Relational and Restorative Practice

Restorative practice is a term used to describe behaviours, interactions and approaches which help to build and maintain positive, healthy relationships, resolve difficulties and repair harm where there has been conflict. When we work with and alongside people, instead of doing ‘to’ or ‘for’ them, there is strong evidence to say that the experiences of children and their families are improved.

In Newcastle when families are experiencing difficulties and a child needs help, we want the support that is put in place to work with the family to help them find solutions that last, and keep children safe, happy and healthy. We want to build strong relationships with families so they feel heard and understood and can get help when they need it. If we need to work with families for a longer period of time to keep a child safe, we try to find a solution that is centred around the family, often involving the wider family and friends network.

Relational and Restorative Training

Training around relational and restorative practice is available to multi-agency practitioners working with children and families in Newcastle, and there is no charge.

Restorative Practice Awareness

Restorative Practice is a proactive strength based approach that reinforces the importance of building and maintaining positive relationships by seeking to understand the needs of the people in your community. In this session we will look at the pro-active behaviours and skills that you already use in your practice, to create these long-lasting relationships, as well as reflect on how your actions and attitudes can influence and change relationship dynamics. By the end of the session you will be able to map your practices against the ‘Four ways of being’ model, and begin to reflect on how you can start to encourage and empower others using high challenge and high support. You will have a greater understanding of techniques that can be used to build connections and community, for example ‘Check in circles.’ Places are still available on the following dates:

28 March – NEW DATE

9 April 2025 – FULL

9 July 2025 – places available

9 October 2025 – places available

All sessions 10am – 12.30pm at Treehouse Early Years Centre, Cruddas Park

Restorative Practice Masterclasses

These Restorative Practice Masterclasses are for staff who work with babies, children, young people and their families in Newcastle. They can be attended as standalone sessions or as a series of 3. The masterclasses are designed to deepen understanding of relational and restorative practices, and to provide practical tools to support you in adopting this approach to your work with children and wider families Note: You must have attended a Restorative Practice Awareness session or Principles of Relational Practice session, before attending any of these Masterclasses.

Restorative Language

1 April 2025 10am – 2.30pm

30 Sept 2025 10am – 2.30pm

Fawdon Children’s Centre

Treehouse Early Years Centre

Circles and Fair Process

15 May 2025 10am – 2.30pm

12 Nov 2025 10am – 2.30pm

Treehouse Early Years Centre

High Support, High Challenge

11 June 2025 10am – 4pm

10 December 2025 10am – 4pm

Treehouse Early Years Centre

Rethink Formulation Half Day Face to Face Workshops

When working with families, services can get into a pattern of assessments and short term interventions that end when there have been improvements. However, families often need help again. Rethink Formulation uses an evidence based model of case formulation to help us organise information and structure our conversations to reach a shared understanding of a family and their presenting issues, from which we can base our plans. This formulation can travel with the family into different services, and should reduce the number of assessments they have by providing an effective way to analyse the information we already have about their strengths and needs. Rethinking what we know about a family, and what we then do with that knowledge, is key to working with that family in a restorative and sustainable way.

This is a half day of intensive coaching in the art of formulation and will provide a solid base for continuous learning about the Rethink Formulation model. You will learn what the Rethink model is, the theory behind it and be given the opportunity to experience and practice using the model.

10 April 2025 Treehouse Early Years Centre

7 July 2025 Treehouse Early Years Centre

10 October 2025 Treehouse Early Years Centre

Rethink Practice Session

Have you previously attended a Rethink workshop? Do you want an opportunity to practice doing Rethink Formulations?

7th May 2025: 9.30am – 11.30am

16th September 2025: 9.30am – 11.30am

18th November 2025: 9.30am – 11.30am

Reflective Learning Circle - What makes a good and effective Step Up and Step Down

We would like to offer practitioners, especially those who lead on plans for children and their families, in Children’s Social Care and Early Help Services the opportunity to come together and participate in a Reflective Learning Circle. A circle can represent wholeness, inclusion and unity and is a way of sharing knowledge, learning and experience with each other. As well as making connections and building relationships.The Reflective Learning Circle will be for 2 hours and will focus upon effective step up and step down between early help and children’s social care. This will be an informal learning opportunity and conversation around family led decision making and outcomes focused planning, and how we can support one another to achieve this. It would be great to see practitioners from all areas of Children’s Social Care and Early Help services coming along to share their perspectives.

Thursday 20^th March, 10 – 12 (Treehouse, Cruddas Park, Brunel Terrace, Newcastle, NE4 7NL)
Tuesday 8^th July, 1.30 – 3.30 (Treehouse, Cruddas Park, Brunel Terrace, Newcastle, NE4 7NL)
Tuesday 4^th November, 10 – 12 (Treehouse, Cruddas Park, Brunel Terrace, Newcastle, NE4 7NL)

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Relational and Restorative Practice

Resources for Professionals

Please use the button to access resources which can support relational and restorative practice. A wide range of resources and documents have been provided for professionals.

Please use the button to access resources related to Re-think formulations. Re-think formulations can support practice that is relational and restorative. A wide range of resources and documents have been provided for professionals. These can be downloaded altogether or individually

Relational and Restorative Training

Training around relational and restorative practice is available to multi-agency practitioners working with children and families in Newcastle, and there is no charge.

Restorative Practice Awareness

Restorative Practice Masterclasses

Rethink Formulation Half Day Face to Face Workshops

Rethink Practice Session

Reflective Learning Circle - What makes a good and effective Step Up and Step Down

If you are interested in attending any of these courses please email wfdadmin@newcastle.gov.uk

For all other queries about Restorative and Relational Practice in Newcastle- email relationalpracticeleads@newcastle.gov.uk