Training Events
Training
Child Concern organises regular CPD accredited training seminars and day conferences throughout the year. Details of all training events will be posted here as soon as details are confirmed.
All are welcome, but if you are a member of Child Concern, you will benefit from reduced entry fees to all our training events. Click here
to find out how to join for just £30 per year.
Forthcoming Events & Training Seminars:
2024:
14th JUNE 2024 -GREATER MANCHESTER LOCAL FAMILY JUSTICE BOARD & CHILD CONCERN DAY CONFERENCE
Chair: Her Honour Judge Sarah Singleton, KC, Designated Family Judge, Greater Manchester
Speakers to include:
The Right Honourable Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division
Professor Beth Neil, Professor of Social Work, University of East Anglia
Dr Catherine White, Medical Director for the Institute for Addressing Strangulation
Frances Heaton KC, Barrister at St John’s Buildings, Manchester
Alison Montgomery, Assistant Director Children's Social Care, Tameside MBC
Footlights Theatre School
Speakers from Family Justice Young Peoples Board
AIM: To examine a range of issues that impact on Family Justice
COST: £60.00 per person plus booking fee
Bookings are non refundable
CPD: 5 Hours
Bookings can be made via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/greater-manchester-lfjb-child-concern-day-conference-2024-tickets-876504989017
27th MARCH 2024 -TRANSPARENCY IN THE FAMILY COURTS
SPEAKER: JACK McCABE, BARRISTER, 15 WINCKLEY SQUARE CHAMBERS, PRESTON
Jack practices in family law with a focus on matters relating to children. His practice involves representing local authorities, parents, family members & children in public & private law proceedings. He is the transparency pilot liaison for Carlisle.
The seminar will consider the following:
1. What is the Pilot Scheme?
2. What is the legal background?
3. How has it gone to date including case law update?
4. What are the proposals on the conclusion of the Pilot Scheme
Cost: £5.00 for members of Child Concern £10.00 for non members plus a booking fee
Please do not purchase a members ticket if you are not a current member of Child Concern
Bookings are non refundable.
CPD 1.5 hours
Bookings can be made via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/transparency-in-family-courts-tickets-840222376747
4th MARCH 2024
"PARENTAL ALIENTATION": AN UPDATE
SPEAKERS:
REBECCA GREGG, BARRISTER - DEANS COURT CHAMBERS
Rebecca practices in the law as it relates to children, both public and private law matters. She represents parents and children’s guardians in complex cases, routinely involving allegations of non-accidental injury, sexual, emotional, and physical abuse.
Dr Kate Hellin, Consultant Chartered Clinical Psychologist & expert witness
Kate has worked for the family courts proving expert psychological assessments for over 15 years and in a number of families in which there have been issues of alienating or suspected alienating behaviour.
Aims: To provide an overview of the current law in cases of alleged parental alienation
To consider the role of registered psychologists and other psychological practitoners working with suspected alienating behaviour and issues of regulation and registration.
Cost: £5 Members £10 Non-members plus booking fee.
(Please note, bookings are non-refundable)
PLEASE ONLY PURCHASE A MEMBER’S TICKET IF YOU ARE A CURRENT MEMBER OF CHILD CONCERN
CPD: 1.5 hours
Bookings to be made via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/parental-alienation-an-update-tickets-827125042267
25TH JANUARY 2024
EFFECTS OF ADVERSITY & TRAUMA ON SPEECH, LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT
SPEAKERS:
Dr Jagdish Kaur Barn, Educational, Child and Family Psychologist
Jagdish is a chartered psychologist in private practice with over a decade of experience as an expert witness for the Family Court (mainly Public Law).
She carries out assessments of children and young adults but will include caregivers when expertise in the influence of culture on constructs around parenting and child development is required.
Jagdish has been practising for over twenty-five years and is Director and Practice Lead at FocusPsychology, which provides educational settings with embedded psychological services. Jagdish works closely with school leadership teams, allied professionals, and families to co-construct systemic and individual ways forward for children displaying developmental, learning, social, emotional, and behavioural needs. This includes children with complex profiles due to historical and ongoing adversity and trauma.
Natalie Colvin, Speech, and Language Therapist
Natalie graduated from Sheffield University in 2011 and has worked for Sheffield Children’s NHS since 2017. Currently Natalie is part of the Mainstream Schools Bought-in speech and language therapy (SALT) team, working collaboratively with school leadership teams, allied professionals, and families, in both a consultative and therapeutic role to implement group language interventions and in 1-1 therapy sessions. Natalie holds large and complex caseloads, including children with developmental language disorder (DLD), autism, complex needs (including children with complex trauma), language and phonology disorders.
Aims:
Although LOIs do not routinely ask for an exploration of a child’s speech, language, and communication (SLC) skills, this is a crucial aspect of development and important to consider when formulating an overall psychological profile following ongoing adversity and trauma.
In this seminar we will outline how delayed SLC impacts many of the other areas considered in a holistic assessment (e.g. emotional presentation), how to identify SLC needs and what to do about it.
We will cover the following key points:
What we mean by speech, language, communication.
Typical speech, language, and communication development.
How historical and ongoing adversity and trauma impacts development of speech, language, and communication.
Avoiding misdiagnosis, the importance of assessment through intervention and consideration of other factors (e.g. EAL).
Interventions to support development (including working with caregivers).
The questions to ask schools to obtain an understanding of a child’s current SLC strengths and needs.
Referral routes when in-depth SALT assessments are needed.
Cost: £5 Members £10 Non-members plus booking fee.
(Please note, bookings are non-refundable)
PLEASE ONLY PURCHASE A MEMBER’S TICKET IF YOU ARE A CURRENT MEMBER OF CHILD CONCERN
CPD: 1.5 hours
Bookings to be made via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/effects-of-aces-on-speechlanguage-communication-development-tickets-775436841467
11th OCTOBER 2023
LANGUAGE MATTERS. THE WORDS WE USE AFFECT HOW WE THINK & BEHAVE
SPEAKERS:
Family Solicitors, Lauren Evans, Partner at Kingsley Napley, and Nicole Phillips, Senior Associate at Family Law in Partnership
Aims: The Family Solutions Group (FSG) Language Group paper “Language Matters” was commissioned by The President of the Family Division and published at the end of last year. The paper calls for a fresh look at the way family law is framed and delivered to those who need it and is the culmination of a survey of professionals who work in family law. The report distils the feedback received into 5 core principles “for language change, to shift mindsets away from adversity and battles, towards safety, wellbeing and child welfare.”
Family solicitors, Lauren Evans and Nicole Phillips), both of whom sit on the FSG Language Group, will present on the findings in the report with the aim of widening the conversation to hear from more professionals who work with separating families and consider how we can all drive positive change in the language we use. Now is your chance to take part in this important discussion.
Bookings can be made via Eventbrite using the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/language-matters-the-words-we-use-affect-how-we-think-behave-tickets-725967397027
CPD 1.5 hours
Please only purchase a members ticket if you are a current member of Child Concern
27TH SEPTEMBER 2023
USE OF INDEPENDENT PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS IN THE LANCASHIRE FAMILY SAFEGUARDING SERVICE - A WHOLE SYSTEM REFORM OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES
SPEAKER:
DR HELENA LOCKETT, CONSULTANT CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, CLINICAL LEAD, ADULT MENTAL HEALTH TEAM, LANCASHIRE FAMILY SAFEGUARDING SERVICE
An introduction to the Hertfordshire Family Safeguarding Model and the Lancashire Service specifically:
>how the assessments are used in our servie
>feeding back assessment reports to parents
>what we are able to offer in-house(mental health support & therapy) & the rationale
>what the in-house Mental Health Team would recommend/suggest would be most helpful for parents & most likely to produce the best outsomes(in our experience).
Bookings to be made via Eventbrite using the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/use-of-independent-psychological-assessments-lancs-safeguarding-service-tickets-714500258507
CPD 1.5 HOURS
please only purchase a members ticket if you are a current member of Child Concern
FAMILY DRUG & ALCOHOL COURT UPDATE 19TH JULY 2023 VIA ZOOM 5.30PM-7PM
The presentation will give an overview of the FDAC process, how cases are selected and the prgress of the FDAC court since starting in Greater Manchester.
CHAIR: JULIE DOYLE, CHAIR OF CHILD CONCERN
SPEAKERS: HIS HONOUR JUDGE BERKLEY
LISA HEAD, FDAC SENIOR SOCIAL WORKERBEE HOLLINGDALE, FDAC SENIOR SOCIAL WORKER
Bookings to be made via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/family-drug-alcohol-court-update-tickets-666666456317
CPD: 1.5 HOURS
GREATER MANCHESTER LOCAL FAMILY JUSTICE BOARD & CHILD CONCERN DAY CONFERENCE 8TH JUNE 2023
To examine a range of issues that impact on public law proceedings
CHAIR:
HHJ Singleton, KC, Destignated Family Judge, Greater Manchester
SPEAKERS:
The Right Honourable Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division
Sir Alistair MacDonald, Family Division Liaison Judge, Northern Circuit
Sergeant Jo Littler, GMP
Claire Dugdale, Solicitor GMP
Dr Helen Mills, Clinical Director of St Mary’s Centre [ SARC]
Dr Kate Hellin, Consultant Psychologist
Ms Jenna Green, CAFCASS
Dr Sarah Dixon, Consultant Paediatrician
Footlights Theatre School
VENUE: Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, All Saints Campus, Oxford Road, Manchester
CPD: 5 Hours
Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/greater-mc-local-family-justice-board-child-concern-day-conference-tickets-624358120947
The cost is £55 per person (and Eventbrite booking fee)
AGM -THURSDAY 4TH MAY 5.30 PM VIA ZOOM
link, agenda and nomination forms have been circulated to all members
WEDNESDAY 26TH APRIL 2023 VIA ZOOM 5.30PM-7PM
ADOPTION LAW UPDATE
SPEAKER: ELEANOR KEEHAN, BARRISTER, ST. JOHN'S BUILDINGS, MANCHESTER
CHAIR: TBA
To provide an overview of recent case law, updates to law and procedure as it relates to Adoption including the guidance in relation to the avoidance of delay in decision making for children before the Family Court.
Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/adoption-law-update-tickets-602603030887
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s://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/adoption-law-update-tickets-602603030887
TUESDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2023 VIA ZOOM 5.30PM - 7PM
RE-LAUNCH OF THE PUBLIC LAW OUTLINE
SPEAKER: HHJ SINGLETON, KC, DFJ
CHAIR: TBA
To understand the need for implementing the 26 week timeframe for care proceedings
CPD 1.5 hours
Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/re-launch-of-the-public-law-outline-tickets-545865828387
THURSDAY 23RD MARCH 2023 VIA ZOOM 5.30PM -7PM
COVERT RECORDINGS IN FAMILY PROCEEDINGS
SPEAKERS:
LAURA BRIGGS, KC, 1GC FAMILY LAW
NATASHA WATSON, SOLICITOR, HEAD OF SAFEGUARDING & LITIGATION AT BRIGHTON & HOVE CITY COUNCIL AND LOCAL AUTHORITY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FAMILY JUSTICE COUNCIL
CHAIR: TBC
CPD: 1.5 HOURS
Covert recordings can transform the trajectory of a case ....not always in a good way! How should practitioners and the court deal with the tricky issues that arise? Laura Briggs, KC and Natasha Watson discuss the Family Justice Council's guidance.
Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/covert-recordings-in-family-proceedings-tickets-526329655167
WEDNESDAY 11TH JANUARY 2023 VIA ZOOM
QUASI CRIMINAL MATTERS IN FAMILY PROCEEDINGS
SPEAKER: CHLOE BOOTH, FAMILY BARRISTER AT COBDEN HOUSE CHAMBERS, MANCHESTER
CHAIR: TBC
CPD: 1.5 HOURS
The seminar will examine the issues arising in quasi criminal matters in the family court, for example, assault, sexual or otherwise where no complaint has been made to the police.
How do we deal with situations whereby concurrent criminal investigations are static, for example, the CPS seek 'further evidence'.
How do criminal proceedings, pending criminal proceedings or no criminal proceedings marry with the President's Guidance of November 2022?(Relaunching the PLO)
Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/quasi-criminal-matters-in-family-proceedings-tickets-274175766097
THURSDAY 1ST DECEMBER 2022
STRENGTH-BASED APPROACHES TO THE FAMILY COURT
SPEAKERS:
DARREN JACKSON, INDEPENDENT SOCIAL WORKER, DR JAGDISH BARN, EDUCATIONAL, CHILD & FAMILY PSYCHOLOGIST, GWYNETH H JOHN, SOLICITOR
CHAIR: Vicki Hamilton, Chartered & Registered Clinical Psychologist
CPD
- 1.5 hours
This seminar will explore strengths based approaches to child concern cases from the perspective of a family solicitor, independent social worker and child & family psychologist.
They will pose suggestions for enhancements to the formulation and writing of instructions, explore how to focus on strengths through assessment and intervention and consider the expert as an agent of hope and facilitator of change. This will be a reflective, open & collaborative space with the hope of engaging the audience in reflection and co-construction of ways forward.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/strength-based-approaches-to-the-family-court-tickets-470929762597
PLEASE NOTE TICKET SALES CLOSE 9AM FRIDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER 2022
FRIDAY 7TH OCTOBER 2022
DAY CONFERENCE AT THE ETIHAD STADIUM
BABIES IN THE CARE SYSTEM: SAVED OR FAILED?
A BABY'S JOURNEY: HOW DO WE PROTECT THE CHILD?
Child Concern is multi-disciplinary and this all-day conference reflects the broad range of professionals needed to ensure a safe journey for an at-risk baby.
The baby's journey begins with exposure to intrauterine threats such as alcohol, drugs, poor nutrition, poor attendance at antenatal care, violence from a partner, attempts to damage the child in utero. Also, the child carries their own legacy -genetic, whether wanted, where they fit in often complex sibship, and the presence of any protective network around child - family, friends and professional. Decisions need to be made about support needed, and the safety of the baby, knowing that pre-birth assessment pose many complexities.
Confirmed speakers:
Dr Surpana Dasgupta, Consultant Paediatrician
Dr Naomi Sherwood, Consultant Paediatrician
Yvonne Healing, Barrister
Frank Margison, Consultant Psychiatrist
Aneela Pilkington, Clinical Psychologist
Chair: TBC
CPD 5 hours
COST: £60 MEMBERS £70 NON MEMBERS
This conference was originally arranged to take place in April 2020 but was cancelled due to Covid 19. If you have already booked and paid for the cancelled event you do not need to book a place via Eventbrite but you do need to confirm your attendance by emailing office@childconcern.org
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/babies-in-the-care-system-saved-or-failed-a-babys-journey-tickets-417451226857
THURSDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER 2022 5.30PM-7PM VIA ZOOM
MAKING THE FAMILY COURT MORE TRAUMA-INFORMED
The Family Court itself has other priorities such as keeping children safe in the present and future, but this presentation looks at how becoming a trauma-informed and trauma-responsive organisation can lead to better outcomes for families or at least avoid making retraumatising individuals.
SPEAKERS: Steve Eccles, Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Darren Jackson, Independent Social Worker.
CHAIR: TBC
CPD 1.5 hours
THURSDAY 14TH JULY 2022 5.30PM-7PM VIA ZOOM:
USING SYSTEMIC ASSESSMENTS AND INTERVENTIONS TO ADDRESS PROFESSIONAL CONFLICT IN THE FAMILY COURTS; A DIFFERENT APPROACH
To present a different way of understanding the causes of conflict amongst parents and agencies/professionals in the Family Justice System and Court of Protection. To consider the legal implications of this and radical interventions for families & professionals.
Speakers: Dr Kate Hellin Consultant Chartered Psychologist & Lorraine Cavanagh QC, St Johns Buildings
CPD: 1.5 hours
THURSDAY 30TH JUNE 2022 5PM-6.30PM VIA ZOOM:
"WHO'S THE DADDY, MUMMY, UNCLE, AUNT, SISTER & BROTHER?
An update on developments in DNA testing
CPD: 1.5 hours
Speaker: Casey Randall, Head of DNA testing at Alphabiolabs.
Aim: To provide an update on DNA testing in family proceedings to include:
• Overview of DNA testing for Complex Relationships
• Latest developments in the science and technology of DNA testing
• Recent DNA testing case studies
• Understanding DNA reports – talk through a couple of sample reports – certificate and SOW
• Looking ahead – what are the main challenges for DNA testing in the UK?
AGM -TUESDAY 3RD MAY 5PM VIA ZOOM -link, agenda and nomination forms have been circulated to all members
Psychometric testing in expert assessments - New approaches to psychological assessment of children in family proceedings
Tuesday 3rd May 5.30pm via zoom
CPD 1.5 hours
Speakers: David Glasgow & Vicki Hamilton
Chair: to be confirmed
Aim:
David & Vicki will briefly describe the qualitive vs quantitative traditions of psychological assessment. The case will be made for accommodating both, and making the assessment of children more collaborative, systematic and child focussed.
They will describe and demonstrate two apps designed to do exactly that. They will outline the history and development of the In My Shoes (IMS) child assessment project, and the current status of the tools that the team have developed. Some of the published research evidence on IMS will be summarised.
David will then focus on the development and use of This Much!, a new app for desktops and iPad which offers a single tool combining both quantitative and qualitative assessment.
Vicki will describe the structure and rationale of her assessments for court. She will talk about how she uses IMS within a 4 stage assessment process, and will illustrate her work with case examples.
Cost: £5.00 for members £10 for non-members plus booking fee.
(Please note bookings are non refundable)
CPD 1.5 hours
Bookings to be made via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/psychometric-testing-in-expert-assessments-tickets-324670366807
When booking, you will receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite which includes the log in details you will need to access the webinar.
Participants must have Zoom installed on their device to take part
Confidence and Confidentiality in the Family system - Transparency and the new Guidelines Thursday 27th January 2022 at 7pm via Zoom
Chair: District Judge Paul Manasse
Speaker: Fiona Holloran, 18 St John Street Chambers
Aim: 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.
Cost: £5 Members £10 Non-members plus booking fee.
(Please note, bookings are non-refundable)
CPD: 1.5 hours
Bookings to be made via Eventbrite at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/confidence-confidentiality-in-the-family-system-tickets-243640514337
When booking, you will receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite which includes the log in details you will need to access the webinar.
Participants must have Zoom installed on their device to take part
Please note all bookings and payments are non-refundable.