Other events
Working with families: An Introduction to children's social care law, practice and procedures
15 October 2008 OR 19 November 2008, London
Hosted by Family Rights Group, this training course will clarify the duties local authorities have to support children and families, and will set out the procedures that should be followed when there is a genuine concern for a child's welfare and/or safety.
The event is suitable for Family Information Service workers and Children's Centre/Extended Schools staff, and aims to provide them with the knowledge they need to give clear advide and information to parents and carers about what they can expect from children's social care services.
Check out the Family Rights Group website for further information.
Putting Children First: best practice in support to separated families
16 October 2008, London
Working with separated families is at the heart of this conference organised by the Centre for Separated Families. Bringing together leading policy makers and practitioners from across Government departments, academia and the third sector, the conference aims to deepen their understanding of what those families really need. As well as key speakers, the conference will be hosting seminars where ideas and best practice will be shared. The event will close with a panel debate and question time with leading policy makers and practitioners.
For more information take a look at the Centre for Separated Families website. General booking is available on www.puttingchildrenfirst.info.
Focus on Families: Joining up Criminal Justice with services for children and families
16 October 2008, Guildford
The Regional Offender Manager for the South East will be hosting this conference to raise awareness of issues surrounding offenders and their families, specifically to those working outside of criminal justice and promote the Social Exclusion Taskforce (SETF) 'Think Family' approach; the idea that there should be 'No Wrong Door' to the services a family needs. The event will provide an opportunity for links to be made between the criminal justice sector and universal and other services in the region, and attendees will be provided with the opportunity to think about the families and children of offenders in a more holistic way.
Download the draft agenda and flyer and registration form.
Extending Inclusion
21 October 2008, London
This conference hosted by the National Children's Bureau (NCB) explores issues and solutions for including disabled children and young people in children's centres and extended services. This national event will be relevant to all staff who are involved in the strategic and operational planning, development and delivery of extended services and in the work of children’s centres. Places are free.
Additional information and booking form are available on the NCB website.
Supporting Parents with Learning Difficulties
21 October 2008, Devon
This one-day event provides the latest research and examples of good practice evolving around working with parents with learning difficulties. Participants will be given an overview of available services to support parents in bringing up their children to the best of their abilities.
Take a look at the research in practice website for additional information.
An introduction to child care law for voluntary sector workers and advocates
22 October 2008, London
Family Rights Group organises this course for people supporting parents whose children are involved with children's social care services. Participants will be introduced to law and processes in relation to family support and child protection. Moreover, they will gain an understanding of the duties local authorities have to support children and families.
Download further information and booking form.
Achieving together: the practice and potential of collaborative working
22 October 2008, London
The third annual Collaborative Working Conference organised by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) will explore the practice and potential of collaboration for civil society organisations. Presenting cutting edge thinking, the one-day event will also host a series of workshops, as well as provide an opportunity to network and to exchange ideas and experience with peers.
Further information and a booking form are available on the NCVO website. Alternatively, contact Gareth Coles, tel 020 7520 2441.
National Children and Adult Services Conference 2008
22 - 24 October 2008, Liverpool
"Sharing the Vision - Shaping the Future" is the theme of this conference, which will provide an opportunity to consider isues of health and well being for children and adults. Alongside networking sessions, the programme offers a mix of keynote/ministerial addresses and plenary sessions by key players in the adult and children sectors. Run jointly by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and the Local Government Association (LGA), this event targets councillors, senior officers, policymakers and service managers with responsibilities for children's and adult social care in the statury, voluntary and private sector.
Detailed information is available on the ADASS website.
Battle of Ideas 2008
1 - 2 November 2008, London
The "Battle of Ideas" is a weekend of debate on some of the most provocative questions facing society. Initiated by the Institute of Ideas and supported by a wide range of partners, this annual festival fosters an atmosphere of intellectual freedom and open-ended exploration of new ideas, research and social trends. A number of sessions held at the event will focus on parenting issues, including the following:
Tickets can be ordered via the Institute of Ideas website.
Group Work Skills for Working with Parents
12 November 2008, Brighton
This course organised by the Trust for the Study of Adolescence (TSA) aims to prepare practitioners - both with and without facilitation experience - for working effectively with parents in a group setting. Drawing on therory, the course will also provide many opportunities for participants to gain practical experience.
Course topics include:
- Strategies to enable effective group work
- Managing group dynamics
- Facilitation skills
- The importance of group agreements
- Working flexibly to meet the needs of the group.
Check the TSA website for further information.
Reshaping Agendas for Black and Minority Ethnic Looked After Children
12 November 2008, Gateshead
Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) children and families are at the heart of this conference hosted by Sahara Adoption and Fostering Project. The one-day event aims to:
- explore the effectiveness of local authorities in assessing and meeting the needs of and providing support to BME children and families
- identify and disseminate good practice to better outcomes for BME children in public care
- provide tools and strategies to improve working with BME children and families.
The conference programme and booking form can be downloaded from the Sahara Adoption and Fostering Project website.
Parent Child 2008 - Getting it right for families?
13 - 14 November 2008, London
The fifth biennial international conference of the Family and Parenting Institute (FPI), Parent Child 2008 will showcase a range of research, policy and practice issues relevant to improving family relationships and wellbeing. This major conference will feature world-renowned plenary presenters, debate the key current issues for family policy and practice and bring together practitioners, academics, researchers, policy makers and the media. It promises to raise some interesting debates around family wellbeing and neighbourhoods and family relationships, and its wide range of workshops will give an insight into innovative projects.
More information, including details of how to book, can be found on FPI's website.
Parents as Partners - Reaching families, engaging parents
28 October 2008, Edinburgh (Scotland)
"Parents as Partners", hosted by Parenting Across Scotland, is a one-day conference that will present recent research on parental attitudes and look at the Scottish Government's plans to support parents. Two sets of workshops will showcase examples of successful practice in involving parents in service design and delivery, and engaging hard to reach families. This conference is suitable for local authority, NHS and voluntary sector staff working with children and families.
To find out more, download the conference flyer or contact PAS@children1st.org.uk. Register via the booking form.
Reaching Out to Vulnerable Families: Achieving Better Outcomes for Children
20 - 21 November 2008, Melbourne, Australia
The Queen Elizabeth Centre (QEC) organises its 2008 conference with the aim of bringing together a multitude of professionals with a common interest in child and family wellbeing and the development of sensitive and responsive parenting. Participants will be given the opportunity to share and increase their understanding of what works best, from current research findings to practical examples from the field.
Speakers at the event include Mary Crowley, Stakeholder Advisor for the Academy.
For more information take a look at the QEC website.
Unite/CPHVA Annual Professional Conference "Focusing on Families"
20 - 22 November 2008, Harrogate
"Focusing on Families" is the title of this year's Unite/Community Practitioners and Health Visitors' Association (CPHVA) conference. The two-day event will reflect the growing political and professional emphasis on targeting services to reduce inequalities whilst providing an effective, universal service to all children and families in various settings by a range of service providers. The conference will also give a practical introduction to new and innovative models of delivery to address the health needs of adolescent and teenage parents, and the diversity of the family, family dynamics and challenged family relationships.
For further information contact Paul Elbourn, tel 020 8832 7313, or check the Unite/CPHVA website regularly for future updates.
Parental advocacy in the child protection process
26 November 2008, London
Family Rights Group organises this course for people advocating for parents whose children are involved with children's social care services, and will therefore be attending child protection conferences. The one-day event will explore the involvement of local authorities and children's social care agencies in the lives of families, and also consider best practice in providing parental advocacy.
Download further information and booking form.
Working with Parents in a School Context
9 December 2008, London
This course, organised by the Trust for the Study of Adolescence (TSA), will examine working with parents in a school context based on policy guidelines and current initiatives.
The one-day course covers:
- The policy context – working with parents in a school context
- The link between parental involvement and academic achievement
- Overcoming the challenges of working in schools
- A variety of ways to support parents
- Consulting and engaging with parents in schools
- How to incorporate issues from the day into practice.
Check the TSA website for further information.
From child-rearing to 'parenting': What's new about parenting culture?
8 - 9 January 2009
This two-day seminar organised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) offers a range of lectures, roundtable and panel discussions on the issue of parenting culture and related subjects. The provisional agenda includes the following:
- Parenting culture and legal change
- Monitoring motherhood
- Media and parenting culture
- Boundaries of care and parenting
- Teenage parenthood.
The seminar will be held at the University of Kent. To find out more and to book a place contact Ellie Lee.
Performance Management in Children's Centres
21 - 22 January 2009, London
This event presented by EMAP Education Conferences and the Local Government Chronicle focuses on the key issues in improving outcomes for children and the wider community. It is designed to help children's centres staff meet their strategic and operational objectives on both an individual and regional level.
Topics include:
- Strategic frameworks for meeting performance management targets
- Running centres on a limited budget
- Use of self evaluation forms
- Data collection methodology and contacting "hard to reach" groups
- Developing partnerships with voluntary organisations.
Detailed information, as well as a registration facility, are available on the dedicated conference website.
Parents Who Kill - Understanding And Trying To Prevent Parents From Killing Or Seriously Injuring Their Children
3 February 2009, London
At this event organised by the British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (BASPCAN), speakers will explore:
- different types of familial child homicide, situational and relational contexts, causes and 'cluster factors'
- lessons to be learned from two case reviews into children murdered by their parents
- possible preventative campaigns for safeguarding boards to adapt.
For further information and to book a place go to the BASPCAN website. An early booking discount is available.
What Do Children Need? Working with Families Involved with the Family Court
27 February 2009, Birmingham
This multi-agency conference, hosted by Cafcass, aims to disseminate practice related research. The event is designed for researchers and practitioners within universities and research institutes, local authority children's services, health services and voluntary organisations to name but a few.
A detailed conference programme is currently being developed. Check the Cafcass website regularly for updates.