Our Safeguarding Courses
The session aims to support practitioners to undertake a good quality, analytical, evidence-based assessment to inform the decision making and care planning for children, young people and their family.
It covers the theory, principles and value base that underpins best practice in assessment and care planning, including SMART outcome focused objective setting.
This session is aimed at individuals who work in the community and is intended to provide the practical skills to disengage a potential attacker.
This session is aimed at individuals who work with, support or care for children, young people or adults and provides practical techniques to release and re-direct situations whereby we are grabbed or held.
This one-day introductory programme of Social Care training Safeguarding Disabled Children aims to explore good practice in the protection of disabled children from abuse, and promote effective working together for all those concerned for their safety and welfare.
his one day programme is for those with responsibility for safeguarding practice in fostering organisations including front line managers, senior managers and members of fostering panels. Its focus is on the national policy and legislative context and how this, along with evidence from research and practice informs safeguarding work. The course will apply this national context to the specific issues that need to be addressed when managing a foster care service.
This course will equip participants with the necessary skills to be able to confidently take minutes at vulnerable adult strategy meetings, providing the delegates with a full understanding to this role in a multi agency meeting environment.
A primary focus for children’s social care authorities, and so that they meet Ofsted requirements, is to ensure that managers carefully oversee casework assessments, plans and reviews so that these demonstrate timely and purposeful work with children. Good quality and consistent Management Oversight is essential so that an authority can deliver its service priorities. Following Ofsted inspections, lack of Management Oversight is commonly reported as being a major issue.
To address this our Management Oversight training is absolutely specific and unique to each of our clients in the same way that the issues and work practices in that client’s service are also unique. Talking Life will work with you and your nominees as we design and deliver a development programme to your chosen audiences. Afterwards, we feed back to your organisation the voice of your delegates in order to ensure that all of your staff have an investment in establishing and maintaining meaningful Management Oversight.
This is generally a one day programme of delivery, however it can be expanded to become a wider syllabus with a second day being added that addresses leadership and supervision development issues. You will see below the links that Ofsted make between Management Oversight and Supervision and you may feel this is an opportunity to embed both these modules within a wider Managers’ Development Programme that your Organisation might already have in place
This course supports members of staff who chair a variety of different types of meetings which all have the same theme in common, they are all sensitive meetings e.g. Adult & Child Protection Meetings, Safeguarding Meetings, HR Meetings, Disciplinary Meetings, Restructuring Consultation etc.
This course is designed to increase the theoretical knowledge of social care professionals on the up to date legal framework, code of practice and human rights that covers the clients’ capacity to make decisions, protection of their cognitive decision making process, and understanding the principles of proper care towards these vulnerable people.
This course will provide participants with an insight into to the available methods complimentary to, and instead of formal processes for conflict resolution; including skilled use of communication and questioning.
Particularly, but not limited to acquiring the skills to re-establish working relationships after a formal dispute has been resolved.
This course will introduce participants to a range of skills, competencies and knowledge/experience that make up the mediator skill-set.
This Sibling Assessment Training course enables practitioners to understanding the dynamics of sibling groups with specific issues or complex histories. The course explores the impact of both placing children together and separating them. A range of theories will enable practitioners to consider short medium and long term issues for placement of siblings. Alongside this practitioners will be supported to consider the impact of trauma on children and young people and how this may be triggered in sibling relationships even long after they have been removed. Practitioners will consider the impact across the whole of a child’s development of remain or separating from siblings.
Delegates attending this course will be working with Unaccompanied Minors (UAMS) in different capacities. Attendees will want to gain an advanced understanding of the political, religious, cultural and background dynamics that contribute to UAMs trauma experiences. The course provides IROs and other practitioners working with UAMs with an in-depth, multi-faceted understanding of how political, religious, cultural and background experiences can contribute to UAMs trauma. Delegates will also be given the toolkits and necessary knowledge to able to confidently engage with UAMs as to ensure engagement with professionals and services. Finally IRO’s and professionals will be able to discuss any concerns relating to religo-cutural experiences and UAMs arena with a qualified Imam (Muslim religious leader).
This course enables participants to develop an understanding of homelessness within the framework of safeguarding adults
This course is designed to provide education & social care professionals with a practical understanding of contemporary gang culture and in particular the glamorised version portrayed to, and accepted by many young people. The course’s focus is to educate as well as provide effective counter arguments and brief interventions that can be used with young people.
This Gangs and Systemic Youth Violence Training explores the national epidemic of knife crime and serious youth violence and how practitioners can respond effectively utilising real time interventions and evidence based practice
The aim of this course is to raise awareness of sexually harmful behaviour displayed by children and young people.
The aim of this bite size session is to advise and support on how to give a fast response to domestic abuse with current information around how to manage risks during COVID-19
Understanding the implications of disguised compliance comes mostly from learning from serious case reviews. Parents’ behaviour can mislead us about the progress they are making and about the true nature of the lived experience of the child. Apparent or disguised cooperation can prevent or delay understanding of the severity of harm to the child and lead to cases drifting.
The aim of this course is for the delegates to be able to plan, prepare and conduct an interview with a victim and or witness, complying with the requirements and competences compatible with carrying out an interview and investigation.
This course introduces participants to the causes and impact of neglect on children, including its impact on development, health, attachment patterns and resilience. It will equip practitioners with the knowledge and skills to recognise and assess for neglect amongst children and understand the concept of thresholds.
It will allow participants to expand their knowledge in the causes and impact of neglect on children in terms of their development and well- being and to look at how neglect is assessed and the concept of thresholds of harm.
The support provided by local authorities under Section 17 & Section 20 of the Children act, 1989, has been recognised by the government & courts as being an essential safety net to protect the most vulnerable children and families who have No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) from destitution. This NRPF & UASC Training course will provide delegates with a clear understanding of the legislation and case law in relation to families with NRPF and UASC (Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children). It will examine the complexities involved in the completing of these assessments and the importance of getting the assessments right, not just for the children & families but to prevent a legal challenge for the local authority under the Human Rights Act, 1998 in addition to the arrangements for working jointly with the UK Border Agency
To understand the legal framework around VAWG and gain skills to act appropriately to women or children who are at risk or have been subjected to violence.
In recent years, good record keeping has increasingly focused on electronic and computer based data collection and recording systems designed as screening and assessment tools, and as a means through which statistical data can be centralised and regulated.
Knowing how much information to record and that those records are accurate, objective, sufficiently detailed and summarised succinctly can be extremely difficult, particularly where record keeping is confined within specific categories and a strict word count. This can lead to important details being omitted and a less accurate picture being conveyed.
This course is designed to practice the theoretical knowledge of healthcare professionals on carrying out Mental Capacity Assessments and contributing Best Interest decision making process
This course provides an opportunity to understand the need for effective report writing and record keeping. Clear and comprehensive records are necessary to reflect key information including adult's wishes, needs and experiences.
The aim of the course is to:-
Understand the importance of written communication
Remind you of your responsibilities with regards to producing, keeping and disposing of written records
Confirm or Enhance your skills and knowledge
Give you the tools to improve records you produce from now on.
This course is for social workers who are required to maintain contemporary records in their work with children and families. We will explore what language to use and how to write records and reports in a way that is easy to read and makes sense. It will support social workers to produce well-crafted records and reports that reflect key information including children’s wishes, needs and experiences.
This course is intended to give social care professionals a greater insight into the complexities and principles of working with families where sexual abuse of children is a feature and use this to improve risk assessment and risk management.
This is achieved through understanding who perpetrators of sexual abuse are, what behaviour they exhibit and motivations behind offending and developing knowledge of the risk factors behind sexual offending.
Delegates will also develop knowledge of the legal framework with reference to the Sex offender register (SOR), Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPOs), Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme (CSODS) and the role of criminal justice agencies in the management of these cases.
The course also looks at the role of the non offending parent or caregiver and how we can use this understanding to work more effectively with families.
Delegates will also develop skills in working with those who perpetrate sexual abuse against children and be able to signpost them to support services.
To introduce participants to the interface between disability and safeguarding. To recognise ways in which children with disabilities and complex health needs can be more vulnerable to harm.
This course is designed to raise awareness of and to begin to develop strategies for safeguarding children with disabilities
This two-day Supervision Training course (with the option of a third follow up day) is designed to assist participants to deliver a model of supervision that works within a health organisation and contributes towards keeping adults safe from harm.
The aim of this course is to offer participants the opportunity to explore recent research into child development and its application to assessment; taking account of findings from serious case reviews and current research.
The aim of this course is o develop practitioners knowledge and skills in communicating and working with vulnerable children and young people.
There are specific requirements relating to support for care leavers. The ultimate aim of leaving care services is to support care leavers so that they can live successful independent lives. Each care leaver will reach that point at a different age and there should be no assumption that the duty means that all care leavers will require statutory support until the age of 25.
Young people are not adults and are also transitioning through developmental stages which impact on their decision-making reasoning, risk taking choices and ability to learn and use life skill. As part of this Transitions (Leaving Care) Training course we will look at brain development in adolescence and how to support young people through a range of transition situations
This two-day course aims to provide participants with an understanding of the principles underpinning social work assessments with children and families and the opportunity to develop skills in information gathering, analysis and developing effective plans.
This course is designed to assist practitioners in their assessments of children’s needs where one or more parent or carer has a mental illness. The training recognises the intricate interplay between parental ill health, parenting tasks and the developmental needs of children.
To increase confidence of practitioners in engaging ‘fathers’ in children’s safeguarding work; and raise and reinforce awareness of the importance of engaging ‘fathers’ to secure better outcomes for children. ‘Fathers’ = “Biological or other father-figures” (Daniel & Taylor 2001)
Working to support learning disabled parents and ensure that their children are safe requires an understanding of the multiplicity of risk factors facing learning disabled parents and their children. This course will build on established assessment frameworks and provide participants with up to date knowledge and skills that will assist them to conduct effective assessments and work alongside families and their children to both need and reduce risk. Course aim: This one day course aims to consider how to ensure that children of learning disabled parents are effectively safeguarded.
To help practitioners to recognise and work with the complex factors affecting domestic abuse, and how this impacts on children and use this knowledge to carry out effective assessments which lead to the right help being provided to individual children and their families.
The aim of the course is to provide participants with an opportunity to develop their understanding of men who abuse women. To consider appropriate assessment of risk and how appropriate intervention can be used to plan appropriate child focused responses.
The course will be underpinned by appropriate current research, theory and knowledge drawn from Service User reports, Serious Case reviews, Inspections and Government Inquiries.
This interactive one-day course will enable delegates to develop their knowledge and confidence in working with resistance parents and carers to improve the welfare and outcomes for children and young people. This course will develop skills in identifying disguised compliance, why families are resistant, how to identify and evidence in assessments and understand what they can do to move things forward.
The aim of this course is to increase confidence of practitioners in engaging ‘fathers’ in children’s safeguarding work; and raise and reinforce awareness of the importance of engaging ‘fathers’ to secure better outcomes for children. ‘Fathers’ = “Biological or other father-figures” (Daniel & Taylor 2001)
To provide participants with an opportunity to increase knowledge, and understanding about the importance of developing secure attachments, and the impact of insecure attachments on children’s development. To provide participants with the necessary knowledge and understanding about child development and attachment, to help them improve skills in supporting children and ultimately improving outcomes for them.
The aim of this course is to offer insight into positive parenting and child development
This two day Supervision Training course (with the option of a third follow up day) is designed to assist participants to deliver a model of supervision that works within a health organisation and contributes towards keeping children safe from harm.
It explores the elements of supervision that are intrinsic to keeping children safe from harm across all professions. The course will explore working with uncertainty, the factors that affect decision making, the role of emotional resilience as well as lessons from serious case reviews.
To provide staff with an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in chairing child care meetings, including looked after reviews and child protection conferences.
Child to parent violence is any behaviour used by a young person to control, dominate or coerce parents. This course aims to help delegates understand and increase their awareness of what this is and give them strategies as a practitioner in working with child to parent abuse
This course will provide frontline staff with the ability to increase their knowledge of development of children through to young people (aged 13 - 25)
This one day course helps staff to understand the affects of mental health on the behaviour in adolescents
This course will provide frontline staff with the ability to increase their knowledge of development of children from the ages of 0-12
The aim of this course is to equip managers, owners and supervisors within nursery and day care settings with the knowledge and skills required to play an active role within the safeguarding system and maintain effective safeguarding practice within their own setting.
This course is mandatory for newly qualified social workers and is also suitable for those working in children’s services who may be working with families where physical abuse is an issue. The aim of this course is to enable participants to gain a greater understanding of how physical abuse affects children and young people and to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to intervene effectively.
Each year well in excess of 100 serious case reviews are carried out by Safeguarding Children Boards. Whilst the purpose of reviews is to contribute to learning and practice improvements, too often the only people who really have the time to absorb the learning are those who have been involved in the review process. Those involved in carrying out reviews hear powerful stories from families and practitioners that may not always be adequately reflected in a published report and a vital opportunity to understand the way in which professional practice impacts on the lives of children (both positively and negatively) may stay within the review team.
This one-day course offers an overview of recent relevant reviews’ findings, particularly in relation to infants and adolescents (e.g. Complexity and Challenge, Out of Routine, National review of NAI in under 1’s, It was hard to escape, etc).
Together with information from relevant research it will set the context to help practitioners begin to identify which may be the more vulnerable groups of children and which may be the most recurrent themes within families.
To give participants an opportunity to consider some of the dilemmas involved in working with families where emotional abuse is an issue. Lessons from research and Serious Case Reviews will be used to enable participants to define and identify emotional abuse, explore assessment processes and examine appropriate ways of intervening
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (2023) made 107 recommendations to the Government to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. The Governments response to these recommendations was published May 2023 and this training reflects the potential impact for us all.
The Government’s 'Tackling child sexual abuse strategy' (Feb 2021) calls for the need for everyone to play their part, 'across every part of Government, across all agencies, all sectors, charities, communities, technology companies and society more widely'.
The aim of this course is to increase participant’s awareness of the particular vulnerabilities of disabled children and to provide them with an opportunity to explore ways in which we can effectively safeguard disabled children from harm.
This interactive one-day course will enable delegates to develop their knowledge and confidence in working with resistant parents and carers to improve the welfare and outcomes for children and young people. This course will develop skills in identifying disguised compliance, why families are resistant, how to identify and evidence this in assessments and understand what they can do to move things forward.
A 1 day course on mental capacity assessments
This two day Developing Effective Supervision Training programme (with the option of a third follow up day) aims to focus on the core knowledge and skills needed by supervisors working within a variety of settings in health and social care.
For social work supervisors the content of the course is consistent with the approach to supervision set out within the employers standards.
This course is designed to increase the theoretical knowledge of health and social care professionals on the up to date legal framework, code of practice and human rights that covers the patients’/clients’ capacity to make decisions, protection of their cognitive decision making process, and understanding the principles of proper care towards these vulnerable people.
This Trauma Informed Practice Awareness Training course focuses on Trauma Informed Practice and what the adoption of this as a core value means for service delivery and equality of access.
It explores the concept of trauma, how it can remain a contributing factor throughout someone’s life and how organizations can adapt the way they offer services to become more accessible and safe for those who are trauma experienced
This course will equip participants with the necessary skills to be able to confidently take minutes during safeguarding meetings
This course is designed for everyone that evolves in a professional setting. It aims to enable attendees to define effective and appropriate interactions, understand and implement good practice and manage boundary issues effectively
This course is designed for those who work in a social care environment. It is designed to provide the essential knowledge and understanding of responsibilities to staff at all levels with regards to Safeguarding.
This course is an opportunity for foster carers and others working with looked after children to consider attachment and trauma and how this relates to building resilience and supporting development in Children and Young People
This half day course will provide practitioners with a clear overview of the Mental Capacity Act and its practical application in adult social care.
To raise awareness of LGBTQ and how this is relevant to your work setting
This Section 42 - The Care Act Training course explores S42 CA 2014 and how it impacts not only on the vulnerable adult but also the authority, and those partner agencies working on behalf of the authority. The course explores a variety of cases of adults suffering and being subject to one or more of the 10 signs of abuse. The course asks the delegates to work as a group within the 6 principles and what would be the best possible solutions. What enquires, help, support, guidance and other resources are available to achieve the best possible outcome for the adult. The course is very interactive and involves a lot of group work and sharing of good practices amongst the delegates. The course includes group work looking at video’s into mental capacity and then decision making. The course also looks at Safeguarding Adult Reviews and lessons learnt. Highlighting the importance of communication and corroboration amongst all involved.
A better understanding of the role that fathers can potentially play in a child’s life is likely to lead to improved engagement with fathers and therefore more reliable risk assessment and risk management. Whilst the father may present as a risk to the child, social care staff need to be less certain and more curious in challenging this perspective and consider, holistically the risk and protective factors he may present to the child.
Although the positives can be hard to find, children can spend many years away from their birth family and return to them following their 18th birthday. Social care professionals should therefore try to understand and work with this dynamic, acknowledging that things do change over time, especially when children become older.
Professional curiosity is required to guide staff to withhold judgments until the facts are better understood. This is in large part connected to getting to know fathers better. From the outset, the assessing position should therefore be fluid and support an empathic approach.
Contracting with fathers collaboratively so they understand what is required from them and listening to their needs in an open and transparent manner, is critical to achieving their engagement in the process. This builds rapport and trust through the process.
Helping fathers to express their emotions appropriately is key to overcoming communication barriers. As professionals, we need to avoid punitive responses and collusion with fathers. Being mindful of our own personal bias and challenging this is key. Trying to understand the function of their behaviour is pivotal in order to achieve a more meaningful dialogue and a better understanding of the risks. Developing emotional lexicon is the gateway to navigating through such challenging discussions, which if gone unchecked can develop into aggressive and abusive interactions.
This work is often emotionally challenging for professionals and so it is important to acknowledge this and look after ourselves.
Working with clients or patients at risk of self-harm or attempted suicide by means of hanging or strangulation requires specific skills to enable care workers to respond appropriately. Those ‘first on scene’ need to know how to remove a ligature safely using ligature cutters as well as basic first aid which may be required
This Ligature Training course provides these skills, as well as giving an overview
of the physiological effects of strangulation by ligature, with an explanation of the possible types of ligature that might be used as well as explaining policies and procedures in the organisation. There is an opportunity for participants to practise techniques.
This Working With Fathers Training session aims to develop rationale and practice for working fathers/partners that live away from the child’s home. Delving into the need to work with fathers/partners and involvement of wider family members to improve outcomes for children and young people. To enhanced confidence, knowledge and skills to assess, engage and communicate with fathers/partners and wider family in safeguarding practice.
This course aims to prepare Practitioners undertaking safeguarding enquiries and taking on more complex work that will demand greater skills in caseload and work management
This Safeguarding Adults for the Frontline Workforce training course is designed for those who work in a social or health care environment. It is designed to provide the essential knowledge and understanding of responsibilities to staff at all levels with regards to Safeguarding.
This 1-day course will explore how to work with black, Asian and Ethnic minority children and families
This course will fully prepare staff who have to attend Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (CSPRs). They will learn about the statutory framework and guidance around a CSPR as well as what to expect and how to prepare for a CSPR.
Professionals, to be effective, must have sufficient time to undertake their work, and be provided with support and advice in what are often challenging and complex situations. This course will help staff with their workloads.
To raise awareness of and begin to develop strategies for safeguarding children and young people with disabilities.
Participants on this course will be working with Unaccompanied Minors (UAMS) in different capacities. Attendees will want to gain an advanced understanding of the political, religious, cultural and background dynamics that contribute to UAMs trauma experiences. The course provides IROs and other practitioners working with UAMs with an in-depth, multi-faceted understanding of how political, religious, cultural and background experiences can contribute to UAMs trauma. Delegates will also be given the toolkits and necessary knowledge to able to confidently engage with UAMs as to ensure engagement with professionals and services. Finally IRO’s and professionals will be able to discuss any concerns relating to religo-cutural experiences and UAMs arena with a qualified Imam (Muslim religious leader).
The focus will be on how to effectively and safely engage with perpetrators of domestic abuse. This will be addressed in part through self reflection exercises. Delegates will be invited to recognise their own personal bias and how this can impact on risk assessments. Delegates will look at some of the theory that underpins perpetrators behaviour and use this understanding to develop skills in how to start discussions with perpetrators.
This course will focus on the impact of the Trilogy of Risk (also known as the Toxic Trio), of domestic abuse, parental substance misuse, and parental mental health on children and multi-agency responses to working with families where this is a feature. In an analysis of 139 serious case reviews, between 2009-2011 (Brandon et al 2012), investigations showed that in over three quarters incidents (86%) where children were seriously harmed or died one or more of a “toxic trio” mental illness, substance misuse and domestic abuse played a significant part.
Self-Neglect is an extreme lack of self-care, and it is often associated with hoarding – which in turn is a form of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. All of these may be a result of other issues such as addictions. Practitioners in the community, from housing officers to social workers, police and health professionals can find working with people who self-neglect extremely challenging.
This course discusses each disorder in detail and equips the delegate with skills to be able to understand each.
The aim of the course is to raise awareness of sexually harmful behaviour displayed by children and young people.
The aim of this course is to develop knowledge, skills and confidence in adult safeguarding, including issues around mental capacity and consent
The course provides a solid understanding of how to manage Enquiry Officers and their duties and responsibilities as outlined in the Care Act 2014
The course provides an understanding of the Enquiry Officer role, statutory duties and responsibilities in line with the Care Act2014 and requirements of London Multi-Agency Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.
Children and young people use social media in many ways: as an integral part of their education, to connect with friends and peers, for entertainment, creativity, self-expression, and gaming. The internet is available at their fingertips 24/7 and at the touch of a button children and young people can access a diverse range of Apps, connect across the world, and share their life with anyone. However, and particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, the NSPCC has reported a rise of online abuse, grooming and inappropriate images with figures reaching 2 million in one month.
This course will assist practitioners with child protection responsibilities to reflect on the process of probing and reflective questioning and analysis to form a view about risk and harm and the parent’s capacity to meet their child’s needs. At the end of the course, participants will have developed their ability to critically evaluate practice actions and decision making to enable practitioners to be confident and persuasive when recommending a course of action to parents, to colleagues and to courts to protect a child.
The purpose of this course is to provide professionals working with vulnerable adults with a basic awareness of financial abuse and how it occurs. It focuses on the prevalence of financial abuse and what options are available to investigate and safeguard the assets of vulnerable adults in line with Safeguarding Adult Procedures
This course is designed to provide professionals working with children and families a good understanding of the terms, effects and principles of Special Guardianship Orders. Delegates are introduced to the legislation and regulations and are provided with a detailed analysis as to how that legislation impacts upon decision making and best practice in the real world. The course also includes in depth consideration of the role of the Local Authority, an analysis of the construction of the “SGO report” in the context of the court decision making process and an examination of the often controversial requirements of the “support package”. There is an update of recent relevant case law, regulations and policy
To enable participants to become familiar with the role and responsibilities of the multi-agency role within safeguarding children and develop competence and confidence in carrying out their role
This course will give learners the knowledge they need to be able to identify the signs and symptoms of abuse and what they need to do if they suspect a child is being abused or discloses sensitive information to them.
The training gives you a deeper understanding of safeguarding issues and how to effectively report them when abuse is suspected.
Safeguarding means protecting people’s health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. It also means making sure people are supported to get proper access to health. Safeguarding adults at risk is fundamental to high-quality health and social care services. This Safeguarding Adults Level 3 training course enables professionals to be fully competent in safeguarding adults.
This training aims to ensure that adults in your setting are safeguarded from harm and that your recruitment process is sufficiently robust to prevent the employment of people who may pose an unacceptable risk to vulnerable adults.
This course aims to examine the role of the Safeguarding Manager under Section 42 of the Care Act 2014. It will consider the statutory obligation of local authorities and decision making which reflects and respects making safeguarding personal. It will also consider the importance of SMART outcomes to ensure that the focus and rigour of safeguarding work is maintained.
This course is for social workers and other frontline practitioners who wish to gauge a better understanding of how culture, identity, religion interact within south-asian communities and how this can affect engagement with statutory assessments. It outlines challenges that front line workers may face and provides solutions to effective engagement with this diaspora on both safeguarding agendas and assessment
This course aimed at health and social care professionals will help delegates to:-
Understand the importance of written communication
Remind them of their responsibilities with regards to producing, keeping and disposing of written records
Confirm and Enhance their skills and knowledge
Give them the tools to improve records you produce from now on
This course aims to give participants the opportunity to reflect upon, develop and maintain skills and attributes of professional curiosity in practice. It will consider the importance of healthy scepticism and respectful uncertainty, encouraging workers to fact check and cross reference as an evidence base; to attune to their professional instincts.
This course gives participants the opportunity to explore the various facets of professional curiosity, including the reasons behind non compliance, guarding against the rule of optimism, ensuring a person’s maximum involvement in their own assessment and what gets in the way of professional curiosity.
Replacing the current Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019 is expected to come into force from April 2023. The new system (expected to be referred to as the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS)) will cover care in a wider range of settings. NHS bodies, Local Authorities and Care Providers will all need to understand their new responsibilities and start preparing to implement the new system.
This course looks at the definitions and diagnoses of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and the differences between Obsession and Compulsion, statistics, and the effect this can have on an individual, family and carers. This would lead on to variations of OCD and the approaches/treatments available as well as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for staff.
Delegates would be introduced to the incidence of hoarding and the impact upon the individual, family and carers. Strategies will be employed so that delegates ensure the rights of the individual are maintained e.g. Duty of Care versus Philosophy of Care. The course would be paced at the level of attendees, allowing ample opportunity for questions. Continuous assessment will ensure participation of all and that expectations are being met.
Keeping children and young people safe online and protecting them from exploitation, is of major importance in a world significantly influenced by social media. This course explains how children and young people use the internet and mobile technologies, the key risks and the strategies for managing incidents that may occur.
A programme for candidates to understand the importance of interagency communication, to understand the law around interagency communication, and to appreciate what can happen interagency communication breaks down
This course will enable workers who are engaged in work with children and families to develop effective ways and build confidence in working with difficult behaviour, in order to recognise potential impacts on professional dynamics and multi-agency child protection work when professionals are faced with working with families who are hostile and evasive.
This programme aims to give practitioners the opportunity to examine and explore the nature of the exploitation of adults at risk of harm. It will consider the nature of that exploitation and how it can manifest in our communities and care settings in order to help practitioners to intervene in order to minimise either the risk, or experience of, abuse.
This course will enable practitioners to gain an insight into the use of child on Parent Domestic Abuse and be proficient with the principles of risk and appropriate response to all age ranges of Child on Parent.
Delegates will gain an insight into the process of interview and finding an appropriate narrative in which to extract information, write and complete safety plans in association with the assessor’s own level of contact and responsibility.
They will also learn how to understand how and when to consider referral to specialist domestic violence services and MARAC based on high risk assessment results.
Delegates will receive copies of the Teen Dash for pre reading prior to the event alongside case studies to familiarise themselves with.
This course is designed for those who work in a health and social care environment. It is designed to provide the essential knowledge and understanding of responsibilities to staff at all levels with regards to Safeguarding. This course focuses on navigating, sometimes delicate su
This comprehensive one day course aims to enhance knowledge and awareness of the issues surrounding FGM. The training explores what action needs to be taken if you encounter a child or woman who has had, or is at risk of, FGM.
A succession of public reports, most recently in Rotherham and Oxford have highlighted the lack of communication between vulnerable children and professionals who are tasked with safeguarding them. Positive communication with children and young people is critical and Talking Life’s expert team in this area has extensive experience of listening and responding to LAC, socially excluded and children and young people at risk, both through case work and group work settings. Their specially created training courses have been successful in enabling a range of social care professionals to hone their skills in communicating with children and young people.
The purpose of this training is to develop awareness and understanding of Domestic Abuse and to support all individual dealing with domestic abuse issues in their daily work
This programme aims to give practitioners the opportunity to examine and explore the nature of the exploitation of adults at risk of harm. It will consider the nature of that exploitation and how it can manifest in our communities and care settings in order to help practitioners to intervene in order to minimise either the risk, or experience of, abuse.
Well informed, and properly tested decision making is essential in effective safeguarding of adults. The Safeguarding Adults Strategy meeting provides a valuable opportunity for this, and is a key part of the Safeguarding process.
This course aims to equip those chairing Strategy Meetings with clarity on their role, and advice and guidance on best practice, so that the most effective safeguarding outcomes are realised.
This course will explore the processes for identification, referral, assessment, determination of the qualifying criteria, and who must be consulted, as part of the new LPS framework.
This course will explore the role of IMCA’s within the LPS framework. We will look at when IMCA’s need to be instructed, what they will do and how they will do it, how professionals work with IMCA’s and what responsibilities and powers they hold within the LPS framework.
Self-neglect is a failure of someone to take care of him or her self that can cause serious physical, mental or emotional harm but it is not always easy for professionals to spot. Proper assessments are important and any actions taken need to be within the Mental Capacity Act, 2005.
This course will explore the authorisation process for the LPS framework. We will look in-depth at authorisation conditions, duration, review requirements, specific safeguards, authorisation records, roles and responsibilities, and other authorisation’ particularities as the code of practice expands these.
This course will explore the pre-authorisation review stage of the LPS framework. This course will explore both paths; the ‘light touch/on the papers’ approach, and the involvement of an AMCP in certain situations. The process for identifying and evidencing if the qualifying criteria are met will also be covered.
Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening and violent behaviour, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but may also be a family member. The aim of this Domestic Abuse including Coercion and Control Training is; to help raise awareness and increase recognition of domestic abuse and coercive control; understand the associated risk and protective factors; develop an understanding of why people may be abusive in relationships and how to manage this risk. This event will include training on the DASH-RIC (Domestic Abuse and Honour Based Violence Risk Checklist) using a case study to practice the use of the tool.
Helpful resources will be shared with delegates, including safety planning, guidance on completion of the DASH-RIC and how to refer into their local MARAC. Resources on support for survivors and those who perpetrate domestic abuse will also be shared.
This Mental Capacity Act Training course provides an overview of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the process of Best Interest decision making under the Act.
This training explores the national epidemic of knife crime and serious youth violence and how practitioners can respond effectively utilising real time interventions and evidence based practice
Child criminal exploitation is not defined in law, though the government’s Serious Violence Strategy (2018) defines it as occurring where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into any criminal activity:
• in exchange for something the victim needs or wants
• for the financial or other advantage of the perpetrator or facilitator
• through violence or the threat of violence
The most common form of child criminal exploitation is ‘County lines”.
County lines is defined by the Government’s Serious Violence Strategy (2018) as
“…a term used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in exporting illegal drugs into one or more importing areas (within the UK), using dedicated mobile phone lines or other form of ‘deal line’. They are likely to exploit children and vulnerable adults to move (and store) the drugs and money and they will often use coercion, intimidation, violence (including sexual violence) or weapons.”
There are more than 2,000 County lines organised criminal gangs across England and Wales and gang members can give some children and young people a false sense of belonging, safety, and security, filling a gap that exists in their lives.
The aim of this course is to improve leadership skills in relation to chairing effective outcome focussed safeguarding children meetings
The aim of this one day event is to explore the issue of neglect and its impact on children and families. It will not only focus on the nature and definition of neglect but will also on the profile of neglectful parents. The event will also provide information on evidenced based, effective assessment tools which can assist social work staff in recognising the signs of neglect, the risk of neglect and whether a child is in need or at risk of harm. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of early intervention and working with the family to mitigate the impact of neglect on children.
This one-day Trauma Informed Practice (Childrens) Training course introduces practitioners to trauma informed practice and enables them to be able to consider adverse childhood experiences and how these may lead to trauma
To deliver training for a range of workers who support families and young people to write consistent and robust action plans following assessments to improve and evidence clear outcomes for children and young people.
This course will examine the effects and risks, trends in drug and alcohol use, drugs and the law, working effectively with young people around drugs and alcohol issues, referral processes and support services.
The training is designed to give delegates a greater understanding of the effects of substance use on pregnancy and parenting. In particular looking at different substances and their effects on both mother and unborn child, effects of different drugs and alcohol on parenting and how agencies can work better together to provide appropriate care and support for all the family.
This course will explain what fabricated or induced illness is and some of the ways that it might manifest. We will think about the triggers for this type of abuse and some of the ways that professionals working with children might be able to identify if a child is suffering fabricated or induced illness. We will learn about the responsibilities of staff in relation to this issue and think about what you should do if you think a child is suffering, or is at risk of suffering, this type of abuse.
This important course enables participants to become aware of child safeguarding issues and practical ways of dealing with them.
Research shows that deaf and disabled children are at significantly greater risk of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect than non-disabled children.
It is therefore essential that professionals working with deaf and disabled children have skills and knowledge to ensure the same levels of protection from harm as non-disabled children.
All adults have a one in four chance of experiencing a period of mental illness in their lifetime. Parents constitute a substantial proportion of mental health users. Being a parent with mental illness is especially challenging. Children in these families are at greater risk of a range of mental health problems and adverse life experiences. Working directly with mental health users as parents and their children can have an immediate impact on the parents’ recovery process which safeguards the child.
The Family Model as a conceptual framework identifies that there are risks, stressors and vulnerability factors increasing the likelihood of a poor outcome, as well as strengths, resources and protective factors that enable families to overcome adversity. Risk and protective factors interact with parental mental illness, child development and mental health, parenting and the parent-child relationship in a bidirectional manner. Over time, the complexity and multi-directionality become more complex as the child’s behaviour impacts on the parent’s mental health, the parent’s mental health impacts on his or her parenting and the parent’s mental state and style of parenting affect the child’s behaviour.
This one day course will focus on how to use the Family Model effectively in working with families as a reflective tool as part of the safeguarding process, but also as a tool to facilitate parental motivation. We will also focus on how to communicate with children and young carers effectively in a way that they will find supportive. ‘Think Family, Think Child, Think Parent‘is at the core whilst working with parental mental health and safeguarding children and young people.
This course is aimed at those social workers who are identified as minute takers for safeguarding children meetings within their organisation. This programme aims to enable minute takers to understand the role of meetings and the importance of note taking and minutes in the safeguarding childrens’ process. It will examine the role of the minute taker and their relationships/professional boundaries in safeguarding meetings; the structuring of notes from meetings that are factual, accurate and can enable effective decision making. The relationship with the chair will be examined to enable minute takers to manage themselves at the interface with some of the challenges and conflicts that can arise in safeguarding meetings.
This course will assist practitioners with child protection responsibilities to reflect on the process of probing and reflective questioning and analysis to form a view about risk and harm and the parent’s capacity to meet their child’s needs. At the end of the course, participants will have developed their ability to critically evaluate practice actions and decision making to enable practitioners to be confident and persuasive when recommending a course of action to parents, to colleagues and to courts to protect a child.
This course will enable workers who are engaged in work with children and families to develop effective ways and build confidence in working with difficult behaviour, in order to recognise potential impacts on professional dynamics and multi-agency child protection work when professionals are faced with working with families who are hostile and evasive.
The aim of this training is to introduce learners to using Calder’s pre-birth risk assessment tool and understand what is involved in undertaking robust assessments and planning
This course aims to develop practitioners’ knowledge and understanding of parenting assessments
Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking
Course Outline
The International Labour Organisation suggests there are more than 40 million people in modern slavery across the world, with nearly 25 million in forced labour; in addition to forced labour, modern slavery encompasses human trafficking, slavery, and servitude. In human trafficking cases, exploitation can take many forms, including sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery, servitude and forced criminality. This is a serious concern when related to children who are being exploited as part of County lines.
This course will provide an overview of the “Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance for England and Wales” Jan 2021 and include how to identify and recognise indicators of modern slavery, exploitation, and abuse.
The training has been developed to support Local Authorities who have a statutory duty to identify and refer cases of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery as part of the National Referral Mechanism.
First responders and other organisations need to understand the signs of modern-day slavery and be able to recognise indicators of abuse and exploitation which can include physical, psychological, situational, and environmental. This is particularly evident when considering child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation and County lines.
It can be challenging to identify potential victims of modern slavery who may be reluctant to come forward or may not recognise themselves as having been trafficked or enslaved. There are likely to be barriers that prevent victims from disclosing or engaging with services. It is a disturbing truth that perpetrators and organised criminal gangs use coercive, controlling, and abusive means to dominate and abuse both adults and children.
This two day programme is aimed at those workers who may be involved in interviewing adults at risk those alleged to have caused harm as part of the Safeguarding Statutory duty to make enquiries in line with Local Authorities and Safeguarding Board’s policy and procedures.
To develop skills in conducting safeguarding interviews (including planning and preparation, recording processes, anti-discriminatory practice) and to work within the principles safeguarding at all times and of the MCA when appropriate. This will specifically focus on the front end of safeguarding enquiries to ensure that workers can work sensitively and can recognise the significance of making safeguarding personal. This includes the importance of ensuring that the person at risk of harm’s wishes views and feelings are considered right from the beginning of the process.
In this course, Delegates will be encouraged to explore their own feelings and responses to abuse whilst gaining an understanding of the definition of abuse, its forms and indicators, and their role in safeguarding adults. The course includes an Introduction to The Care Act 2014 and updates, local policies, and any other relevant Safeguarding legislation.
This course is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to be able to effectively chair multi agency meetings involved in the protection of vulnerable adults
Helping a child make sense of his or her past is an important part of a practitioner’s role in working with children and young people. Being able to do this sensitively and effectively will help the child cope with current uncertainties, develop a clearer sense of identity and contribute to plans for their future. This course has been developed with reference to the latest research, legislation, standards and good practice and the delivery of knowledge and skills is designed to take account of a wide range of different learning styles.
The key principle of Making Safeguarding Personal is to support and empower each adult to make choices and have control about how they want to live their own life. It is about responding to safeguarding situations in a way that enhances their involvement, choice and control, as well as improving their quality of life, wellbeing and safety.
This course highlights ‘Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP)’ and what this means for practitioners and vulnerable adults alike. The course looks at how adults are involved at the very beginning, the middle and the end of their involvement with the services they are working with. The 6 principles are explored and how they fit within MSP. Also, in this very interactive course legislation under the Care Act, Human Rights Act and other relevant laws are covered and explored within MSP. Including sharing information with other authorities. The course ends with interview skills focused on how to interview to obtain the views, opinions, needs and wants of the adult, and not focused on the agency’s needs.
The International Labour Organisation suggests there are more than 40 million people in modern slavery across the world, with nearly 25 million in forced labour; in addition to forced labour, modern slavery encompasses human trafficking, slavery, and servitude. In human trafficking cases, exploitation can take many forms, including sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery, servitude and forced criminality. This is a serious concern when related to children who are being exploited as part of County lines.
This course will provide an overview of the “Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance for England and Wales” Jan 2021 and include how to identify and recognise indicators of modern slavery, exploitation, and abuse.
The training has been developed to support Local Authorities who have a statutory duty to identify and refer cases of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery as part of the National Referral Mechanism.
First responders and other organisations need to understand the signs of modern-day slavery and be able to recognise indicators of abuse and exploitation which can include physical, psychological, situational, and environmental. This is particularly evident when considering child sexual exploitation, child criminal exploitation and County lines.
It can be challenging to identify potential victims of modern slavery who may be reluctant to come forward or may not recognise themselves as having been trafficked or enslaved. There are likely to be barriers that prevent victims from disclosing or engaging with services. It is a disturbing truth that perpetrators and organised criminal gangs use coercive, controlling, and abusive means to dominate and abuse both adults and children.
Understanding the implications of disguised compliance comes mostly from learning from serious case reviews. Parents’ behaviour can mislead us about the progress they are making and about the true nature of the lived experience of the child. Apparent or disguised cooperation can prevent or delay understanding of the severity of harm to the child and lead to cases drifting.
The primary focus of this children’s social care course is to provide participating delegates with confidence in making informed, balanced, evidence-based decisions in the context of ongoing involvement with and assessments of, vulnerable service users.
Participants will learn how to work creatively, innovatively and effectively in situations that are often complex and filled with conflict, uncertainty and risk. This is not a course that teaches ‘defensive’ practice but promotes an approach where decisions are made within a holistic framework that assists the proper management of the risks inherent in the process. The use of such a framework (which also incorporates awareness of the legal aspects of the decision-making process) allows necessary actions or interventions to be made in such a way as to be ‘defensible’ in the broader context.
Almost 19,000 children have been identified as sexual exploitation victims in England according to the National Crime Agency.
The “Tackling child sexual abuse strategy” (Feb 2021) is the first of its kind outlining the Government’s vision for preventing, tackling, and responding to child sexual abuse in all its forms.
The strategy emphasises the need for everyone to play their part…
“… across every part of Government, across all agencies, all sectors, charities, communities, technology companies and society more widely”
The aim of this course is to for delegates to gain knowledge and awareness of the issues and complexities of CSE, understand vulnerabilities of children and young people and stages of sexual grooming and different forms of exploitation and to identify appropriate safeguarding action and know how to recognise, respond, report, and refer.
This Training will provide an overview of Child Criminal Exploitation and provide information about how gangs recruit, groom and exploit children. Reference to the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the legal position and the Children and Social Work Act 2017 updates will be included with opportunity for group discussion, quiz question interaction and case studies.
The aim of this workshop is to support employees to understand the digital capabilities statement. Also to enable staff to recognise the ethical implications of digital technologies for social work practice both inside and outside the workplace
There are serious and increasing challenges posed by child criminal exploitation and County lines. This County Lines Training will enable participants to gain knowledge, understanding and insight into the impact and significance of child criminal exploitation and county lines with an increased awareness of strategies for intervention and disruption.
The “Serious Youth Violence” February 2022 identifies the Government’s priority in “rolling up county lines”
The Government Disrupting exploitation document (NWG and Barnardo’s 2019) stresses the importance of professionals and volunteers engaging with children and young people, identifying “reachable moments” or “critical moments” as part of effective early intervention and focusing on promoting positive outcomes.
Warner Interview Training
Warner interviews are a result of ‘Choosing with care’ (The Warner report, 1992) which was established to review selection, development and management of staff in children’s homes. This highlighted recruitment as a particular concern. Warner has since been developed for use within all settings working with children and young people.
To enable all delegates to safely recruit suitable people in an education or social care setting to safeguard children.
The aim of this course is to equip delegates with the knowledge and skills to be able to effectively chair multi agency meetings involved in the protection of vulnerable adults
It will provide delegates with the opportunity of chairing a multiagency meeting through the medium of role play in order to improve their personal skills and to receive constructive feedback from delegates.
It will consider the particular, specific requirement involved in chairing strategy meetings in the context of Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults.
The course is designed to enable participants to develop a working knowledge of the importance of understanding and managing challenging behaviours in a variety of different workplaces.
Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) is the national protocol for interviewing children and vulnerable adults as part of a criminal investigation.
This Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) Training course equips practitioners with the necessary skills to develop strategies for planning and executing interviews in a format suited towards the criminal justice system.
The course consists of 3 days of theory and 2 days of interview practice using actors who play the roles of children/vulnerable adults
The delegates are assessed in their interviewing skills during the practical day sessions and delegates are scored with a pass or a fail and the assessor completed a feedback form on their interviews.
This course has been updated in line with new Ministry of Justice ABE Guidance 2022
This Age Assessments training course is designed for social workers faced with the difficult and controversial task of conducting age assessments of children and young adults. The course is intended to provide clear, comprehensive “user-friendly” guidance to practitioners working in the area. The assessment process is broken down into several strategic but logical stages, each stage being accompanied by a helpful “checklist” of considerations and options.
The course utilises guidance given by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services with input from the Age Assessment Strategic Oversight Group. Within the course, consideration is also given to the Hillingdon and Croydon guidelines as well as an update as to recent legal decisions and policy developments.
Updated in line with the new Ministry of Justice ABE Guidance 2022
Designed for those social work practitioners who have completed the full Achieving Best Evidence course but have not conducted an interview in the last year or more and need updating both in the law and on court case directions, also to revisit and renew their skills learnt at the initial course.
Additionally, for those who would like to practise the ABE interview in a safe setting, if they feel a refresher course would be beneficial. The candidates will be assessed on one interview and be given feedback by both the tutor and their peers on the 2-day course
The aim of this workshop is to examine and discuss guidance on the use of social media and explore best practice considering professional boundaries. It includes an analysis of professional boundaries in social work using real life case examples to generate thoughtful discussion and encourage safe practice
This Hostile & Evasive Families Training course will enable workers who are engaged in work with children and families to develop effective ways and build confidence in working with difficult behaviour, in order to recognise potential impacts on professional dynamics and multi-agency child protection work when professionals are faced with working with families who are hostile and evasive
In this course, we will look at the assessment of a child in relation to all the factors that are influencing and impacting on his or her life within this definition. Therefore, the course will cover County Lines (CL), Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE), Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), Peer-on-Peer Abuse, Online Abuse, PREVENT, Gangs and their origins, whether from the home and family, peers, the school community, their neighbourhood or from the wider society. Within this, we will also look at the roles of agencies that could have a positive influence on the child or young person involved in these matters. In addition to this, we will explore the child’s existing issues which make the child/young person more vulnerable.
There is the added option within this training course to feature Derek Bell, an ex Newcastle United professional footballer and a survivor of the football sex abuse scandal to talk on his experiences as an Adult of historical sex abuse and how it ruined his Adulthood along with being sectioned under the Mental Capacity Act, and then about turning his life around.
The Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour Based Violence (DASH 2009) Risk Identification, Assessment and Management Model was implemented across all police services in the UK from March 2009.The DASH is for all professionals working with victims of domestic abuse, stalking and harassment and honour-based violence. It is the tool used to refer high risk cases of Domestic Abuse to the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC). After completing this DASH Training course delegates will be fully trained in how to effectively apply this tool, make a referral to the MARAC and signpost survivors for support. This half day session will explore the use of the DASH through a case study and give delegates the opportunity to undertake skills practice in how to apply the DASH.
