Latest News from Workforce Development

New Podcast Episode

Virtual Memory Box – Relaunch & Update

Sophie discusses how to implement the 'Virtual Memory Box' into practise and it's benefits. The virtual memory box safely stores memories for Children in Our Care.

For log in details for the platform or for further advice please contact [email protected]

Please share with colleagues/partners.

To listen please click on one of the following links:

• Spotify [external website]
• Buzzsprout [external website]

*Additional Date*

Rethink Formulation

Aims & Objectives/Learning Outcomes

Rethink formulation is a strength based collaborative process to assessing, planning and evaluating our work with children, families & other professionals. It supports restorative and relational working in Darlington as part of our Practice Model. Re-think Formulation provides a unified approach to help us to make sense of things together and to develop a shared language with which to do so. It enables us to draw on multiple perspectives and to analyse information thoroughly. With a shared understanding we can create evidence-based plans that involve families and professionals working collaboratively to achieve sustainable change.

Target Audience

DBC only - all practitioners who work in children’s services, family support workers, BSF and Young Peoples Engagement and Justice Service

Dates, Times & Venues

• Wednesday 1 April 2026 from 9.30-3.30pm at Tandem 
• Friday 8 May 2026 from 9.30-3.30pm at Tandem 

*Additional Date*

Cultural Humility & Anti-Racist Practice Workshop

Aims & Objectives/Learning Outcomes

Cultural humility is a stance that attempts to understand peoples’ identities in relation to race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class and socioeconomic status, education, and social needs. This workshop will support participants to consider what cultural humility and anti-racist practice means to them in the context of their professional identities and organisations. Through the engagement of critical thinking and open dialogue, participants will work towards being more attuned to addressing racism, marginalisation and exclusion on the personal, team and organisational level. As a result of attending this workshop participants will be able to:

• share concepts, strategies and tools to harness the power of diversity, so all recipients of services, feel welcome, respected and can thrive
• promote greater understanding of how to address racism, marginalisation and exclusion on personal, team and organisational levels
• reflect on their individual journeys of cultural humility
• recognise the critical nature of allyship.

*Please note you will be required to create an online account with Research Practice in order to access workbooks & resources.

Target Audience

DBC Only - Children & Adults Services

Dates, Times & Venues

• Tuesday 21 April 2026 from 9.30-3.30pm via MS Teams
• Thursday 2 July 2026 from 9.30-3.30pm via MS Teams

*New Date*

Young Carers Lunch & Learn

Aims & Objectives/Learning Outcomes

This will be a lunch & learn session focussed on identifying and supporting young carers, exploring the role of Family Action as our commissioned provider for Young Carers and how to refer, as well as how we ensure we fully consider and incorporate their role as a young carer into assessments and plans.

Target Audience

Open to all in Children’s Social Care

Dates, Times & Venues

• Thursday 2 April 2026 from 1.00-3.00pm in Room 411, Town Hall or via MS Teams

*When booking please state clearly whether you will be attending face to face or via MS Teams*

Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) Classroom Strategies & School Based Practice (Session 2)

• Wednesday 18 March 2026 from 3.45-4.45pm via MS Teams

Click on the following link for more information: Training Directory

Introduction to Microsoft Teams

• Thursday 12 March 2026 from 10.30-12.00pm via MS Teams
• Tuesday 24 March 2026 from 2.00-3.30pm via MS Teams

Click on the following link for more information: Training Directory

ADHD Awareness in Adults (EXIP)

• Monday 23 March 2026 from 9.30-4.30pm at Tandem

Click on the following link for more information: Training Directory

Rethink Formulation

• Wednesday 1 April 2026 from 9.30-3.30pm at Tandem

Click on the following link for more information: Training Directory

Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse

 
Recently, the Government has renewed its focus on reducing the impact of child sexual abuse. Key to shaping the Government response are the report findings and recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s report, “I wanted them all to notice.”, and most recently the Casey review on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.  
 
We are aware that organisations and services are currently working to address these recommendations, and so we wanted to get in touch to tell you about the free resources and events that we offer at the CSA Centre.  The reports above highlight the need for all professionals working with children to be better informed about: 

• the prevalence of child sexual abuse
• the signs and indicators of child sexual abuse
• the impact of child sexual abuse
• how we can respond when we have concerns about child sexual abuse.

This is because conservative estimates suggest that at least one in ten children or young people will experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 16. All professionals working with children should have the skills, knowledge and confidence to talk to children when there are concerns about child sexual abuse.  

Free Resources

This suite of resources aims to directly inform practice and provide guidance on what steps can be taken to support children and families. These practice resources will help to improve your knowledge, skills and confidence in identifying and responding to child sexual abuse. These practice resources can be found here: CSA Centre Practice Resources [external website]
 
Free Webinars

Throughout the year, we deliver a series of free webinars to introduce practitioners to our resources. These hour-long sessions guide professionals on how to navigate our resources and consider how it can support and inform their practice. The webinar dates can be found here: Events [external website]
 
Free E-Learning Course 

Identifying and responding to intra-familial child sexual abuse. This is a free 90-minute, accessible and certified eLearning course for all professionals working with children.  This can be easily added as part of your organisation’s safeguarding induction and refresher training. This free e-learning course can be found here: CSA Centre’s E-Learning Course [external website]
 
Further Training Opportunities 

Our additional training sessions for professionals in a range of aspects relating to understanding and responding to child sexual abuse. These training courses can be found here: CSA Centre's Training Programme [external website]
 
The CSA Centre is a not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to improve the response to child sexual abuse. 

Rape Crisis Centre

Did you know that as your local Rape Crisis Centre in Darlington & Co. Durham, RSACC delivers a range of specialist training workshops that are suitable for all types of workplace? 

With a range of CPD-certified, half day and 2 hour workshops on a variety of topics (including Sexual Violence Awareness, Sexual Harassment Prevention and Responding to Disclosure), our trainer can inform and empower you and your teams to understand more about sexual violence and its impacts, as well as how to access or signpost to appropriate support locally. 

Find out more about our workshops: RSACC Training - RSACC [external website]

Suicide Bereavement Training

PAPYRUS-UK & Suicide Bereavement UK have been contracted by the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Integrated Care Board, to provide fully funded Suicide Prevention trainings to Primary Care, Emergency responders and NHS staff in the North East and North Cumbria & Social Care Staff. Please click on the following links for more information:

Papyrus-UK [external website]

Suicide Bereavement UK [external website]