){kind=link}
This Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course supports practitioners in developing effective engagement and communication skills when working with children and young people in residential childcare settings.
Communication within residential care is rarely straightforward. Many young people have experienced trauma, disrupted attachments, or instability, which can affect how they express themselves, interpret others, and respond to support. This course explores how communication is shaped by these experiences and how practitioners can respond in ways that build trust, safety, and consistency.
The training focuses on everyday practice. It examines how practitioners can use clear, calm, and consistent communication to support positive relationships, reduce conflict, and improve engagement. It also explores behaviour as a form of communication, helping practitioners understand underlying needs rather than responding only to surface behaviours.
Key areas include building trust and rapport, responding to challenging interactions, maintaining professional boundaries, and using reflective practice to strengthen communication and decision-making. The course emphasises the importance of relational practice and how consistent, respectful communication contributes to safer and more stable care environments.
This CPD is suitable for residential childcare practitioners, support workers, and professionals working directly with children and young people in care settings. It includes structured learning, knowledge checks, and reflective activities to support practical application in real-world environments.
A certificate is issued upon successful completion, with a minimum pass mark of 80%.
Duration: Approximately 90 to 120 minutes
This course is designed at a Level 2 standard to support practitioner-level understanding.
It is a CPD activity and does not form part of a regulated qualification.