This two-hour interactive session provides an introduction to the importance of the language that we use when talking and writing about children and families who are impacted by abuse through exploitation.

Description

The culture around exploitation is vital in ensuring the right response in terms of safeguarding victims and holding perpetrators to account. The language that we use has a direct impact on that culture.

Our language directly impacts a child’s development, self-identity and self-confidence. Do you always stop to think about the impact that your language can have?

The language that we use when talking and writing about children and families who are impacted by exploitation affects how we as practitioners respond to and safeguard children, as well as influencing how other practitioners and the wider community respond to and safeguard children. The language that we use has the power to protect children from further abuse or to blame the child for the abuse, thereby failing to hold the perpetrator accountable for the harm that they’ve caused. A child is NEVER responsible for their abuse.

Session Aims & Objectives

• Be able to explain why the language that we use is important
• Explore what the language that we use is really saying and the impact that this can have on children and their families
• Understand how the language that we use can impact;
• How we as professionals respond to and safeguard children who are exploited and their families
• How other professionals respond to and safeguard children who are exploited and their families both now and in the future
• How does wider society respond to and safeguard children who are exploited and their families?
• Describe how you will use and influence the use of language going forward

There will be a presentation and discussion led by Karen Laing, NWG’s Learning and Development Coordinator and a Q & A to end the session