Events & Training

The ‘Keeping Safe?’ project is a three year study funded by the Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales conducted by a team of researchers from the School of Social Sciences led by Dr Sophie Hallett.

The aim of this study is to conduct an original investigation into the outcomes for children and young people assessed as being ‘at risk’ of sexual exploitation – please see attached report.

Keeping Safe Research Report

On the 4th September Dr Sophie Hallet will be presenting this report at the North Wales Safeguarding Board and NSPCC Child Exploitation Community of Practice Event.

To attend this event – please book via the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/child-exploitation-community-of-practice-event-keeping-safe-project-tickets-68973634999

Missing People will be hosting County Lines Conference: The National Picture and Best Practice on Thursday 19th September 2019 from 09:45 – 13:30 in Birmingham.

Numbers of children being criminally exploited are rising and the police, social workers, those in the criminal justice system and the voluntary sector are seeing increasing demand for their support and expertise to help tackle this.

This conference will share best practice from work being done nationally and locally to tackle county lines and findings from organisations working with victims of child criminal exploitation.

Young people recruited by gangs are often forced to go missing and are at risk of violence and other abuse. Their families face the trauma involved in a disappearance and fear for their loved one’s life.

Delegates will hear:

• A mother’s story and lived experience of county lines
• National County Lines Coordination Centre outlining the national approach to tackling county lines
• Research findings of Families’ experiences of child criminal exploitation by Missing People

Refreshments will be provided in the break and there will also be an opportunity to network and learn from representatives from a variety of professional backgrounds.

Early bird tickets are currently still available at £69 and can be purchased here:

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/county-lines-conference-supporting-children-who-are-missing-and-criminally-exploited-tickets-62917428723

“Think the Unthinkable”

“It is about looking at every case and thinking ‘I must think the unthinkable even if I dismiss it on the basis of evidence’.  At least think about it.”  John Fitzgerald was the social worker who led the review into the murders of children at the hands of Fred and Rosemary West.

The quote “Think the Unthinkable” also appeared in a recent North Wales Child Practice Review report.

At the annual North Wales Safeguarding Board conference we will have the following presentations:

• Learning from Operation Jasmine – Families whose relatives who suffered abuse within Care Homes in South Wales will talk about their experiences.
• Smash Life UK – Andy & Matt Smith are brothers who were placed into the care system by social services after neglectful parenting from their biological mother and father. They then were abused by the very people they were placed with by social services who they had hoped would be their loving new mum and dad between the years of 1990-1998.
• Key Practice Learning from Adult / Child Practice Reviews in North Wales delivered by AFTA Thought who specialises in training through drama. The scenarios and situations created will help you recognise and reinforce the key learning from recent Adult and Child Practice Reviews from North Wales and increase your understanding of individual and group responsibilities in safeguarding.

To book your place please visit:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-wales-safeguarding-board-annual-conference-2019-tickets-68992970833