Pro Social Modelling/Relationship Skills
Agencies and organisations working in human service settings can powerfully influence the attitudes and behaviours of the people with whom they have day to day contact by the very nature of the interactions that occur during those contacts.
Since 2000 the Cognitive Centre has worked closely with Professor Chris Trotter to develop training programmes based on the prosocial modelling approach that formed the basis of the research underpinning his book 'Working With Involuntary Clients'. The Cognitive Centre Foundation is the only organisation in the UK that is approved by Chris Trotter as a provider of training programmes based on his work.
These training programmes have been welcomed by a range of staff in an increasingly wide variety of settings, including secure units, residential child care, children and families teams, youth justice settings, educational settings and criminal justice agencies.
The training programmes are based on Dr. Trotter's research and address the need for an organisational, holistic approach using consultancy and direct training to engage with staff at all levels in the organisation. This includes senior and middle management as well as operational and administrative staff. The final content of the training course is tailored to meet the requirements of the client.
Courses
An Introduction to the Key Relationship Skills. (One Day, In House)
(Pro Social Modelling)
The original programme has been amended and updated to meet the needs of staff at all levels in organisations.
This introductory programme is supported by a one day course delivered by Cognitive Centre trainers and addresses:
- High quality relationships
- Prosocial modelling and reinforcement
- Role Clarification
- Problem Solving
Key Relationship and Structuring Skills (Two Days, In House)
In addition to the content outlined above, this two day event allows further practice of the key skills and also addresses:-
- Implementation of the key skills in practice settings
Each participant will prepare an implementation plan to support their use of the key skills.
Recent research by Dowden and Andrews (2004) supports the efficacy of using a Prosocial approach to working with involuntary clients.
Both of these training courses are available, subject to demand, on an open basis. For details of open courses please click on the courses tab.
'Family Problem Solving' (3 Days)
Work with family groups is often the most effective way of working with problematic young people. Often the young person's situation is directly related to the family dynamic and consequently the best method of addressing those dynamics is by working with the family group. Some studies have suggested that re-offence rates can be reduced amongst juvenile offenders by more than 50 percent by the use of structured family work.
The prosocial family problem-solving model involves an adaptation of Dr. Trotter's integrated package of skills to work with family groups. It is generally offered over 10 sessions either in the family or in the office and it may be offered by individual workers or two workers acting as co therapists. The model works from a partnership and non-blaming perspective. However it ultimately aims to enhance the prosocial attitudes of the young offenders and other family members and in turn to influence offence related behaviour.
The model builds on the direct practice skills that workers have already developed. Previous research has suggested that at the completion of the three-day course participants will be able to confidently and competently carry out a series of sessions with families and that those families will benefit from the intervention.
Pro Social Approaches to Working in Child Protection (3 Days)
Chris Trotter and the Centre have collaborated in the development of a new programme specifically designed to meet the needs of workers in Child Protection settings. The programme draws on material outlined in Chris’s book "Helping Abused Children and Their Families" (Sage 2004). For further details please contact the Centre direct.