Family Hub and Early Help Practitioner Programme (OPEN)

We know this training meets the needs of the early help workforce and particularly those working in Family Hubs.

The whole course runs over 3 full days but you can pick and mix the elements that you require. 

Part 1 - Engaging with Families (2 x ½ day sessions)

Learners consider engagement skills and practice. They will develop working in partnership with families, the importance of trust, communication styles, effective boundaries, engaging family members who may be difficult to engage, challenge and safe relationship building.

Learning outcomes:

• Understand the values and principles that underpin work with children and families
• Understand the nature of effective relationships with individuals including building trust and bringing about change
• Ability to work with all family members
• Explore professional boundaries
• Ability to address barriers to involvement
• Understand the concept of unconditional positive regard and non-judgemental practice
• Be able to build effective relationships 
• Be able to reflect on own practice 

Part 2 – Skills to complete Assessments, Tools and Planning (2 x ½ day sessions)

Learners will consider the use to tools and techniques to gain assessment information ensuring that the voice of the child is central. Learners will understand how to work in a strengths-based way, whilst managing risk. We will develop clear SMART plans and support packages and explore the skills and practice required when attending and chairing ‘Team Around the Family’ meetings. 

Learning outcomes

• Understand the process of an effective whole family assessment
• Consider strengths-based and child-centred approaches
• Understand how to use assessment tools to identify risk and assess needs of families
• Ability to create a family plan based on the assessment of needs
• Understand the skills required in attending and chairing family meetings

Part 3 – Building independence and self-reliance (2 x ½ day sessions)

Learners will explore the barriers for individuals and families in becoming independent and self-reliant and they will gain an understanding of how to address these.  

We will explore the use of the partnership to support families and how to access universal and targeted services.

Learners will consider case drift and stuck cases and explore how to motivate families. We will consider the importance of endings and closures and the need to build appropriate exit strategies. 

Learning outcomes

• Understand the importance of supporting individuals and families towards independence and self-reliance
• Understand the barriers and explore opportunities to address these
• Ability to support families to access universal and targeted services