Ambitious and Inclusive Sensory Story Telling

Officially CPD certified via The Goldsmith Centre.

Now available via The Sensory Projects Online College

View the course summary here.

This day can be booked as an in-house training event.

Read a blog post from a 2019 tour delegate.

Scroll down if you are considering CQC.

Sensory stories are a glorious paradox, so very simple, but with the capacity to open the world up, create connection, communication, a porthole through which we can enable people to explore - in a sensory way - the richness culture, history, art, and all the wondrous aspects of being human.

On this day you will learn:

    • Why we engage the senses, and how doing so supports cognition, communication, memory, learning, concentration, a person's ability to engage and connect, mental health and so much more.

    • How narrative permeates life, that a story is much more than a piece of light entertainment shared at bedtime, that stories are a part of our make up, form our identity, underpin our relationships with each other, that stories can teach us, can enable access to different places and spaces, and can even support us medically!

    • The essential elements to a superb sensory story.

    • How to maximise the impact of the sensory experiences you facilitate, both in sensory stories and in any kind of sensory work.

    • How engagement with, and learning from, a sensory story change over time and what to do to encourage this development and growth.

    • That sensory experiences do not need to be expensive to be effective, you will see how gorgeous communicative experiences can be built from little more than a piece of paper.

Leave inspired to create sensory stories of your own.

A book to go with the course? Try:

Considering CQC?

CQC’s descriptions of outstanding service describe settings that are creative and innovative, staffed with exceptionally well trained people who empower those they work on behalf of. They speak of settings seeking out current best practice and ensuring all their staff have access to the learning.

There is so much more to sensory stories than simply telling a story. Stories can be used to support people as they cope with death and bereavement (R3.5) or as they face difficult times in life. Stories can support transitions between services (E4.1) and can enhance someone’s connection with their culture or faith (R1.3 E6.2). Sharing stories is how we create and maintain friendships (C1.4, R1.2, R1.4). The sensory stories day shows staff how to approach all of these topics through stories.

Outstanding settings recognise the preferences of their residents and are constantly on the lookout for new ideas. Judicious use of Sensory Stories can help staff understand the personal histories and preferences of the people they support (R1.2 E3.1). Understanding how to skilfully use sensory stories can enable staff to set up communicative environments in which they are able to ‘hear’ the decisions of people with complex disabilities (E6.1 E7.2).

The Sensory Stories day is CPD accredited and is very much focused on the ambitious innovative use of sensory stories to enrich and connect lives. The day frames information about the sensory world that can be used across the board in a service in a practical tangible strategy of a story shared making it accessible for all staff.


FKQ: Care Quality Commission’s Five Key Questions

References: Care Quality Commission: Key lines of enquiry, prompts and ratings characteristics for adult social care services