When Jackie Bates-Gaston, Chief Psychologist for the Northern Ireland Prison Service needed high-quality, consistent training in Motivational Interviewing for her staff, there was only one provider to turn to.
With a solid reputation in the application of Motivational Interviewing to criminal justice contexts, and the added value of the company director, Dr. Mark Farrall being a Forensic Psychologist, ignition were commissioned to deliver From Pre-Contemplation to Exit: Motivational Interviewing for all stages of the cycle of change, to mixed groups of main grade wing officers and psychologists.
Jackie commented: "It was wonderful in the first lot of training to see arms uncrossing in the room as Officers saw the sense of it, and that it wasn't just 'care bears' but something practical and useful to their jobs".
100% of trainees rated themselves as either ‘very satisfied’ or ‘totally satisfied’ with the training, feeling it was either ‘very relevant’ or totally relevant’ to their job roles.
Comments from participants included:
2009 update
When the Northern Ireland Service was about to receive its first cohort of Psychology Assistants into the prisons, Jackie turned to ignition again to equip these young, newly graduated staff members with a core model of communications and core skills for engagement and the facilitation of change through Motivational Interviewing.
100% of these trainees rated themselves as ‘very’ or ‘totally’ satisfied’ and 100% would ‘definitely’ recommend the training to colleagues. Comments included:
Jackie said: "Hardly any of the Assistants had even been in a prison before - they now have a chance to respond effectively and develop effective working relationships which will make all the psychological inputs more meaningful"