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Attachment knowledge and practice hub

Author: Community Care Inform

Updated Date: 15 May 2023

Publication Date: 19th March 2015

toddler looking scared or unhappy, being comforted by mother

Photo: Irnya/Adobe Stocke

Learning points

A precise understanding of attachment theory and the role it can play in assessing and supporting families.
How to draw confidently on attachment theory in reports and court work (and why this might involve not using the word ‘attachment’ at all).
Applying attachment concepts such as the ‘secure base’, ‘safe haven’, mentalization and emotion regulation in different scenarios, including when working with children in care or adoption, parents with histories of trauma, and the role of your own attachment pattern in your practice.

This resources in this hub can help you meet point 3 of the Knowledge and skills statement for child and family practitioners: Child development and point 5: Abuse and neglect of children.

Introduction

Understanding the basics of attachment theory: quick guide

Assessments

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Using attachment principles when assessing children and families

See also the sections on Supporting families, Tools and Case studies

Supporting families

Supportive ‘interventions’ based on the theory

Attachment-based trauma and parenting

Multimedia learning

Podcast: attachment-based trauma and parenting

Confidently referring to the theory

Attachment in reports and court work: avoiding the pitfalls

Children removed from birth family

Attachment in adoption and fostering

Using the secure base concept with carers

A lived experience perspective: attachment and foster care

Attachment and children in residential care

Presenting structured parenting tasks assessment to court

Self-awareness

How your own attachment organisation affects your practice

Tools

Structured parenting tasks

Observing and supporting a parent’s mentalizing capacity

See also the sections on Assessments and Supporting families

Case studies

An adolescent repeatedly going missing

Child with developmental delay

Assessing attachment and other factors

Struggling with newborn baby

Non-accidental bruising: using mentalization in assessment

Evidence for returning children to parents

Elsewhere on CC Inform

Using attachment theory to work with adults

Trauma-informed knowledge and practice hub

Child development practice support tool

Multimedia learning

Podcast: adult attachment and dementia

Add item to CPD Log (SWE)

Title *
Attachment knowledge and practice hub

Date *
02-11-2024 (dd-mm-yyyy)

Learning or development activity, resource or URL
https://www.ccinform.co.uk/knowledge-hubs/attachment-knowledge-and-practice-hub/

Learning

Use the boxes below to record what you have learned from this activity. The form below replicates that used by Social Work England in your online account, so that when you need to renew your registration each year, you can easily transfer examples of CPD. Everything you write will be stored in your My CPD log on CC Inform. You can return to each piece of CPD and edit or add to it at any time - for example, if you reflect on it with a peer. You can export all the information as a Word file and copy it into Social Work England's form for the pieces you choose to submit during renewal, and print it off for other uses - for example, in supervision or peer reflection.

1. Describe what you have learnt from doing this CPD activity. (Social Work England recommend that you write 250-500 words, and they say that you may want to refer to the CPD standard 4.1-4.8 - see below.)

Word count: 0

2. Reflect on and describe the positive impact the CPD has had (or will have) on your practice and the people you work with.

This could be people with lived experience of social work, colleagues, or students. If you are not currently working, or not in direct practice, you could think about how your CPD activity might benefit people you come into contact with or the profession as a whole. (Social Work England recommend you write about 250 to 500 words).

Word count: 0

3. Describe what you have learnt from discussing this CPD activity with a peer

This is an optional question. By answering it for at least one of your pieces of CPD, you will meet Social Work England's requirements to record one piece of CPD with a peer reflection during the registration year. You are expected to write at least 250 words.

Social Work England say: "Peer reflection means that you have discussed the content of your CPD activity with a peer, your manager or another professional.

This discussion can be informal or formal, and can take place in one to one or group settings. The role of the peer is not to approve your learning but to support and help you to think about how you can improve your practice. When discussing your CPD with a peer, you should talk about what you have learnt from doing the CPD and the positive impact the CPD activity has had (or will have) on your role, practice and the people you work with".

Read more guidance from the regulator about peer reflection here

Word count: 0

4. Which parts of the CPD standard have you met by doing this activity? By going through the recording process, you will automatically meet standards 4.6 and 4.7. You can use the box below to note the other standards you have met with this piece.

4.1 Incorporate feedback from a range of sources, including from people with lived experience of my social work practice.
4.2 Use supervision and feedback to critically reflect on, and identify my learning needs, including how I use research and evidence to inform my practice.
4.3 Keep my practice up to date and record how I use research, theories and frameworks to inform my practice and my professional judgement.
4.4 Demonstrate good subject knowledge on key aspects of social work practice and develop knowledge of current issues in society and social policies impacting on social work.
4.5 Contribute to an open and creative learning culture in the workplace to discuss, reflect on and share best practice.
4.6 Reflect on my learning activities and evidence what impact continuing professional development has on the quality of my practice.
4.7 Record my learning and reflection on a regular basis and in accordance with Social Work England's guidance on continuing professional development.
4.8 Reflect on my own values and challenge the impact they have on my practice.

For more information, see Social Work England’s guidance on CPD.

Add item to CPD Log (SCW)

Title * Attachment knowledge and practice hub

Date * 02-11-2024 (dd-mm-yyyy)

URL https://www.ccinform.co.uk/knowledge-hubs/attachment-knowledge-and-practice-hub/

Learning Use the boxes below to record what you have learned from this activity. Everything you write will be stored in your Inform account and you can export all the information as a Word file or print it off. When you have to renew your social work registration with Social Care Wales, you can include this as evidence of continuing professional development.

1. What have you learned from this activity?

2. How has it contributed to your practice?

3. How much time have you spent on this activity?

4. Next steps (any additional learning you need in this area)?

For more details, visit Social Care Wales

Citation

Full Harvard reference for this document:

() Attachment knowledge and practice hub. Knowledge Hubs.
Community Care Inform
[online]
https://www.ccinform.co.uk/knowledge-hubs/attachment-knowledge-and-practice-hub/
[accessed: 2 November 2024]

If you are directly quoting the author's own words from this document you must acknowledge that they are not your own words by putting them within quotes marks, reference the source in the text and then provide the full reference at the end of the document. For example:

In the text: Brackenbridge argues that "[t]he interpersonal dynamics of sexual abuse in sport are similar to those in other settings but exacerbated by some key situational differences" (Brackenbridge, 2008).

Full reference to insert at the bottom of the document: Brackenbridge, C. (2008) Child Protection in Sport. Guide. Community Care Inform Children [online]. Available at: https://www.ccinform.co.uk/articles/2008/02/22/1973/Child+protection+in+sport.html [accessed: INSERT DATE HERE (eg 25 November 2015)]