This online workshop is open to social care staff of all grades in all UK regions who may come into contact with victims of forced marriage. It is appropriate for staff safeguarding both child and adult victims. Our aim is to ensure all local authorities have at least two social workers of varying seniority who have received our training. These officers are expected to support other social workers in their local authority who may be working on relevant cases.
The workshop will include sessions on:
- Understanding the risks to victims
- How to work with other professionals to safeguard child and adult victims of forced marriage
- How to apply for a Forced Marriage Protection Order (led by a police officer)
- A case study from a social worker
- The role of the Forced Marriage Unit and the advice available for victims in the UK and overseas
- The testimony of a survivor of forced marriage
Social care staff are one of the most frequent type of callers to the Forced Marriage Unit's helpline. Social care staff play an essential role in preventing forced marriages, and equipping them with the tools to identify and safeguard cases of forced marriage will be key to tackling the issue. The FMU’s training workshops will attempt to build a cadre of social workers across the country, who in their respective local authority will:
- Be the FMU point of contact for escalation of forced marriage cases;
- Champion forced marriage best practice;
- (Not required, but where possible) Deliver training to new colleagues likely to work on Forced Marriage cases.
Please sign up with your work email address only. Course pre-reading materials and a calendar invitation containing the link to join the workshop (on Microsoft Teams) will be issued approximately a week before the event.
You can find out more about the work of the Forced Marriage Unit at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/forced-marriage.
If you have any questions or would like further information, please email fmu@fcdo.gov.uk.
