Protecting children’s rights in institutional settings

Wednesday 22 & Wednesday 29 November 2023, 10am-1pm (two half-days via Zoom) – FULLY BOOKED
This course will be run again in 2024 (please visit this page again soon for new dates)

Feedback from course participants, October 2020 – September 2022

Course overview:

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child entitles children deprived of their family environment to special protection and assistance. This course has been especially designed for independent advocates and others acting in independent roles in England, to help you protect the rights of children in institutional settings.

Cost:

Free

Course aims:

The course will:

Increase understanding of the inherent risks for children of living in institutional settings;
Disseminate key learning from inquiries and investigations about institutional cultures and practices which harm children, and the importance of robust independent scrutiny and challenge;
Demonstrate approaches and behaviours which keep the child’s perspective and rights at the forefront of independent investigations, monitoring and advocacy.

Facilitated by Carolyne Willow, Article 39’s Director – a registered social worker with more than 30 years’ experience of promoting and protecting children’s rights.

Course participants:

The course is open to:

Independent advocates supporting children and/or young people (aged 0-25) in institutional settings (this includes children’s homes, young offender institutions, secure training centres, mental health in-patient units, boarding schools and residential special schools)
Those in independent roles which contribute to effective safeguarding in any of the above institutional settings (this includes local authority designated officers, independent reviewing officers and complaints investigators)

Book your place:

Book your place by completing the registration form below. A member of the Article 39 team will be in touch within five working days to confirm your place.

Course dates you wish to book on * Full name * Job title * Name of organisation * Please use this space to indicate which English local authority area/s or region/s you work in. If you work across England, please state ‘national role’ * Please briefly describe the groups of children and young people you work with * Your email * Telephone number we can contact you on *

Please confirm the following:

Required

I understand that this course is free but a fee of £25 will be applied if I fail to attend or cancel attendance less than five working days before the first session

Required

I am currently an independent advocate or have some other independent child safeguarding role connected to one or more institutional settings

Required

I understand that if my place is confirmed, I will be required to attend both parts of the course and will receive a certificate of attendance following completion of part 2

Required

I understand that I will be required to participate in an impact evaluation activity 2-3 months after the course (this will require no more than an hour of your time and we will provide a template for you to complete)