Reducing Parental Conflict Training
These courses, all designed to encourage practitioner confidence and skills in identifying, exploring and supporting parental conflict and healthy parental relationships are provided by Staffordshire County Council with funding from the DWP Reducing Parental Conflict programme fund. The courses will be delivered by Caroline Porter of Foxstones Training and Leaning. Before establishing Foxstones Caroline worked as a practitioner then manager for a children’s service in the North of England for over 20 years and has experience across Youth Justice, Children’s Centres and Early Help.
Caroline was a national trainer on the original roll out of the programme and has continued to develop and deliver bespoke courses to a number of local authority areas over the past four years. Caroline has worked closely with colleagues across Staffordshire to ensure the content is relevant and meaningful to the workforce.
To book a place on any of the following courses please email children.families.training@staffordshire.gov.uk with the following information:-
Delegate name, email address, name of course and date
Promoting Healthy Parental Relationships – understanding parental conflict
One day course
This one-day course will give delegates an overview of the keep principles of healthy parental relationships and the impact of parental conflict. It is suitable for people from a range of backgrounds and will provide practical tools and resources to help delegates identify, explore and support parents in conflict.
Target Audience – anyone who works directly with children, young people & their parents including school pastoral staff
Aims
- To explore the key research and evidence linked to parental conflict in the UK, the effects on children and young people
- To be able to confidently define parental conflict and understand the difference between that and domestic abuse
- To understand the key principles of conflict and how it manifests
- To have knowledge of a range of practical tools to identify, explore and support parents in conflict.
- To consider the importance of our approach and how we build effective relationships with parents
- Have an understating of referral and signposting options for further support.
| Date | Venue/Virtual | Times |
| 18 July 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| 3 September 2024 | Families First Faraday Road, Stafford | 9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| 11 September 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| 24 September 2024 | Families First Faraday Road, Stafford | 9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| 8 October 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| 7 November 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| 11 February 2025 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| 25 February 2025 | Families First Faraday Road, Stafford | 9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| 20 March 2025 | Families First Faraday Road, Stafford | 9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Parental Conflict and the Impact on Children – for schools and settings
This session provides an introduction and overview of the topic of “parental conflict” and what the evidence tells us about how children and young people may be impacted when their parents’ relationship is distressed and / or communication is poor. The research message is clear “When parents get on well, their children do better”.
The session will provide details of how schools and settings can obtain support for parents whose own relationship challenges (whether together or separated) may be negatively affecting their children’s outcomes
Target audience:- Schools and Settings
| Date | Method of delivery | Times |
| 2 July 2024 | Teams | 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. |
| 17 September 2024 | Teams | 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. |
| 21 January 2025 | Teams | 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. |
| 5 March 2025 | Teams | 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. |
Having Courageous Conversations with Parents and Carers
Half day course via Teams
This course provides an opportunity to reflect upon and understand why some conversations can feel difficult. It offers a same space to explore the challenges of difficult conversations and the potential barriers to having open and transparent conversations about sensitive subjects.
Aims
- To explore why some conversations are difficult and the impact on practitioners
- To consider how a restorative approach can support effective discussion by us having empathy for the other parties position
- To explore how conflict can be avoided and minimised
- To discover tips to managing difficult conversations and increase confidence
Target audience – anyone who works directly with children, young people and their families
| Date | Method of Delivery | Times |
| 14 June 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| 2 July 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| 10 September 2024 | Teams | 9.30.m. – 1 p.m. |
| 21 October 2024 | Teams | 1.00 p.m. – 4 p.m. |
| 26 November 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m.- 1 p.m. |
| 10 December 2024 | Teams | 1.00 p.m.- 4 p.m. |
| 28 January 2025 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| 4 February 2025 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| 24 March 2025 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
Working with Separated Parents – practical tips
Half day course by Teams
To provide frontline staff with the confidence and skills to work effectively in meeting outcomes for children where their parents are separated.
Aims
To explore the barriers and challenges in working with separated parents and those in conflict.
- To reflect on how we keep children at the centre of our practice
- Have increased awareness of tools to work with separated co-parents in conflict
- Be aware of the legal context of parental responsibility
Target audience – anyone who works directly with parents
| Date | Method of Delivery | Times |
| 4 July 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. –1 p.m. |
| 5 September 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| 11 October 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| 22 October 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| 18 November 2024 | Teams | 1 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. |
| 3 December 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| 18 December 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m.- 1 p.m. |
| 27 February 2025 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| 27 March 2025 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 pm. |
Working with Dads and Significant Males
Half day course by Teams
To increase knowledge and skills of the vital role Fathers and male carers play in the lives of their children and to promote best practice from the workers supporting those children.
Aims
- To Understand the key research pertaining to Fathers and male carers
- Be more reflective of their own approach to working with significant males and how their own values may influence their approach.
- Have increased knowledge of some of the barriers to successful engagement of male carers
- Be aware of best practice when working with fathers and male carers
- Reflect upon how effective healthy relationship work with parents requires best practice with dads
Target audience – anyone who works directly with children, young people and their parents
| Date | Method of Delivery | Times |
| 12 June 2024 | Teams | 1 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. |
| 12 September 2024 | Teams | 1 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. |
| 15 October 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| 24 October 2024 | Teams | 1 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. |
| 20 November 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| 5 December 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| 27 January 2025 | Teams | 1 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. |
| 26 February 2025 | Teams | 1 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. |
| 25 March 2025 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
When Couples Become Carers – parental relationships where children have SEND
Half day workshop by Teams
In this session we explore how having a child with additional needs or disabilities may impact on the couple / co-parent relationship and consider what we as professionals can do to support effectively. This course is suitable for anyone who works with children and young people with SEND or significant health conditions and their parents.
Target audience – anyone who works directly with children & young people who have special educational needs, disabilities, long-term illness or are neurodiverse and their parents / families
Aim
- Consider the range of stressors on a co-parent relationship
- Explore the research around parental relationships and SEND
- Reflect upon the impact on relationships of having a child with SEND
- Consider what parents need from us and how we can acknowledge their relationship pressures.
| Date | Method of Delivery | Times |
| 16 July 2024 | Teams | 1.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. |
| 16 September 2024 | Teams | 1.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. |
| 9 October 2024 | Teams | 1.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. |
| 17 October 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. |
| 14 November 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. |
| 27 November 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. |
| 11 December 2024 | Teams | 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. |
| 12 March 2025 | Teams | 1.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. |
| 26 March 2025 | Teams | 1.30 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. |