Welcome to this ChildHub online course, which offers a learning opportunity on the topic of supporting children's participation in the decisions affecting them. This is a key principle of good practice to ensure that children are safe and given access to the best possible opportunities in their lives. For this, it is important that professionals working with children increase their knowledge about participation and commit to it.
Main topics:
- defining participation and its importance
- values and attitudes in promoting children’s participation
- key skills of participation with practical hints and tips
- tools and strategies to support the participation of different groups of children:
- working with children with disabilities;
- children in conflict with the law;
- children in institutions;
- children affected by mental illness;
- working with Roma children;
- working with parents.
Target audience: childcare practitioners, child protection workers, professionals working with children, students and future professionals in the childcare and education sector.
The course takes approx. 5–8 hours to complete. There are three foundation modules and six practice modules, each practice module discussing one particular group of children and their participation. The course is self-paced, with reading and interactive exercises, case studies, scenarios and short film clips, and a forum. A shortlist of additional reading material and references is also available.
The course has been developed by the Center for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland. If you take the course and complete all foundation modules and at least four practice modules of your choice, reaching 70% performance, you will be eligible for the Certificate of the University of Strathclyde.
