Understanding the Group Sessions
This social cooking group will give your child the opportunity to plan and execute a dinner for the family whilst learning how to work in a team. Each participant will be a part of each process leading up to the event including creating invitations, determining the menu, and cooking the food. Your child will explore his/her strengths whilst having graded support in a safe but unpredictable environment. Aims of the social cooking group will include, but are not limited to:
Improved ability to tolerate challenging situations
Improved appropriate social interaction
Increased confidence and self-esteem in engaging in daily routines or tasks with less required support from families
Ability to collaborate and achieve tasks
Engages in healthy self-soothing behaviours e.g. self regulation
Group Facilitators
The group will include one occupational therapist, one provisional psychologist and assistance from support workers that may be involved with any of the participants. The role of the facilitators is to guide, teach and help generalise skills that are learnt throughout the intensive group.
Risk Factors
This group is aimed to safely challenge the participants to achieve an outcome (holding a dinner event for the family). During this time, there may be situations where participants feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. There will be time to share at the end of each session, which will give each person a moment to describe challenges and wins of the day. As this may or may not be easy for the participants, support will be provided.
Participants will also be handling tools for cooking that can impose risk if not used correctly e.g. knife for chopping foods, stove and oven (heat) for cooking.. Participants are to wear enclosed footwear. Participants will be given a safety briefing before each session. Teaching and maintaining safety will be a priority.
An adequate level on hygiene must be maintain. Participants must follow instructions given by the facilitator and in some instances, gloves may need to be worn.
NOTE: Please inform the therapists if there are any allergies or other precautions before commencement of the group
Expectations
Wash apron before every session
Bring own container to take home food
Hair tie or pulled back
Wear enclosed footwear
Follow facilitator instructions
Confidentiality
Confidentiality between clients will be addressed in the group. Participants will be encouraged to keep information learnt from each other within the group setting. Therapists will use their professional judgement to decide whether parent/guardians are to be informed about situations.
Fees and Schedule:
The group is a 8-week intensive. Each session is run over a 1 hour period, $30/per per person (total of 1.5 hours including prep).
The total cost for the group is: $240.00
Each group member is required to attend every session to in order to get the best opportunity for goal achievement. Absences can greatly affect other group participants so it is highly recommended attendance is consistent. Cancellations within 24 hours will incur a cancellation fee. Please note, for those with NDIS funding, cancellation fees are in line with the NDIS price guideline.
Resource Fees:
Personalised apron with name: $60.00
DFS apron if lost and/or not returned: $50.00
Emergencies
Therapists can be contacted by parents/guardians any time throughout the sessions if needed for emergencies.
Please sign below to indicate that you understand and agree to the above, and consent the social cooking group. Please keep a copy of this form.