Domestic Abuse and the Impact on Children & Young People 23/24

Target Group 

This training is targeted at professionals in direct contact with children who undertake or contribute to risk assessments and multi-agency meetings including social workers, family support workers, foster carers, health professionals, schools, police and others who work with children at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation.   

Group Level 2 and 3 (in regular contact and predominately working with children) or above (including strategic leads) as set out in the set out in the Safeguarding Competency framework in London Safeguarding Child Procedures. NHS Inter-Collegiate Standards 2 and 3 for health professionals.

Aims

The aims of this session are to explore:

● the dynamics of domestic abuse and how it is different for children and young people;
● the impact on emotional wellbeing and capacity to form healthy relationships;
● how to recognise and respond to coercive control and violence in young people’s relationships;
● the key risk factors for actual or likely significant harm and what to consider in the multi-agency safety planning process to keep them safe;
● trauma informed responses and approaches to engage young people with diverse needs and backgrounds, including those with special education needs and disabilities, asylum seeking refugees and specific BAME considerations.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course participants will:

● have an increased knowledge, understanding and confidence to identify and respond to children and young people in the context of concerns about coercive control and abuse;
● be able to recognise the risk factors that are specific for intimate relationships in young people’s relationships, and how to engage them in safety planning when there is risk of likely or actual significant harm;
● have an improved awareness of trauma informed responses and how professionals can best support children and young people that have been affected by domestic abuse in the family environment;
● have explored children and young people’s resilience and coping strategies, and support programmes available locally or elsewhere.