Restorative Approaches/Solution Oriented

Restorative and Solution Oriented Approaches have been in use in Scottish councils for around 20 years. They are now widely used across the country within educational and social services as effective and focused ways of identifying positive outcomes to complex and challenging issues.

Restorative and Solution Oriented Approaches are part of the pedagogy that makes up East Ayrshire’s Relationship Framework.

Restorative Approaches

Restorative = Therapeutic Rapport

  • Therapeutic: approach is mutually beneficial
  • Rapport: building understanding to repair relationships

Reasons for being restorative…

  • Recognise the impact of actions and any harm caused, and consider steps to make things right.
  • Move from the managing of problem behaviour to the nurturing and repair of relationships.
  • Non-Judgmental Approach.
  • Encouraging learners to empathise with the people around them.
  • To encourage the repair of harm to a relationship.
  • Creating dialogue prior to situations escalating.
  • Thinking about the language we use.
  • Allowing learners to move on once an issue has been dealt with.
  • Helping learners to learn how to deal with situations where they have made the wrong choice.
  • Can also be helpful with classroom incidents.
  • Can also help to improve attendance and attainment.
Solution Oriented

Solution oriented practice is a way of working which has been described as ‘solution-building’ (De Jong and Berg 1998).

It helps people develop goals and solutions rather than explore and analyse current problems. It is different to more traditional ‘helping’ methods in that it focuses on the present and the future, on goals and how to achieve them. This approach has a focus on ‘what works’ in any given situation and the development of detailed descriptions of goals. In developing and expanding these descriptions, new possibilities for change open up for the individual and the organisation.

Solution Oriented Approaches focus on the following ten principles…

  1. Listen to the person; listen for possibilities.
  2. People have the necessary resources to make changes.
  3. Everyone has their own ways of solving problems.
  4. No sign-up, no change. Collaboration enhances change.
  5. Language shapes and moulds how we make sense of the world.
  6. A focus on future possibilities and solutions enhance change.
  7. There are always exceptions to the problem.
  8. Small changes can lead to bigger changes.
  9. If it works do more of it; if it doesn’t, do something different.
  10. The problem is the problem, not the person.

 

If you would like further information about training in Restorative/Solution Oriented Approaches please

  • View our Bitesze Presentation
  • Check out our leaflet
  • Sign up for EAST training “Restorative Approaches/Solution Oriented Approaches” through Gateway
  • Email eaEAST@eastayrshire.org.uk