The Advanced Toolkit for Experienced Social Workers (Wales)

Course Outline:

The course aims to update, refresh and remind experienced social workers working with children and families, of their statutory responsibilities. Delegates are able to identify the signs for early intervention, undertake competent and confident investigations and assessments, enable the correct risk assessment to be completed to adequately meet the needs of and protect all children.

Delegates cover the relevant legislation relating to children, explore the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998. There is a focus on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 for children aged 16, who may be deprived of their liberty in response to their complex needs.

Delegates will assess the current level of success that is achieved within their local authorities and teams, to ensure that they make the best use of the relaunched Public Law Outline. Delegates will also review requirements for frontloading, the preproceedings outline and the different stages within the family court process, plus all the appropriate options for permanence.

Day one covers the theory. Then on the morning of day 2, delegates will explore how to produce well structured, court compliant statements and assessments — in their own right, or to fulfil their role of supervising and guiding NQSWs.

In the afternoon there will be a refresher session in courtroom skills (both face-to-face and virtual hearings). The day will conclude with a mock court hearing where some delegates will experience cross-examination.

Key Learning Outcomes:

  • Evaluate a child’s needs for early intervention and support
  • Understand how early intervention can be used to maximise improved outcomes for children
  • Explain how a child in need of care and support can be used to maximise improved outcomes for children
  • Verify how child protection procedures can be used to maximise improved outcomes
  • Evaluate frontloading and the pre-proceedings process
  • Evaluate the different stages of case management within court proceedings
  • Explore the relaunch of the Public Law outline of November 2022
  • Define the threshold criteria and evaluate relevant evidence to meet the ‘threshold criteria’
  • Specify the different types of harm
  • Outline the applications and orders available to social workers to assist in adequately safeguarding children
  • Improve best practice in note taking and record keeping
  • Evaluate a social work assessment report and statement that truly reflects a child’s needs and associated risks, with reference to the SWET
  • Enhance a conclusion or recommendation by linking it to factual evidence in the case via persuasive analysis
  • Understand how witness familiarisation creates confidence when presenting a case to a judge

Course Details:

  • Duration and CPD: 2 days | 12 hours
  • In-house course format and fee: Virtual or face-to-face | Call for details

Please call 020 7549 2549 or email info@bondsolon.com to discuss or book an in-house course.