Core Components

The Seasons for Growth - Children and Young People's Programme is an education programme for children and young people aged 6 to 18 years who have experienced uncertainty, change or loss such as death, divorce, separation, family breakdown and other changes.  It is recommended that the change and loss experienced by children and young people participating in the programme has occurred more than six months prior to commencing the small groups. The programme is a peer support, strengths based, early intervention and prevention programme delivered to small group (4-7 participants) over 8 weekly 40-50 minute sessions, with an additional celebration session and 2 re-connector sessions. It is suitable for delivery in schools, parishes, community organisations and local agencies.

The intervention draws on the metaphor of the seasons to understand the experience of grief, the topics covered in each session of the programme include (1) Seasons and Change (autumn) (2) My story and grief reactions (winter) (3) Feelings and memories (spring) and, (4) Choices and moving forward (summer).  Seasons for Growth groups help participants explore the impact of change and loss on every-day life, teaching children and young people new ways to respond to these events whilst providing a safe learning environment where participants can give voice to their experiences, understand, and befriend their feelings, learn skills that help them adapt, develop friendships, and recognise that ‘they are not the only one’. The groups aim to provide support and space for children and young people to:

• Learn about how different people respond to change, loss and grief
• Understand that it is normal to experience a range of grief reactions
• Explore new approaches to dealing with change, loss and grief in their lives
• Build communication, decision making and problem-solving skills
• Participate in a supportive network of peers and adults
• Integrate their new learning into their relationships with family, friends and others

In Scotland the programme follows the principles of a least intrusive, most inclusive approach and takes full account of the voices of children and young people addressing the ‘Getting It Right For Every Child’ (GIRFEC) framework requirements. Schools are able to integrate this programme into their wellbeing framework.

Seasons for Growth is delivered using a wide range of age-appropriate activities involving drawing, role-play, stories, discussion, playdough, music and journal activities. Children’s learning is documented in a personal ‘Seasons for Growth’ journal so that participants can re-visit their insights and learning in the future. 

The programme consists of four levels; Level 1 for ages 6-8 years, delivered over 40 minute sessions; Level 2 for ages 9-10 years, delivered over 40 minute sessions; Level 3 for ages 11-12 years, delivered over 45 minute sessions; Level 4 for ages 13-18 years, delivered over 50 minute sessions. All four levels of the programme have flexibility to cater for participants with different learning needs or preferences. The programme has a home element for families which is strongly recommended promoting involvement of parents and carers as active partners in promoting their children’s social and emotional wellbeing.

The Seasons for Growth Children and Young People’s Programme is clearly operationalised and includes a well-structured, comprehensive Companion’s manual which includes 8 detailed sessions including a clear outline and focus and resources which are hands-on and online.

Fidelity

In order to effectively replicate the programme and achieve good outcomes, the Seasons for Growth Children and Young People’s Programme requires all elements of the core programme to be implemented in the order prescribed. This is supported by

• standardised materials including a Companion’s manual and resources
• standardised training
• session outlines
• evaluation using a range of standardised tools

Modifiable Components

The Seasons for Growth - Children and Young People’s Programme participants engage in all core sessions of the programme with flexibility for the trained Companion to adapt the activities to the needs of the participants in the group.  Seasons for Growth for Children and Young People is suitable for children on the autistic spectrum and those with special needs dependent upon the Companions knowledge.  Materials can be adapted to cater for children and young people with additional needs, for example literacy difficulties whereby the Companion can opt to go down a level or choose not to use all the activities.

Seasons for Growth programmes were developed by Professor Anne Graham, Centre for Children and Young People at Southern Cross University and the Good Grief team at MacKillop Family Services (Australia). The Notre Dame Centre supports the team of Trainers delivering the programme in Scotland and is responsible for training and supporting local networks of Companions.

Support for Organisation / Practice

Implementation Support

Implementation support is provided by the national and regional Trainers, specifically:

• Face-to-face training and Seasons for Growth Companion Manual and Participant Journals
• Additional evidence-informed information and access to online resources
• Ongoing support from the Trainers
• Structured debriefing with identified professional within their school or agency
• Reconnector network and learning sessions, newsletters, conferences.

Licence Requirements

The Notre Dame Centre, Glasgow is the licence holder for Seasons for Growth in Scotland.

Start-up Costs

The cost for the 2-day Companion training (onsite or online) per person is £295, for up to 12 participants with one trainer is £3,245 and training for 13-20 participants, which requires 2 trainers is £4,565. This cost includes a manual (Level 1-3 for primary or Level 4 for secondary) required to deliver the programme and one journal - Level 2 for primary (of which there are 3 levels) or Level 4 for secondary, for each participant. Additional resources are available online. The ongoing costs include journals (£13 each) for the children/young people.

In local authorities with Trainers, training costs may be subsidised.  For implementing agencies requesting onsite training, travel and accommodation costs may be extra depending on location.

Building Staff Competency

Qualifications Required

Seasons for Growth Companions are typically from a teaching, psychology, nursing, counselling, chaplaincy, or social work background. An effective Companion is a person who can facilitate the learning environment to support children and young people through the small group education process. Companions must be endorsed by their employer or an approved agency (school, hospice, voluntary organisation, parish etc) have undergone a background checks fulfilling Child Protection Legislative Requirements e.g. Disclosure Scotland, Child Protection Training.

Training Requirements

Seasons for Growth Companion training requires participation in a two-day (9am-4pm) training programme.  In order to become accredited, Companions must deliver the programme, return evaluations to the trainer and attend a reconnector session. Companions are trained and supported by national and regional Trainers.  Online training requires participants to have access to a computer (with camera and microphone) and reliable internet access. For groups of up to 12 or 20, ‘In House’ Training is also available.

Supervision Requirements

Following initial accreditation, Companions are required to participate in professional learning and a Reconnector session once every two years to remain accredited.

Theory of Change

Seasons for Growth is theoretically and practically consistent with Narrative Theory underpinned by Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, A Strengths Based Perspective and Resilience Building Interventions.  The programme was designed with reference to developmental psychology, ensuring that activities are appropriate and relevant to the age and stage of participants. It has been adapted to an educational (learning) framework to be an educative model as a therapeutic intervention. The theoretical underpinning of the programme is informed by Worden’s Task Model of Grief. Worden’s model portrays the individual as taking an active role in managing grief through four ‘tasks’: accepting the reality of the loss, working through the pain of grief, adjusting to the new situation and finding a connection with what has been lost while moving forward. The ‘Seasons for Growth’ intervention for pupils experiencing change and loss in managing grief, is based on the belief that change, loss and grief are natural and normal parts of life.  The programme aims to produce a sense of resilience, personal growth and acceptance of change in people’s lives especially for young people who are dealing with change, loss and grief associated with death, family breakdown, or any other form of separation.

Values

Seasons for Growth aspires to a healthy society where grief and loss are recognised as a natural and normal part of life with appropriate support available to all.  Respecting the dignity and self-worth of all children and young people with emphasis on the importance of young people's active participation and ‘voice’, as an ‘expert’ in their own experience, is of critical importance.  The programme aims to produce a sense of resilience, personal growth and acceptance of change in people’s lives.  The role of the Companion is critical to the success of the programme.  The emphasis for the Companion is on incorporating the philosophy and principles of the children’s participation and the quality of the learning experience, based on conversations with and between the children.

• Is support that respects the dignity and self-worth of all children/young people who are dealing with change, loss and grief align with the key values of your service/organisation?

Priorities

The Seasons for Growth - Children and Young People’s Programme seeks to help children and young people learn that they are not alone in dealing with the effects of change, loss and grief.  The programme prioritises building communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills to develop resilience and emotional literacy in children and young people to promote their social and emotional well-being.  

• Is supporting children/young people, who have experienced change, loss or grief, to improve their social and emotional well-being a priority for your organisation?

Existing Initiatives

• Does your service already provide programmes aiming to improve children and young people’s social and emotional well-being following grief or loss?
• Does your area have practitioners trained in delivering the Seasons for Growth Children and Young People’s Programme?
• Do you have links with CAMHS, Adult Mental Health Services and Child Protection Services to refer onto if required?

Workforce

To deliver the Seasons for Growth - Children and Young People’s Programme to participants aged 6 to 18 years, requires two Companions who have completed the two-day training programme following endorsement by their employer or an approved agency (school, hospice, voluntary organisation, parish etc) having undergone a background check. Companions complete training from various professional backgrounds including teaching, teaching assistants, librarians, social workers, psychologists, nurses and chaplains.

• Do you have appropriate qualified staff available to train?
• Do you have appropriate staff able to commit time to both training and delivery of the intervention?

Technology Support

To implement the Seasons for Growth for - Children and Young People Programme requires minimal technological resources for online training and Reconnector sessions which include internet access to stream, view materials and footage required only. 

• Do you have the technology to support therapists to download, print and photocopy the materials needed to deliver the programme?
• Do you have the technology available for companions to view online materials with participants?

Administrative Support

Arranging the small group programme requires some administration for advertising the group and coordinating the parent/carer consent.  Some Companions manage this process unaided whilst others are able to seek administrative support through their schools or agencies.

• Do your current administrative procedures support your companions to implement a programme like this?

Financial Support

To deliver the Seasons for Growth Children and Young People’s Programme requires training for up to 12 participants costing £3,245 (onsite or online) or for 13-20 participants £4,565.  Ongoing costs include the purchase of participant journals which costs £13 per journal.

• Do you have the finances to purchase the programme, fund training of staff to become accredited Companions and purchase an ongoing supply of participant journals?

Comparable Population

The Seasons for Growth - Children and Young People’s Programme is designed as an early intervention and prevention small group programme (4-7 participants) for all children and young people across the full range of socio-economic levels who have experienced a significant loss or life change at least six months before the programme commences.  The programme supports a peer-group process with four age-appropriate levels catering for children and young people aged 6-18 years.  The programme is also suitable for children and young people on the autistic spectrum and those with additional needs.

Evidence of its effectiveness includes children and young people aged 6 to 18 years in Australia, New Zealand, Wales, England and Scotland who have experienced change, loss of grief.

• Is this comparable to the population you serve?
• Does your organisation have existing contacts with this population?
• Are you likely to receive enough referrals/demand for eligible children and young people to populate a recurring programme of Seasons for Growth for Children and Young People?

Desired Outcome

The Seasons for Growth - Children and Young People’s Programme seeks to strengthen building of personal resilience, coping and social skills, and increasing participants’ sense of belonging while also working to minimise risk factors including social isolation and lack of support networks.

Research has identified that the Seasons for Growth - Children and Young People’s Programme has shown improvements in a number of areas of health, wellbeing and coping behaviours, learning, resilience, confidence, self-esteem, expression of views and ability to identify support networks.

• Are these outcomes aligned with the outcomes that the service is aiming to achieve?
• Do you have other existing initiatives that would be supportive of addressing these needs and achieving these outcomes?