2017

1) Workshop for School Key Personnel on How to Implement a Peer Support Programme in Schools – W6 School Cluster

The Social Factor conducted a workshop for Key Personnel of the W6 Cluster of Schools.

The workshop had the following objectives:

1. For Key Personnel to know the value of Peer Support in the school context
2. To set up a peer support programme in a systematic way with systems and processes to run and sustain it
3. To know how to identify and train students to be peer support leaders
4. To know the type of skills and knowledge needed to be imparted to peer support leaders to be equipped for their roles; and
5. To know how to equip peer support leaders with basic knowledge of students with special needs and students who are at risk.

2) Health Promotion Board – “Colours of the Mind” – An Interactive Mental Wellness Workshop for Parents (2017-2018)

This is the third year that The Social Factor will be conducting this programme for the parents of children aged 3 to 6.

The programme has the following objectives:

1. To equip parents with the knowledge and skills on building the mental wellbeing domains – Positive Functioning, Emotional Intelligence and Social Intelligence that would improve their children’s outcomes in life;
2. To equip parents with knowledge and skills to better communicate with their children; and
3. To empower parents to take control and ownership of their personal wellbeing.

120 sessions will be conducted over the course of two years.

3) Ngee Ann Polytechnic – Peer Support Training for Lecturers & Students

The Social Factor is conducting two runs of the Peer Support Programme for Peer Support Mentors and Student Peer Supporters. The 2-day student programme has the following objectives:

1. To help students gain a better understanding of themselves and how their life experiences have affected the person whom they are.
2. To understand the importance of empathy.
3. To learn active listening and effective friendship skills in order to be a better help to their friends.
4. To learn about common youth issues and signs of distress, and how to recognise when a friend needs help.
5. To learn about the various support strategies & resources and how to help a friend in need.

As for the 2-day lecturer programme, it has the following objectives:

1. To understand the basis for Student Peer Supporter selection & how to mentor SPS.
2. To establish the roles & attributes of Teacher Mentors & SPS.
3. To craft a model for the selection and training of SPS.
4. To understand how to implement a Peer Support Programme.
5. To craft a concrete implementation plan following the training sessions.

4) Dover Court International School – Understanding Sensory Processing Disorder

The Social Factor conducted a two-session workshop for educators and therapists to gain a better understanding of how to help students with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in the classroom. Through the session, participants gained insights into the ethology of SPD (formerly called Sensory Integration Dysfunction), and learnt about various classroom strategies that can be used to help students with SPD.

5) Institutes of Technical Education – Paracounselling Course for Community Care & Social Services Students (2017)

The Social Factor was re-appointed for a second run of a 20-lesson course for two classes of ITE Year One students. The course will equip students with basic counselling skills in order for them to become effective para-counsellors.

6) At-Sunrice Global Chef Academy – Counselling Services (2017)

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between The Social Factor and At-Sunrice Global Chef Academy, whereby The Social Factor was appointed to handle counselling cases for At-Sunrice for the calendar year 2017.

7) Zhonghua Primary School – Workshop on Dyslexia: How to Study, Learn More Effectively & Be Better Prepared for Examinations

The Social Factor conducted a specialised workshop for students with dyslexia to help them to be more effective learners. Students were taught how to cope with dyslexia in terms of how to understand their emotions, how to adopt a learning style appropriate to their needs, and how to create an optimal learning and studying environment. They were also provided with techniques to facilitate their learning and to be better prepared for their examinations.   

8) Ministry of Education – Student Peer Support Training for Student and Teacher Mentors (Pilot)

The Social Factor was appointed to spearhead the development of training content and delivery of training on Student Peer Support for selected Student Peer Supporters and Teacher Mentors from 2 Secondary Schools. It is intended for the programme to be extended to all Secondary Schools in the future.

Teacher Mentors’ Training

• Know how to select appropriate Student Peer Supporters who are seen by peers as social leaders and have the appropriate disposition for the role
• Co-train specific activities with the Contractor for the Peer Supporters’ training and have an understanding of how to conduct subsequent training with future batches of Peer Supporters
• Guide, coach and support Peer Supporters (including but not restricted to conducting regular support group sessions, briefing and debriefing Peer Supporters to help them improve skills and addressing challenges in their roles)
• Identify and coach Peer Supporters who may struggle in the initial phase and need additional support to play their role
• Identify sustainable ways that Peer Supporters can advocate for peer support in school

Student Peer Supporters’ Training

At the end of the training, selected Student Peer Supporters should be able to:

1. Provide social-emotional support to peers who come to them (e.g., through listening, empathic responding)
2. Use friendship skills to reach out to shy or socially isolated peers
3. Identify peers in distress and refer to a trusted adult where appropriate
4. Be an advocate for peer support in the school as role models in their daily interactions with peers (including but not restricted to influencing peers in their social circles to have a peer support mind-set of looking out for the well-being of others, promoting help-seeking behaviour and having a positive attitude towards life).

9) Ngee Ann Polytechnic – Zest-Up Wellness Programmes for Students
The Social Factor has been appointed as the vendor for a series of 4 talks and 4 support group sessions. The topics cover a range of wellbeing issues:

1. Time Management Talk
2. Talk on Building Relationships with Love Languages
3. Cyber Wellness Talk
4. Social Skills Support Group
5. Overcoming Negative Thoughts Support Group
6. Making Choices for Yourself Support Group
7. Know More About Yourself Support Group