Previous Training Events
Previous Training Events
Child Concern organises regular CPD accredited training seminars and day conferences throughout the year. Here is a sample of our previous training events from the last couple of years to give you a flavour of the diversity of topics covered and the calibre of our speakers.
Visit the Training Events
page to see what we've got coming up next.
2022
FAMILY & RELATIVES’SUPPORT GROUP- GOING THROUGH PROCEEDINGS
DISCUSSION ON THE CHALLENGES FACING PARENTS & FAMILIES WITHIN THE FAMILY COURT SYSTEM AND THE WORK OF THE ADVICE & ADVOCACY SERVICE
Wednesday 16th March 2022 5.30PM via Zoom CPD 1.5 hours
Chair: District Judges Isles
Speaker: Elizabeth Cowens, Service Director for the Advice and Advocacy Service of Family Rights
Elizabeth was previously a Children Law solicitor in private practice representing parents, children and family members in complex Public and Private Law Children matters.
Elizabeth will be discussing the challenges facing parents and families within the Family Court system and work of the Advice & Advocacy Service, which offers assistance to parents and families involved with Children’s Services, including Family Court proceedings.
DEPRIVING CHILDREN OF THEIR LIBERTY(LAWFULLY)
An update on the law relating to deprivation of children’s liberty under the inherent jurisdiction
Placement in unregulated/unregistered placements
A fun and interactive hour that offers the bonus of a question and answer session (easy questions only please) and CPD points (what more could you want on a Thursday evening?)
Thursday 24th February 2022 5.30PM VIA ZOOM CPD 1.5 HOURS
Chair: Julie Doyle
Speaker: Michael Jones, Deans Court Chambers
Confidence and Confidentiality in the Family system
Transparency and the new Guidelines
27th January 2022 5.30 pm via zoom CPD 1.5 hours
Chair: District Judge Manasse
Speaker: Fiona Holloran, Barrister (18 St John Street Chambers)
On 28th October 2021 the President of the Family Division released the review of progress of increased transparency in the family justice system. The tensions between two fundamental principles will be explored in this seminar i.e.
…the need to enhance public confidence in the Family Court and the need to maintain confidentiality by safeguarding the privacy of those who turn to the court for protection or for the resolution of intimate disputes.
2021
Legal Update - 5.30pm Monday 11 October 2021 (Via Zoom)
Chair: Gwyneth John (Stephensons LLP)
Speaker: Danish Ameen (18 St John Street Chambers)
An update of recent cases and developments in child protection law
CPD: 1.5 hours
Pause - 5.30pm Tuesday 13 July 2021 (Via Zoom)
Chair: HHJ O'Leary
Speaker: Ellen Marks, Pause: Creating space for Change to try to enable women experiencing repeat removal of children to take control of their lives.
Aim: to provide a guide to how the organisation works, with whom and outcomes.
CPD: 1.5 hours
Sibling Relationships
4pm Tuesday 8 May 2021 (Via Zoom)
Chair: His Honour Judge Mark Haigh
Speaker: Shelagh Beckett
Shelagh has extensive experience in children’s services, particularly fostering and adoption gained in two practitioner posts and three management posts, and now works independently as an expert witness, independent consultant and lecturer/trainer. She has conducted several major reviews of service provision and been recommended by the Department of Health to participate in a complex review and for other consultancy. Expert witness work includes assessing and providing an opinion on: attachments; sibling relationships; contact; placement options and outcomes. She combines a commitment to direct work with children and families alongside review or development work with senior managers and staff. She has a particular interest in the application of research to inform practice with children and families.
She has also provided consultancy to the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 in respect of programmes featuring vulnerable children - this has included award-winning documentaries dealing with complex issues such as safeguarding, mental health and bereavement.
Publications include 'Beyond Together or Apart - planning for, assessing and placing sibling groups' (CoramBAAF, 2018).
CPD: 1.5 hours
Parental Alienation - The law & psychological perspectives
5.30pm Monday 24 May 2021 (Via Zoom)
Speakers: Anna White (Barrister 18 St John Street Chambers) & Ali Mather (Consultant Clinical Psychologist)
CPD: 1.5 hours
Child Concern AGM - 4.45pm Thursday 29th April 2021 (Via Zoom)
The Family Courts and the Pandemic - 12 Months On - 5.15pm Thursday 29th April 2021 (Via Zoom)
Chair: Her Honour Judge Sarah Singleton QC
Speakers: Vicki Hamilton (Clinical Psychologist), Frances Heaton QC (St John’s Buildings), and James Mason (Services Manager, Safeguarding, Bury Children’s & Young People’s Directorate).
Subject: This event looked at the impact of the pandemic on those working in the family justice system from a multi-disciplinary perspective.
There were short presentations from the panel followed by questions and discussion.
CPD: 2 hours
Ask "What happened to you?" not "What's wrong with you?" - Monday 15th March 2021 (Via Zoom)
Chair: Her Honour Judge Alison Woodward
Speaker: Dave Nuttall, Manager Manchester Thrive (Thrive MCR)
Thrive Manchester is a registered charity supporting people to have good mental and physical health across Greater Manchester. Thrive is commissioned by Manchester Health and Care Commissioning to deliver ACES training across the city. Dave is also involved in work to support communities in dealing with Covid related trauma.
Learning objectives:
• to become familiar with the nature, cause and effect of ACES on children and adults
• to understand the importance of ACES in the Family Justice System
• to understand Trauma Informed Services
• to hear about projects in Manchester to reduce ACES and their impact on children and young people
• to hear about Manchester working toward being a Trauma Informed City
CPD: 1.5 hours
The Resolution Approach - Wednesday 10th February (Via Zoom)
Chair: His Honour Judge Andrew Moore
Speakers: Charlotte Worsley Head of Family Team, Victoria James and Natalia Perrett from Park Square Barristers
Topic: The Resolution Approach explained:
The RA specialises in working with parent[s] that maintain denial of perpetration of injuries despite findings of the court to the contrary.
The approach provides a unique framework for assessing the possibility of returning children to parents’ care where denial would, under traditional social work methods, rule the parents out.
CPD: 1.5 hours
Achieving Best Evidence - Wednesday 20th January (via Zoom)
Speakers: Fiona Holloran & Paul Treble of 18 St John Street Chambers
Topic: This session provided a guide on how to approach the evidence from ABE interviews in a trial, and what can be done with section 28, if it’s not possible to ask any (meaningful) questions.
CPD: 1.5 hours
2020
BAME Matters in Family Law - Wednesday 26th August (via Zoom)
Chair: Sally Penni, Barrister and founder of Women In The Law UK
Speakers: Olivia Edwards of Counsel, Psychologist Dr Aneela Pilkington and expert Social Worker Annette Williams
Contact After Adoption - Thursday 23rd July (via Zoom)
Chair: His Honour Judge Mark Haigh (Circuit Judge, Manchester CJC)
Speakers: Jack Harrison and Prudence Beaumont (Deans Court Chambers, Manchester).
This Webinar looked at the law and approach of the family court to post-adoption contact for the birth family.
Check-in and Catch-up sessions - Tuesday weekly 5-6pm 26th May - 7th July (via Zoom)
Our free weekly Check-in and Catch-up sessions via Zoom started in May with a different theme each week. The sessions offered support and allowed information sharing during lockdown and while working under restrictions due to Covid-19. Each session being an informal, safe hour that those working in child protection could drop into, to offload, share information and experiences, and regroup, facilitated by Child Concern committee members. In joining the sessions, participants agree not to share any of the discussions or identify participants outside of the sessions.
Proceedings in a Pandemic! - Thursday 18th June (via Zoom) 1.5 CPD hours
Chair: HHJ Berkley, Circuit Judge and Judicial IT Lead for CJC.
Speaker: Sara Mann, Barrister - St Johns Buildings
Aim: A comprehensive look at what is happening on the ground; what is listing like, procedures for remote hearings, hybrid hearings, in person hearings, how court is accommodating these, also considering the Coronavirus Act and the relaxation of duties of local authorities.
Lessons from Lockdown: Sharing experience of digital working in child protection – Thursday 30th April 2020 (via Zoom) 1.5 CPD hours
A
guided discussion forum for all professionals involved in child protection to share their experience and key lessons.
The discussion was led by a panel of experts from different disciplines
Female Genital Mutilation – Thursday 27th February (2 CPD hours)
Speaker: David Maddison (Cobden House Chambers)
FGM Protection Orders in practice: A discussion about the practice and procedure of obtaining FGM Protection Orders, highlighting the practical and cultural issues that need to be considered.
2019
An Exploration into Childhood Obesity and Child Protection - Monday 2nd December (2 CPD hours)
Chair: HHJ Andrew Berkley, Speakers: Dr Mars Skae, Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist (Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital) & Dr Sarah Dixon, Consultant Paediatrician (Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital)
To consider and explore: Why and how children become obese, Consequences of childhood obesity, Principles and challenges of obesity management, Expectations on parents / carers. The Manchester obesity pathway, Why and when obesity becomes a child protection concern, Can child protection procedures improve outcomes for obese children.
Gender Identity - Legal & Social Issues (Day seminar) - Friday 18th October (5 CPD hours)
Chair: HHJ Paula Tyler , Speakers: Kalsoom Maqsood & Sarah Kilvington (9 St John Street Chambers), Vickie Pasterski, PhD (Harley Street Gender Clinic), Prof Stephen Whittle (Professor of Equalities Law, MMU), Rehana Begum (18 St John Street Chambers) and The Proud Trust
To provide information with regard to the social and legal implications of transgender individuals
particularly in relation to children and a forum for discussion and exchange of information.
Forced Marriage Protection Orders - A Review - Friday 7th June (2 CPD hours)
Chair: District Judge Graham Stuart, Speaker: Danish Ameen (18 St John Street Chambers)
A discussion on the law and procedure for Forced Marriage Protection Orders and an analysis of the balance between competing Article 6 and Article 8 rights.
Recent Cases – Public Law - Wednesday 22nd May (2 CPD hours)
Chair: District Judge Paul Manasse, Speaker: Samantha Birtles (18 St John Street Chambers)
An update as to recently reported decisions on key issues, including breaches of ABE guidelines, appeals, and re-opening findings of fact.
Re W, Intermediaries & Vulnerable Witnesses (Day seminar) – Friday 12th April (5 CPD hours)
Chair: HHJ Robert Jordan, Speakers: Alison Reynolds (Triangle), HHJ Robert Jordan, Kalsoom Maqsood & Sarah Kilvington (9 St John Street Chambers) Jenna Green, Deborah Metcalfe (Cafcass) and DC Laura Hynes (Force Specialist Interview Adviser, Serious Crime Division, GMP)
To demystify the role of and necessity for an intermediary to be appointed for a child or adult in child protection processes from a criminal and civil perspective within the investigations stage and any subsequent proceedings.
Child Concern Question Time 2019, ‘Views from The Bench – 30 years of The
Children Act 1989’ - Wednesday 27th March (2 CPD hours)
Panel: Mike Devlin (Partner, Stephensons LLP), HHJ Lesley Newton, HHJ Margaret De Haas QC, HHJ Iain Hamilton CBE, HHJ Bernard Wallwork & HHJ Martin Allweis.
A lively
debate and Q&A with an
impressive panel
followed by drinks and
hot
supper.
Multicultural Issues in the Family Court - Monday 18th February (1.5 CPD hours)
Chair: DJ Relph, Speaker: Dr Iyabo Fatimilehin, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
This seminar explored some of the most common issues that arise when assessing children and parents from non-Western cultures in the family court including:
Individualist and collectivist cultures and impact on parenting practices including discipline and punishment, The use of psychometric assessment across cultures, Migration and parenting.
The Effect of Child Neglect on Development, Health and Wellbeing - Friday 11th January (3 CPD hours)
Chair: HHJ Martin Allweis, Speakers: Juliet Court (Consultant Paediatrician Community Child Health, Designated Dr for Safeguarding Children Manchester CCG): “The impact of Neglect on child development and physical health & Dr Adam Dierckx (Consultant Medical Psychotherapist, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust): “ABC - Borderline Personality Disorder Attachment, and Child Protection”
Educational Objectives: the impact of neglect on child development and health, the impact of neglect on long term emotional and mental health, forms of neglect and the medical assessment of the neglected child, consideration of the impact of neglect in making decisions for children in care proceedings.
2018
Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII)- Wednesday 14th November (2 CPD hours)
Chair: HHJ Martin Allweis, Speaker: Dr Lizzy Dierckx, Consultant Paediatrician, Community Paediatrician, Department of Community Child health, Manchester.
Educational Objectives: The scale of the problem, FII as part of a spectrum of Perplexing Presentations, How concerns about FII come to light, The evaluation of possible FII by health professionals, The challenges for health professionals in assessing and responding to concerns about FII, Presenting medical evidence to social care in cases of FII, National guidance.
The Challenge of Expert Evidence in Family Proceedings (Day seminar) - Friday 12th October (5 CPD hours)
Chair: HHJ Lesley Newton, Speakers: Dr Sarah Dixon (Consultant Paediatrician), Helen Hart (Consultant Psychologist), Dr Frank Margison (Consultant Psychiatrist), Frances Heaton QC, Paul Hunter (Technical Director of Forensic Testing Service) and Dr Jaime Craig (Child Psychologist)
To consider the current challenges for experts who work within the family justice system and to examine how new experts can be encouraged into the court arena.
Re. W (Children giving evidence in Court) in practice - Thursday 26th July (2 CPD hours)
Chair: DJ Entwistle, Speakers: Sarah Kilvington & Kalsoom Maqsood (9 St John Street Chambers)
Since the Supreme Court decision in Re W [2010] there has no longer been a presumption against children giving evidence in such cases. Increasingly, the court is grappling with the question of whether (and how, when…) children should give evidence. What are the legal considerations? What are the alternatives? What are the practical considerations, before and at a hearing? How are questions put? This informative seminar covered all this and more!
FGM an overview, remedies and update - Thursday 17th May (2 CPD hours)
Chair: DJ Paul Manasse, Speaker: Fiona Holloran – 18 St John Street Chambers
To consider the law in this area, how to use it and its impact so far
Voice of the Child (Day Seminar) - Friday 13th April (5 CPD hours)
Chair: His Honour Judge Robert Jordan, Speakers include: Michael Jones (Deans Court Chambers), Gary Norton (Lecturer in Social Work, Manchester University), Dr Gordon Milson (Child Psychologist), Charlotte O’Prey (Children’s Rights Officer, Trafford Children’s Services), Geoff Sparks (Pathway Adviser), Chris Purcell (Corporate Parent), and the Family Justice Young People’s Board
In February 2015 the government announced that for too long children and young people had struggled to have their voices heard within the family justice system. It is also a common theme of Serious Case Reviews that the voice of the child was not given sufficient weight. Various initiatives have been introduced to address these concerns. The conference looked at the success of these initiatives and what more could be done. The issues were looked at not just in the context of the family justice system but also for those children and young people in local authority care. There were presentations looking at the issue from a legal, academic, psychological and personal perspective.
Capacity in the Family Court: difficult decisions - Thursday 8th March (2 CPD hours)
Chair: His Honour Judge Butler, Speaker: Dr Frank Margison, Consultant Adult Psychiatrist
Capacity in the context of family proceedings raises some complex issues - this seminar explores these with some case studies covering basic principles and how these are applied.
Secure Accommodation - Thursday 1st February (2 CPD hours)
Chair: District Judge Stuart, Speaker: Jonathan Jackson (18 St John Street Chambers)
Secure Accommodation for children in the care of Local Authorities: including a legal update, use of s.25, practical implementation, pitfalls and solutions