About WITNESS training
WITNESS provides training about professional boundaries. Courses focus on setting and maintaining professional boundaries, the difference between personal and professional relationships, the need for clear boundaries and the dynamics of boundary violations and professional abuse.
WITNESS trains user and survivor groups, NHS Trusts, advocacy groups, regulators, professional associations and a wide range of professionals.
Training clients report that their systems improve, that their workers are better informed and that they are more able to work with abuse survivors.
Courses are structured according to the needs of training clients, can be used as part of induction programmes or refresher sessions and may be structured to fit over one or several days. Learning methods include handouts, lectures, brainstorms, group discussion, information sharing and small group activities.
Participants own strengths and experience are seen as the starting point for effective learning. All WITNESS trainers are skilled at working with this challenging topic and create a safe environment where participants can look at the issues in relation to their own work.
Training is delivered 'in-house' to training clients, offering total flexibility to the client regarding dates and venues.
Contact us
If you’d like to talk about your training needs please get in touch with Jane Gardiner, Training Manager, on 020 7922 7802 or via jgardiner@witnessagainstabuse.org.uk.
(Please note that this phone number should only be used if you wish to discuss training)
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Examples of training courses
• Abuse in professional practice
• Advocacy for people alleging misconduct
• Advocating for the victims of professional abuse
• Boundaries and professional abuse
• Dealing with professionals
• Ethical Standards and training
• Ethics and errors
• From victims to survivors
• Handling complaints about sexualised behaviour
• Keeping helping relationships safe
• Keeping the professional counselling role safe
• Preventing abusive practice
• Professional boundaries
• Sexual Offences Act
• Supporting the victims of sex crime
• Understanding professional abuse
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Training clients
• General Social Care Council
• General Medical Council
• Department of Health (ICAS & PALS)
• ICAS Eastern Region
• East Sussex NHS Trust
• Greenwich Mind
• Mental Health Action Group – Hull
• Mind
• National Advocacy Network
• BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy)
• Mind in Camden
• Queen Margaret University College Edinburgh
• University of East London
• Cambridge House Advocacy Service
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What WITNESS training clients say...
" GSCC staff who have attended WITNESS training report that their understanding of professional boundaries is vastly improved, and that an appreciation of many of the dynamics surrounding professional abuse is achieved. Staff are able to incorporate the learning into their roles and are also able to work more confidently and sensitively with abuse survivors.
I have been very impressed with the standard of WITNESS training which has been consistently high, and excellent feedback has been received. Overall, this training has had an enormously positive impact on the work that we do.
WITNESS staff and trainers were highly professional and showed real skill in managing the varying experience levels and demands of participants. They handled what can be a sensitive subject with diplomacy and skill.
The training has impacted all levels of the organisation. Regulatory staff are more equipped to work with vulnerable clients and panel members have a clearer understanding of the dynamics of abuse and are better prepared to make often complex decisions. I would thoroughly recommend this training to health and care regulators and service providers.
Given the overwhelmingly positive impact that this training has had on the organisation, this training has represented exceptional value for money
We are hoping to secure WITNESS for further training in the future."
Robin Weekes
Head of Conduct
General Social Care Council, 2006
'Informed, informative and participative'
Professor Julie Stone,
Deputy Director
Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence, 2006
'Very interesting and thought provoking course, particularly around ‘crossing’ and ‘violating’ boundaries'
'Appropriate and valuable'
'Really interesting case studies – excellent to stimulate discussion and highlight the diversity in what people feel is appropriate and therefore the difficulty in creating concrete guidance'
'Enjoyable and informative'
'Needed and appreciated'
'This was a well run course that gave enough time for open forum and addressing individual issues'
'Very useful, thought-provoking and participative'
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