Partner Organisations are UK statutory services, recognised and validated by DDP Connects UK, as working closely with DDP Trainers and Consultants to implement a DDP-informed practice model.
In this section:
- Partner Organisations
- How to become a Partner Organisation
- What does a Partner Organisation look like in practice?
Our Partner Organisations
Ealing Children Services Connect Service, London
The local authority Connect Service within Ealing Council’s Children’s Services have implemented a DDP trauma-informed and attachment-focused model since 2015. This is alongside the development of Ealing’s Brighter Futures practice model which brought together Looked After Children’s social workers, fostering social workers, clinical psychologists with training in Dyadic Development Practice.
About Partner Organisations
Why has DDP Connects UK developed this?
In the UK a number of statutory services organise and fund regular DDP Level One and Two trainings for their staff, often combined with PACE training. Some also fund regular staff consultation and support individuals to become certified DDP Practitioners. Some run Kim Golding’s DDPI-Endorsed parenting groups for foster carers and adoptive parents or a modified version, including funding staff to attend Kim’s ‘Train the Trainers’ 3-day training.
Children Always First is the UK’s first certified DDP Organisation.
DDPI has developed a robust process that enables organisations to become certified as a DDP Organisation. This process works well for private or independent residential homes or schools as well as adoption and fostering agencies.
It doesn’t work so well for UK statutory services. These are often large organisations made up of different services working under strict financial constraints, time scales and time pressures. They may have high staff turnover, requiring the use of temporary agency staff and work within a context of meeting government targets.
For these reasons DDP Connects UK has developed a different process specifically for Local Authorities and NHS Trusts, one of Partner Organisation; a process that recognises and validates statutory services or teams who work closely with DDP Trainers and Consultants to implement a DDP-informed practice model.
At the moment this is an option in the UK. In future, this process might be adapted by DDPI for other countries.
Who can be a Partner Organisation?
This process is open to UK statutory services that provide services to children who have experienced developmental trauma or complex PTSD, and their families. It is not available for private or independent organisations.
Statutory services are paid for, provided by and regulated by the government e.g. National Health Service (NHS), social services. These include Local Authority services such as children in care, fostering or adoption teams, NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Child Health teams.
Can this be a first step towards becoming a certified DDP Organisation with DDPI?
No, this process hasn’t been developed to be a first step for independent organisations who are working towards meeting the criteria to start the DDPI Organisational Certification process.
Becoming a Partner Organisation is a parallel and different process. It is not a certification process; more a process that aims to acknowledge and validate shared aims about service delivery and working alongside statutory services.
What qualities, principles and values do services, or teams within a large statutory service need to demonstrate?
Partner Organisations share similar aims, values and principles to DDP Connects UK and DDPI including:
- A commitment to developing and maintaining services that are trauma-informed, attachment-focused and relationship-based.
- Respects and values individual differences within the limits of non-discriminatory practice and safe care
- Strives to find realistic ways to balance a relational aspect to care with statutory aspects
- Encourages and values the development of safe, consistent relationships within which thoughts and feelings shared are accepted, not judged or evaluated. At the same time actions that harm others or self are openly discussed with appropriate responses and consequences.
- Uses an attitude of PACE throughout all levels of the organisations
- Values working at all times to ensure personal and emotional safety and support for those involved or employed by organisation
- Values and provides regular supervision that includes a focus on relationships,ensuring emotional safety for supervisees
- Works to ensure transitions in and out of the service or team are trauma-informed and attachment focused
These are described in the Partner Organisation Checklist and Annual Plan document.