Contact
Quality4Children
z.Hd. Mag. Elisabeth Ullmann-Gheri
Wolkensteingasse 2
A-6020 Innsbruck
Email: office@quality4children.org
This page provides you with a deeper description of each of the training programmes in the frame of relational child and youth care practice. Together, they form a comprehensive L&D approach for CYC practitioners and the people who support them in their work with children and young people. Each of the trainings can also be booked as a stand-alone workshop.
Training Workshops for L&D Support Roles
Train-the-L&D facilitator
This training programme prepares L&D facilitators for their role. It is a blended training programme, which includes personal preparation time, approx. 12 hours of online sessions, and one week face-to-face workshop within half a year. This workshop is a “practice workshop”, where participants practice the delivery of training sessions to CYC practitioners with each other. In the online sessions before, they prepare themselves with the support of the trainers in the areas of relational CYC practice as well as facilitation skills. If required or not possible otherwise, the Train-the-Facilitator programme can also be done fully online. It is available in English. However, the main documents and some training materials to deliver workshops to practitioners are available in French, Arabic, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Train-the-Facilitator to train L&D support persons
This training programme prepares L&D facilitators to deliver the L&D support person training in their organization or programme. It is a 9-hour online programme available in English and French. Participants will need to invest some personal preparation times as well. The L&D support person offers practitioners one-on-one sessions, in which they support them on their learning journey. They help them prepare for their training workshops, facilitate access to learning materials, and guide them on their way to strengthen their caregiver competencies. In this programme, L&D facilitators learn more about basic coaching skills and how to practice them with their participants.
Train L&D support person
This training programme prepares L&D support persons for their role. It includes personal preparation time and a three days face-to-face workshop. Participants practice how they can support practitioners in their learning and development process. The learn about the L&D approach, relational practice, the competency portfolios and how to use them to support the caregiver/practitioner on their learning journey. The strengthen their communication skills and learn basic coaching skills. Usually, the Train-the-L&D support person is delivered by the L&D facilitator. However, if required or not possible otherwise, it can be done by one of our trainers, face-to-face or online, in English and French.
Train-the-Child and Youth Care Mentor
In this one-week face-to-face workshop, experienced caregivers and other CYC practitioners are prepared for a mentoring role. Mentors support peers by providing them with guidance and continuous encouragement in their day-to-day child care tasks. Our model of mentoring closely follows the relational CYC model of change, which says that mentoring is a mirror of the change principles employed by CYC practitioners in their work with children. Six elements of growth and change are identified and provide the CYC mentor with a structure for the principles of mentoring. It is usually delivered by the local L&D facilitator, but can also be done online by our trainers in English if required.
Training Workshops for CYC Practitioners
Training Programme for Caregivers
The 5-week Training Programme for Caregivers is fully elaborated, including facilitators’ notes and presentations that are made available during the Train-the-L&D Facilitator programme. The training workshop is attended after new employees have undergone an onboarding process or ideally before the caregiver (including in foster or kinship care) takes the child into their care. It prepares them for their caregiver role, a life and work in which they will take responsibility for their own ongoing development and growth, with the support of key role players such as the L&D support person and practice supervisors. The programme, therefore, uses an approach that supports its participants in growing towards being independent learners, meaning that the individual takes responsibility to drive their learning process and makes use of support and resources. Towards this goal, a flipped classroom approach is used in the workshops. While initial sessions may still resemble a more traditional content-delivery training approach, sessions gradually shift towards the flipped classroom model over time. The programme takes place over five elapsed weeks, with time periods in between, and the option to adjust the schedule to local requirements.
Training Programme to Support Youth Development
Two-week training workshop; usually delivered by the local L&D facilitator, but can be done by our trainers in English if required.
This training programme focuses on competencies around “youth care and development”. The programme can be delivered as an Initial Training Workshop for youth workers, and it can be used for other staff groups such as caregivers, family strengthening workers, or any other staff members who need to improve their competence regarding youth development and youth care. It provides both a starting point for the L&D journey of new staff as well as an opportunity for experienced staff to review their skills and competencies and further develop as professionals. It uses the L&D Framework as its overall approach and the Competency Portfolio for Youth Development Support as a point of reference for the structure and content of the workshop. Materials includes a Workbook for L&D Facilitators, including the full workshop outline for 2 weeks, and a Workbook for Participants, to support their preparation and reflection.
Training Programme for Family Strengthening
Two 1-week training workshops; usually delivered by the local L&D facilitator, but can be done by our trainers in English if required.
These 2 weeks of training workshops focus on the required competencies of family strengthening workers in the areas of family empowerment and community empowerment for family empowerment. They can be delivered as individual workshops or as a 2-week training workshop covering both work areas, depending on the organization’s needs. The training programmes provide both a starting point for the L&D journey of new staff members as well as an opportunity for experienced staff to review their skills and competencies and further develop as professionals. They use the L&D Framework as overall approach and the Competency Portfolio for family strengthening workers as a point of reference for the structure and content of the 2 workshop weeks. Materials include a Guide for L&D Facilitators, including the full workshop outline for the 2 weeks, and two Guides for Participants, one for DFE and one for CFE, to support their preparation and reflection.
Support Leaving Care Train-the-Trainer
One-week workshop as a “train-the-trainer”, including care leavers; face-to-face or online in English.
The phase of leaving care refers to the period when young people in alternative care are getting ready to transition into independent living. Legally, once these young people reach a certain age, the State is no longer responsible for ensuring their care, and they are formally required to leave the care setting/services. However, it is important to understand that “leaving care” is not a one-time event but a process. Young people have to be actively involved as partners right from the start of the preparation process, during the transition, and afterwards if they require after-care support. Supporting young people as they prepare for independent living also entails giving special attention to fostering positive relationships and social networks around them. This includes families and communities of origin, kin, peers, but also other care leavers and reference persons from the alternative care setting. This Leaving Care Workshop is developed for child and youth care practitioners who work with children and young people and play a role in preparing them for an independent life. The aim is to better equip them to perform this role well and to support them on their own on-going learning journey to strengthen their competence in working with young people.
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Two-day workshop in English; also as a train-the-trainer available.
Children and young people need and have a right to access accurate and comprehensive information on SRH, so they can make informed and responsible decisions. However, many children and young people still face barriers and challenges to accessing this information and services. Parents, caregivers, and other CYC practitioners need to be able to create open and respectful spaces, so children and young people feel free to engage in conversations on these often sensitive topics.
Prevening Self-Harm and Suicide in Children and Young People
Two-day workshop in English; also as a train-the-trainer available.
Self-harm and suicide are sensitive topics. However, these are topics we need to talk and learn about. Did you know that suicide is one of the leading causes of death for young people? That one in every 100 deaths in the world is due to suicide? And that suicide rates in Africa are the highest in the world? This material helps L&D Facilitators to prepare for a 2-days workshop on the topic of “Preventing Self-Harm and Suicide in Children and Young People” for CYC practitioners and other interested audiences.