VERP
Video
Enhanced
Reflective
Practice
This page is for VIG practitioners, commissioners and other professionals, who are interested in learning more about VERP.
What is VERP?
VERP stands for Video Enhanced Reflective Practice. The main idea is simple:
People look at real life videos of their own work, focused on what is already workingwell, and then use this to refine and improve their professional practice.
VERP is a very personalised training course which is tailored to each individual, setting or team, focused on what they want to change. VERP intentionally raises awareness of professional strengths, skills and capacity for change, starting from a foundation of strength and building from this point.
How does VERP work?
People using VERP:
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Attend an initial training session
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Decide on some goals to focus on
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Record short videos of themselves doing their everyday work, such as teaching, caring, or interacting with colleagues related to their goal
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They choose clips where things went better than usual, that they are comfortable to share
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They attend a series of small group sessions, over a few weeks or months.
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In the small group sessions they watch their clips and talk about them, with the support of an accredited VERP practitioner. They also watch and support fellow participants.
This helps people:
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Notice their strengths and be clear about what they do that works well
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Understand how their actions affect others
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Consider their practice deeply, making plans of what they will do or try next and noticing progress over time.
What is VERP based on?
VERP is based on the same ideas as Video Interaction Guidance (VIG).
Both approaches focus on:
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Building positive relationships
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Improving how people connect and communicate
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Paying attention to moments when interactions go well
VERP is always guided by a trained and accredited AVIGuk VERP practitioner or supervisor, who helps people reflect in a supportive way.
Where is VERP used?
VERP has been used successfully in many different settings, including:
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Education – supporting early years practitioners, teachers, learning assistants, and support staff
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Special education – helping staff meet complex needs with confidence
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Health and care settings – improving communication with patients, and supporting trainee Doctors to pass the 'communication skills' aspect of their practice (contact Chloe Erlam and Ruth Hind via our Learning Platform - or AVIGuk to hear more about this project).
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Residential care – strengthening positive relationships
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Parenting support – helping parents communicate more effectively
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Leadership training - supporting good supervisory practices and leadership that inspires
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Multi-disciplinary teams – improving collaborative working
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To support the embedding of other training – for example early years staff implementing training in supporting early literacy skills.
In the UK currently Educational Psychologists are the largest providers of VERP. Research has shown VERP to have significantly more impact than one off training (Kennedy, Landor and Todd; 2015).
What are the key parts of VERP?
Personal goals Each person chooses goals that matter to them and their work
A helping question A simple question that guides reflection, such as
“What am I doing to encourage effective communication with patients?”
Video reflection Short clips showing positive moments are used to support learning.
Guided support A trained VERP practitioner helps keep the process safe, respectful, focused on
strengths whilst encouraging deeper levels of reflection.
VERP is practical, reflective, and focused on real-life situations.
VERP is a positive and supportive way to learn. It helps people:
Understand their strengths so that they can build on them
Strengthen relationships Improve Communication
Feel more confident in their work Can support the implementation of other training
Improve people's wellbeing at work, particularly in challenging circumstances
Have more questions?
Contact AVIGuk VERP Development, where our experienced VERP practitioner - Anne-Marie Walker - can get back to you.
Want to find a VERP Practitioner?
Contact our Registrar Team or search our VIG Supervisor Directory or our VIG Practitioner Directory to find those VIG Supervisors and Practioners who are also VERP trained.