Western Isles Children's Panel
Training Information For Prospective New Panel Members
Introduction
Children’s hearings are tribunals at which three lay people – panel members – make decisions about compulsory measures of supervision for children. Successful applicants are appointed as members of a particular children’s panel by Scottish Ministers on the recommendation of the relevant Children’s Panel Advisory Committee. It is a condition of their appointment that panel members satisfactorily complete the course of pre-service training before they begin to serve on children’s hearings. This training is designed to provide the foundation of knowledge that panel members need to enable them to fulfil their statutory duties. It also provides them with opportunities to develop and practise certain skills.
Training commitment
It is very important that prospective panel members are fully aware of the commitment required in relation to training. This will be explained in more detail at interview, but this note gives an indication of the minimum level of commitment required to complete the induction training course and to fulfil the requirement for on-going in-service training.
• Induction training: Pre-service
The five sessions of pre-service training are outlined in the attached table. Panel members are required to attend all parts of each session and to observe at least three separate sessions of hearings. The pre-service programme involves a minimum of 40 training hours*.
• Induction training: New member
The two sessions of new member training are outlined in the attached table. Panel members are required to attend both of these sessions. New member training involves a minimum of 16 training hours*.
As part of their induction training, panel members will also be expected to undertake local training on resources and on their community. This could include some of the following:- visits to children’s resources including residential resources
- visits to residential schools
- meetings with social workers/guidance staff/foster carers/safeguarders
- community study – a project which may be undertaken in pairs or teams covering the resources and facilities within a community.
Whilst some of the training is held in the evenings or at weekends, certain elements of the training take place mid week and panel members should be prepared to devote at least four days during normal working hours to the induction training programme.
* The pre-service and new member training sessions are designed to comply with the training guidelines issued by Scottish Executive. Attendance at ALL parts of each training session is therefore essential.
• In-service training
In general, two sessions of in-service training are arranged in each panel area each year. In some areas, these may be residential, and they may also be held jointly with other panels. In-service training provides valuable opportunities for panel members to keep up to date with developments in the system and to continue to develop their skills and knowledge. In-service training involves a minimum of 10 training hours* in any one year.
Each children’s panel also arranges local training meetings, usually held in the evenings. Some sessions may be dedicated to meetings with social workers, teachers and representatives of other professional agencies to provide opportunities for discussion of issues of common concern.
* Attendance at in-service training and local meetings is expected throughout the term of panel membership.
• Refresher training
Refresher courses are arranged for panel members who have been, or who are about to be, reappointed for further panel service. These courses play an important part in the personal and professional development of panel members. The courses involve review and revision of practice and are very practical in nature. The timing varies in response to local situations. A refresher course includes at least 7 training hours*.
* Training hours do not include breaks for meals and refreshments.
The organisation of training
Scottish Ministers exercise their discretionary power to assist panel member training by financing the provision of the children’s hearings training officer structure throughout Scotland. The training officers are responsible for organising and ensuring the delivery of induction training (pre-service and new member) and also in-service training. This includes course design, preparation of training materials and course evaluation.
For further information regarding training, please contact:
| Address: | Mr. Willi Smail |
|---|---|
| Phone: | 01463 718718 |
| Fax: | 01463 714794 |
| Email: | w.smail@abdn.ac.uk |
July 2005
