspects of participation with the exception of travel and non-residential

accommodation for modules and peer learning groups, which will be the responsibility

of participants. The residential element requires all participants to stay at the Haybergill

Centre in Cumbria. One-to-one mentoring sessions may utilise communication

technologies such as Skype.

Business and for profit organisations £7,195 (VAT exempt)

Public sector and not for profit organisations £5,395 (VAT exempt)

Self funding £4,795 (VAT exempt)

Residential element £585 (VAT exempt)

Oasis is open to dialogue in regard to fee arrangements for those individuals and

organisations who are facing significant resource constraints but have a deep

commitment to developing facilitation resources and careers.

How to apply Please send a written expression of interest to charlotte@oasishumanrelations.org.uk

including previous experience and development or training, current facilitation role and

ambition, and your reasons for wanting to undertake this programme. If you are applying

from a partner organisation please ensure you have their support before sending your

application letter. Interviews will be held to confirm places. The interview will give you

the opportunity to find out more about the programme, meet the facilitators and begin

the preparation process for the programme.

For more…To have a conversation about this or for details of other programmes, contact Pippa

Farrington at the Oasis School of Human Relations.

+44 (0)1937 541700

pippa@oasishumanrelations.org.uk

www.oasishumanrelations.org.uk/programmes

The Facilitation Programme RangeWhether you are just setting out, experienced and wanting to develop deeper

confidence and a broader skills base or wanting to hone your style through peer

based and facilitator feedback, our programmes are demanding, supportive and

progressive. Longer programmes provide experiential learning, negotiated

content, self and peer assessment, as well as opportunities to work with the

inevitable power and authority issues involved in peer based learning approaches.

Foundation Programmes – Continuing Professional Development (CPD) 2 and 3 day programmes

• Six Category Intervention (inspired by John Heron)

• Tools for Change – Oasis Seven Stage Model (developed by Oasis)

• Collaboration in Action (developed by Oasis)

• Working with Organisations (developed by Oasis)

• Working with the Temperaments (developed with Mario van Boeschoten)

Facilitation and Change Agent Combined Programme

• Facilitation Styles – 13 day modular

• Change Agency within Organisations – 14 day modular, Level 4 and beyond

Representing year two of the Facilitation and Change Agent Combined

Programme.

This advanced programme develops a deeper awareness of the surrounding

issues of managing and developing change and development processes within

the constraints of organisational settings. It builds on the work of year one and

sets the role of facilitator more deeply within the mechanisms of organisational

systems, team development and their limitations and potentials. It provides

new or developing change agents with ways of understanding how to assess

the nature of the enterprise they are embarking upon when an organisation

commissions a change programme.

The programme explores organisational dynamics as well as group and team

dynamics, providing frameworks for assessing how to work with the individual,

the group and the context in the overall effort to promote and foster change.

“The benefits of facilitation and of a facilitated approach are

that it helps to ensure that individuals and groups communicate

and work effectively with each other. Facilitation can also help to

support groups when they are stuck working on an issue or an area

of conflict. Facilitation is a key enabler to collaborative working.”

Anna Jaques, Head of HR for Taylors of Harrogate

“There are few things trickier than making something that

is difficult, easier, but that is the job of a person who calls

themselves a facilitator.”

Nick Ellerby, Co-director, The Oasis School of Human Relations

Whole Person Facilitating

Hall Mews • Clifford Road • Boston Spa • LS23 6DT • UK