Rich Devine is a Consultant Social Worker, with over 14 years’ experience working with children and families in a child protection context.
He holds a Masters in Attachment Studies from Roehampton University, London (2018) and is trained in several attachment procedures. He is a Visiting Researcher at Cambridge University. A writer of one of the UK’s most popular social work blogs, exploring topics such as direct work with children, assessment and relationship-based practice. He co-hosts the Relational Activism in Social Work Podcast with Tim Fisher.
Rich is the author of ‘Messy Social Work: Lessons from the Frontline’, a book published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, aimed at helping frontline practitioners with the nuts and bolts of their job.
“I felt the training was very informative and at a good pace. It was very useful and I enjoyed it. Richard is very knowledgeable and gave personal and professional example throughout. It was very insightful.”
Suitable for all social workers nationwide with an interest in child protection. You can attend all sessions or pick and choose those relevant to you.
Each session will have a limited group size to provide an immersive and interactive learning experience, following the structure below:
- Part 1: Deep dive into the theoretical and research framework (exploring key models and case studies)
- Part 2: Interactive application (e.g. case-based discussions, role-playing, or practical exercises)
- Part 3: Q&A and reflection (take part in breakout rooms for small-group reflection or action planning)
Following each session, participants will be provided with a summary information booklet and resources to assist application of learning from the topic.
Online via MS Teams 9.30am - 12.30pm
Each 3 hour session is priced as follows:
BASW members - £49 + VAT (£58.80)
Corporate multi bookings - £59 + VAT (£70.80) (contact ProfDE@basw.co.uk to arrange)
Non members - £75 + VAT (£90)
Attracting 3hrs CPD per session
Find a course
26.02.25 Capturing the Child’s Voice in Complex Safeguarding Cases: Advanced Skills & Approaches
In this extended masterclass, we will explore the challenges and nuances of engaging with children in child protection settings, where fear, mistrust, or trauma may make communication difficult. Rich Devine, drawing on 14 years of frontline experience, will introduce advanced tools and techniques for building trust and capturing the true voice of children in complex safeguarding situations. This session goes beyond communication basics, delving into real-life case studies, practical exercises, and reflective practice.
Learning Outcomes:
- Gain an advanced understanding of barriers to communication with children in high-risk contexts.
- Learn new strategies to maximize engagement, including trauma-informed practices and age-appropriate approaches.
- Explore techniques for handling difficult conversations, such as discussing violence, substance abuse, and mental health.
- Reflect on how to refine your introduction as a social worker to build rapport faster.
- Learn to gather non-verbal information when working with very young or non-communicative children.
29.04.25 Navigating High-Conflict Relationships in Child Protection: Balancing Empathy and Authority
This session will delve deep into managing resistance, denial, and confrontation in child protection. Conflict is unavoidable when parents are afraid or resistant, yet building relationships is essential. Rich Devine will explore advanced relational skills for navigating these high-stakes interactions, moving beyond basic conflict resolution. Participants will engage in case studies, role-playing, and analysis of different social work approaches to balancing empathy and authority.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the deeper psychological and emotional triggers behind parental resistance.
- Learn advanced conflict management techniques tailored to the child protection context.
- Explore strategies to de-escalate high-conflict situations while maintaining professional boundaries.
- Build confidence in shifting resistant or defensive parents toward constructive engagement.
- Understand when and how to assert authority while maintaining empathy and building collaborative relationships.
18.06.25 Mastering Assessment in Child Protection
This comprehensive session offers a deep dive into effective risk assessment within child protection, including a focus on how biases, pressures, and incomplete information can impact decision-making. Rich Devine will introduce cutting-edge strategies for using chronologies as powerful tools in risk assessment, avoiding common pitfalls, and ensuring defensible, child-centred decisions. Rich will also provide practical ideas to write analysis and assess capacity to change.
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop a deeper understanding of cognitive biases that impair judgment.
- Learn advanced techniques for gathering and interpreting information to assess risk accurately.
- Gain practical skills in using chronologies to track patterns and make evidence-based decisions.
- Explore how to handle challenging situations where resistance or hostility may cloud assessments.
- Build confidence in making ethical, defensible decisions under pressure.
- Learn how to write an analysis and assess capacity to change
10.09.25 Understanding Secondary Trauma and Burnout Prevention in Social Work
Social workers frequently face the emotional toll of child protection work, often leading to secondary trauma and burnout. This session offers an in-depth exploration of self-care strategies, time management, and emotional resilience tools for social workers. Rich Devine will share practical tools and tips for managing a complex caseload without compromising your well-being.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the impact of secondary trauma and burnout on social workers.
- Introduce key concepts, such as spiritual pain, moral risk and ethical dilemmas.
- Learn practical time management techniques tailored for unpredictable workloads.
- Explore emotional resilience-building techniques that help manage the stresses of child protection.
- Develop a personalized self-care action plan to ensure long-term sustainability in social work.
- Learn how to manage competing demands and prioritize well-being without compromising the quality of work.
Commission a session(s) solely for your organisation
- At a time and date that suits your employees
- Ability to include as many participants as you require
- Opportunity to record the session, which can be made available to employees for up to one month afterwards on demand
Contact ProfDE@basw.co.uk for availability
Sessions are priced at £1,000 + VAT each or £3,500 + VAT for a bundle of all four topics)