Inspiring and involving staff

'Attending the course has changed staff attitudes and effected a more positive approach to working with young people. Your unique presentation style was much appreciated by participants. There were lots of new ideas which were practical and realistic for staff to implement in their day to day roles. You were enthusiastic, positive and persuasive and we appreciated your passion, excitement, humour and flexibility.' Neil Davies, Deputy Head of Libraries, London Borough of Brent.

'It's taken the 'fear factor' out of working with teenagers.' Public Library Staff.

'What teenagers are reading, what we can do to make better libraries for teenagers, what to do when things are going wrong. Plenty to work on. Great, thanks.' Public Library Staff.

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Jerry has a proven track record of planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating library services for teenagers. This is very practical training, enabling staff to develop awareness, confidence, knowledge and skills to meet the needs of teenagers

As with all of Jerry's training, sessions can be tailored to specific local needs. Jerry is also happy to create new courses to meet specific needs.

Training options include:

• 101 ways to a vibrant, inspiring and creative Secondary School Library
• Beyond behaviour management: effective engagement for learning in the secondary school library
• Creating a successful library for teenagers: a role for everyone
• Effective engagement with teenagers
• Libraries inspiring young people: a role for everyone
• Managing behaviour: making positive connections with young people
• Planning, running and evaluating public library-based study support
• Public libraries for children and young people: issues of social inclusion
• Teenage reading: a practical introduction
• Teenage reading groups: a practical introduction
• Teenage reading groups: next steps

Areas commonly explored across these training options:

• Important policy drivers
• Start with a plan!
• The importance of partnerships
• Teenagers as individuals
• Consulting and involving teenagers
• Teenagers' needs and expectations
• Thinking about the service from teenagers' point of view
• Working with disaffection
• Resources for teenagers, including books, websites, magazines and comics
• Agreeing the common ground
• Effective engagement with teenagers
• Managing behaviour
• Understanding one’s own responsibilities
• Managing one’s own behaviour
• Managing expectations
• Establishing boundaries
• What to do when confronted with challenging behaviour
• What to say, what not to say
• What to do when young people won’t co-operate
• How to work around peer group pressure
• How to find the right tone
• The essentials of body language
• How to be a supportive manager and colleague
• Maintaining consistency
• How to be a survivor!
• Inspiring and being inspired by teenagers!
• Practical activities to take away!
• Difficult situations, positive solutions
• Action planning

'Again, an excellent course that got important messages across to the staff about working with teeanagers, proven by the participation of staff and their enjoyment expressed afterwards.

The importance of a relevant library service for teenagers was reinforced in staff minds with pertinent anecdotes and quotes. Important messages about patterns of behaviour and stereotyping were put across well and the notion that working with teenagers is optional was well and truly buried.

The course took various approaches which suited different learning styles and was delivered with humour and the confidence of one who knows their subject.'
Gerry Williams, Young People’s Services Manager, Knowsley Library Service

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Jerry Hurst provides training courses, workshops and seminars for libraries, schools, museums, galleries, archives, youth services and other agencies. The focus can be work with children, teenagers or adults or the full range of service provision.

Training options are adaptable to the client's specific requirements. The content, level, approach and intended learning outcomes are always designed to reflect the client's brief. Jerry is also happy to create new courses to meet specific needs. This approach ensures that outcomes for participants are closely aligned with local service and staff development priorities.

If you need further information, or would like to discuss your training or consultancy requirements, please e mail jerry@jerryhurst.co.uk or telephone +44(0)20 8364 6166.