Some of us have always seen the progression of TC principles as an 'obviously good thing', but for many it seems to sound a bit out-of-date, fringe, or even anarchic. David Kennard wrote of the 'TC impulse' which -to my mind- was just a matter of getting on with what you need to, not worrying too much about the formalities, and being all involved in it together - at a human level. And no amount of bureaucracy, regulation or legalistic nonsense could extinguish it - it will always find a way to find its way out. I think he also introduced the phrase 'shirt-sleeves informality' which says so much about the way we need to be with each other.
The modern 21st century version is all about thing like 'co-production', empowerment and agency, service user involvement, 'modified TCs', 'adapted TCs', 'Enabling Environments' - and I want to propose that the golden thread linking them all together is 'Relational Practice'. This lineage is all about carrying the TC 'heart and flame' into a modern context where the ideas are still recognisably progressive, radical and subversive. However, I feel many of our colleagues in the work are tired, and almost burnt-out, with a sense of learned helplessness - that we are up against something so powerful and all-embracing, that all we can do is hunker down and keep trying to do what we know best how to do.
But maybe it is the freedom of retirement that allows me to think that - actually - this is so fundamentally important for 'the way we are with each other' that some of us need to make a fuss. The industrialisation, corporatisation and manualisation of professional life has restricted our working relationships to an arid, barren and empty simulacrum of real and creative interpersonal endeavour. The way out of this is to make a fuss that something is wrong - and to do so without whingeing, ranting too much, being pompous, or prophesising doom (however much we feel it).
The 'Relational Practice Movement' is our vehicle for this at the moment. By 'our' I think I mean like-minded people that some of us have met in the last few years - public sector rebels, NHS visionaries, prison service progressives, numerous passionate third sector organisations - and many more. We are going to gather them all together for an event coordinated by the Royal College of Psychiatrists Centre for Quality Improvement's 'Enabling Environments' project early in 2023. We hope for it to be the launch of what we are calling the 'Relational Practice movement'.
Here is the outline plan of what we are intending to do - please be aware that this is only a draft, so please check the RCPsych website for up-to-date details if you want to be involved. And do get in touch if you want to stand up at the front and say something that will help the effort!
Relational practice is a way of working that recognises the primary importance of the quality of relationships. It is the foundation upon which effective interventions are made, and it forms the conditions for a healthy relational environment. It is relevant across all sectors, fields and specialties; formal research is now being undertaken and published to show evidence of its importance, and relevant training programmes have been commissioned by NHS England.
This one-day conference will bring together those who are familiar with working in this way with others who are interested, to launch a movement which will raise awareness of its relevance in provision of a wide range of services. As well as members of the college and other clinicians, we are inviting key individuals from social care, criminal justice, education and other settings – including those involved with policy, commissioning and management of relevant organisations.
The conference is being hosted by the College Centre for Quality Improvement’s Enabling Environments project.
Date: Tuesday 30 May 2023
Venue: RCPsych, Prescot Street, London E1 8BB
Convenors: Rex Haigh, Nick Benefield, Mike Burns
Speakers: TBC
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