Who is Joint Investigations Training for?
Ideally suited to those employed within a Local Authority’s Integrated Safeguarding Children’s team and having responsibility for investigating child abuse allegations. It is also suited to those who provide children’s care homes and providers of supported accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds.
This course explores the world of Child Protection and Children within residential care settings and covers the need for protecting children by way of Care Proceedings when criminal proceedings are not applicable and managing contact with children with those who pose a risk of harm.
The focus is on the current Joint Investigation processes between the Police and Child Social Care professionals from the beginning of a referral to its conclusion. It provides an insight into Specialist Police interviews (Achieving Best Evidence – ABE) of children, police investigations, use of forensic evidence, medical examinations and the use of the Criminal Justice system to manage investigations and suspects.
- Social workers
- Police Officers
- Housing officers and managers
- Registered managers of children’s care homes
- Healthcare professionals
- Human Resource managers
We focus here on the activities required to manage all referrals to a conclusion. This is an in-depth two-day course that will provide your staff with the skills and confidence to investigate child abuse referrals, culminating in the production of a user-friendly checklist or investigation tool.
What will I Learn from Joint Investigation Training?
Joint investigation is a term used for the investigation of child abuse or neglect by statutory agencies under Section 46 of the Children Act 1989 and reinforced by Working together to safeguarding children statutory guidance. The purpose of joint investigations is to utilise the respective skills and information held by police officers and social workers in the investigation of allegations or suspicions of child abuse, whilst safeguarding the child.
- You will learn about professionalising the investigation process using a checklist to plan your investigations i.e., gathering, securing and storing evidence
- You will explore the different and challenging types of interviews that can take place and practice interview skills using different interview techniques
- You will explore multi agency responses and how joint investigations inform the risk assessment process and child protection plans
- You will explore how to keep children safe, in particular, children in care who go missing and those at increased risk of abuse or neglect
What else will I learn from Joint Investigation Training?
- Identify personal and organisational barriers to effective practice
- Arrest, charge, bail procedures
- Post charge – Court Procedures involving child witnesses.
- Post investigation managing risks and witness support.
- Governance for Child Protection Conferences
- Structured approach to chairing meetings
- Escalation procedures – Safeguarding partners (LSCB)and Ofsted
- Explore child abuse allegations and the risk of abuse in care for children and young people (Based on research).
- Explore how to keep children safe (safety plans) and the allegations of abuse or neglect of children in care.
- Explore the issues related to children missing from care: CSE, County Lines, physical abuse and grooming.
- Develop an action plan to apply learning to professional practice
Benefits of this course
- Enhanced Skills – Delegates gain advanced skills in conducting thorough and sensitive investigations. Skills which are transferrable across different types of investigations i.e. disciplinary
- Improved Outcomes – By promoting a coordinated approach, the course aims to improve outcomes for children and young people in investigations.
- Professional Development – The training contributes to the professional growth of the delegates contributing to their expertise in child protection and safeguarding.
How long is the training?
The Joint Investigation Children Young People training is a two-day course. This is between 10 am and 4 pm.
How to book this course
To book this course please speak to a friendly member of our team to arrange the training. Or click the link below and fill in our contact form and a member of our team will email you to arrange a call.
Please contact us by email info@theathenaprogramme.co.uk if you have any questions regarding the Joint Investigations Children and Young People training course.