Kinship: Training Opportunities

To book on any of these courses, speak to your social worker.  If you don't have a social worker, contact our duty team: 0191 277 2430 to discuss your needs further. 

If you have any other training needs, please get in touch.

Kinship

Kinship has a rolling programme of online topics for kinship carers.  These include:

• Life Stork Work
• Managing Challenging Behaviour
• Understanding Trauma and Attachment
• Supporting your Kinship Child in School
• Managing Contact for Kinship Families – Practical Tools & Tips

They also host in-person workshops in Newcastle and the surrounding areas.  It is worth signing up for their emails, so you never miss an event. 

Visit Kinship’s website for more information and to book your place.

Solihull Approach

The Solihull Approach is an NHS backed course.  The course supports parenting by raising awareness of child development and wellbeing. 

Topics include:

• Your baby
• Your child: from toddler to teenager
• Your child's mental health and wellbeing
• Your teenager's brain
• Your child with special needs

View the full range of training courses here. Enter the code NEFAMILIES to sign up for free.

Coram Family Lives 

This national charity offers free online training courses for parents and carers on subjects including:

• Let’s Play
• Parenting Teens
• Sibling Arguments
• New Baby in the Family
• Raising Confident Children
• Parenting Neurodivergent Children

Visit the Coram Family Lives webpage for more details.

Corum Family Lives also have an active YouTube Channel where you can find short videos on a wide range of other topics.

Parent Talk

Parent Talk is one of the services offered by national charity Action for Children. They offer a free online training course for parents and carers. 

All topics focus on babies and children, 0-5 years old. 

For more details, visit the Parents Talk website.  

Free Courses in England

This is a UK Government backed training.  Each course lasts between 6-12 weeks, with 5-10 hours learning each week.  The course is flexible so you can be fit around your own daily schedule.  You will gain a level 2 certificate upon completion. 

Topics include:

• Adverse Childhood Experiences.
• Behaviours that Challenges.
• Bullying in Children and Young People.
• Common Childhood Illnesses.
• Distressed Behaviours in Children.
• Domestic Abuse.
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Visit the Free Courses in England website for more information.

The Open University - Open Learn

The Open University has a great range of free online courses and articles.  Courses range from Level 1 - 3 and can take a few hours to a few weeks to complete.  

Topics include:

• Supporting Children's Development.
• Children's Perspectives on Play.
• Young Children, the Outdoors and Nature.
• Support Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Find out more about Open Learn course on their website.

SEND Specific Training 

We support a number of Kinship carers who are raising children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).  We have therefore included some trusted providers here:

Autism Central

This is an NHS backed service. These free training courses are for parents and carers of autistic children. There is no need for a formal diagnosis to attend.

Check out the current learning programme on the Autism Central website.

The Toby Henderson Trust

This local Autism charity offers free training courses for parents and carers.  There are course held online and in-person. Topics vary throughout the course of the year.  No diagnosis needed.

To find out more information visit The Toby Henderson Centre website.

Witherslack Group

Witherslack Group are education specialists for children with Autism, ADHD and Social Emotional Mental Health difficulties. They also offer free online training for parents and carers. Topics change each month.  No diagnosis needed.

Visit the Witherlack Group website for more information.

HEADS

Hadrian School have their own training service and offer free parent-carer training courses.   

Please see the  website HEADS Training website for more details.

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