Gibbs Experiential Learning Cycle (1998)

Gibbs Experiential Learning Cycle (1998) Description: Service-user has gone to social club for adults with learning disabilities. The event was arranged by care managers and staff were ‘encouraged’ in supporting the service-users in attending. The service-user was reluctant to get out of the car, and when we were in the club, the person was tense and restless. The event was a disco with a live band; the music was very loud and had flashing lights. The event was very busy with lots of people dancing, shouting and yelling. There was nowhere quieter where the service-user could sit and watch. There were many people coming up to the service-user trying to encourage them to chat or dance. On return, the service-user continued to appear restless. It resulted in the service-user hitting a staff member. | Feelings: I felt uncomfortable escorting the service-user to the social event. The event was arranged by managers and staff were made to feel they had to escort the service-user to it. | Evaluation: The situation could of been avoided insomuch that the service-user didn’t need to go to the event. However, the staff were put into a difficult situation where they felt they had to go. Staff tried to make it as fun as possible for service-user by engaging the service-user, using positive re-enforcement by saying how much fun this is. Offering the things the service-user preferred choice of snacks and treats. | Analysis: Staff were in an impossible situation as they felt they had no choice but to go and stay to the end, however it did show that the service-user doesn’t enjoy these events | Conclusion: The staff could and should of said No, past history of the service-user has shown that the person doesn’t really enjoy this type of events. However we had used this argument before and where told just because the service-user didn’t like it the past they might like now, people change. Which of course they do, but the event had nowhere quieter to sit and the