Training and Workshops

  • Building connection and relationships with young people with little or no spoken communication

    This training focuses on the universal human need for relationship and connection. This is true even for those who present as if they are not interested in relating those around them.

    We cover the importance of attachment for people with learning disabilities and autism, and then focus in on practical steps for how to build connection through activities, special interests and through reflective conversation. We also consider relational approaches to crisis moments or meltdowns.

  • Applying trauma-informed training with people with severe learning disabilities

    Many schools have recently received trauma-informed training. However, this often has missed two key elements:

    1. how trauma presents in students with severe learning disabilities and autism

    2. what to do about it

    This follow-on training develops previous core training, helping you to apply it to your particular context and needs.

  • Debriefing non-speaking students and young people

    There is a requirement for students to receive a debrief after any distressing incident. However, this is rarely implemented for students or young people who have no spoken communication.

    We specialise in connecting with people who are non-speaking, and will train your team to find effective debrief strategies for individuals who are currently not receiving this.

  • Debrief Best Practice

    Staff retention is high on the agenda for most schools and care organisations.

    We offer best practice training on how to debrief staff after difficult interactions and incidents. This allows staff to ‘keep it at work’ - as one staff member recently put it, increasing their resilience and longevity in the work.

  • Autism Training

    Despite the progress in autism awareness, levels of understanding how autism presents and how best to support and engage with people with autism is still very low overall.

    We offer a comprehensive introduction to understanding and supporting people with autism, which is highly accessible for direct support staff and includes an overview of sensory processing.

  • Self-injury Training

    We always train large cohorts of staff in a range of approaches for supporting people who self-injure. This is also available to schools and organisations as a stand-alone, if coupled with workshops and reflective practice.

    We cover the role of diagnosis, an overview of the principles underpinning most behavioural packages in the UK, and then a focus on emotional factors for self-injury. This includes some practical ways forward, as well as an emphasis on supporting the teams involved.

We don’t just train…..

…because the evidence base tells us that training staff teams rarely translates to measurable change for those they are supporting.

All of the courses listed offer a combination of an initial training session, followed by a facilitated workshop to help the teams apply what they’ve heard. We follow up with a reflective practice session within a few weeks.

This is because we are passionate about achieving impact and transformation for the young people or adults your teams are supporting.

Testimonials

  • "Through the initial inspirational training, workshops, reflective online sessions and meeting notes, staff have gained more knowledge, understanding and confidence with working with, and supporting [the student]".

    Assistant Head

    About: Self-injury support package

  • “Beverley spoke with real clarity and not only shared knowledge but also personal experience, which helped us to receive a greater understanding of ways we can support the children we care for. Thank you for opening up 2022 Belong conference with such passion!”

    Emma Bacon, Founder of Belong Conference

  • “Bev’s training on understanding trauma provided clear, informative training, giving real insight into the impact on people’s everyday lives and wellbeing. The session was interactive, educational and empowering, facilitating us to be aware of our own personal perspectives and also to gain an understanding of the traumatic experiences and responses of others.”

    Ali Maynard, Project Manager, Embrace

  • “My one-to-one consultation with Unique Connections was more than just informative: in addition to incredibly helpful advice and wisdom, I’ve come away feeling built up and motivated for the challenges ahead.”

    Matt Cossey, Principal, Nexus

  • “Your presentation and lecture truly surpassed any expectations I may have had. Myself and many of my colleagues were hugely inspired and moved by your fascinating work and insights.”

    Jez Taylor

    Professional Advisor : Learning Disability & Autism, Adult Social Care

  • "You provide an excellent forum for staff to open up about their own fears and concerns, providing an insight into [the student's] need to discharge his fear - which is so helpful to us all, and guiding them through ways of supporting themselves as well as [the student].' Your reflections and unpicking of how [the student] might be feeling and suggestions for opening up conversations with him by trusted staff has been a real game changer".

    Assistant Head

    (from Reflective Practice with a team supporting a student with chronic and persistent self-injury.)

  • “We had the privilege of hosting Unique Connections at a staff training day. They offered so many helpful insights, but also had a way of making challenging topics easy to understand and feel less daunting. I’d thoroughly recommend them.”

    Nexus ICA

  • "We are grateful that you are on this journey with us and would definitely recommend you to other practitioners."

    School feedback from Self-injury Support Package

  • "The training has been extremely useful so far. The whole school training was particularly interesting and the strategies for reflective conversation have been successful. Regular meetings with Unique Connections are helpful and allow for continuous reflection and support to move forward."

    Used with permission from a mid-point evaluation form of the self-injury support package.

  • Bev was an overwhelming success as keynote speaker at our staff conference. The delegates were captivated by her stories and impacted by her message. Bev's delivery style really resonated with our organisational values. She is full of authenticity, compassion, respect and credibility. People were talking about it long after the event!

    Susan Camps

    Learning and Development Manager, MacIntyre Academies

  • Listening to Bev and Jen was so enlightening - a great opportunity to learn how our emotions transfer onto our pupils - which allows me to develop further as an educator.

    Delegate at MacIntyre Academies’ Staff Conference

Consultancy

  • Reflective practice for teams

    We love to work with the teams who deliver direct support to complex young people. We will come and observe young people who present with self-injury or other complex behaviours, and then support the teams to reflect on and think through their support going forward. This works well following trauma-informed or self-injury training.

    Coming soon! Online reflective practice groups for direct support staff working with those who self-injure. Please let us know if this would be of interest to your teams.

  • Consultancy Supervisions

    We provide consultancy supervisions for teams providing therapeutic support to people who have little or no spoken communication. We support the team to find new ways to communicate and connect, and help them to build safety with the client.

  • Individual consultancy for senior leaders

    Creating effective, trauma-informed environments starts with culture.

    We will meet with a senior leader as a one-off or over a series of meetings to help you think about systems and structures at a governance level. This will enable you to create a wise, united and compassionate culture that will positively impact the lives of the staff and young people.

  • Support for individual transitions

    Transitions can be profoundly difficult for young people with a history of self-injury or other complex issues. We will do some initial observations with individual young people, then work with the new team to deliver specialist bespoke training.

    This is ideal for complex young people transitioning to adult services, as specialist therapy and support tends to reduce at this point.

  • Bespoke Services

    Just as every individual connects uniquely with those around them, so does every organisation. We will put together a package of support and training that best suits your current and future needs, including adapting current resources, or developing bespoke resources where necessary.

Everyone is made for connection.

No exceptions.