YTAS is pleased to collaborate with Children in Scotland to deliver bespoke child protection training for the youth theatre sector.

This child protection training for the youth theatre sector forms part of our Youth Theatre Foundations training strand.

This session will focus on working with youth theatre managers, designated Child Protection Officers or anyone in your organisation who is responsible for policy and training.

In line with the new National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021, this course provides participants with key information around the identification and management of wellbeing and child protection concerns. Participants will examine their own role and responsibilities in the child protection process alongside the role of others and will gain a deeper understanding of the current policy, procedures, guidance, and legislation that assist us in the effective protection of children.

Scenarios will be specific to the youth theatre sector and you are encouraged to bring along a copy of your organisation’s CP policy to refer to.

This training is offered at a discounted rate for YTAS members and the Scottish youth theatre sector thanks to support from our funders, the Gannochy Trust and Creative Scotland.

Key learning

• To have an increased understanding of the current national and local child protection themes, key procedures, policies, guidance, and legislation that can assist us in the protection of children.
• To have an increased understanding of what child abuse is, what areas of concern may be around for a child and how to identify them.
• To be clear about what action to take if you are worried a child is being abused or is at risk of abuse and how to support others who may come to you for support.
• To be clear about the responsibilities attached to your role and the role of the setting in providing early help to vulnerable children to minimise and manage risk.

Who is it for?

Managers: For those of you who are running everything from behind the scenes. Training that is for ‘managers’ may include opportunities for other office-based staff.

About the trainer

Children in Scotland bring together a network of people working with and for children, alongside children and young people themselves. They offer a broad, balanced and independent voice. They create solutions, provide support and develop positive change across all areas affecting children in Scotland.

This training session will be lead by Beverley Thompson. Beverley is a fully qualified and registered Social Worker with more than 25 years’ experience of working in the field of Child Protection. Beverley has a keen interest in learning and development and has significant experience of designing and delivering training for and on behalf of Third Sector organisations, local Safeguarding Children’s boards, and local authority Child Protection/Public Protection committees.

Beverley is passionate about raising awareness and understanding of Child Protection through the delivery of training which is both unique and specific to the needs of the organisation and informative and relevant to the learner. She has significant experience of delivering training to a range of audiences which include education establishments, local authority staff, early years sector, NHS staff, foster carers, and staff from the voluntary sector.

Beverley has a particular interest in improving child protection/safeguarding processes and practice and has been the Lead Child Protection Education Officer for two different local authority areas where she has provided advice, consultancy and training to schools and early years establishments and supported headteachers and senior leaders through inspection processes.

Bursaries

We at YTAS are aware of the current financial struggles that the sector is facing. We would like to remind you that bursaries are available to any YTAS Member who requires financial support in order to attend one of our training courses, and will cover any fees associated with the training.