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Training & Consultancy

CDI Training and Consultancy Service: Educating and Empowering Child and Family Workers

CDI’s Training and Consultancy Service

We provide professional development support to the child and family workforce across Ireland aimed at improving outcomes for children by strengthening evidence-informed practice within child and family services. We work with state bodies such as HSE and TUSLA, other ABC organisations, charities, non-profits, community-based services, schools, early learning centres, the prison service, Garda, corporate organisations, and individuals, with a particular emphasis on bolstering the child and family workforce across Ireland. We offer CPD courses for primary teachers and secondary staff qualifying for EPV days.

To achieve this:

  • We deliver high-standard professional training courses and consultancies
  • Our consultants speak from practical experience, with all trainers and consultants having hands-on experience implementing the programmes and practices within the Training and Consultancy Service.
  • We utilise research-based evidence, having conducted high-quality research and independent evaluations of our work. This evidence forms the basis for developing our training and consulting support.
  • We tailor bespoke training and consultancy support by collaborating closely with clients to ensure the support is finely tuned to their needs.
  • We offer competitive support rates.
  • We ensure sustainability, with any generated revenue being reinvested in CDI’s ongoing work in disadvantaged areas.
  • With over 15 years of experience delivering high-quality programmes and support to our valued partners

Our Training Courses:

CDI’s Restorative Practices Consultancy Services  

We at CDI are one of the leading providers of Restorative Practice Training and Consultancy in Ireland. Our history of delivering evidence-based and effective Restorative Practices (RP) consultancy stretches back to 2013 and we have provided RP consultancy services to a wide range of organisations over the years. 

Our RP consultancy services include supporting organisations to develop robust RP implementation plans, designing and delivering bespoke RP training for various stakeholders, and facilitating restorative meetings and conferences.   

To explore how our RP consultancy services can benefit your organisation, contact Claire Casey at 0872806450 or via email at claire@cdi.ie.  

Restorative Practices Training

Restorative Practices (RP) are an evidence-based set of skills that help develop and sustain strong and happy organisations and communities by actively developing good relationships, preventing the escalation of conflict, and handling conflict and wrongdoing in a creative and healthy manner. CDI provides a range of EIQA approved and CPD accredited RP training courses at CDI, face-to-face and online, and onsite for organisations, schools and communities requesting in-house training.

Find out more about Restorative Practices

Reflective Practice

Reflective Practice is about learning through experience. Our practice, or how we do our job, is shaped and informed by a range of behaviours, skills, assumptions, and theories we use. Reflection is the process of exploring and analysing our practice, including our feelings and perceptions. It helps us better understand what is happening, how we are working, and how to improve.

Learn more about Reflective Practice, What is Reflective Practice, and how does it work? [Link to QSBO Reflective Practices https://www.cdi.ie/training-consultancy/quality-services-better-outcomes/reflective-practice/]

Needs Assessment

Needs Assessment is a systematic way of gathering information on the needs and conditions of your target populations or geographical remit. It is an essential step in designing an intervention or agreeing on an action plan. Furthermore, Needs Assessment can help you identify the gaps and priorities in your ongoing work and ensure that your intervention reaches your target audience in a relevant way.

Learn more about Needs Assessment

­Logic Modelling

Logic Modelling is an evidence-based approach and tool used to clarify and plan an intervention. It is also referred to as the ‘theory of change’. It can help you clearly identify the changes you want to achieve and how you can achieve them. It also provides a foundation for implementation planning, monitoring and evaluation.

Find out more about Logic Modelling

Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

This course will walk you through two planning processes: the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan and the Implementation Plan. You will cover the key concepts and benefits of detailed planning and M&E and navigate the language of M&E. Our experienced facilitator will guide you through the practical steps, including identifying indicators, data sources, and targets against your organisation’s goals.

Find out more about Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

Capacity and Competence Building

Our Capacity and Competence Building module will introduce you to the key elements needed to develop the knowledge , skills and attitudes required to deliver high quality services, including recruitment, staff selection, training, supervision, and mentoring. Find out more about Capacity and Competence Building 

Organisation Context and Change Management

In our Organisational Context and Change Management course, you will develop your change management skills to bring about sustainable individual and organisational change.  You will learn about ‘readiness for change’, the enablers and barriers in the ‘implementation climate’, and the tools to help you lead change processes.

Find out more about Organisation Context and Change Management

Leadership

Leadership is an important skill for all organisational roles, not just for managers. This course will help you become a more successful leader in your role and practice. In this course you will learn to improve your communication and decision-making skills, manage conflict, and build an effective implementation team.

Find out more about Leadership

Evaluation in More Depth

This course will provide an in-depth understanding of a range of evaluation types and methods to establish the effectiveness and efficiency of your interventions. It will give you the knowledge, skills, and tools to manage process and outcome evaluations, whether commissioned or internal. It will focus on how to use your evaluation findings to improve your practice.

Find out more about Evaluation in More Depth

CPD Summer Courses for Teachers


CDI’s Speech, Language and Communication Summer Course builds teachers’ skills and confidence in addressing the speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN) of primary school students. Approved by the Department of Education and Skills (DES), it is a 20-hour course that can be completed at your own pace.

This Summer Course is unique. It merges the disciplines of speech and language therapy (SLT) and primary teaching to provide practical information, tools and activities for mainstream and support teachers.

Find out more about CPD Summer Courses for teachers

Restorative Practices Skills for Positive Classroom and School Norms Online Summer Course

Course overview: Overall, this course aims to provide participants with knowledge and understanding of the use of Restorative Practices (RP) in schools to promote and maintain well-being among students and staff.

Find out more about the Restorative Practices Skills for Positive Classroom and School Norms Online Summer Course

Parental Engagement and Relationships (PEAR)

Parental Engagement and Relationships (PEAR) training supports Early Learning and Care (ELC) practitioners in developing and maintaining strong relationships with parents. It is interactive, based on reflective practice and delivered through a variety of ways. For example a 6 week online programme in the evenings, face to face training delivered over two to three half day sessions or bespoke training delivered directly within your service for your team.   

The training and accompanying toolkit are based on CDI’s experience providing effective support to parents through ELC services in Tallaght. 

If you are interested in finding out more please contact louise@cdi.ie  

Find out more Parental Engagement and Relationships (PEAR)