Our advanced training workshops give trained facilitators the opportunity to enhance their delivery skills. Each workshop session is grounded in the context and ethos of SFSC and offers trained facilitators continued personal and professional development.

All workshops are delivered by two experienced trainers, using a variety of experiential and participative learning methods.

Implementing the programme

This ‘solution-focused’ workshop is designed for recently trained SFSC facilitators.

The workshop helps facilitators to:

• tackle possible problems and questions frequently asked by first time SFSC facilitators
• develop a framework for planning, implementing and effectively running SFSC
• explore co-facilitation and group work.

Visit the events page for Implementing the programme training dates.

Effective co-facilitation

This skills-based course explores best practice strategies for managing and enhancing co-facilitation, examining:

• the value of co-facilitation
• ways to build effective relationships with parents and other facilitators
• methods to increase confidence and competence in co-facilitation
• facilitators’ own strengths, to raise awareness of what they can bring to the process.

Visit the events page for Effective co-facilitation training dates.

Effective group work

This workshop tackles some of the tougher challenges of running a group, by helping experienced facilitators to:

• further develop and consolidate their group working skills
• implement effective group work strategies
• understand and guide groups with different dynamics
• reassure parents who feel apprehensive about sharing their experiences
• resolve potential conflict situations between group members
• provide a safe, non-threatening and enjoyable environment for participants.

Visit the events page for Effective group work training dates.

SFSC as a violence prevention tool

This workshop examines the violence prevention aspects of the SFSC programme, helping facilitators to:

• explore the impact of violence upon families and relationships, from both a historical and contemporary perspective
• share good practice when ‘safeguarding’ and promoting a violence-free lifestyle
• overcome the challenges they may encounter when discussing violence
• boost their confidence in delivering SFSC, even when facing opposition from parents, practitioners or their own values.

Visit the events page for SFSC as a violence prevention tool training dates.

Signposting: Where to now?

This workshop outlines strategies to support parents during and after the SFSC programme, helping facilitators to:

• explore issues raised by parents in SFSC groups
• identify needs that can be met by the group, and those which should be referred to external agencies
• identify local agencies to which referrals can be made.

We also work in partnership with other organisations to provide training opportunities to SFSC facilitators. We are currently working with the Family Planning Association to train SFSC facilitators to develop skills around working with parents on sexual health and relationship issues.

Visit the events page for Signposting training dates.

Start

This 2-day course prepares facilitators for the Start programme, by:

• familiarising participants with the concepts and curriculum of the programme
• giving techniques for working with children and young people
• introducing co-facilitation methods appropriate to Start.

To find out more, please see the Start training page or contact Amina Lone.

Visit the events page for Start training dates.

Training facilitators to deliver SFSC to parents with learning disabilities

After the successful development of a parent manual for parents with learning disabilities, the Race Equality Foundation has now developed a course for facilitators to support them in providing a more inclusive and accessible service for parents with learning difficulties. Among other things, the course will advise facilitators on:

• the length of sessions
• appropriate activities to encourage parent participation
• effective use of the easy-read text and images parent manual.

For more information on this project, see the Developing SFSC for parents with learning disabilities page or contact Beverley Thompson.

Visit the events page for Delivering to parents with learning disabilities training dates.

Booking advanced training

To book an advanced SFSC training course, trained facilitators should visit the Strengthening Practice facilitators’ site.