Why is there a need for this training?

Up to 70% of Autistic Children may experience atypical eating behaviours, with many having issues with food or eating. Whilst research indicates that between 25-30% of those with Anorexia Nervosa also meet the diagnostic criteria for Autism there is a much larger number of autistic children, young people and adults who experience avoidant, restricted, and disordered eating patterns.

Avoidant, Restricted and Disordered eating patterns may be a precursor to Anorexia Nervosa or exist alongside other Eating- Disorders such as Bulimia Nervosa or Binge Eating Disorder.

Autism and Disordered Eating is a complex condition that requires specialist understanding and access to autism specific tools and approaches. Families and parents can often feel unsupported, misunderstood, and isolated whilst practitioners often indicate that this is an area for more knowledge and skills training.

With local services often facing restricted resources and inpatient options often not providing the kind of environment or support that autistic people require – Family Skills and Practitioner Skills Training provides a much needed solution.

Who is this training for?

This training is open to:

• Parents as practitioners (those providing support at home or in the community)
• Mental Health Teams
• Mental Health Nurses
• Psychologists
• Psychotherapists
• Counsellors
• Nurses
• Social Workers
• Tier 3 and 4 Mental health service providers
• Eating Disorder Teams
• Family Therapists
• Doctors/Psychiatrists
• Allied health and social care services

Part 1:  The Certificate in Practitioner and Family Skills for Autism and Eating Disorders

Module 1:  Introduction to Autism and Eating Disorders

Module 2:  Autism and ARFID

Module 3:  Autism and PICA

Module 4:  Autism, anxiety and Eating-Disorders

Modules 5 & 6:  Core Family & Practitioner Skills for supporting refeeding at home and in the community (SMART practitioner/Intermediate Skills)

Part 2:  Diploma in Family Skills for Autism and Eating Disorders

Module 7:  Autism, OCD and Eating Disorders

Module 8:  Autism, Depression/suicide and Eating-Disorders

Modules 9 & 10:  Advanced family and practitioner Skills for supporting refeeding at home and in the community (PACT for practitioners/Advanced Skills)

Module 11:  Autism Eating Disorders and Families: Roles, identities and wider family support

Module 12: Autism and Eating Disorders:  Self Care for families and practitioners ( a toolkit)

Each module is eight hours/one day in length with 4 hours of learning via live on-line zoom training and the remaining 4 hours via a learning management platform.

The programme can be accessed as a full certificate/diploma training or on a modular basis. 

Cost of Certificate (six module programme): £660

Cost of Diploma (twelve module programme): £1,320

This programme is currently going through approval/accreditation.

Date of the training: TBC