Solution Circles

Solution Circles are a simple and powerful tool to help people solve problems at work or in life with community support. They only take about 30 minutes and are great for finding new ideas when someone feels stuck in their current situation.

This idea was created by Marsha Forest and Jack Pearpoint. It works well because it shows that people around us (like co-workers or others in our community) can help if we ask them.

People who have tried Solution Circles say they are easy to learn and useful. Some have even added them to their workplace team meetings and peer supervision to support each other.

In Suffolk, we use Solution Circles online as part of our early support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This is part of our Graduated Response to help children as early as possible.

After each Solution Circle the education setting staff member, having spent a short time with a group of colleagues, is allocated a named person to follow up with a phone call, text or email. This has proven to be an extremely helpful element of the Solution Circle.