IFDP Family Development Practitioner Programme – International Institute for Adults Learning

About Course

The IFDP Family Development Practitioner Programme prepares educators, youth workers, health and family support practitioners, community and faith leaders, and volunteers to deliver IFDP parenting and family programmes in their own communities with confidence and good judgement.

The course is fully online and self-paced, with no live sessions and no assignments to submit. Across eleven modules you will study child and adolescent development, the theory behind IFDP, safeguarding and professional ethics, culturally responsive practice, engaging families, facilitation, programme delivery, measuring outcomes, and reflective practice and self-care. The final module helps you plan how you will put it all into practice.

Lessons combine clear explanation, real-life scenarios and worked examples with interactive practice activities. Module knowledge checks are for practice only, with no pass mark. The course ends with a Final Assessment: you need 70% to pass and have up to three attempts. Passing completes the course and unlocks your IIFAL certificate.

The certificate confirms that you have completed the training and passed the assessment. It does not replace the checks, such as a criminal records check, and supervision that your own organisation requires before you work with families.

By the end of this course you will be able to:

Explain the IFDP framework, its three tiers and its programmes
Apply knowledge of child and adolescent development to work with families
Use attachment, social learning, ecological, strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches
Recognise, respond to and report safeguarding concerns, and maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries
Work in culturally responsive ways with diverse families, including African and Caribbean communities
Build trust with families, set goals together and use motivational approaches
Facilitate group, one-to-one and online sessions
Match families to programmes and deliver with fidelity
Measure outcomes, keep good records and evaluate your impact
Use reflection, supervision and self-care to keep developing

Supporting Families. Strengthening Communities. Shaping Futures.

Explain the IFDP framework, its three tiers and its programmes
Apply knowledge of child and adolescent development to family work
Use attachment, social learning, ecological, strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches
Recognise, respond to and report safeguarding concerns
Work in culturally responsive ways with diverse families
Build trust, set goals with families and use motivational approaches
Facilitate group, one-to-one and online sessions
Match families to programmes and deliver with fidelity
Measure outcomes and evaluate your impact
Use reflection, supervision and self-care to keep developing

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to IFDP and Family Development Practice
This module explains how the course works, introduces IIFAL's mission, the four-part IFDP framework and the programme library, and explores the role and values of a family development practitioner.

Lesson 1.1: Welcome to the Programme
Lesson 1.2: IIFAL’s Mission and the IFDP Framework
Lesson 1.3: The IFDP Programme Library
Lesson 1.4: The Role of a Family Development Practitioner
Lesson 1.5: Core Values of IFDP Practice
Module 1 Knowledge Check

Module 2: Child and Adolescent Development
Learners study development from pregnancy to 18, covering physical, cognitive, social and emotional milestones and how adversity and protective factors shape outcomes.

Module 3: Theories and Evidence Behind IFDP
This module explains the theories that underpin IFDP programmes and how they translate into practical strategies for families.

Module 4: Safeguarding and Professional Ethics
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Learners learn to recognise signs of abuse, neglect and exploitation, follow reporting procedures, and maintain confidentiality, boundaries and professional standards.

Module 5: Culturally Responsive Practice
Families are shaped by culture, faith, migration and heritage. Learners explore cultural humility, the strengths of African and Caribbean family traditions, the impact of racism and discrimination, and how to adapt practice respectfully.

Module 6: Engaging and Working With Families
Learners develop the skills to build trust with families, carry out initial conversations, set goals together and keep families engaged, including those who are hard to reach or reluctant.

Module 7: Facilitation and Group Skills
This module builds confidence in running groups and one-to-one sessions, online and in person, including managing group dynamics and handling sensitive disclosures.

Module 8: Delivering IFDP Programmes
Learners study how to match families to the right IFDP programme, prepare and deliver sessions with fidelity, and adapt delivery without losing core content.

Module 9: Assessment, Outcomes and Evaluation
Practitioners need to show the difference their work makes. This module covers measuring outcomes, recording progress, using feedback and reporting on impact.

Module 10: Reflective Practice, Supervision and Self-Care
Learners use reflective models, make the most of supervision, manage the emotional demands of family work, plan their continuing development and check they have the right foundations in place before working with families.

Module 11: Putting It Into Practice
A self-directed module to help learners plan their first programme, keep a practice log and reflective journal, assess their own practice and build a personal practice portfolio. Nothing in this module is submitted or marked.

Final Assessment
Review the key ideas from the course, then take the Final Assessment. You need 70% or more to pass and have up to 3 attempts. Passing completes the course and unlocks your certificate.

Add this certificate to your resume to demonstrate your skills & increase your chances of getting noticed.

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About Course

By the end of this course you will be able to:

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to IFDP and Family Development Practice This module explains how the course works, introduces IIFAL's mission, the four-part IFDP framework and the programme library, and explores the role and values of a family development practitioner.

Lesson 1.1: Welcome to the Programme

Lesson 1.2: IIFAL’s Mission and the IFDP Framework

Lesson 1.3: The IFDP Programme Library

Lesson 1.4: The Role of a Family Development Practitioner

Lesson 1.5: Core Values of IFDP Practice

Module 1 Knowledge Check

Module 2: Child and Adolescent Development Learners study development from pregnancy to 18, covering physical, cognitive, social and emotional milestones and how adversity and protective factors shape outcomes.

Lesson 2.1: Pregnancy and Infancy

Lesson 2.2: Early Childhood

Lesson 2.3: Middle Childhood

Lesson 2.4: Adolescence

Lesson 2.5: Adversity, Resilience and Protective Factors

Module 2 Knowledge Check

Module 3: Theories and Evidence Behind IFDP This module explains the theories that underpin IFDP programmes and how they translate into practical strategies for families.

Lesson 3.1: Attachment Theory

Lesson 3.2: Social Learning and Positive Parenting

Lesson 3.3: The Ecological Model of Family Life

Lesson 3.4: Strengths-Based and Trauma-Informed Practice

Lesson 3.5: Using Evidence in Practice

Module 3 Knowledge Check

Module 4: Safeguarding and Professional Ethics Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Learners learn to recognise signs of abuse, neglect and exploitation, follow reporting procedures, and maintain confidentiality, boundaries and professional standards.

Lesson 4.1: Safeguarding Children and Adults

Lesson 4.2: Recognising Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation

Lesson 4.3: Responding to and Reporting Concerns

Lesson 4.4: Confidentiality, Data Protection and Boundaries

Lesson 4.5: Professional Ethics and Conduct

Module 4 Knowledge Check

Module 5: Culturally Responsive Practice Families are shaped by culture, faith, migration and heritage. Learners explore cultural humility, the strengths of African and Caribbean family traditions, the impact of racism and discrimination, and how to adapt practice respectfully.

Lesson 5.1: Culture, Identity and Family Life

Lesson 5.2: Cultural Humility in Practice

Lesson 5.3: Strengths of African and Caribbean Family Traditions

Lesson 5.4: Racism, Discrimination and Their Impact on Families

Lesson 5.5: Working With Faith Communities

Module 5 Knowledge Check

Module 6: Engaging and Working With Families Learners develop the skills to build trust with families, carry out initial conversations, set goals together and keep families engaged, including those who are hard to reach or reluctant.

Lesson 6.1: Building Trust With Families

Lesson 6.2: Initial Conversations and Needs Assessment

Lesson 6.3: Setting Goals With Families

Lesson 6.4: Motivational Approaches

Lesson 6.5: Engaging Reluctant Families

Module 6 Knowledge Check

Module 7: Facilitation and Group Skills This module builds confidence in running groups and one-to-one sessions, online and in person, including managing group dynamics and handling sensitive disclosures.

Lesson 7.1: Principles of Adult Learning

Lesson 7.2: Facilitating Groups

Lesson 7.3: Managing Group Dynamics

Lesson 7.4: One-to-One and Online Delivery

Lesson 7.5: Handling Sensitive Topics and Disclosures

Module 7 Knowledge Check

Module 8: Delivering IFDP Programmes Learners study how to match families to the right IFDP programme, prepare and deliver sessions with fidelity, and adapt delivery without losing core content.

Lesson 8.1: Matching Families to Programmes

Lesson 8.2: Preparing to Deliver

Lesson 8.3: Delivering With Fidelity

Lesson 8.4: Adapting Delivery Appropriately

Lesson 8.5: Using the IIFAL Platform and Resources

Module 8 Knowledge Check

Module 9: Assessment, Outcomes and Evaluation Practitioners need to show the difference their work makes. This module covers measuring outcomes, recording progress, using feedback and reporting on impact.

Lesson 9.1: Why Measuring Outcomes Matters

Lesson 9.2: Pre- and Post-Programme Measures

Lesson 9.3: Recording and Reporting Progress

Lesson 9.4: Using Family Feedback

Lesson 9.5: Evaluating Your Impact

Module 9 Knowledge Check

Module 10: Reflective Practice, Supervision and Self-Care Learners use reflective models, make the most of supervision, manage the emotional demands of family work, plan their continuing development and check they have the right foundations in place before working with families.

Lesson 10.1: Reflective Practice Models

Lesson 10.2: Making the Most of Supervision

Lesson 10.3: Managing Emotional Demands and Self-Care

Lesson 10.4: Continuing Professional Development

Lesson 10.5: Before You Start Working With Families

Module 10 Knowledge Check

Module 11: Putting It Into Practice A self-directed module to help learners plan their first programme, keep a practice log and reflective journal, assess their own practice and build a personal practice portfolio. Nothing in this module is submitted or marked.

Lesson 11.1: Planning Your First Programme

Lesson 11.2: Practice Log and Reflective Journal

Lesson 11.3: Self-Assessing Your Practice

Lesson 11.4: Building Your Practice Portfolio

Module 11 Knowledge Check