Our flagship programme, Mindset in Education, has proven impact in supporting school staff to help children change how they feel about their ability and how they deal with problems and setbacks.
Building on this experience and track record, and through conversations with partners during and since the Independent Care Review and publication of The Promise, Winning Scotland are offering residential and care staff the opportunity to enrol on Mindset in Social Care, a course designed specifically to increase care staff's knowledge of growth mindset and in turn support young people to achieve all they can in life. Developed in partnership with the Promise Partnership Fund and the Corra Foundation, the course will support learners to understand the concept of fixed and growth mindset and importantly, apply this to the care of young people. This content focuses on supporting young people to create a love of learning, recognise wider achievement, build self-belief and share best practice whilst strengthening relationships between young people and care staff.
Mindset in Care will upskill the most significant adults in a child’s life to offer support and guidance at critical moments. Growth mindset is most pertinent when a person is struggling - knowing how to overcome setbacks and emerge stronger and more resilient will fortify young people already suffering with disruption and trauma, experiences that can significantly undermine confidence and learning ability.
Running from Tuesday 6 Sept 2022 until Tuesday15 November 2022, the course uses a mix of face-to-face seminars, supported with online learning.
The course will require residential and care staff to attend in-person and online seminars (details in the downloadable descriptor, below). The in-person seminars will be a held regionally with further details about venues to follow after registration.
Based on some initial success using growth mindset in care in Dundee, a pilot will take place across a minimum of five care settings in Dundee in 2022. We are working in close partnership with Dundee City Council to deliver the pilot, with financial support from the Northwood Charitable Trust.
In addition, as outlined above, up to 150 fully funded places are available thanks for funding support from the Promise Partnership and the Corra Foundation.
We are engaging closely with experienced leaders and practitioners from the sector to develop a high quality and relevant programme. They include:
Fiona Low (Dundee City Council, education officer responsible for care-experienced and vulnerable persons/edge of care)
Bobby Jones (independent coach/consultant and network coordinator for Champions Boards across Scotland on behalf of The Life Changes Trust)
Jimmy Paul (Director or WEALL Scotland, formerly CELCIS)
Heather Coady (independent consultant focused on system-change)
If the pilot is successful, our intention is to expand Mindset in Care into care settings across other areas of Scotland.
“We’ve seen a noticeable change, even from one [mindset] session. It’s changed a number of the team’s mindsets. It’s another thing in the toolbox that we can use to help our young people think about their options. We’re still talking about it six months down the line – everyone mentioned it as a worthwhile activity in their performance evaluations.” Leisa McQuade, House Depute at The Junction, Dundee
"Understanding growth mindset helped me gain confidence, reduce my anxiety and be more accepting. Thinking about the future now, it’s still nerve wracking and fearful, however I am not going to hide from the challenge and I can definitely see more of a future. I’m more confident and starting to re-integrate into society. I now understand that there will be ups and downs and setbacks in life, but I know it’s a gradual process. I wouldn’t have had this attitude two years ago." Care experienced young person
more about mindset
Growth mindset making a difference in the care sector
Mindset Teams course descriptor for 2021-22 academic session
Mindset Teams impact report 2022
On Our Marks project helping children be active at home and at school
Pupils reconnect with school after learning about growth mindset
Growth mindset raises aspirations of Dundee pupils
Growth mindset is building the confidence of Dundee pupils
Pupils change their minds about intelligence after growth mindset lessons
Growth mindset creates a more positive learning environment for pupils
