A training programme to help practitioners work sensitively and constructively with families going through separation has received glowing feedback from both the PVI and maintained sectors since it was launched with DfE funding in April 2011. The programme, which is run by the Centre for Separated Families in partnership with 4Children and NDNA, has achieved a very high reach - particularly in children's centres, with 691 participating in the first year alone- and there is still the opportunity to access the free training until the end of March 2013.
Nick Woodall, who is the programme's project manager and involved in policy development at the Centre for Separated Families, says that early years staff are uniquely placed to spot problems and need the skills to be able to help parents deal with situations in a way that minimises emotional difficulties for children.
'Traditionally child poverty has been the only thing talked about in the context of separation and while there undoubtedly is potential for this, psychological and emotional issues can be bigger problems,' he says. 'The course is designed to enable practitioners to help parents understand these and address them in a way that results in a positive outcome for the child.'
The training session is supported with online resources which cover how to have a conversation, how to consider parents' self-esteem and how to give parents useful practical resources.
'PVI settings find the online resources particularly useful and we are in the process of developing a distance learning course,' says Mr Woodall. 'We are also about to put a videocast of practitioners' experiences of working with families up on our website.'
The training modules include:
- Understanding family separation: exploring the myths and stereotypes
- Children's experiences of separation: understanding ways to reduce the emotional and psychological impact
- Engaging with parents: strategies for engaging with parents respectfully, around family separation issues.
Further information
