Akamas
Experience Learning
PROMOTING RESILIENCE IN THE NETWORK WORKING WITH LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Content and Structure
MODULE 1
The role of the designated teacher
The central role of the designated teacher
- The legal context: law, regulations and guidance on the role of the designated teacher for looked after children
- Working with the network: systemic blocks to teamwork and collaborative practice
- Why the designated teacher is central to work with the network
MODULE 2
Prevention and treatment of secondary traumatic stress disorders in the network supporting a traumatised child or young person
Secondary traumatic stress as a model for making sense of what happens in the care of traumatised children
- Defining secondary traumatic stress
- Burnout, prolonged duress, and secondary traumatic stress
- Signs and indicators of secondary stress
- Gender differences in responses to stress
- Signs of developing disorder
- The impact of secondary traumatic stress disorder on individuals
- The impact on the whole network supporting the traumatised child
Prevention of secondary traumatic stress disorder
- Understanding the disorder
- Increasing resilience and reducing vulnerability
- Enhancing stress management skills
- The benefits of professional development and personal development
Support structures
- Informal support including a knowledgeable network and a trusted challenger;
- Formal support including peer groups, mentoring, and telephone help
Supervision and line management
- Formal professional supervision
- Peer supervision
- Performance monitoring and appraisal
- Regular professional consultancy as appropriate
- Occasional expert consultancy when needed.
Treatment of secondary traumatic stress disorder
- Enabling and encouraging recognition of the need for therapy
- Identifying and evaluating resources and services available
- Enabling and encouraging appropriate selection of treatment strategy
- Preparing a strategic plan to influence availability of services
MODULE 3
Planning and evaluating an intervention to promote resilience in the network working with a particular traumatised child or young person
Training
- Auditing training needs and wishes
- Identifying and evaluating resources available for training
- Preparing a training plan
Support
- Identifying and evaluating sources of informal support
- Assessing formal support structures
- Preparing a plan to improve support throughout the network
Supervision
- Assessing resources available for formal professional supervision
- Identifying opportunities for peer supervision
- Identifying and evaluating consultancy services available
- Preparing a plan to improve supervision throughout the network
Provision of treatment services
- Recovering physiological self-management
- Psychological therapies
- Other therapeutic interventions
Selecting and implementing one strategic plan
- Identifying all the relevant member of the network working with the child or young person
- Assessing actual or potential points of vulnerability in the network
- Working with others to identify possible interventions
- Working with others to implement the plan
- Reflective practice models
Evaluating the impact and effectiveness of the actions taken
Level: 5
