Learning, training and change in child protection work: Towards reflective organisations

Abstract

This paper seeks to identify some of the opportunities and barriers for learning and training that are presented in the current climate of rapid organisational change, uncertainty about the future direction of child protection and harsh fiscal constraints. The effects of this context on the definition, commissioning, implementation and support of training and development in child protection are analysed. Despite the difficulties of the environment, a number of potential learning opportunities are identified. The role of anxiety within agencies and its effects on learning are highlighted. The paper concludes with a discussion of what makes training effective and how trainers and training departments need to position themselves both within and across agencies in order to make the most out of the current learning environment. The thrust of the paper is the need to improve the partnership between trainers, organisations and learners. Whilst the focus here is on child protection, the underlying thinking has wider application across the social care field, and to multidisciplinary training in general.