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Training Strategy

�Working Together to Safeguard Children� (Department of Health et al 1999) and the �Framework for the Assessment of Children and their Families� (Department of Health et al 2000) place the protection of children within the wider child welfare context. This has implications for the context and focus of interagency training. It must reflect the philosophy of the guidance and assist those who work with, or are in contact with, children to collaborate not only in protecting children when there is actual or significant harm, but also prevent children�s health and development being impaired and to promote their welfare.

�Interagency training should focus on the way those engaged in child welfare work with others to meet the needs of children�
Department of Health et al 1999 Page 97 Para 9.4

However, as safeguarding children is a responsibility that crosses all agency boundaries, organisations should develop an integrated process addressing both inter-agency and in-house needs simultaneously, rather than dealing with them as separate activities.� Although certain tasks are the specific responsibilities of individual agencies and should be recognised as such in the context of child protection, the identification of training needs is a shared responsibility.

In order to develop effective, high quality training, the GSCB is strategically involved at all stages of the training cycle from for identifying training needs to systems for the coordination and management of training delivery and evaluation. This includes developing and maintaining structures and processes for an organised approach to inter-agency, and single agency training. The focus for this process is the GSCB Training Sub committee.

Principles

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The principle concepts guiding interagency, and in-house, child protection training are underpinned by respect for the individual and are summarised as:

• A child centred approach which promotes children�s rights

• The development of professional judgement and critical thinking
• The promotion of multi-agency collaboration and working with children and their families
• The promotion of equality of opportunity, reflecting the diversity that exists in society
• The development of an evidence based approach

Training should create an ethos which values working together with other professionals, respects diversity (including culture, race and disability), is child centred, promotes partnership with children and families, and recognises families strengths in responding to the needs of their children.