Key Working in a Children’s Home

This course is grounded in the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, and specifically in the three Quality Standards key working most directly gives practical expression to: the Quality and Purpose of Care standard, the Children’s Views, Wishes and Feelings standard, and the Positive Relationships standard.

Key working sits at the genuine heart of good residential child care — it is the named, consistent relationship through which a child comes to know that one specific adult genuinely knows them, holds their history, and represents them. Written for registered managers and residential care staff, this course covers across eighteen lessons the legal and quality standards framework, becoming a key worker, getting to know a child genuinely, the Placement Plan, structuring key work sessions, building trust, multi-agency co-ordination, advocacy, siblings and family contact, identity, honest recording, recognising performative versus genuine practice, transitions, leaving care, difficult relationships, and supervision and support for key workers themselves.