Action Learning Meetings
This is simply a method of supporting reflective
thinking and problem solving between different practitioners and the people they are supporting.
These facilitated meetings create a safe and structured environment that uses pen portraits as a
baseline discussion to reflect on and learn from
what has happened, good or not so good. It also allows other practitioners to bring different ideas, experience and expertise to the discussion, for everyone to learn from.
Pen Portraits
Learning from People’s Experiences
Where the person is willing to attend, they can add
real value to the meetings, but it is important that the
person and the practitioners are aware of the purpose of the learning meetings and who will be attending, in advance.
The meetings should give sufficient time for each
pen portrait to be fully discussed. An hour per 4
case studies is ideal. These meetings can be stand
alone, or added onto the end of a MDT.
The facilitator will need to receive the Pen portraits
in advance in order to invite the relevant participants. It is expected that the practitioner presenting
the pen portrait will be responsible for inviting the
person to attend, if relevant.
For more information contact: Jenny Atkinson
[email protected] 01872266388
A Simple Guide to Writing Pen Portraits.
Why Pen Portraits?
Understanding how a person’s individual circumstances and
the support that we provide can impact on their health and
sense of well being is key to understanding how we can provide the best services that enables people to live their lives to
the best of their abilities.
Pen portraits, often called case studies, are a very powerful
and meaningful way of describing a person’s situation, before,
during and after your team’s support. Some of this information
is gathered through your conversations with the person, some
we will gather some the evaluation information on RIO and
some through referencing other information systems e.g. frequency of hospital visits.
Painting the Picture
Please use the template attached
Begin at the Beginning.
A description of where the person started from and what life was
like before you met.
Middle - How
you helped
Pen portraits may be used for to add value to the statistical
reports; for training e.g. Action Learning Meetings ; and for
awareness raising purposes.
A description of
what they wanted to
All the identifiable information, such as names, gender, age,
address and relationships are either removed or changed so
that the pen portrait is not recognizable to anyone who may
know that person. For this reason, photographs and films are
not usually taken unless the person has given consent for the
pen portrait not to be anonymized.
As the information collected is in depth, additional consent
must be gained using the Age UK Cornwall Media Consent
form. Please record that the consent has been gained. The
form and consent spreadsheet are in: F:\Penwith Pioneer\promotional information\case studies.
achieve including
what support you
and others
provided.
Conclusion—Outcomes
A description of what has changed for the person and
their family / carers.
Pho