Making evidence-based decisions about contact using the Safe and Meaningful Contact Guidelines

THEME

In this training Dr Chris Burke, Clinical Psychologist, and Sally Wassell, Child Care Consultant, teach attendees how to use the Safe and Meaningful Contact (SaMC) Guidelines to make evidence-based decisions and recommendations about contact arrangements. They discuss psychological factors that are key to ensuring the needs of traumatised children are kept at the centre of decision-making related to contact arrangements for children in local authority or permanent care. The training draws on contemporary attachment theory and the latest research into childhood trauma to identify essential information decision makers require to make trauma-responsive decisions about the child’s contact arrangements. 

The Safe and Meaningful Contact Guidelines provide an evidence-based framework that:

• Organises information about the child, carer and birth relative around the potential of contact to achieve purposes associated with the child or young person’s developmental recovery
• Informs recommendations and decision making about contact arrangements for children in local authority or permanent care arrangements
• Identifies how contact can be appropriately supported and managed to ensure it safely benefits the child or young person’s recovery from traumatic life experiences
• Offers a universal process for practitioners to evidence clinical reasoning about contact arrangements.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Course attendees will:

• Learn how contact has the potential to help or hinder the child’s recovery from past trauma
• Identify factors associated with the child, birth relative and carer that determine the potential benefits and risks of contact
• Identify the support needs of the child, birth relative and carer to ensure contact maximises its potential to facilitate the child’s recovery needs
• Become licensed to use the Safe and Meaningful Contact (SaMC) guidelines in practice.

This course will give delegates access to the online SaMC guidelines tool for one year and equip them with the skills to start using this in practice. The course includes a one-hour introductory video to watch before the first training day and a 90 minute follow up session in which delegates can share practice experiences with the SaMC guidelines and ask questions. A date for this session will be agreed with the delegates during training.

PRESENTERS

Dr Chris Burke and Sally Wassell regularly provide expert witness opinion within child and family law. They are frequently instructed to assess the impact of residential and contact arrangements upon the psychological wellbeing of the child.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Professionals involved with decision making related to contact arrangements for children no longer living with their birth parents including: Social Workers, Mental Health Professionals, Solicitors, Magistrates, Family Court Advisers, Counsel, Children’s Panel members, Children’s Reporters, Child Welfare Reporters, Safeguarders, Guardian ad Litems, Sheriffs.

The course will also be of interest to carers of children no longer living with their birth parents including: adoptive parents, kinship carers, special guardians, and foster carers.

On open courses we can accommodate a maximum of four delegates from one organisation only. For a larger group booking, please see the information on commissioned training.

For social workers, reflection on this session may contribute to your continuing professional development (CPD).

Total of 22 places available.

TIME

Registration 9.45 am
Start 10.00 am*
Close 1.00 pm*

*Times subject to change

Maximum of 22 participants

FEES

Full or associate CoramBAAF member £180.00 + £36.00 VAT - Total £216.00
Individual CoramBAAF member £146.00 + £29.20 VAT - Total £175.20
Non-member £216.00 + £43.20 VAT - Total £259.20
Adopters/Fosters carers £146.00 + £29.20 VAT - Total £175.20*
Student discount for all fees - 20%*
*Please contact the events team

CONTACT

Telephone 020 7520 2043
Email events@corambaaf.org.uk

MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT FOR OPEN COURSES

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