Albania University of Tirana to develop the first in-service training course on child protection

Project : Albania 14 Jun 2011 | child rights early childhood education poverty prevention protection systems

20 May 2011, Tirana – Social work professionals, university lecturers and representatives of the Albanian State Social Services (ASSS), the newly established State Agency for Child Protection at the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (MLSAEO) and civil society organizations working in the field of child protection in Albania were brought together in a consultative roundtable to discuss the prospect of developing a specific in-service training course for the child protection workers in the country.

“The diversity of experiences and representation around this roundtable speaks volumes not only about the good spirit of collaboration between different actors, but also about the enthusiasm surrounding this much anticipated initiative by the Department of Social Work and Policies at the University of Tirana (UT),” said the Head of the Department, Professor Edmond Dragoti. The UT Department of Social Work and Policies, UNICEF and Terre des hommes (Tdh), in close collaboration with the MLSAEO and the ASSS, have been the major promoters of this initiative, which will establish yet another important capacity-building stone in the country’s challenging journey to develop a fully functioning child protection system.

This in-service training course, unique in its own nature, “will intend to provide current professionals working as Child Protection Workers with further on-the job training by combining the latest theoretical approaches with hands-on application of common best practices, including specific case studies, role-play exercises and other practical tools,” said Dr. Eljona Kulluri, lecturer at the UT Department of Social Work and Policies. Considering the legal obligations stemming from the Law 10347 on the Protection of Children’s Rights (approved in November 2010) in regards to the appointment of child protection workers at local government level who are academically trained in social work, the development of this module is considered to be paramount in terms of developing the capacities of current and future child protection professionals. This course will cover a diversity of child protection related subjects that include: the social constructions of childhood, the system of social wellbeing, child development and needs, the case management process, early interventions and work with families, alternative care, international and national legislation and policies on child rights and child protection, etc.

The consultation process for developing the course subjects will be managed by a Working Group of Experts from the UT Department Social Work and Policies, the ASSS, UNICEF, Tdh and other interested partner organizations, under the leadership of a multi-disciplinary Steering Committee. The Working Protocol for the Child Protection Worker, a joint UNICEF, MLSAEO and Tdh publication launched last year, will also be used to inform the practical aspects of the module in terms of the case management process and the guiding principles for the work of the child protection workers.

There is no doubt that the successful management of child protection cases requires tremendous skills on the part of the professionals involved. Considering the delicate nature of child protection actions in the context of abuse, neglect and/or exploitation with regard to a child’s life and that of his/her family, as well as the related challenges of building and maintaining trust, the child protection workers must be equipped with particular skills that are equally warranted by sound academic preparation and continuous on-the job training to ensure that every child’s best interests are served, no matter what the circumstances. Speaking on behalf of Terre des hommes, the Mission Delegate Mrs. Sendrine Constant said that as a result of previous trainings delivered to child protection professionals in Albania in collaboration with Save the Children Albania under the Mario Project, “civil society actors have managed to put together a very good picture of the various challenges faced in the field. This could serve well for developing a first-rate and comprehensive module rooted in a range of different practical experiences from which child protection professionals can learn a lot.” The development of this in-service training course will also be a good way of bringing the academic world of social work closer to field practice of the Child Protection Units currently operating in Albania.

The message for keeping close contact with people working in the field in order to reflect their best practices and challenging experiences in the main child protection subjects covered in the course was similarly reiterated by representatives of other NGOs such as Save the Children, SOS Villages, the Children’s Alliance and World Vision. It is expected that the process for developing this special in-service training course will undergo a thorough and continuous consultation process among different child protection actors in Albania with a view to having it accredited as a specific requirement course for all child protection workers in the country. [TL]