Social Art and Therapy, London Borough of Sutton
Lee Simmons 24/01/13
Edited and first published by the British Association of Art Therapists, June 2013
Art Psychotherapist / Community Development Worker
The role of Art Psychotherapist / Community Development Worker has at the time of this writing involved exploring resources across Sutton, and forming cross organisational partnerships to start up new projects that compliment what already exists whilst aiming to bridge gaps in services.
Social art methodology is here used to help create bonds between local people outside of the more traditional social services provisions, and inspire new ideas and partnerships to form. Art Psychotherapy is used in group work and on an individual level to help build resilience and pave the way for vulnerable people to move from isolation into more social settings.
This temporary post has existed since May 2012 and has involved conceptualising, initiating and project managing a cluster of projects that function independently but also link into each other and have the potential to expand according to need and interest within the local community.
Context
The post was developed in response to major cuts to council budgets as a consequence of the current economic crisis. The resources available to the public sector were being cut by 25%, so already stretched services needed radical change. This along with an aging population created an urgency to try something new and building social capital was one of the ideas that might help to catch people who would otherwise fall through the rapidly shrinking net. Community Social Work was championed in the 1970’s and 1980’s and is being re-visited here but in a contemporary context with the idea of prevention being a more financially viable approach than supplying services in an ongoing capacity therefore arguably sustaining need, or creating dependency.
At the time this post was developed there had already been changes to care packages, so that people had personalised budgets, rather than services managed and delivered to / for them, they would manage the purchasing of services for themselves. This was considered as empowering for community members, by some workers in the caring professions, but has not been problem free.
Community Social Work was also said to be empowering for civilians, by having social workers supporting people out in the community, rather than from behind computer screens in statutory organisations. The discussed post was based in a pilot Community Social Work team, in Phase 2 of the initiative.
Developing the post
As the first Community Social Capital Development Officer / Art Psychotherapist, one of the initial things that I did was to deconstruct the title, and change it to Art Psychotherapist / Community Development Worker. This I believed to be more grounded in a professional and community context.
The work base was the Civic office, sitting with Mental Health Social Workers, then separately, then in a Community Social Work Team. One day per week I worked in an artist’s studio and all of the session work to this date was held in different organisations in Sutton. Each of these contexts had benefits and limitations. It was helpful to have a presence in the offices, gain understanding of Social Work, as well as to work with other professionals in the council.
Whilst gaining an insight was helpful, working methods were very different between the needs of my role and those of a Social Worker, often in an uncomfortable way. For example, Art Psychotherapy practice involves quite gentle activities, such as writing process notes and reflecting on session work, as well as talking with clients on the phone. Developing social art projects is lively and frequently cheerful, involving the building of amicable working relationships, and both roles evolve outside of the office as well as at the desk. They might appear like ‘playing’, alongside the social work activity of implementing practical emergency provisions – such as housing and food, whilst working a very well trodden path. Although I valued and appreciated the community social workers around me, as they were saturated with crisis work during the pilot, it was professionals in psychology and community development with whom I developed communication about my work.
The support that I received from management level, where I was encouraged from day one to develop the post in my own way, helped navigate the pressures that I felt in the immediate office environment. This verbally supported freedom also enabled me to use my skills to develop partnerships across Sutton that have proven invaluable and seem set to last.
Clinical Supervision is required by the Health Professions Council (HCPC) for an Art Psychotherapist to practice. As this was not initially available in the Civic offices, I arranged my own clinical supervision, which would be covered as an expense. This was held once every six weeks, and proved invaluable. To have independent supervision was helpful to look at the bigger picture of my role, detail of client work, navigate office politics, as well as to remain embedded in social art praxis and psychodynamic clinical approaches.
On site at the civic I also worked with a counselling psychologist, providing peer supervision. The varied working partnerships that I set up were mutually supportive, but this did take work, and insight. To go out and initiate projects with a wide range of people and organisations in isolation is liberating but also challenging. It was therefore helpful to be part of a team with an understanding manager, and have trusted practitioners to check in with.
Projects
People and Plates
An intergenerational design project was conceptualised, planned, and initiated through my role, and co-run by three organisations working in equal partnership to develop the project as a cross organisational team. The organisations are London Borough of Sutton (LBS), Sutton Volunteers Centre (SVC), and Sutton Housing Partnership (SHP). Weekly workshops were held in Milton House sheltered accommodation, where a team of on average nine young people and ten older people co-designed tableware, using contrasting colours. This is proven to be beneficial to physical health in terms of the physical output. See Appendix 1. The creative process facilitated new friendships and understanding between people who otherwise would have been unlikely to meet. There has also been substantial in kind support, from several sources.
Group work
An open art group for mental health patients at Sutton Mental Health Foundation (a Voluntary Sector Organisation) ran for six months, and led to patients coming out of the centre and to the library, researching designs for tablecloths. They developed these independently before I linked them with the intergenerational project, where they led to a flora and fauna theme for the contrasting tableware.
An Art Psychotherapy group was formed from this open art group and now runs weekly at Sutton Mental Health Foundation.
Creative Club
Creative Thinking sessions, were also initiated through this post. I designed these by drawing from experience as an artist advisor, art therapist, and consultant; to use pragmatic problem solving techniques through verbal communication and with art materials. This aims to help individuals support themselves and each other through a wide range of difficult situations (loneliness, bereavement, domestic violence). Small groups are forming and are expected to widen out, if given time and a long-term view.
Attendances to the projects
Intergenerational Project
Ten older people and nine younger people regularly took part in the project. Ten sessions have run, ten sessions are left to run. There have been 98 attendances to the sessions to date. An exhibition will be held in March, which will have a wider reach for communication of the project. There is a chance that the designs will be picked up by a manufacturer further raising awareness and reach; and also the sessions can be held in other environments with a range of people. New partnerships have formed (LBS, SHP, SVC, and Scola).
Art Psychotherapy group at SMHF
24 sessions have run to date. Four have been self-run by the clients.
Eight participants attended the open art group, which ran for six months, with a total of 53 attendances. There followed eight attendances to research sessions in Sutton Central Library.
17 participants currently attend the Art Psychotherapy group, which has run since November 2012, with 68 attendances to date.
Art Psychotherapy individual sessions SMHF
Individual client work was offered as a short term intervention to two clients.
Client a: five sessions were offered, as well as an assessment session and a feedback session. All seven sessions attended. The client then moved into the art psychotherapy group and has attended all nine sessions to date.
Client b: five sessions were offered, as well as an assessment session and a feedback session. All seven sessions attended. The client then moved into the art psychotherapy group and has attended eight of the nine sessions to date. This client has never taken part in group work before, struggles to communicate and rarely leaves his parents home, other than for this service.
Art Psychotherapy sessions Carers Centre
Family a: Nine attendances. The family used the Art Psychotherapy service when they were going through a traumatic transitional period. Their friendship network had diminished, so it created time and space for the family to be together in a supportive environment. They disengaged with the service when the grandfather went into hospital, and it was made clear that the Carers Centre would be open to them in the future.
Family b: Eight sessions have been held, eight remain, eight attendances so far. Initially this work was for mother and son, but the mother’s need is for individual support, before she is able to work on her family she needs to work through her own issues and is doing this with commitment and making progress.
Creative Thinking Sessions at the Circle Library
Six sessions have been held at the Circle Library, and four more have been scheduled. These started off as every three weeks, but are now to be monthly. A second set of Creative Thinking Sessions are being set up at the Civic Offices to be held biweekly. So far attendances 20, scheduled are 38 attendances at the library. Six sessions at the Civic offices have been booked.
Conclusion
Clients and professionals have fed back that they value this service and would like it to be developed. The taster projects have proven a success, for clients vote with their feet and attendance has become more regular over time.
Clients and professionals also are keen to develop the projects themselves – at SMHF group members hold sessions when I am not present.
The intergenerational partners have expressed they would like to develop the project and take it to different community settings and client groups whilst continuing with the linkage of younger and older people.
The post of Art Psychotherapist / Community Development Worker would ideally be a permanent post, so there can be forward planning for long term partnerships and trust with clients and partners that the initiatives are set to last. This can also create more confidence with colleagues, but should not mean the post becomes amalgamated into bureaucratic methods already established within the council. The obstacle encountered by the Community Social Work team of crisis work overriding preventative work, also should not become an issue with this post or another social worker should be employed, who can contribute more effectively to such casework.
At the desk in the office work gets done efficiently, but it is not possible to work in a creative way if always in that environment. To move between places, gaining influence from them, as well as influencing, seems the more sustainable and effective method.
The post would ideally be able to look forward for at least three years and plan projects accordingly. This could be shared, preferably between three practitioners committed to this work for at least three full working days per week each. Partners have fed back this would be helpful, apart from to have one point of contact has been useful; and verbally appreciated.
Sitting within the CSWT has been practical in many ways, but there could be another therapist – perhaps a counselling psychologist, or an occupational therapist, with experience of setting up community projects, also in the team.
This report was written on 24/01/13, as of 01/04/13 the post has been extended for one year, during which the projects will continue to be developed, and further evaluated for their potential to save public money as a preventative measure.
Comments
‘I have worked with Lee for several months now on an intergenerational project involving some of our sheltered housing residents. It is a fantastic project which the residents enjoy and for some of them it is a chance to engage with others avoiding isolation which can often happen in our older residents.
The project was Lee’s idea involving the use and creation of brightly coloured table wear, which can have a beneficial effect for older people. I feel we have developed an excellent working relationship, and I hope to continue working in partnership with Lee.’
Sutton Housing Partnership
‘At the beginning Client B was very reluctant to attend group sessions of art therapy as he is more comfortable on a one to one basis. However, Lee has given much encouragement and has made necessary adjustments to ease his anxieties. So far this appears to be helping Client B and he doesn't seem as anxious now to attend the sessions. Attending these sessions gives Client B structure to his week, which is very important for him and also helps tap into his imagination by thinking about colours and shapes.
Our aim for Client B’s future would be for the art therapy to help develop his social skills and being with a group may help his confidence.
Client B said he loves working with Lee and she is very kind (his words) but would prefer a smaller group.’
(Mother of Client B)
‘The Creative Thinking courses that have been set up at the Circle Library have broadened the scope of activities that the library offers. One of the primary aims of the Circle Library is to engage with the community on many different levels. Being able to offer this course to a variety of individuals has helped involve the community with the library in different ways.’
The Circle Library
‘I have found the Art Psychotherapy work to be an extremely valuable resource for our clients. The sessions provide a useful space for carers to both gain perspective on their caring roles and to maintain their own well being, which benefits the whole family. It is also one of the very few resources in the Borough that supports both carer and cared-for. I have found it really effective for engaging with families in order to enable them to accept support from SCC, thereby preventing them needing to access other statutory sources of support, and I have had very positive feedback from clients about the sessions. One of our clients who suffers from depression really struggled to get out of the house and found communicating difficult. Art Psychotherapy seems to have offered her a means of communicating and since attending the sessions she comes to the centre each week and often arrives early for her sessions. For another family, I noticed that communicating through art seemed to open up discussions about the impact caring was having on the children in a way that previously seemed unmanageable. For both, Art Psychotherapy and Lee's work seem to be creating lasting positive changes.’
Young Carers, Sutton Carers Centre (Princess Royal Trust for Carers)
‘Sutton Mental Health Foundation values the individual and group work that you have undertaken. The work and activity is in line with our commitment to the 5 steps of wellbeing and the activity is consistent with each of these steps Connect Keep Learning Give Take Notice etc. Those who have participated in the group find it really valuable and it enables them to express themselves in a way that feels safe and supportive. And for many it is a major highlight of their week. We hope that the group can both continue and develop over the coming months.
It is an activity that really benefits our members and our organisation.’
Sutton Mental Health Foundation
Lee Simmons 24/01/13
Edited and first published by the British Association of Art Therapists, June 2013
Art Psychotherapist / Community Development Worker
The role of Art Psychotherapist / Community Development Worker has at the time of this writing involved exploring resources across Sutton, and forming cross organisational partnerships to start up new projects that compliment what already exists whilst aiming to bridge gaps in services.
Social art methodology is here used to help create bonds between local people outside of the more traditional social services provisions, and inspire new ideas and partnerships to form. Art Psychotherapy is used in group work and on an individual level to help build resilience and pave the way for vulnerable people to move from isolation into more social settings.
This temporary post has existed since May 2012 and has involved conceptualising, initiating and project managing a cluster of projects that function independently but also link into each other and have the potential to expand according to need and interest within the local community.
Context
The post was developed in response to major cuts to council budgets as a consequence of the current economic crisis. The resources available to the public sector were being cut by 25%, so already stretched services needed radical change. This along with an aging population created an urgency to try something new and building social capital was one of the ideas that might help to catch people who would otherwise fall through the rapidly shrinking net. Community Social Work was championed in the 1970’s and 1980’s and is being re-visited here but in a contemporary context with the idea of prevention being a more financially viable approach than supplying services in an ongoing capacity therefore arguably sustaining need, or creating dependency.
At the time this post was developed there had already been changes to care packages, so that people had personalised budgets, rather than services managed and delivered to / for them, they would manage the purchasing of services for themselves. This was considered as empowering for community members, by some workers in the caring professions, but has not been problem free.
Community Social Work was also said to be empowering for civilians, by having social workers supporting people out in the community, rather than from behind computer screens in statutory organisations. The discussed post was based in a pilot Community Social Work team, in Phase 2 of the initiative.
Developing the post
As the first Community Social Capital Development Officer / Art Psychotherapist, one of the initial things that I did was to deconstruct the title, and change it to Art Psychotherapist / Community Development Worker. This I believed to be more grounded in a professional and community context.
The work base was the Civic office, sitting with Mental Health Social Workers, then separately, then in a Community Social Work Team. One day per week I worked in an artist’s studio and all of the session work to this date was held in different organisations in Sutton. Each of these contexts had benefits and limitations. It was helpful to have a presence in the offices, gain understanding of Social Work, as well as to work with other professionals in the council.
Whilst gaining an insight was helpful, working methods were very different between the needs of my role and those of a Social Worker, often in an uncomfortable way. For example, Art Psychotherapy practice involves quite gentle activities, such as writing process notes and reflecting on session work, as well as talking with clients on the phone. Developing social art projects is lively and frequently cheerful, involving the building of amicable working relationships, and both roles evolve outside of the office as well as at the desk. They might appear like ‘playing’, alongside the social work activity of implementing practical emergency provisions – such as housing and food, whilst working a very well trodden path. Although I valued and appreciated the community social workers around me, as they were saturated with crisis work during the pilot, it was professionals in psychology and community development with whom I developed communication about my work.
The support that I received from management level, where I was encouraged from day one to develop the post in my own way, helped navigate the pressures that I felt in the immediate office environment. This verbally supported freedom also enabled me to use my skills to develop partnerships across Sutton that have proven invaluable and seem set to last.
Clinical Supervision is required by the Health Professions Council (HCPC) for an Art Psychotherapist to practice. As this was not initially available in the Civic offices, I arranged my own clinical supervision, which would be covered as an expense. This was held once every six weeks, and proved invaluable. To have independent supervision was helpful to look at the bigger picture of my role, detail of client work, navigate office politics, as well as to remain embedded in social art praxis and psychodynamic clinical approaches.
On site at the civic I also worked with a counselling psychologist, providing peer supervision. The varied working partnerships that I set up were mutually supportive, but this did take work, and insight. To go out and initiate projects with a wide range of people and organisations in isolation is liberating but also challenging. It was therefore helpful to be part of a team with an understanding manager, and have trusted practitioners to check in with.
Projects
People and Plates
An intergenerational design project was conceptualised, planned, and initiated through my role, and co-run by three organisations working in equal partnership to develop the project as a cross organisational team. The organisations are London Borough of Sutton (LBS), Sutton Volunteers Centre (SVC), and Sutton Housing Partnership (SHP). Weekly workshops were held in Milton House sheltered accommodation, where a team of on average nine young people and ten older people co-designed tableware, using contrasting colours. This is proven to be beneficial to physical health in terms of the physical output. See Appendix 1. The creative process facilitated new friendships and understanding between people who otherwise would have been unlikely to meet. There has also been substantial in kind support, from several sources.
Group work
An open art group for mental health patients at Sutton Mental Health Foundation (a Voluntary Sector Organisation) ran for six months, and led to patients coming out of the centre and to the library, researching designs for tablecloths. They developed these independently before I linked them with the intergenerational project, where they led to a flora and fauna theme for the contrasting tableware.
An Art Psychotherapy group was formed from this open art group and now runs weekly at Sutton Mental Health Foundation.
Creative Club
Creative Thinking sessions, were also initiated through this post. I designed these by drawing from experience as an artist advisor, art therapist, and consultant; to use pragmatic problem solving techniques through verbal communication and with art materials. This aims to help individuals support themselves and each other through a wide range of difficult situations (loneliness, bereavement, domestic violence). Small groups are forming and are expected to widen out, if given time and a long-term view.
Attendances to the projects
Intergenerational Project
Ten older people and nine younger people regularly took part in the project. Ten sessions have run, ten sessions are left to run. There have been 98 attendances to the sessions to date. An exhibition will be held in March, which will have a wider reach for communication of the project. There is a chance that the designs will be picked up by a manufacturer further raising awareness and reach; and also the sessions can be held in other environments with a range of people. New partnerships have formed (LBS, SHP, SVC, and Scola).
Art Psychotherapy group at SMHF
24 sessions have run to date. Four have been self-run by the clients.
Eight participants attended the open art group, which ran for six months, with a total of 53 attendances. There followed eight attendances to research sessions in Sutton Central Library.
17 participants currently attend the Art Psychotherapy group, which has run since November 2012, with 68 attendances to date.
Art Psychotherapy individual sessions SMHF
Individual client work was offered as a short term intervention to two clients.
Client a: five sessions were offered, as well as an assessment session and a feedback session. All seven sessions attended. The client then moved into the art psychotherapy group and has attended all nine sessions to date.
Client b: five sessions were offered, as well as an assessment session and a feedback session. All seven sessions attended. The client then moved into the art psychotherapy group and has attended eight of the nine sessions to date. This client has never taken part in group work before, struggles to communicate and rarely leaves his parents home, other than for this service.
Art Psychotherapy sessions Carers Centre
Family a: Nine attendances. The family used the Art Psychotherapy service when they were going through a traumatic transitional period. Their friendship network had diminished, so it created time and space for the family to be together in a supportive environment. They disengaged with the service when the grandfather went into hospital, and it was made clear that the Carers Centre would be open to them in the future.
Family b: Eight sessions have been held, eight remain, eight attendances so far. Initially this work was for mother and son, but the mother’s need is for individual support, before she is able to work on her family she needs to work through her own issues and is doing this with commitment and making progress.
Creative Thinking Sessions at the Circle Library
Six sessions have been held at the Circle Library, and four more have been scheduled. These started off as every three weeks, but are now to be monthly. A second set of Creative Thinking Sessions are being set up at the Civic Offices to be held biweekly. So far attendances 20, scheduled are 38 attendances at the library. Six sessions at the Civic offices have been booked.
Conclusion
Clients and professionals have fed back that they value this service and would like it to be developed. The taster projects have proven a success, for clients vote with their feet and attendance has become more regular over time.
Clients and professionals also are keen to develop the projects themselves – at SMHF group members hold sessions when I am not present.
The intergenerational partners have expressed they would like to develop the project and take it to different community settings and client groups whilst continuing with the linkage of younger and older people.
The post of Art Psychotherapist / Community Development Worker would ideally be a permanent post, so there can be forward planning for long term partnerships and trust with clients and partners that the initiatives are set to last. This can also create more confidence with colleagues, but should not mean the post becomes amalgamated into bureaucratic methods already established within the council. The obstacle encountered by the Community Social Work team of crisis work overriding preventative work, also should not become an issue with this post or another social worker should be employed, who can contribute more effectively to such casework.
At the desk in the office work gets done efficiently, but it is not possible to work in a creative way if always in that environment. To move between places, gaining influence from them, as well as influencing, seems the more sustainable and effective method.
The post would ideally be able to look forward for at least three years and plan projects accordingly. This could be shared, preferably between three practitioners committed to this work for at least three full working days per week each. Partners have fed back this would be helpful, apart from to have one point of contact has been useful; and verbally appreciated.
Sitting within the CSWT has been practical in many ways, but there could be another therapist – perhaps a counselling psychologist, or an occupational therapist, with experience of setting up community projects, also in the team.
This report was written on 24/01/13, as of 01/04/13 the post has been extended for one year, during which the projects will continue to be developed, and further evaluated for their potential to save public money as a preventative measure.
Comments
‘I have worked with Lee for several months now on an intergenerational project involving some of our sheltered housing residents. It is a fantastic project which the residents enjoy and for some of them it is a chance to engage with others avoiding isolation which can often happen in our older residents.
The project was Lee’s idea involving the use and creation of brightly coloured table wear, which can have a beneficial effect for older people. I feel we have developed an excellent working relationship, and I hope to continue working in partnership with Lee.’
Sutton Housing Partnership
‘At the beginning Client B was very reluctant to attend group sessions of art therapy as he is more comfortable on a one to one basis. However, Lee has given much encouragement and has made necessary adjustments to ease his anxieties. So far this appears to be helping Client B and he doesn't seem as anxious now to attend the sessions. Attending these sessions gives Client B structure to his week, which is very important for him and also helps tap into his imagination by thinking about colours and shapes.
Our aim for Client B’s future would be for the art therapy to help develop his social skills and being with a group may help his confidence.
Client B said he loves working with Lee and she is very kind (his words) but would prefer a smaller group.’
(Mother of Client B)
‘The Creative Thinking courses that have been set up at the Circle Library have broadened the scope of activities that the library offers. One of the primary aims of the Circle Library is to engage with the community on many different levels. Being able to offer this course to a variety of individuals has helped involve the community with the library in different ways.’
The Circle Library
‘I have found the Art Psychotherapy work to be an extremely valuable resource for our clients. The sessions provide a useful space for carers to both gain perspective on their caring roles and to maintain their own well being, which benefits the whole family. It is also one of the very few resources in the Borough that supports both carer and cared-for. I have found it really effective for engaging with families in order to enable them to accept support from SCC, thereby preventing them needing to access other statutory sources of support, and I have had very positive feedback from clients about the sessions. One of our clients who suffers from depression really struggled to get out of the house and found communicating difficult. Art Psychotherapy seems to have offered her a means of communicating and since attending the sessions she comes to the centre each week and often arrives early for her sessions. For another family, I noticed that communicating through art seemed to open up discussions about the impact caring was having on the children in a way that previously seemed unmanageable. For both, Art Psychotherapy and Lee's work seem to be creating lasting positive changes.’
Young Carers, Sutton Carers Centre (Princess Royal Trust for Carers)
‘Sutton Mental Health Foundation values the individual and group work that you have undertaken. The work and activity is in line with our commitment to the 5 steps of wellbeing and the activity is consistent with each of these steps Connect Keep Learning Give Take Notice etc. Those who have participated in the group find it really valuable and it enables them to express themselves in a way that feels safe and supportive. And for many it is a major highlight of their week. We hope that the group can both continue and develop over the coming months.
It is an activity that really benefits our members and our organisation.’
Sutton Mental Health Foundation
