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Learning and Development (HRlearninganddevelopment@southglos.gov.uk)

Accredited Programme

Children and Young People

Children's Social Care

Starting in May, we are again partnering with the Centre for Systemic Social work and the Department for Education to offer accredited systemic training for permanent staff across the service. 

What is systemic practice?
Systemic practice is a way of acting, thinking and viewing the world, which focuses on relationships and recognises that individuals are always embedded in their wider social context. Systemic practice provides a model of intervention that puts relationships at the centre of the work, recognising the importance of power and identity with a view to developing collaborative ways of working. In practicing systemically, we try to make sense of the world through relationships with a focus being on the whole family system rather than individuals. Families are worked with rather than 'done to'. Through a systemic approach, change can be achieved through exploring relationship patterns and understanding how they impact on children. An emphasis is placed on considering the contribution each of us makes to any given situation and thinking about how we can be accountable for our actions and thoughtful regarding their impact on others. By understanding how patterns of communication are developed and sustained, systemic approaches provide a road map for working with families, navigating stuck situations and uncertainty. Working systemically leads to a strong focus on understanding how power, privilege and difference influence our actions and shape our interactions.

What trainings are being offered?

Two systemic trainings are being offered – ‘Practice’ and ‘Supervision and Management’. Practice is for those of you working directly with children, young people and families whilst ‘Supervision and Management’ is for those who supervise and manage staff. Both courses take place over 15 days and provide a foundation in key systemic approaches, methods and techniques which participants are supported and encouraged to integrate into their practice.

Who is eligible for attending the course?

Any permanent member of staff with a role directly involved with children, young people and their families or staff supervising such workers are eligible to attend this course. We would really encourage staff from across all areas of the service to consider accessing this useful and beneficial training.

Although no staff are excluded from this training, given the requirements (see below) it is unlikely that it is realistic for social work staff who are currently in their ASYE year given your already established training commitments during this time. You could consider the September cohort if you have completed your year by then.

Please discuss and agree your attendance at this course with your line manager and have their approval before booking your place.

What are the course requirements?

This training is a great opportunity but represents a significant commitment alongside your day-to-day practice which you need to be aware of, prepared for and have discussed with your manager. Specifically:
- There are 15 training days spread across 10 months (please find the dates for the different cohorts attached). Attendance of at least 80% is required meaning no more than 3 sessions can be missed across this time. For those with childcare commitments please be assured the training days are all in term time.
- Pre-course reading of academic papers is required for each training session. There are generally three or four papers per session but there is a minimum expectation of reading at least one. Visual and audio versions of each paper are available, and this is not as difficult as it sounds. Time is then spent in the training unpicking and understanding these papers.
- There is also a requirement to produce two academic essays as well as a portfolio.

Support is offered as part of the course and anyone attending the course is currently eligible for three study days to help with completing these assignments. Your manager and the course leaders will support you to balance your study time requirements with your workload.

Please also be advised that this training is taking place face to face. There are options to attend in Bath, Gloucester or Bristol for the practitioner course and Bristol or Gloucester for the supervision cohort. You will need to be able to travel to the venue (exact venues in Bath and Bristol not yet confirmed). Colleagues have pooled lifts during previous cohorts. Please make clear when you apply which venue/cohort you wish to attend by completing the Systemic Training form (see link on timetable attached) .

Is this course for me?

If you are keen to continue your professional development and improve and deepen your practice then yes, this course is for you. Systemic practice sits alongside and complements other tools and models we already use across the service including Signs of Safety and Trauma Informed practice. Systemic ideas offer us practical ways of thinking differently and understanding better our work with children, young people and their families and attending this course will be helpful to any pr

This is to register your interest in applying to do the Systemic Practice course.

Please note the deadline for applications is Friday 10th February

Specific learning outcomes can be found in the document that will be attached to your confirmation email.

Dates of when the different cohorts will be running can also be found attached.  A link to the form you need to submit regarding which cohort you would like to be booked on can be found on the attachment, as well on the course details above.

If you are considering the practitioner course but think you would want to attend the September cohort it is possible to make an application later in the year, but we would encourage you to apply now, making it clear on the Systemic Form, that you want the September cohort. Places are limited across the year and we want to ensure that we utilise all our available places.

Want to know more?

Petros will be running a series of information sessions across the coming weeks which will offer you the opportunity to ask questions. On each occasion he will be in these Hub’s all day so available outside of the allocated time if you can’t attend at that specific time.

Tuesday 17th of January - Kingswood Hub – 1130-12noon – Breakout area by preventative services
Tuesday 24th of January – Patchway – 930-10am – F02
Wednesday 25th of January – 1:30pm – Teams – link in my diary or e-mail for invite.
Thursday 26th of January – Badminton Road - 930am – Breakout area 1st floor.

Alternatively please e-mail him at Petros.Careswell@southglos.gov.uk or drop him a teams message with any questions and he will either get back to you or arrange a time to meet.

Friday 10 February 2023

Friday 10 February 2023

Thursday 9 February 2023

09:00 - 09:30

30 

£0.00 

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