Child Abuse Dynamics: theory, evidence and implications for preservation and restoration assessment, safety planning and practice

This is the foundation course that lays out the theory and evidence underpinning the different abuse types restoration practitioners need to assess to be able to develop robust Immediate Safety Plans and Longer-term Safety and Support Plans in their work with families. This is a highly interactive 2 day workshop which is followed by 2 x 2 hour group coaching sessions delivered online at 3 - 4 week intervals after the workshop.

Workshop Content: o Introduction to poverty and trauma informed assessment practice o Overview of the dynamics of the abuse types restoration practitioners are required to assess to promote safety, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and emotional and psychological abuse. o Develop and document robust Immediate Safety Plans, taking into account the dynamics of the harm they are managing, to enable a confident “Safe with Plan” outcome when/if danger may occur o Develop and document rigorous Long-Term Safety and Support plans, taking into account the dynamics of the harm they are managing, to enable confident closure or restoration decisions

Practice activities incorporated intensively throughout the two-day workshop, focussing on: o deepening understanding of the dynamics of different abuse types and the implications for assessment o deepening safety planning skills, both Immediate safety Planning and Longer-Term safety and Support Planning o Knowledge Translation Sheet for ‘homework’ with supervisor

Coaching session 1 content: o Debrief Knowledge Translation Sheet for ‘homework’ undertaken with supervisor o Review assessment practice questions relating to abuse dynamics o Unpacking practice attempts at Immediate Safety Planning with different abuse dynamics o Deepening skills - practicing developing Immediate safety Plans “in the moment” with families.

Coaching session 2 content: o Review assessment practice questions relating to abuse dynamics o Unpacking practice attempts at Longer Term Safety and Support Planning with different abuse dynamics o Deepening skills - practicing developing Longer Term Safety and Support Planning conversations with families.