An introduction into Children’s Social Care: using the outdoors therapeutically to work with children, young people, and families, who have an involvement with children’s service - WEBINAR

An introduction into Children’s Social Care: using the outdoors therapeutically to work with children, young people, and families, who have an involvement with children’s service - WEBINAR

13 January 2026

There is a long history of working with groups and individuals deemed by society as being at risk or in need of support. While some of the language has evolved over time, much of the thinking around the needs of this population remains unchanged. At its best, this type of work carefully balances the worlds and professions of psychology, outdoor learning, and social care/work, along with other aligned professions.

Many outdoor professionals have run sessions for children in care or their local youth justice service, especially if they have worked at an outdoor residential centre for any length of time. But what is the potential to develop this work further? What are the real and perceived barriers to working in this area? What skills might be relevant to a 21st-century outdoor professional?

This webinar is an opportunity to discover more about:

• The different types of children’s services in England
• The entry points for a child or family accessing the various services in this sector
• Some of the terms used, such as Section 14, Section 47, Child We Care For, LAC, etc.
• The historical collaboration between the outdoor professional world and these groups
• Answers to any questions you may have (if we know the answer)

This session can be adapted to the needs of the participants and aims to provide a launch point for working in this sector. Led by a Children’s Social Care manager who heads an Outdoor Therapeutic team in their Local Authority, this session aims to boost participants' confidence in their understanding of work in this area.

Roger Hiley