Balancing Safety, Rights and Freedom in Children's Social Care

Overview

Professionals working with children and young people are often required to make difficult decisions that balance safety, wellbeing, individual rights, and personal freedom. In some circumstances, restrictions may be necessary to protect a child or young person from harm. However, when those restrictions amount to a deprivation of liberty, practitioners and organisations must ensure that their actions are lawful, proportionate, necessary, and subject to appropriate oversight.

This practical and thought-provoking seminar explores the legal, ethical, and practice considerations associated with Deprivation of Liberty (DoL) within children's social care. Participants will develop a clear understanding of the legal framework, the circumstances in which deprivation of liberty may arise, and the responsibilities placed upon professionals and organisations. The course focuses on promoting rights-based practice that protects children and young people while supporting their development, independence, and long-term wellbeing.

Course Content

This course explores the concept of deprivation of liberty and examines how restrictions on a child's freedom can arise within care and support arrangements. Participants will develop an understanding of the legal definitions, principles, and thresholds that determine when restrictions move beyond ordinary care and supervision and become a deprivation of liberty requiring legal authorisation.

The seminar examines the legal and practice frameworks that govern deprivation of liberty arrangements and explores how professionals can ensure that restrictions are necessary, proportionate, and responsive to identified risks. Participants will consider how safeguarding responsibilities, risk management, and human rights principles interact when making decisions about supervision, movement, contact, access to the community, and other aspects of daily life.

Particular attention will be given to care planning and reviewing arrangements that involve restrictions on liberty. Participants will explore how to evidence necessity and proportionality, identify less restrictive alternatives, and develop plans that support progress, independence, and positive outcomes. The course encourages practitioners to move beyond risk avoidance and instead focus on balancing protection with opportunities for growth, participation, and development.

The session also examines the roles and responsibilities of care providers, local authorities, social workers, managers, and other professionals involved in deprivation of liberty arrangements. Through practical examples, case studies, and reflective discussion, participants will explore complex real-world situations and develop confidence in applying legal principles within everyday practice.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the legal definition and principles of deprivation of liberty.

• Recognise situations where restrictions on liberty may require legal authorisation.

• Apply principles of necessity, proportionality, and least restrictive practice when supporting children and young people.

• Understand the legal responsibilities of providers, local authorities, and other professionals involved in deprivation of liberty arrangements.

• Identify how deprivation of liberty considerations should be reflected within care planning, risk assessment, and safeguarding processes.

• Develop approaches that balance safety, rights, freedom, and positive risk-taking.

• Evaluate restrictive practices and identify opportunities to reduce restrictions over time.

• Apply learning to complex real-life situations through case analysis and reflective practice.

Intended Audience

This course is designed for professionals working with children and young people whose care arrangements may involve restrictions on liberty or enhanced supervision. It will be particularly relevant for Social Workers, Residential Childcare Practitioners, Supported Accommodation Staff, Foster Carers, Supervising Social Workers, Team Leaders, Deputy Managers, Registered Managers, Responsible Individuals, Nominated Individuals, Independent Reviewing Officers, Local Authority Practitioners, and other professionals involved in safeguarding, care planning, risk management, and supporting children and young people with complex needs.

Course Facilitator

Stuart Donohue is a registered Social Worker with more than 15 years of experience across child protection, court work, frontline social work, and safeguarding practice. Throughout his career, he has worked for a range of local authorities, Cafcass, and independent social work services, as well as holding management responsibilities within children's services.

Over the last decade, Stuart has developed a particular specialism in supporting children and young adults with disabilities who are deprived of their liberty. His experience ranges from working with children requiring enhanced supervision and restrictive interventions to safeguard them from significant risks, through to supporting young adults who lack capacity to consent to aspects of their care and support arrangements.

Stuart is passionate about promoting lawful, proportionate, and rights-based approaches to deprivation of liberty. His work focuses on helping professionals develop care plans that effectively balance safety, wellbeing, autonomy, and individual rights while ensuring that restrictions are continually reviewed and reduced wherever possible. His training combines legal knowledge, practical experience, and reflective discussion to support professionals in navigating one of the most complex areas of children's social care practice.