Our courses and programmes

We offer a range of training and consultancy services to public sector organisations.

We can help you:

  • work fairly, compassionately and effectively
  • improve efficiency
  • develop workforce resilience
  • build a coherent, outcome-focused process tailored to your organisation

We aim to create a respectful learning environment and encourage you to share your ideas and experiences to support your learning and development.

Bespoke training

We can work with your organisation to provide bespoke training courses.

Subjects we cover include:

  • team dynamics
  • managing change
  • effective communication.

We welcome enquires from all sectors and services interested in working in partnership with us to meet specific needs and requirements.

Embedding and development services

We offer a range of services designed to promote the effectiveness and sustainability of organisational change through embedding systemic practice.

These services are designed to assist organisations to maintain and develop practice standards and create self-sustaining processes to ensure consistency and progression over extended periods of time.

Accredited courses

Certificate in Systemic Social Work Practice with Children and Families (foundation level)

Course overview: 

  • 15 day course
  • delivered in-person
  • accredited by the Association of Family and Systemic Psychotherapy (AFSP)
  • suitable for professionals who work directly with children, families and young people

What you'll learn:

  • an introduction to a broad range of systemic ideas, theories and principles and consider their use in a variety of roles and settings in Children’s Services
  • how to grow your capacity to work with children and families fairly, ethically and respectfully, with explicit attention to power and difference
  • how to manage the complexity and challenges of your day-to-day work confidently and coherently using a variety of systemic principles and practices


How the course is delivered:

  • taught components
  • self-directed learning
  • group activities
  • theory to practice exercises
  • completion of written academic assignments and a portfolio

 

Certificate in Systemic Social Work Practice with Children and Families (intermediate level)

Before you apply

You must:

  • have passed a foundation level training in Systemic Practice
  • be working in a role that involves direct work with children and families


Course overview:

  • 15 day course
  • delivered in-person
  • accredited by the Association of Family and Systemic Therapy (AFST)
  • suitable for professionals working in organisations who have or are currently partnering with CfSSW and individual, self-funding applicants


Successful completion of the CfSSW Intermediate Course allows you to progress applying to complete a MSc in Systemic Psychotherapy, or similar qualifying course in Systemic Psychotherapy. 

The selection process for this course involves a written application and an online interview

Contact details:

Email: [email protected]

Certificate in Systemic Social Work Supervision and Management (foundation level)

The course content is closely aligned with the Certificate in Systemic Social Work Practice with Children and Families.

Course overview:

  • 15 day course
  • foundation level
  • suitable for professionals’ undertaking management, supervisory or advisory roles within Children’s Services
  • delivered in-person
     

What you'll learn:

  • how to apply systemic ideas and theories to a range of managerial and supervisory tasks
  • an introduction to a broad range of systemic ideas theories and principles and consider their use in a variety of roles and settings in Children’s Services 
  • how to build your capacity to fulfil your managerial and supervisory duties and responsibilities fairly, ethically and respectfully, with explicit attention to power and difference
  • how to manage decision making, risk management and leading good practice confidently and coherently using a variety of systemic principles and practices. 


How the course is delivered:

  • taught components
  • self-directed learning
  • group activities
  • theory to practice exercises
  • completion of written academic assignments and a portfolio

 

 

Short courses and workshops

Introduction to systemic practice course

This online course is design to provide a wide range of professionals with an introduction to the core principles of applying systemic approaches in public services.

Overview:

  • 1 day course
  • delivered online

What you'll learn:

  • gain familiarity with core systemic principles
  • consider their application in a range of sectors and contexts

How the course is delivered:

  • taught components
  • group discussions
  • exercises and activities

This course also provides scope for networking and collaboration in a multi-disciplinary group.

One day workshops

We offer one day workshops for staff working in Children’s Services. Our workshops aim to equip staff with skills and ideas to manage key aspects of practice.

Some examples include:

  • Working Together: clarity and coordination in interagency working
  • Relational Risk Management: systemic approaches to safeguarding
  • Achieving Good Outcomes: systemic approaches to assessments and interventions
  • From eluctance to Relationship: building trust and connections in statutory contexts
Systemic leadership

Course overview:

  • 5 day course
  • designed to provide an overview of key systemic ideas and principles and their application to leadership practice
  • suitable for professionals in senior leadership roles across a range of children’s services. 


What you'll learn:

  • course content that aligns with the Certificate in Systemic Social Work Practice with Children and Families and the Certificate in Systemic Social Work Supervision and Management
  • applying systemic ideas in leadership practice
  • creating organisational cultures of trust, transparency and coordination
  • an introduction to a selected range of systemic ideas theories and principles and consider their use in a variety of roles and settings in Children’s Services
  • how to build your capacity to lead and deliver services fairly, ethically and respectfully, with explicit attention to power and difference
  • how to lead good practice, create and sustain organisational change and interface with service users, workforces and key stakeholders effectively using a variety of systemic principles and practices


How the course is delivered:

  • taught components
  • self-directed learning
  • group activities
  • theory to practice exercises


We aim to create a respectful learning environment where your ideas and experiences can be shared and discussed to promote learning and development. 

Systemic management and supervision

Course overview:

  • 5 day course
  • suitable for managers and supervisors
  • aligns with the content of the 5 day practitioner course
  • delivered in-person


What you'll learn:

  • an overview of core systemic principles and ideas focussing on their application to a range of managerial and supervisory tasks
  • how to develop a relational approach to supervision, risk management and leading good practice confidently and effectively


How the course is delivered:

  • taught components
  • group activities
  • theory to practice exercises
Systemic practitioner

Course overview:

  • 5 day course
  • delivered in-person


What you'll learn:

  • an overview of core systemic principles and ideas with a focus on theory to practice application
  • key aspects of working directly with children, families and their networks
  • how to work in a relational and outcome focussed manner on a range of organisations and settings


How the course is delivered:

  • taught components
  • group activities
  • theory to practice exercises
Systemic short course - train the trainer

This 5 day course helps organisations develop their own training resources to support the development and implementation of a systemic practice model.

What you'll learn:

  • core systemic principles
  • how to use systemic approaches in your day-to-day work


We work in partnership with your organisation to agree:

  • timescales
  • suitable trainers
  • logistics

 

Here is an example of how a train the trainer programme may work:

  • Co-production – we will work with your organisation to design the course content
  • Cohort one – we will lead the teaching with staff from your organisation acting as co-tutors
  • Cohort two – training is jointly delivered and led by staff from your organisation and CfSSW staff
  • Cohort three – training is led by staff from your organisation with CfSSW staff attending and assisting when required. We may also offer pre and post session consultation online.
Systemic practice in SEND (special education needs and disabilities) contexts

Overview:

  • suitable for professionals working in SEND contexts
  • can be delivered online or face to face

What you'll learn:

  • an overview of core systemic principles and how they can be used in day-to-day tasks and interactions
  • current issues relating to key aspects of practice in SEND
  • how to use a relational approach to statutory duties in SEND contexts with an emphasis placed on developing relationships, thinking about communication, and working collaboratively

How the course is delivered:

  • taught components
  • practical exercises

Course aims:

  • explore how incorporating systemic approaches into SEND contexts and processes can support you to manage the complexity and demands of your role
  • promote your capacity to work fairly, ethically and respectfully with explicit attention to power and difference
  • develop a range of skills and approaches to enhance clear communication, clarity and understanding
Systemic programme for housing, social investment and commercial services

This progrmme can be designed to support a culture change within you organisation with a focus on developing an understanding of power and difference and how these influence working practices

Overview:

  • 4 day training programme
  • delivered in-person
  • suitable for staff working in Housing, Social Investment and Commercial Services

What you'll learn:

  • how to develop a strength based, solution focussed approach to working with residents, colleagues, and partner agencies
  • building sound and respectful relationships
  • enhancing effective communication
  • developing a coordinated approach to processes and interactions

How the course is delivered:

  • taught components
  • group activities
  • theory to practice exercises

 

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