Virtual reality films help carers better understand impact of abuse and exploitation
Joe Lepper
Thursday, July 21, 2022
Social workers and foster carers in Northamptonshire are being offered training using virtual reality (VR) headsets showing “immersive story telling” to better understand the impact of trauma on children.
Scenes of domestic abuse, exploitation, and other traumatic events from the perspective of children involved are being used through the technology to help train carers.
Evaluation of the use of the use of VR training so far has found that all those taking part said their experience using the headsets had “made them think differently and consider alternative ways to respond and make decision in their approach to children in care”.
Three quarters said their training with the headsets had given them a “deeper understanding of issues from the child’s perspective”, added the evaluation.
The VR training is being supplied by Antser and used by Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, which runs children's services on behalf of North and West Northamptonshire councils.
“VR training is an effective way to better understand the child and the impact of trauma as it puts you in their reality,” said one social worker who has used the technology.
“It will be a useful tool to use with our foster carers in helping them understand the child in their care and for me as part of my professional development."
Antser chief executive Richard Dooner added that the VR training’s “immersive story telling films” are helping social workers and foster carers to “build empathy, understanding as well as a deeper self-awareness of children in care”.
Northampton Children’s Trust is looking to use VR films to specifically improve retention of foster parents who have experienced a placement breakdown.
It is hoped the films will “be an effective tool for reigniting these types of foster carers' understanding and empathy towards fostering”, according to Antser.
The VT training from Antser has also been used by youth justice workers in Ealing as part of a Department for Education funded pilot. Through the headsets workers were given added insight into how young people are groomed by drugs gangs.
