More Information on OSCN Courses
Course descriptions
Safe and Sound in OSCAR
This 3-4 hour workshop covers requirements under the MSD OSCAR Standards for safety and positve behaviour guidance. It also gives an introduction to professional practice in OSCAR and in particular, what it means to be "child-centred" and "strengths-based".
The training is intensive and there is practical activity and reflection throughout. It is mostly focussed on skills relating to supervising activities and interacting with children. The paper work and systems that go with health and safety (e.g. RAMS forms, incident reporting etc.) are briefly covered.
Topics
- Safe environments: the 3 essential elements
- Professional and legal requirements for supervision, safety and risk assessment
- Strengths-based practice: a developmental approach to managing safety and behaviour
- What is behaviour? The communication and purposes behind behaviour
- Positive behaviour guidance – setting the right climate and using least intrusive responses to off-track behaviour
Keeping Your Cool: Everyday Discipline and Challenging Behaviour
We hear all the time that children are becoming more challenging in their behaviour and that staff often struggle to respond effectively when kids are pushing limits or “melting down”. This 3-4 hour workshop aims to keep things simple – we focus on effective strategies for everyday use that help kids get back on track with a minimum of confrontation: if we want cool, respectful kids then we have to walk the talk ourselves.
We use games and practical activities to show how to approach challenging behaviour with a cool head and positive purpose. We can also make links between these everyday discipline practices and strategies needed for children with disorders such as ADHD, FASD etc.
Topics
- Helping children to behave well: what are we aiming for?
- Low-key discipline techniques for everyday use - Why are children challenging?
- Effective responses to challenging behaviour: accommodation and intervention strategies
- Evidence-based practice: what can we learn from research into classroom teaching?
Here to Care: Common sense for OSCAR professionals
This 2-3 hour workshop aims to build awareness and understanding of the professional obligations & sector standards for programme supervision. We will learn about duty of care, legal liability for injury, risk assessment and effective supervision. We take a practical, common sense approach, which balances the need for safety and the need for children to be active and learning to assess and manage risk themselves.
Topics
- Actively managing the risk of harm: obligations under health and safety legislation
- Standards and guidelines for effective programme supervision
- Duty of care, negligence and reasonable care of children
- How much risk is OK? A balanced approached to assessing risk in activities
Tuning in to Children
This 3-hour workshop aims to improve staff confidence in games facilitation and increase the sense of connection within staff teams. We'll identify some useful activity leadership strategies and take time to give and receive feedback.
There will be lots of practical learning about getting games off to a good start and we will reflect on how games can contribute to a positive programme culture.
Topics
- Helping children to behave well: what are we aiming for?
- Why play games?
- Activity leadership essentials
- Ready to roll? Being prepared to run a game and common challenges during games
- Building participation: tips for getting children involved and getting their feedback
"You're In!" Games for Participation and Learning
An immersive 2-3 hour workshop to sharpen your skills at helping kids into games. A great way for your whole team to get energised and inspired for the year ahead. Learn some different, easy games and share strategies for building participation.
Working Together: Professional boundaries in OSCAR
This 2-3 hour workshop aims to open up discussion within staff teams about appropriate professional practice when working with children, their parents/caregivers and other professionals, in an OSCAR setting.
At OSCN we understand the challenges that forming positive relationships with children and their families presents, and we believe that conversations about this process can be very valuable for staff teams. This will be an interactive and practical workshop, with some fun activities to get you thinking and learning.
Topics
- Being “professional”: what does it mean for you?
- OSCAR Code of Conduct / MSD OSCAR Standards
- Recognising and establishing boundaries: for the service as well as personal boundaries
- Crossing the line? Professional conduct case studies and problem-solving boundary issues
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