Camden stay and play training
The early years workforce often lacks specialist training to support early social and emotional development, which can feel time-consuming, expensive and an ‘added extra’ (Asmussen and Brims, 2018).
To help address this gap, in collaboration with Camden Local Authority we deliver a Camden Stay and Play Health Hub Training. This service comprises a training and supervision programme for stay and play workers in Camden. In addition, we also deliver a targeted therapeutic intervention consisting in attachment-informed parent-toddler and parent-infant play groups.
How it works
This programme includes 6 face-to-face training sessions, a 6-week observation placement and monthly reflective practice groups for trained staff. Second, it involves the delivery of weekly psychoanalytically informed, parent-toddler drop-in groups and parent-infant drop-in groups. These groups are held weekly by Anna Freud staff in England's Lane homeless hostel in the borough of Camden.
The training programme aims to improve practitioners’ knowledge and confidence in facilitating attachment focused drop-in groups through applying learned parent-infant techniques.
The stay and play infant and parent toddler groups at England’s Lane Hostel aim to improve parental understanding of their child's learning and development and increase parental confidence in play activities with their child. Furthermore, they aim to reduce parental isolation and improve community engagement.
Who it is for
This project is for Camden stay & play workers and health visitors, and vulnerable families who attend the parent-toddler and parent-infant drop-in groups.
Evaluation
The evaluation uses a mixed methods design, combining descriptive statistics, attendance figures, outcome measures and a thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with participants. Using a variety of data our evaluation is looking at project outcomes both in terms of professional practice and family interventions.
Professional practice is being assessed using:
Self-report measures (confidence, competence & knowledge)
Focus group interviews
Coded video footage of practice
Family interventions are being assessed using:
Parent feedback forms
Meet the team
Michela Biseo (Deputy Head of Early Years Programme – Clinical & Consultant Child Psychotherapist)
Abel Fagin (Supervisor/ training & Parent-infant Psychotherapist)
Fernanda Ruiz-Tagle (Early Years Assistant)
Contact us
To find out more about our Camden Stay and Play Training, or how to make a referral, get in touch at EarlyYears@annafreud.org.