Little Voices, Big Decisions: Young Children’s Right to Participate in Child Protection Decision Making

Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) and Queen’s University, Belfast, hosted colleagues from across Europe to explore how young children can be supported to more actively participate in decisions regarding their care and welfare. Speakers include the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY), and representatives from the Department of Health NI, the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI), and the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT), as well VOYPIC and Queen’s University. 

This online event was part of the PANDA Project, a European project that seeks to promote the participation of young children (aged 12 years and under) in decision making through strengthening professionals’ collaboration with young children involved in child welfare/child protection services. The project aims to:

• Increase the skills and competence of social workers
• Support organisations to create the necessary conditions for collaboration with children
• Provide a framework for policy officers and managers to implement a participatory approach
• Provide trainers with tools and methods to aid children’s participation

For more information please contact Prof Karen Winter k.winter@qub.ac.uk