Sally Ann, Author at Sally Ann Hart

I did it!

27 June 2014

Categories: News, Protective Behaviours

A quick post to share that I had a fantastic time talking with Rob Adcock from BBC Radio Northampton on his drive-time slot last night. You can listen to it using this media player (total play time 16’22”):

I enjoyed the experience far more than I thought I would! I felt amazed by how calm Rob appeared despite switching between chatting on and off air with me, pressing buttons and sliding sliders for news, travel and music. I resorted to lots of my PB strategies in terms of visiting my ‘Safe Place’ while waiting in reception to ‘go on’, reminding myself that I had chosen to do this and would hopefully be able to control what words came out of my mouth and, in terms of time limit, knew we’d be done by 6.30pm.

So I’d like to say ‘thank you’ to Rob and Sam for helping me to feel safe and comfortable as well as inviting me to talk about PBs and how it can help families teach their children the skills needed to lead a fun and exciting life within a construct of emotional and physical safety for all.

At the end of the interview I said I would share these further PB tips – so hope they are helpful.

PS Looking forward already to another radio slot!

PPS And more positive PB news is that Northamptonshire’s Child Magazine are running a series of articles on PBs starting in the July/August issue. An online edition is available and the 1st article can be found on pages 12 & 13. (Not sure how comfortable I feel with being termed an ‘expert’ – certainly not words Judith and I would choose and would have also preferred a picture of a child having fun 😉 )

Feeling excited and a tad puzzled?

25 June 2014

Categories: News

It feels like it’s been a bit of a whirlwind few weeks with lots of interest in PBs from old and new contacts and the prospect of lots more to come. This time last week I was in Brighton attending the Safety Net PB conference where I got to spend more time with Di Margetts and PBPeople buddies from around the country celebrating PBs and what those who practice and share the process can achieve. Hearing from Professor Robin Banergee and Dr Stephen Briers about how we can evidence-base PBs felt really exciting as this has so often felt like a barrier to getting PBs accepted by educational institutions and funding organisations – really looking forward to reading the transcripts from their presentations and following up the references. Also felt so good to acknowledge where PBs started in the UK with Di on an ‘adventure’ and to have her continued acknowledgement and support for what PBPeople and our training partnership is achieving.

So, where for me does feeling puzzled come from? On reflection, (and I had a quite a bit of time to do this on the way to and from Brighton), some of it is from the time it has taken to get where I feel PBs is today. However, perhaps a bigger bit is from hearing and reading about organisations that claim to represent PBs yet, to me, lack authenticity with the process. For example, I received information in the last few weeks about a ‘new’ group that makes the following claims: ‘the national organisation for Protective Behaviours’ and ‘the voice of PBs’. My immediate reaction is to say ‘who says?’ And anyone who understands and promotes PBs the way I believe I do, will hopefully think the same as they recognise a lack of the application of the Language of Safety in such claims. And, as the Language of Safety is described in PBs as ‘the glue that holds the process together’, I wonder how long it might take this time round for things to become ‘unstuck’ for this group. So this is where I start to feel excited again, because I now realise that, for me, evidence of the application of the Language of Safety within the content of what is being communicated by individual trainers and training organisations, is what validates the authenticity of and maintains integrity towards the Protective Behaviours process and all that Di Margetts brought to the UK back in 1995.

Thank you so much Di for helping me to continue to ‘walk the talk’ and offering me a place to feel safe enough to sit and think – photo to follow!

The Sun is Out :)

16 May 2014

Categories: News

Once again I can’t quite believe where the time has gone since my last post, although I do believe what’s said about time flying when having fun!

The last few weeks have been eventful in terms of the development of Protective Behaviours with lots of background work to help get the process established in lots of organisations. Training requests are piling up and I’m doing my first overseas course in August which involves 8 days away. Also planning to attend and be part of the wider PB evidence-base discussion at the fully-subsidised Safety Net PB Conference which is being held in Brighton & Hove on Thursday 19th June. This link will take you to the details page if you’re interested in attending. Demand for places has been so high that a bigger venue has been found! This will be an opportunity to hear Di Margetts speak as well as network with people who are using PBs on a daily basis. I’m feeling really excited about being there and also looking forward to spending 3 days earlier in June in Derbyshire with Di and members of the Protective Behaviours Training Partnership to further develop training courses and work on a new publication. Just realised that at this rate it will be July before I know it!

I will do my best to update this site before then, but in the meantime if you’re interested in finding out more please check out the Forum on the PBPeople website which has regular contributions on a wide range of PB subjects as well as great ideas for putting PBs into practice.

Wow moments

28 March 2014

Categories: News, Protective Behaviours

It has been a busy start to the year and can’t quite believe we’re already almost in April.

One of the reasons I think time is flying so fast for me is that there have been so many amazing opportunites to work with a variety of people on different Protective Behaviours projects. And the one that has been so wonderful involved teaching and learning with a group of 4 parents. I want to thank each of them for ‘risking on purpose’ by coming to the group sessions, engaging with the process, sharing their knowledge and skills and learning and laughing together.
The poem below was written during our final session together in response to the question: ‘How could a person explain what they think Protective Behaviours is all about?’
I think it’s amazing especially as the majority of it was written in just over 5 minutes, yet illustrates how much of the PB process had been learned .

“Protective Behaviours, the right to feel safe.
A secure helping network, a warm cosy place
To go to when feeling worried, scared or sad,
Maybe with someone who won’t think that you’re bad.

Speaking with someone and feeling relief,
Encouraged, listened to, a sense of belief.
The language of safety, feelings, thoughts and behaviour,
Getting the help that you need, your very own saviour.

Risking on purpose to have fun in life and achieve,
Giving yourself and others a reason to believe.
The 7 strategies in action, a right to feel safe,
A supportive hand, a friendly face.

Putting into practice, because we all have the right,
Whatever age, race or sex – be it day or at night.

So when you’re feeling worried or scared
Always know there is someone there.
No matter how much it may feel awful or small
Someone will be there through it all

We’re all people with our own struggles to face,
People who need someone to feel wanted, acknowledged and safe.
Choose your words wisely through each passing day.
Protective Behaviours is effective in every way.

Listen to warning signs from your gut and heart,
No one has the right to tear you apart.
Through 2 themes, strategies and all the rest.
Never forget we deserve the very best.”

Wonderful in my opinion 🙂 I also learned some wonderful sayings that I think fit really well with the PB process such as:

‘If in doubt, say nought/nowt’ and ‘It’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil’. Fantastic examples to me of, in the first example, listening to our early warning signs and perhaps protectively interrupting and then persisting until we get the help we need.

Thank you so much to a wonderful group of people who came together to play, work and learn and have gone away equipped with more tools and skills to do the same with the children, young people and adults in their lives.

Going ‘Dotty’

14 December 2013

Categories: News, Protective Behaviours

Hi All,

Apologies for not adding an update sooner regarding on-going projects to extend access to Protective Behaviours both in terms of training and practice by trying to find affordable and sustainable ways to get the messages across to young people. However, I can now well and truly say that I believe all the behind the scenes work that has been going on with Sharon & Neil Evans from the Dot Com Children’s Fund charity, (and there has been an awful lot of it), could mean that the dream of getting the PBs messages to as many children and young people as possible is looking more achievable. Sharon, Neil and I have met on a number of occasions since July 2013 with a view to developing new resources for children in Key Stage 1 and updating existing resources for Key Stage 2. This has meant that 2 new journals and teacher guides have been created for Years 1 & 2, all the existing Teacher Guides require re-writing: just 2 to go, and updates to websites are taking place – no small job. Many thanks also need to go to Steve and Judith for all their hard work, attention to detail and on-going involvement.

I’m really looking forward to all that 2014 could bring for children in all schools in terms of learning the personal safety skills that PBs offers, as well as developing projects for parents and the under 5s that will be reinforced in schools were Dot Com resources are used. When I mentioned to people a couple of years ago that I felt strongly that we needed to find ways to join ‘the dots’ in terms of access to Protective Behaviours across the local authority and health service borders, I never envisaged that this could be achieved by being part of a team called Dot Com 😆

For more information please visit Dot Com Children’s Fund.

Thank you Jan :)

7 October 2013

Categories: News

Having just about finished working on two projects in Rutland: ‘The Baby Room Project’ and ‘Beyond the Baby Room – What it’s like to be 2’, it was wonderful to receive such a lovely testimonial regarding this work. Thank you Jan for your kind words and also a big thank you to Jean Smith who accompanied my on setting visits, co-delivered each session and continues to work ‘on the ground’ to help embed all that we presented. And the good news for me is that I’m starting a new ‘Baby it’s You & Me’ course for parents in Hertfordshire next week – feels fantastic to be able to work with people to recognise what babies can do, what they need and how to improve their quality of care.

PBs in Essex Update

24 September 2013

Categories: News

A quick update to say that all details of the 2 day Protective Behaviours Foundation course running on 6th & 23rd November 2013 in Thurrock are now confirmed. The total cost for this course is £110. Please use this booking form to reserve your place. Looking forward to my leading my first course in my ‘home’ local authority.