Partnership working: Centre for Separated Families
The Centre for Separated Families, in partnership with 4Children and National Day Nurseries Association, will be offering free training to professionals working in early years settings as part of a new two year programme.
The key objectives of the project are to:
- increase the number of effective and co-operative arrangements for the care of children after separation
- to embed best practice within existing service delivery
- effect a step change in attitudes towards relationship help seeking where families are fragile and at risk of separation
- increase the numbers of disadvantaged parents who seek relationship help.
With an emphasis on whole family engagement, the training will provide tools and strategies to support practitioners in recognising and responding effectively to families who are separated or at risk of separation. Focussing on children's experiences of separation, the training aims to:
- reduce the emotional and psychological impact of separation on children;
- increase the number of children benefiting from effective post separation parenting relationships;
- increase the number of effective and co-operative arrangements for the care of children after separation;
- strengthen and maintain relationships between children and both of their parents after separation;
- increase the take up of wider relationship support.
The training has been designed by The Centre for Separated Families, an award winning national charity that has been supporting separated families since 1973. It is funded under the Department for Education’s Improving Outcomes for Children, Young People and Families programme and is delivered in partnership with the leading children's charity 4Children.
The anticipated outcomes for the project will be:
- delivery of training to 620 Sure Start Children’s Centres (approximately 10,000 practitioners and managers)
- delivery of training at 24 dedicated nurseries events (approximately 500 owners managers and practitioners)
- development of an accredited training route for teachers, social workers, health and social care workers
- development of an accredited training route for employee assistance schemes and other workplaces family support services.
The Centre for Separated Families is responsible for designing the training and any associated materials. It will also be responsible for delivering all training at the National Day Nurseries Association training events and to between 110 and 160 Sure Start Children’s Centres.
4Children is responsible for promoting the project within the Sure Start Children’s Centres sector and facilitating access to Children’s Centres where possible. It is also responsible for delivering training to between 460 and 510 Sure Start children’s centres.
The National Day Nurseries Association is responsible for convening 24 training events and promoting the project within the day nurseries sector.
The training to Sure Start children’s centres is offered in a number of formats including whole-day and half-day training to all staff. Training can be accessed through whole staff sessions or cluster group events.
