There are currently three training courses available

One-Day By Your Side Overview

For anyone interested in the approach

This is a one-day overview of the By Your Side model for supporting transitions. It is open to anyone interested in the approach. It is particularly suitable for staff teams, including managers, who wish to have a broad understanding of the approach. Note: Professionals who wish to facilitate the therapeutic work should attend the two-day practitioner course.

Two-Day By Your Side Training

For practitioners

This is a two-day training to enable practitioners to provide direct transition work to the families involved in the transition from foster care to adoption (or adapted to suit other situations). The training involves direct practise alongside use of video and discussion.

One-day By Your Side training

For foster carers and adopters

This is a one-day workshop for foster carers and prospective adopters. The training will introduce the By Your Side model, explain the key principles of the approach and explore with participants how they can help the child they are caring for.

Join our subscriber list to get the latest information about our training

unsubscribe

One-day Overview of the By Your Side approach

Training objectives

The training will provide an overview covering the following areas:

• Framework and theory underpinning the By Your Side transitions model

• Unpacking the Principles of the model

• Presentation of pattern of sessions: in foster care, across introductions, after the move

• Examples of helpful ways to talk and play with children across transitions

• Use of rituals to provide continuity across contexts and help develop the narrative

• Managing adult dynamics

Objective 1: Understand the By Your Side Framework

Objective 2: Understand how to apply By Your Side principles in practice

Objective 3: Increase confidence in using helpful ways to talk across transitions

Maximum number of participants: For 1 trainer the maximum participants is 30.  For more than 30 participants:  2 trainers

Two-day training for practitioners

Practitioners attending this course will:

​

• Have already undertaken Theraplay Level 1 Training and have some experience in delivering direct work based on Theraplay principles

• Have also completed DDP Level 1 (or have a good understanding of the approach)

Training objectives

The training will cover the following areas:

• Framework and theory underpinning the By Your Side transitions model

• Pattern of sessions: with foster carer and child, across introductions, after the move

• How to structure sessions that integrate Theraplay and DDP based approaches 

• How to facilitate a joint foster carer/adopter session during introductions

• Continuing the work into the new adoptive placement

• Using mini figures and puppets to communicate with children

• Using a range of rituals to provide continuity across contexts and help develop the narrative

• Developing a therapeutic story

• Managing adult dynamics

Objective 1: Understand the By Your Side Framework

Objective 2: Understand how to apply the By Your Side principles to your practice

Objective 3: Increase confidence in how to facilitate direct work sessions across transitions

Objective 4: Increase confidence in how to use helpful narrative across transitions

Maximum number of participants: For 1 trainer the maximum participants is 24.  For more than 24 participants:  2 trainers

One-day training for foster carers and adopters

Training objectives

The training will use videos, exercises and discussion to help participants to:

• Understand the child’s perspective

• Understand the key principles of the model

• Practise helpful ways to talk and play with the child at different stages of the transition

• Feel clear about their role in supporting the child

Objective 1: Understand the By Your Side Framework

Objective 2: Understand how to apply By Your Side principles in practice

Objective 3: Increase confidence in using helpful ways to talk and play across transitions

Participants will be provided with a training handout.

Maximum number of participants: For 1 trainer the maximum participants is 24.  For more than 24 participants:  2 trainers