Children's Panel Training Organisers - Scotland: Annual Report 2002/2003
DEFINITIONS OF TRAINING
Induction training - pre-service
Panel members are appointed to serve on children's hearings subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-service training. The children's panel training organisers and their support teams are responsible for the delivery of the pre-service training courses which commence in January or February each year and continue until panel members take up their appointment in May. Although the structure of the course will vary from area to area, the content will be similar as it is designed to comply with the guidance for induction training.
A pre-service programme will involve at least 40 hours of training divided into several sessions. These will be held mainly at weekends and in the evenings.
The pre-service programme will include other training activities in addition to the formal training sessions. These will be:
- visits to local resources
- observations at children's hearings on 3 separate occasions.
The pre-service course provides 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 practice certain skills.
Induction training - new member
Pre-service training involves an intensive learning process. It is therefore essential that early in their panel membership, panel members are given the opportunity to review and revise aspects of the pre-service training and to build on their experience of children's hearings.
New member training is designed to enable panel members to reflect on their experience of children's hearings and to develop and refine their practice. It is therefore important that they have sufficient experience of children's hearings before participating in new member training.
The timescale between the end of pre-service training and the beginning of new member training will vary in response to local situations, such as the number and nature of children's hearings. It is expected that the first session of new member training will normally take place approximately 4 months after the completion of pre-service training. The second session of the new member training will be completed between 9 and 18 months following a panel member's appointment and will include at least 16 hours of training. Panel members must complete the new member training before they begin to chair children's hearings.
In-service training
Each year CPTOs will arrange at least 2 in-service training sessions for each of the panels in their area. This will involve a minimum of 10 hours of training.
The sessions can be at weekends and may be residential in some areas. Some of these sessions may be arranged jointly for 2 or more children's panels. The content of in-service training sessions will be arranged in response to local training needs, as agreed by training committees. Topics will be influenced by current social issues, changes in legislation and the need to review practice locally and nationally. Some of the ways in which the in-service training needs of a children's panel should be identified are:-
? issues raised by CPACs following their monitoring of panel members in children's hearings (this method will identify an individual panel member's training needs as well as those of the panel membership as a whole)
? comments from evaluation/feedback forms completed by panel members at training events
? suggestions made by members of training committees
? training needs surveys conducted by the CPTOs.
Refresher training
CPTOs will arrange refresher courses for panel members who have been or are about to be re-appointed for a further period of service. These courses play an essential part in the personal and professional development of panel members. The courses will involve review and revision of practice and be very practical in nature. The timing will vary in response to local situations. Some will be residential weekend courses whilst others will be single day events. A refresher course will include at least 7 hours of training.
Training for panel members who assist with training
Panel members may assist in the training of other panel members. They will be recruited and selected for this role by the CPTOs in consultation with the panel chair, consulting the CPAC chair as necessary. They will then undertake training and be assessed as to their competence by the CPTO on an ongoing basis.
Their role and responsibilities may include the following:-
- panel members who receive basic training in adult education and group skills may facilitate group work at in-service training sessions using briefing notes and materials provided by the CPTO.
- panel members who undertake a more advanced course and have been assessed by the CPTO at the end of this course may facilitate exercises and group sessions at pre-service training and new member training using briefing notes and materials provided by the CPTO.
- panel members considered capable of taking more responsibility may facilitate pre-service and new member training courses using briefing notes and materials provided by the CPTO. These panel members will receive advanced and ongoing training and will have been assessed by the CPTOs as having demonstrated a higher level of skill. Although monitored by the CPTO, the panel members will be responsible for ensuring that the learning outcomes are achieved. They may also be involved in the assessment of trainee panel members.
Materials prepared by the CPTOs will only be used at local training sessions by panel members who have undertaken training and have demonstrated expertise at an appropriate level.
Local training
Children's panels arrange their own local training programmes to suit local needs. These events/information evenings are distinct from core panel member training that is being delivered within the CPTUs. Some of these local training sessions may be dedicated to meetings with social workers, teachers and representatives of other professional agencies to give panel members opportunities to discuss issues of common concern. The CPTOs will not normally be directly involved in the organisation of these sessions although they may be asked to contribute at the planning stage or to deliver some of the sessions. *
*Please note that the Scottish Executive has received a brief record of training events/ information evenings which are being carried out by local authorities throughout Scotland. Copies will be available on request.