Upcoming Sessions

Spring/Summer 2024

We are running online and in-person Learning and Development sessions through Spring and Summer. Below is information on each session along with booking links. All sessions that are in-person are held at our office Edward House, 199 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3EX and sessions online are delivered via Zoom. Any enquiries should be directed to training@sfad.org.uk.

Introduction to Supporting Families

Online Only Session: 17th April 10am – 12pm

Booking: 17th April (online)

In-Person Only Session: 3rd June 10am – 12pm

Booking: 3rd June (in-person)

Are you looking to take your first steps in developing your knowledge about why families need support? Learn about the unique needs and experiences of family members and understand how empathy and listening skills are so important to family support. This session is beginner level and designed to be a first step for anyone who would like to find out about families affected by alcohol and drugs.

What do we cover?

Recognise that families need support and how this can be different to that for the alcohol or drug user.
Discuss family members’ experiences and needs, and how family members can support recovery.
Relate empathy and listening skills to family support.
Identify local support options for family members.

Why is this important?

Understanding the needs of impacted family members is crucial to offering effective support and compassion. This session shows true family experiences, providing a view of the often-complex lives and routines of day-to-day life. And it offers some solutions – how to listen with empathy, what support is on offer, and how this can make an enormous difference in the lives of family members.

Facilitating a Support Group

Online Only Sessions – you must attend both sessions

Part 1 – 23rd April 10am – 12pm

Part 2 – 30th April 10am – 12pm

Booking: 23rd and 30th April (online)

In-Person Only Session

10th June 9.30am – 1.30pm

Booking: 10th June (in-person)

Are you interested in running a support group? Our session is perfectly suited to helping you explore the skills and knowledge you will need to effectively lead a support group. This session is for anyone looking to run any type of support group – families, members of the workforce, running peed-led recovery groups, and more.

What do we cover?

Recognise and understand the role of the facilitator in peer-led family support.
Identify and develop group ground rules and appropriate policies and procedures such as confidentiality and safeguarding.
Discuss and identify potential challenges in the group and the best ways to resolve these.
Identify key planning skills to structure and manage support group meetings.
Identify ways of getting feedback from group members to make sure they are getting the right support.

Why is this important?

Running groups can feel daunting and uncertain at first, so it’s important to think about a solid foundation. This session will arm you with the skills you need to feel confident and assured in designing and running a structured support meeting.

Family Inclusive Practice

Online Only Sessions – you must attend both sessions

Part 1 – 15th April 10am – 12pm

Part 2 – 22nd April 10am – 12pm

Booking: 15th and 22nd April (online)

In-Person Only Session

5th June 9.30am – 1.30pm

Booking: 5th June (in-person)

Are you interested in an in-depth look at how best to include families in your work? Family Inclusive Practice is about how professionals in the workforce actively involve a person’s family and social networks in their care, are proactive in asking about the needs of the whole family, and make sure all family members are supported. This session is designed to be an in-depth look at all aspects of families support needs, what we are aiming for within Scotland, and how practitioners can adapt innovative approaches to best include families.

What do we cover?

Define family inclusive practice.
Recognise family inclusive practice in relation to the evidence base, ROSC development and the Quality Principles in service delivery.
Recognise the value of lived experience of family members and their support needs.
Develop an understanding of the required qualities and skills to effectively engage with families.
Identify opportunities to include families to support whole family recovery.
Identify practical strategies to work with families and overcome barriers to family engagement.

Why is this important?

Including and supporting families is a key focus in Scotland and is associated with positive outcomes for everyone. This session helps to explore the small, manageable steps practitioners can take towards achieving this and strive towards true family-inclusion.

Bereaved Through Substance Use

Online Only Sessions – you must attend both sessions

Part 1 – 18th April 2pm – 4pm

Part 2 – 25th April 2pm – 4pm

Booking: 18th and 25th April (online)

In-Person Only Session

19th June 9.30am – 1.30pm

Booking: 19th June (in-person)

Are you interested in learning more about bereavement from drug or alcohol use? Our session will help you to explore this sensitive subject and to understand the unique and difficult impact that a loss can have on friends and family. This session is primarily designed for professionals, but it is also suitable for anyone interested in learning about Bereaved Through Substance Use. This could be families, professional members of the workforce, people in recovery, or the wider community.

What do we cover?

Define a drug or alcohol-related death.
Identify key overdose risks.
Recognise stigma and isolation about a drug or alcohol-related death.
Recognise practical issues specific to a drug-related death.
Recognise key messages from ‘Bereaved Through Substance Use’.
Recognise self-care and support for the workforce impacted by a drug or alcohol-related death.

Why is this important?

Talking about bereavement can feel difficult and needs to be handled sensitively. This session will help you to understand more about the complex processes behind grief and bereavement and will enable you to feel more confident in talking about this issue with people you are supporting.