Trinity hosts educational conference on domestic violence and child protection
Posted on: 08 September 2023
/prod01/channel_3/media/tcd/news-images/front-facade-adjusted.jpg)
More than 200 professionals came to Trinity today to attend the Domestic Violence and Child Protection Conference.
Co-hosted by Trinity’s School of Social Work and Social Policy and law firm Mason Hayes & Curran, the event welcomed participants from TUSLA, Safe Ireland, The Independent Guardian Ad Litem Agency (TIGALA) and the Irish Judiciary. The conference brought together social workers, lawyers, policy makers and support practitioners to engage with key learnings from research, legislation and practice.
Discussions focused on the impact of domestic violence and coercive control on children, legal frameworks for domestic violence and child protection, and the voice of the child in a domestic violence context. Participants also explored interagency collaboration and discussed the changes needed to improve outcomes for children and families.
Trinity’s School of Social Work and Social Policy has worked with Mason Hayes & Curran to develop Domestic Violence and Child Protection: Training for Child Protection and Welfare Practitioners. Delivered online over a six-week period, this new micro-credential course provides accredited training to practitioners who work with families and children experiencing domestic violence.
Commenting on the conference, Dr Stephanie Holt, Course Director and Professor of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College Dublin, said: “The conference was particularly helpful for professionals who do not have time to participate in our online training programme but want to engage with the latest learnings and challenges that are arising in practice. We enjoyed constructive and collaborative dialogue amongst experts from different sectors in the field.”
Sonya Bruen, Course Director and Health & Prosecutions Partner with Mason Hayes & Curran added: “This conference marks an exciting collaboration between key stakeholders in the domestic violence and child protection sector. It was an opportunity for TUSLA, Safe Ireland, Irish Judiciary and child experts to come together and plan for improved responses and interagency collaboration in this important area.”