Please note that this event is now finished

Safeguarding Children: Promoting Welfare-Preventing Harm

  • Thursday, 23 May 2019
  • Pendulum Hotel & Manchester Conference Centre
  • 08:30 - 15:45
130
Conference
Attendees
8
CPD
Credits
10
Expert Speakers
20
Sponsors & Supporters
  • Overview

Open Forum Events invite you to join us at the Safeguarding Children: Promoting Welfare-Preventing Harm conference. This event is the 6th in a series of meetings focusing on how safeguarding can be successfully overseen to ensure all children are:

  • Protected from abuse or neglect;
  • Brought up in a safe environment;
  • Exempt from any hindrance to their health and development;
  • Afforded the same life chances and opportunities.

    All organisations and individuals that work with or come into contact with children have a responsibility to ensure that every child’s welfare is paramount and their right to be protected from harm is upheld.

    This conference will discuss:
  • Current safeguarding policy and the procedures in place to apply it;
  • The updated guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ which sets out how organisations and agencies must work together to keep children safe;
  • ‘Hot Spot’ areas where children’s welfare and/or safety may be at greater risk;

The agenda will feature expert speakers in child welfare and protection and is designed to bring together all stakeholders for a day of information sharing, discussion and networking, in order for children to receive the best possible outcomes and maximise achievements.

The UK Government has defined the term ‘safeguarding children’ as: ‘The process of protecting children from abuse or neglect, preventing impairment of their health and development, and ensuring they are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care that enables children to have optimum life chances and enter adulthood successfully.’
Each organisation or agency, involved with, or working with children, have a statutory duty to have safeguarding policies and procedures in place. However, ensuring the welfare, rights and safety of children and young people is everybody’s responsibility.
To improve safeguarding new and revised statutory guidance has been published. The Working Together to Safeguard Children is a guide to inter-agency working and was published by the Department of Education in July 2018. It sets out how organisations and agencies must safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Key areas of change are:

  • assessing need and providing help;
  • organisational responsibilities;
  • multi-agency safeguarding arrangements;
  • local and national child safeguarding practice reviews;
  • child death reviews.

The education system plays a major role in applying the safeguarding agenda. In December 2018 Ofsted published its annual report on the state of the education and children’s care in England. Although the overall conclusion is the quality of education and care is good and improving, there are a couple of areas causing concern. The report reveals that nearly 10,000 pupils have disappeared from the school system as a result of illegal off rolling. Although some pupils may have moved to the private sector or are now being homeschooled, others could be in an unregistered school or have dropped out of education entirely.
The watchdog also has concerns about SEND provision across the country and describes it as too disjointed and inconsistent. In 2017, over 4,000 children with an approved EHC plan have received no provision and many local areas have still not implemented the 2014 SEND reforms. The government has subsequently made available an extra £350 million to benefit children and young adults with special educational needs and disabilities. This additional funding will provide specialist support for those with complex needs.
Children that are affected by either or both of the above issues are at significant risk of poor attainment and a bleaker outlook, signifying safeguarding concerns.

Safeguarding issues arise in many aspects of children’s lives, some more visible than others. The risks associated with being homeless and exposure to criminal exploitation, including, county lines, trafficking and modern-day slavery, are very prevalent and particularly difficult to manage. Online activity creates opportunities for grooming and sexual exploitation, as well as cyberbullying.
This conference will highlight new developments and address some of the challenges to ensure our children are kept safe from harm and their welfare protected.

Read more
  • Confirmed Speakers

Event Sponsors and Supporters

  • Event Programme

08:30

Registration and Coffee in the Networking Area

09:30

Chair’s Opening Address

  • Wendy Thorogood, Chair, The Association of Child Protection Professionals (AoCPP) (confirmed)
09:35

Keynote Address

  • Chris Tuck, Founder & Director , SOB – Survivors Of aBuse (confirmed)
"Lived Experience Account of How Life Can Be for Survivors of Abuse."

How I used my adversity to empower victims & survivors to make positive change happen on an individual, institutional and societal level.

09:55

Justine Currell, Director, Unseen and Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Bedfordshire Police (confirmed)

"Modern Slavery: Protecting the Vulnerable"

This presentation will provide an understanding of modern slavery and how it manifests in the UK and further afield.
It will show how identifying vulnerabilities and signs to spot is key to preventing young people from being abused and exploited.
It will show how collaboration and partnership is vital in preventing more people from becoming victims of this horrendous crime.

10:15
  • Ann Coffey, Former Member of Parliament and Chair All-Party Parliament Group for Runaway and Missing Children and Adults, . (confirmed)
"Children in Out of Borough Placements"

Children in children’s homes placed out of borough; the risks of going missing, and the criminal and sexual exploitation of looked after children.

10:35

Question and Answer Session

11:00

Coffee in the Networking Area

11:50

Panel Debate

Wendy Thorogood, Chair, The Association of Child Protection Professionals (AoCPP) (confirmed)

Mark Foster, CEO, Child Protection Company (confirmed)

Deborah Jeremiah, Associate, Bevan Brittan (confirmed)

Carolyne Willow, Director, Article 39 (confirmed)

"Working Together to Safeguard Children"

The Department for Education have updated 'Working Together to Safeguard Children', setting out how organisations and agencies must work together to keep children safe. This discussion session will discuss the guidance to better understand the legislative changes to multi-agency safeguarding and debate how it can be put in practice.

12:30

Case Study

"The Truth Project"

The presentation will:
- provide an overview of the work of the Independent
Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and the Truth Project;
- detail how the Truth Project has helped achieve
successful outcomes for a victim or survivor;
- support attendees to raise awareness of the opportunity
to participate in the Truth Project.

12:55
  • Deborah Jeremiah, Head of Children Law’s Team, Bevan Brittan LLP (confirmed)
"The Role of Parental Responsibility in Potential Medical Neglect Cases"

The issue of medical neglect is a challenging aspect of neglect for many practitioners. When does the exercise of parental responsibility work against the best interest of the child for clinical care?

13:15

Question and Answer Session

13:25

Lunch in the Networking Area

14:30

Chair’s Afternoon Address

14:35
  • Kamena Dorling, Group Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Coram Children's Legal Centre (confirmed)
"Access to Education and School Exclusion "

This presentation will look at what action is needed to support children being left behind in education, including young people with special education needs and/or disabilities and those who are subject to unlawful exclusion and ‘off-rolling’. It will look at children’s experiences of exclusion and outline the findings from the government’s school exclusions review.

14:55
  • Martha Evans, Director , Anti-Bullying Alliance (confirmed)
"How Can Schools Safeguard Children from Cyberbullying? "

This session will cover:
- Exploring the prevalence of bullying in schools and cyberbullying
- Understanding the relationship between face to face bullying and cyberbullying
- Establishing what schools need to have in place to combat this issue

15:15
"Protecting those who are Homeless or at Risk of Homelessness"

Children or young people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness are likely to be vulnerable and will often be at risk of harm in the absence of intervention. Safeguarding and promoting their welfare should be central to any service provision.

15:35

Question and Answer Session

15:45

Chair’s Closing Remarks and Event Close

  • Register for event

You can no longer register for this event
  • Sponsors
  • Supporters
  • Venue
  • Featured Events
  • Downloads
  • Who will attend

Sponsors

Supporters

Venue

Pendulum Hotel & Manchester Conference Centre

Pendulum Hotel & Manchester Conference Centre

Pendulum Hotel & Manchester Conference Centre is the ideal solution when searching for conference venues in Manchester. Top-of-the-range conference suites, 3 star value hotel accommodation, delicious dining and friendly service are the ideal components for a successful conference or event in the heart of the city centre.

The 18 conference rooms are decked out with all the mod cons including state-of-the-art AV technology, projectors and screens, free Wi-Fi and flip charts. Our clients cover the whole spectrum and include government organisations, trade unions, large corporate companies, non-profit organisations, health and education sectors and small to medium-sized businesses.

From the get-go we strive for excellence in everything we do and our dedicated team of conference professionals go all out to make sure your conference, event or exhibition runs like clockwork.

Featured Events

  • Safeguarding Children: Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation

    • 22 April 2015
    • 08:30 - 13:30
    • The Place Aparthotel, Manchester
  • Confronting Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

    • 17 May 2016
    • 08:30 - 15:30
    • Pendulum Hotel & Manchester Conference Centre
  • Safeguarding Children: Effective Collaboration for Child Protection and Wellbeing

    • 11 May 2017
    • 08:30 - 16:30
    • The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
  • Safeguarding Children: Finding Solutions for Better Protection

    • 24 May 2018
    • 08:30 - 16:30
    • The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

Downloads & Resources

  • Open Forum Events Sponsorship Brochure
    Open Forum Events offer a number of partnership, sponsorship and exhibition opportunities that can meet your marketing and business development needs.
  • Open Forum Events - Sponsorship Brochure 2017.pdf
    Open Forum Events - Sponsorship Brochure 2017.pdf
  • Safeguarding Children 23.05.2019 Presentations.zip
    Safeguarding Children 23.05.2019 Presentations.zip
  • Kamena_Dorling_presentation.pdf
    Kamena_Dorling_presentation.pdf

who will attend

  • 14-19 Partnership Teams
  • Academics and Researchers
  • Director/Heads Adoption and Fostering Agencies
  • Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinators
  • Asylum and Immigration Officers
  • CAFCASS
  • Care Leavers Champions
  • Central Government Departments and Agencies
  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Practitioners
  • Child and Educational Psychologists
  • Child Protection and Safeguarding Teams
  • Child Protection Officers
  • Children’s Health Service Professionals
  • Children’s Services Officers
  • Heads of Children’s Trusts and Children’s Centres
  • Commissioning Managers
  • Community and Voluntary Organisations
  • Community Development Managers
  • Director/Heads Connexions and Jobcentre Plus
  • Director/Heads Corporate Parenting Boards
  • Designated Nurses and Health Advisors for Children in Care
  • Director/Heads Local Education Authorities
  • Director/Heads Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards
  • Director/Heads Local, Regional and National Health Services
  • Director/Heads Looked After/Children in Care Teams
  • Director/Heads NEET Strategy Teams
  • Director/Heads Permanency Teams
  • Director/Heads Regional Adoption Agencies
  • Director/Heads Welfare Rights Organisations
  • Directors/Heads of Children and Young People’s Services
  • Domestic Violence Co-ordinators
  • Director/Heads Drug and Alcohol Action Teams
  • Early Years and Childcare Practitioners
  • Education and Welfare Officers
  • Education Providers
  • Director/Heads Employment and Training Services
  • Families Services Officers
  • Family Intervention Project Workers
  • Family Pathfinder Workers
  • Family Placement Teams
  • Family Support and Outreach Team Leads
  • Heads of Children’s Strategy
  • Members of Health and Wellbeing Boards
  • Director/Heads Homelessness Teams
  • Director/Heads Housing Service Providers
  • Local Authority Officers and Councillors
  • Looked-After Children Team Managers
  • Members of Police and Fire Service
  • Mental Health Practitioners
  • Post Adoption Support Services Leads
  • Psychotherapists
  • Residential Children’s Home Managers
  • School Nurses and Health Visitors
  • Schools, Colleges and Further Education Providers
  • Social Workers and Social Services Officers
  • Director/Heads Supported Housing Teams
  • Teachers and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators
  • Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinators
  • Third Sector Representatives
  • Youth Inclusion Teams
  • Youth Workers and Youth Offending Teams