Resiliency Training Case Study – Suffolk County Council

Company Name: Suffolk County Council Contact: Jon Rowe Position: Head of Workforce Planning and Development

Feedback provided by Jon Rowe:

Who was trained (role and level in org)? “Resilience training via In Equilibrium has been provided at all levels and across the organisation. We have provided Developing Personal Resilience to ‘front line’ staff and some first line managers and supervisors. We have provided Managing Resilience to first line, senior and strategic managers across the service. We have delivered Resilience Tools for Managing Change to strategic managers across the organisation at both service and corporate levels at Suffolk County Council.”

What problem did you want In Equilibrium’s training to address? “In the main, the issues were in regard to the dynamic transformation agenda facing individuals, teams, the service and the council. This sounds simplistic until there is a realisation that staff in front line social care and related services have to manage multiple issues that are personal, from staff and importantly when managing the emotional and practical impact from residents, customers, families and carers all of whom have typically invested heavily on a personal level in the services and staff with whom they are engaged.”

What was their solution and what programme / training was delivered? “In the first instance, In Equilibrium was an active listener who took time to hear, understand and absorb the information they were given. They were enquiring about what the service was hoping to achieve for all parties and the intellectual, emotional and cultural dynamics in which the training would be offered. Obviously In Equilibrium was also keen to understand practical issues of delivery in terms of budget constraints, need for reference materials, background information and ‘ tool to take away’ after the training events.”

What was the outcome? “The outcome has been the development of a true collaboration between supplier and customer. The expertise and understanding of both parties has been utilised to provide bespoke training packages to appropriate people that are paced and relevant to their current situation both personal and work as the skill here needed to be transferable to both.

Staff left the programme giving very high levels of satisfaction and significantly recognising their own situation, needs and options within the course profile and materials – put simply, a relevant experience that was timely and in which employees could recognise ‘themselves’.”

Were the skills/behaviours learned being used 3/6/12 months later? “Yes – undoubtedly they are. As I bridge both corporate and service workforces I regularly observe and hear staff working through scenarios reflecting, considering and applying techniques and knowledge from the learning.”

When was the programme delivered? “The programme has been delivered over the last three years.”

Quantity of people trained? “In excess of 250”

Why was In Equilibrium selected? “Initial searches for a supplier responding to the need to enable resilience. A net search came up with In Equilibrium and their material prompted further enquiries. The employer responsiveness of In Equilibrium, their engagement, professionalism, expertise and ability to collaborate – along with affordability.”

Strengths “I think these are clear from information above.”

Weaknesses “There has been no evident weakness from my own or corporate colleagues’ involvement with In Equilibrium.”

Delivery – rated 1=low 5=high Meeting Project Deliverables = 5 Delegate feedback = 5 Quality of trainers / consultants = 5 Value for money = 5 Effectiveness of Training = 5 Flexibility & Adaptability = 5 Innovation = 5

Would you employ the services of / work with In Equilibrium again? “Yes”

Additional comments: “It is evident from my involvement with In Equilibrium that they believe in the subject material – this is communicated at all levels and at all times in my relationship with them.

In Equilibrium has been flexible, responsive to our views and in my opinion showed a genuine interest in our business and workforce.”

To view further details about In Equilibrium’s resilience courses, please click here.