We’ve put together an overview of what has been happening in NACCC training – please see below. Our AGM and conference this year is focusing on training – book your place now!
Domestic abuse module updated
As you may be aware we are in the process of updating the NACCC training modules with ‘Domestic abuse’ already launched. The aim of this module is to help participants have a fuller understanding of Domestic Abuse and to explore the impact this has on families. It also considers how to manage alleged perpetrators, victims and the children in the child contact centre. On completing the training participants will be informed of statistics regarding the incidence and effects of domestic abuse; have an opportunity to discuss the impact domestic abuse has on families, particularly children; consider how all parties to Domestic Abuse might behave in the contact situation and explore how to manage alleged perpetrators, victims and the children in the child contact centre.
Free to members and part of the training requirements for centre accreditation. Download your new material from the Training section in the members’ area – goto ‘Volunteer training’
Why not check out the article from the previous issue of Contact Matters (Autumn 2016, p3) ‘are parents using your service being intimidated?’
Complaints module – have you tried this out yet?
This module was launched last year and is designed for those with a role in managing and/or investigating complaints, for example, co-ordinators, managers, team leaders and members of management committees. The aim of the training is to enable participants to understand the complaints process, and to increase their skills and confidence to manage complaints effectively. On completing the training participants will have an awareness of what makes a good complaints policy and procedure; have an understanding of the process of managing and investigating complaints; have an understanding of the emotional context of complaints in the contact situation and the reasons for complaining and understand the importance of creating a feedback culture in a child contact centre. Knowledge and understanding will be checked throughout the session through discussions, activities and feedback… Free to members. Download your material from our Training section in the members area – goto ‘Additional Training’
Check this article from the archive ‘We are working with parents at a difficult time in their lives…’
The following modules will be updated over the next few months…
- Family breakdown
- Family risk assessment
- Health and safety risk assessment
- Induction training for new volunteers
- Recognising the signs and symptoms of substance misuse – the impact on child contact centre families (previously known as ‘Understanding substance misuse – impact on families’)
- Responding to conflict and reluctant family members within a child contact centre (this is a new version which combines the ‘Conflict Management’ and ‘Managing reluctant family members’ modules. The aim of the module is to help volunteers respond and manage conflict situations and explore ways of managing reluctant family members, both those reluctant to start contact and those reluctant to move on).
- Safeguarding and Child Protection
- Understanding and Managing Children’s Behaviour and Areas of Contact to Observe and Assess (this is a new module with the aim to provide volunteers with a basic understanding and awareness to understand and manage children’s behaviour within a child contact centre).
Co-ordinator training
Are you a new co-ordinator? Has your centre recently joined NACCC? Is it time for you to do the refresher training? NACCC runs courses for new co-ordinators and refresher training in both supported and supervised centres. There are still places available if you would like to book a space – please see the training page for further info
Could you spot if a child using your centre is experiencing a mental health issue? Get trained in mental health first aid
Children and young people whose parents are separating or have separated or divorced are at risk of developing mental health problems. Although this does not necessarily mean that the child will experience problems or have difficulties, the risk is there. With mental health on the agenda NACCC’s Chief Executive would like to ensure that parents and family using contact centres and anyone working or volunteering at a contact centre are aware of the various problems that a child might be going through which may not have been identified. The earlier a child can receive support the better. This is where mental health first aid comes in.
Prevent training
You may have heard of the Government’s Prevent strategy which is trying to safeguard vulnerable people from being radicalised to supporting terrorism or becoming terrorists themselves. We would like to bring to your attention a course which could be helpful in your work with families. Channel forms a key part of the ‘Prevent’ strategy and is a programme which focuses on providing support at an early stage to people who are identified as being vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism. Although this is not compulsory training, it is recommended to anyone volunteering or working at a child contact centre. This course is well designed and at the right level for child contact centre volunteers. Highly recommend that all should undertake this course. Further info: http://course.nalt.com/Channel_General_Awareness/01/index.html
Supervised training checked at accreditation
Milton Keynes Council has recently achieved enhanced accreditation for their contact service. Part of the process of enhanced accreditation involves the scrutiny of the training of the staff at the centre. Lorraine Carter, FAST/CONTACT Deputy Team Manager, Children and Families at Milton Keynes Council told us about their induction and training programme Accreditation – SPOTLIGHT on Milton Keynes Council – and training of staff
We hope you find this helpful.
Louis Ruddlesden, NACCC Service Development Manager
