Latest News from Workforce Development
Children's Services Practice Week - Neglect
3 June 2024 to 7 June 2024
Darlington Children’s Services Practice Week 2024 takes place between 3 June 2024 & 7 June 2024. The theme for Practice Week is ‘Neglect’. We will be working with staff to carry out a series of Practice Conversations and Training & Staff Development sessions as well as linking with children, young people and families to find out their views and opinions regarding the services they access. Please click on the following link for more information & details about the programme: Flyer [pdf document]
**Mandatory Session for DBC Staff in Adult Social Care**
CQC Inspection Preparation Workshop
Aims & Objectives/Learning Outcomes
By the end of the workshop participants will:
- understand the CQC assessment methodology & their role in contributing evidence as part of the assessment
- be clear about DBC's duties under the Care Act, particularly as it relates to their role
- be able to describe DBC's vision set out in its self-assessment & reference its key strategies setting out how ASC will be provided locally
- increase their confidence in talking to CQC about how they meet assessment requirements.
Target Audience
DBC ONLY - MANDATORY for staff across Adult Social Care
Choice of Dates, Times & Venues
- Session 1 - Tuesday 25 June 2024 from 9.00-10.30am in the Pease Suite, Dolphin Centre
- Session 2 - Tuesday 25 June 2024 from 10.45-12.15pm in the Pease Suite, Dolphin Centre
- Session 3 - Tuesday 25 June 2024 from 1.00-2.30pm in the Pease Suite, Dolphin Centre
- Session 4 - Tuesday 25 June 2024 from 2.45-4.15pm in the Pease Suite, Dolphin Centre
- Session 5 - Wednesday 26 June 2024 from 9.00-10.30am in the Seminar Room, Dolphin Centre
Sessions specifically for Team Managers/Senior Practitioners
- Session 6 - Wednesday 26 June 2024 from 10.45-12.15pm in the Seminar Room, Dolphin Centre
- Session 7 - Wednesday 26 June 2024 from 1.00-2.30pm in the Seminar Room, Dolphin Centre
*New Date*
Reducing Parental Conflict Pathway
Aims & Objectives/Learning Outcomes
- how to identify parental conflict & use the Darlington Parental relationship spectrum & Pathway to signpost parents to the right support
- the causes of parental conflict & why it matters for children & their outcomes
- practical tips for managing situations of parental conflict using the Darlington RPC toolkit.
Target Audience
Health Visitors, School Nurses, Family Liaison & Pastoral School Staff, Social Workers, SEND Workers, Police & Children's Mental Health Workers working in Darlington
Dates, Times & Venues
- Wednesday 22 May 2024 from 9.30-2.30pm at Tandem (Morton Park Business Training Centre)
Darlington Safeguarding Partnership
Self-Neglect & Hoarding Conference
Complex Cases Workshop
FAO Creative Life Story Work Members
This practical workshop will provide an opportunity to explore 'live' complex cases with Professor Richard Rose. It will be held on Thursday 27 June 2024 from 10.00-12.00pm via Zoom.
- get Professor Richard Rose's input on cases in your workload
- ask specific questions
- gain new perspectives & shared ideas
- learn techniques & strategies to immediately put into practice.
- you will be invited to send in an outline of one or more real cases involving complex issues & these will be incorporated into the session.
- Professor Richard Rose will offer guidance & practical tasks to support your work & approaches.
- all cases discussed will be anonymised & we ask for all attendees to agree to not discuss the cases outside of the session.
To book please click on the following link: Booking [external website]
GCP2 Trainers & Trained Practitioners
The NSPCC has announced the date of their next GCP2 Practice Surgery – Thursday 20 June 2024 from 12.30-2.00pm. This session will provide a refresher on scoring GCP2 in practice.
- Has it been a while since you were trained in GCP2?
- Or, have you recently been trained but not yet had chance to complete an assessment?
- Is there a part of the scoring that you just don’t get?
You are not alone! Pop along to their GCP2 Practice Surgery & join other colleagues using the tool – this is a fantastic opportunity to ask GCP2 questions & share ideas with other practitioners from around the UK.
Guest presenter & GCP2 trainer, Kate Bright will be supporting you to revisit the scoring process & helping you to think ‘what to do if…?’
For the session, you will need:
- GCP2 Handbook
- GCP2 Score Sheet
- GCP2 Tool
If you have any GCP2 questions that you wish to discuss, you can flag them when you register or ask on the day.
To book a place please click on the following link: NSPCC [external website]
*Please note, this is not a training session, but a refresher on scoring for GCP2 trainers and GCP2 trained practitioners.
Webinar - Supporting People Caring for Someone with an Addiction
To sign up for free, please click on the following link: Programme for Alcohol Studies [external website]
Webinar - Harnessing Data & Multi-Agency Partnerships to Tackle Serious Violence
Please click on the following link for more information: Flyer [pdf document]
Talk about Send - Preparation for Adulthood
An opportunity to hear about SEND plans & developments regarding PfA in Darlington & your chance to raise any questions. Please click on the following link for more information: Flyer [pdf document]
NSPCC - Speaking up for every baby: Protecting our most vulnerable
Speak Up for Babies is the focus for 2024’s Infant Mental Health Awareness week (IMHAW).
At least one in ten babies are living in fear & distress, at risk of disorganised attachment. ‘Too often babies are overlooked. IMHAW 2024 wants to make sure babies’ voices are heard!’ (Parent Infant Foundation 2024)
NSPCC's Development & Implementation Team is hosting a two-hour session for professionals to explore the challenges faced by the UK’s most vulnerable & how we can speak up for every baby.
Featuring:
- Why babies need our voices - if we don't speak up, who will?' Dr Karen Bateson - Oxford Parent-Infant Project
- Look Say Sing Play
- NSPCC's Parent Guide
- Baby Steps in Newport
- Pregnancy in Mind in Swindon & Leeds
- Safer Homes initiative - Keeping Families Safe & Warm offer
To register click on the following link: Book [external website]
Moving Forward - Understanding Domestic Abuse
- Wednesday 22 May 2024 & Wednesday 12 June 2024 from 9.30-4.30pm at Tandem
- For more information & alternative dates click on the following link: Training Directory
Moving Forward - The Children's Journey Workbook
- Tuesday 4 June 2024 from 9.30-12.30pm or 1.00-4.00pm at Tandem
- Thursday 27 June 2024 from 9.30-12.30pm or 1.00-4.00pm at Tandem
- For more information click on the following link: Training Directory
Neglect – NSPCC Graded Care Profile 2
- Tuesday 4 June 2024 from 9.30-3.30pm in the Seminar Room, Dolphin Centre
- For more information click on the following link: Training Directory
Care Act Legal Update
- Monday 3 June 2024 from 9.30-4.00pm at Tandem
- For more information click on the following link: Training Directory
Introduction to Supervision
- Wednesday 5 June 2024 from 9.30-12.00pm in the Stephenson Suite, Dolphin Centre
- For more information click on the following link: Training Directory
People Handling Certificate
- Thursday 6 June 2024 from 9.15am-4.45pm at Medequip
- For more information click on the following link: Training Directory
Medication Awareness
- Friday 7 June 2024 from 12.30-3.30pm at The Coleridge Centre
- For more information click on the following link: Training Directory
Workforce Development Training Directory
- To view a copy of the WFD Training Directory, please click on the following link: Training Directory
- To book email the Workforce Development Team clearly stating the name of the course and the date & time.
Training for Foster Carers 
To be confirmed.
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Training
CAMHS run a rolling programme of training including the following awareness raising sessions:
- Adolescent Sexual Development & Sexual Risk
- Anxiety, Worries, Fears & Phobias
- Anxious About School
- Attachment Difficulties
- Attentional Difficulties
- Childhood Trauma & Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)
- Deliberate Self Harm
- Eating Difficulties
- Emotional Wellbeing & Communication
- Low Mood & Depression
- Social & Communication Difficulties
For more information click on the following link: Training Directory
Darlington XTRA
Learning & Skills Darlington
Welcome to Learning & Skills Darlington. They are a local training provider offering a wide range of learning opportunities for all ages. They offer a wide range of learning & training opportunities for all ages, including:
- Adult & Community Learning
- Functional Skills
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
- Distance Learning (DL) & Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Family Learning
- Intensive Support
- Higher & Further Education
- Apprenticeships
- Study Programmes & Pre-Apprenticeship Programmes
Visit the Learning & Skills Darlington website
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability & Autism - Tier 1
The training is named after Oliver McGowan. Oliver was a young man whose death shone a light on the need for health and social care staff to have better skills, knowledge and understanding of the needs for autistic people and people with a learning disability.
For details of the training, please click on the following link: Eventbrite [external website]
Skills for Care Tools, Resources & E-Learning Modules
Skills for Care offer a range of tools, resources & e-learning modules on various care topics including:
- Oral Health
- Equality & Diversity
- Person Centred Approaches in Health & Care
- Modern Slavery
- Infection Prevention & Control
- Culturally Appropriate Care
- Mental Health
- End of Life Care
- Medication
- Pressure Ulcers
- Dementia
- Learning Disability
- Mental Capacity Act
- Supporting People with Challenging or Distressed Behaviour
- Learning Disability & Autism
- Autism
For more information click on the following link: Skills for Care Website [external website]
E Learning Modules Available:
Zero Suicide Alliance on-line training
- For further information click on the following link: Training Directory
Council for Disabled Children - SEND Basic Awareness
- For further information click on the following link: Training Directory
SCIE Mental Capacity Act E Learning Course
- For further information click on the following link: Training Directory
The MS Society - MS Awareness Course
- For further information click on the following link: Training Directory
Community Care Inform
Just a reminder for DBC staff who have access to Community Care Inform that there are lots of useful articles etc. available online:
- Community Care Inform Adults [external link]
- Community Care Inform Children [external link]
Safeguarding Adults & Children
For details of Safeguarding Adults & Safeguarding Children training, visit the Darlington Safeguarding Partnership Website[external link]
Training Materials
The Workforce Development intranet pages contain some useful information, training materials & resources available to Darlington Borough Council staff.
Livingwell Darlington
You can also find us on Livingwell Darlington