Supporting Children Affected by Domestic Abuse and Parental Imprisonment

Supporting Children Affected by Domestic Abuse and Parental Imprisonment

 Date:                      Monday 14^th July 2025

Time:                      10.00am – 4.30pm

Venue:                    Exeter College

Places available:    20

 Since 2014, Children Heard and Seen has supported over 1,300 children and young people, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs understood. Children Heard and Seen also provide professional training, raise awareness nationally, and advocate for policy improvements that centre children’s wellbeing.

For more information, visit: Who we are – Children Heard and Seen

What do I need to know about this training?

• The training will be delivered in person and offers an insight into the unique challenges faced by this often-overlooked group.
• Delivered by Children Heard and Seen, an Oxfordshire-based charity with over a decade of experience, participants will benefit from the charity’s extensive frontline experience, learning how to offer effective, trauma-informed support and contribute to systemic change.
• Parental (and familial) imprisonment is a frequently overlooked Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), and the training aligns closely with other trauma-informed approaches. It will support attendees to challenge their own unconscious bias, and to be non-judgemental and curious in their attitudes.
• A cancellation or non-attendance fee may be charged (see Terms and Conditions below).

Who is this training for? This one-day course is designed for professionals working with children, young people, and families affected by parental imprisonment or remand.

Aims and Objectives – Through raising awareness and confidence for attendees, children and young people will receive support from adults that helps to reduce their sense of shame and stigma, help them process their complex, conflicting and confusing feelings, and supports them to hold on to hope and realise their full potential.

Learning Outcomes:

• Increase awareness of parental imprisonment in the context of domestic abuse, including the wide-ranging impacts on children, young people, and their families.
• Explore the types of support children may need to help lessen these impacts and promote long-term recovery and resilience.
• Highlight the ways domestic abuse may continue post-sentence, including coercive control and manipulation from prison, and the implications for children’s ongoing safety and wellbeing.
• Build attendees’ confidence in engaging sensitively and effectively with children who have experienced both domestic abuse and parental imprisonment, as well as with the non-offending parent or caregiver.
• Equip professionals to create safe, supportive spaces where children feel heard, validated, and able to process their feelings without fear of stigma or judgment.
• Strengthen attendees’ ability to raise awareness of this issue with colleagues and other professionals, advocating for the needs and rights of affected children within their settings.

There will be opportunities for small and whole group discussions and use case studies based on real experiences. This gives the opportunity for attendees to network, and to learn from each other in their different professions, and fosters collaboration amongst services.

To see a trailer of the film that will be shown as part of the training go to Invisible Children – Film Trailer – Children Heard and Seen

 Cost – This course is fully funded by the Devon Serious Violence Partnership for Partners including Health (NHS), Education, Early Years & Childcare, Children Services, Probation, the Voluntary Community Sector and Public Health Devon.  However, we still maintain the right to charge for non-attendance as this prevents someone else from taking up a place.  We will invoice your organisation, as per the Terms & Conditions below.

Bookings – to book your place, click here.

IMPORTANT – Please read:

Cancellations and Non-Attendance – Terms & Conditions

 Cancellations – you or your organisation will be charged if we don’t receive your cancellation at least 2 weeks before the training date or nominate someone else to attend in your place.

• Non-attendance – if you don’t turn up, arrive late or leave early, we reserve the right to charge you/your organisation.
• What will I be charged?  £220 per person for this full-day course.
• Extenuating Circumstances – you will not be charged if there are circumstances beyond your control which have had an impact on your ability to attend a course. Generally, they are circumstances of a medical or personal nature that are out of your control, and which could not be prevented.  They must have had a significant impact on your ability to attend, for example, significant illness, bereavement, having to attend court, being a victim of crime or another acute trauma.  It is important to remember that only the most serious extenuating circumstances will be considered.

Who do I contact if I’ve got any queries?

You can email safeguardingelearning-mailbox@devon.gov.uk if you are unsure of anything, including:

• whether you have to pay
• if the course is appropriate for your work role
• details about the venue and parking etc
• cancelling your place