Upskilling Professionals Working with Substance Use.

This dynamic full-day training is designed for frontline professionals working directly with individuals who use drugs and alcohol. Through a trauma-informed and practical lens, this course builds essential knowledge and confidence to identify, understand, and respond to substance use and related behaviours.

Course Overview:

• Understand the Effects: Explore how different substances impact the brain and body, including short-term and long-term consequences.
• Drug Identification: Learn to recognise a range of substances, their appearance, street names, and methods of use.
• Spot the Signs: Gain the skills to identify signs and symptoms of problematic use, from early indicators to more complex patterns of dependency.

This course is ideal for support workers, housing officers, social care staff, mental health practitioners, and anyone engaging with individuals affected by substance use. Attendees will leave with enhanced awareness, improved confidence, and practical tools to support safer, more informed interventions.

For those working with people facing complex, overlapping challenges.

This course is designed for frontline workers, team leaders, managers, and services that support individuals experiencing, or at risk of, multiple disadvantage – including homelessness, substance use, mental health issues, and criminal justice involvement.

What you’ll gain:

• A deeper understanding of how multiple disadvantage impacts engagement and support.
• Tools and trauma-informed strategies to enhance your practice.
• Space to reflect on your values, behaviours, and the role of trust in building effective relationships.
• Confidence to test new approaches and share insights in a supportive environment.
• Skills to champion cultural and systemic change in your service or organisation.

This course helps practitioners build on existing strengths to create lasting, compassionate impact – both with individuals and across the systems that support them.

Understanding the root of behaviour through a trauma-informed lens.

This interactive session introduces the foundations of Trauma Informed Practice. You will:

• Understand how trauma shapes behaviour, including aggression, self-harm, and substance use.
• Learn about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their long-term effects.
• Explore the core principles of trauma-informed care.
• Reflect on the emotional toll of trauma – on those experiencing it and on professionals.
• Develop self-care strategies to support resilience and avoid burnout.

Helping people move forward – without resistance or burnout.

Motivational Interviewing is a powerful, person-centred approach to change. In this session, you will:

• Explore the key principles and techniques of Motivational Interviewing.
• Practice strategies that encourage engagement and reduce defensiveness.
• Learn how to gather meaningful, actionable information.
• Build skills that are immediately transferable to your work environment.

Supporting safety and confidence in high-pressure situations.

This course helps frontline staff understand, assess, and respond to risk and challenging behaviour. You will:

• Explore the wider context of risk in trauma and social exclusion.
• Learn how to assess risk factors and apply management strategies.
• Understand how complex needs contribute to volatility and marginalisation.
• Gain de-escalation tools that prioritise safety and dignity.

Protecting yourself and those you support through clear, ethical boundaries.

Strong boundaries are vital to effective and sustainable practice. This session will help you:

• Define and maintain professional boundaries in your role.
• Recognise early signs of boundary issues or burnout.
• Navigate the ethical use of self-disclosure.

Use reflective practice to make informed, compassionate decisions