Piat
Promoting inter-agency training
Download the Piat flyer (PDF, 144KB)
Effective relationships are vital for safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare: structures and systems are only part of the solution.
Established in 1993, Piat is a partnership between the NSPCC, Sheffield University and the Professional Development Group at Nottingham University.
Piat was established to facilitate links between inter-agency trainers in child protection and to share best practice.
Piat aims to:
- promote a wider understanding of the contribution that inter-agency training and development makes to safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare
- facilitate an active network for all involved in commissioning, planning and delivering inter-agency training
- provide relevant development opportunities
- respond proactively to policy changes and practice developments.
Piat’s work is planned and conducted through regular meetings of a steering group. This group consists of representatives of the three partner organisations, along with co-opted members who are practising inter-agency training and development officers or academics, seconded to the steering group for three years.
Piat receives no core funding, has no officers and is not a membership organisation.
What does Piat do?
Piat works with and on behalf of other organisations. Its work includes:
- Convening an annual two-day conference
Each December Piat brings together those responsible for inter-agency training and development, to consider current policy and practice issues and to network.
- Contributing to policy and practice development
Piat works with the government, as well as training and safeguarding organisations. It was a partner in the consortium that developed training materials to support What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused (DCSF, 2006). It facilitated an Action Research project to explore the contribution of inter-agency training to the implementation of government guidance. PIAT also consulted and contributed to Working together to safeguard children (PDF) (HM Government, 2006) - chapter 4: Training and development for inter-agency work.
- Supporting small developmental workshops for inter-agency training coordinators
Piat runs workshops in:
- induction
- inter-agency training methods and processes
- facilitation skills for inter-agency groups
- evaluation of inter-agency training
- strategies to engage key groups in inter-agency training.
- Establishing links with regional groups
Piat facilitates links with regional groups in order to assist communication with and between inter-agency trainers. This includes creating forums for inter-agency trainers to consult together and discuss their needs arising from practice.
A number of regional groups have developed over the last decade, bringing together inter-agency trainers who are working towards similar aims on a more local basis. They are currently active in the Midlands, the south-west, north-east, East Anglia and Scotland.
Piat steering group
- Core group
Steve Adams
William Baginsky
Marian Charles
Barbara Firth
Enid Hendry
Jan Horwath
- Co-opted members
Tony Griffin
Helen Harrison
Vicky Moran
Linda Village
- Academic members
Ruth Pearson
Angie Bartoli
For further information about our work, please email piat@nspcc.org.uk
Copyright © 2011 NSPCC - All rights reserved. National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Weston House, 42
Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. Incorporated by Royal Charter. Registered charity number 216401. NSPCC, charity registered in Scotland, charity number SC037717.