Day One 20th April 2021

It was a pleasure to welcome everyone back to our conference again this year. Last year was cancelled due to Covid restrictions and as we still have those in place we opted for a virtual event this year.  

We have annually held our Awards Ceremony nominated by their colleagues for those who should have recognition for their work they have undertaken. We have not run that opportunity this year, however, we do have two people who we wish to recognise for their work, and we will be presenting them tomorrow, make sure you join us to see who they are. 

The opening Keynote session was delivered by the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP 

Sajid Javid was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 24 July 2019 to 13 February 2020. He was Home Secretary from 30 April 2018 to 24 July 2019. He was Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government from 8 January 2018 to 29 April 2018, and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government from July 2016 to January 2018. 

Sajid served as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills from May 2015 until July 2016. He was Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from April 2014 to May 2015 and previously he was both the Economic and Financial Secretary to the Treasury. He was a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee from June to November 2010. He was elected Conservative MP for Bromsgrove in 2010. 

 Who said,” We’re facing an epidemic of child sexual abuse in the UK”?  

Having seen this first-hand during his time as Home Secretary, the first commitment Sajid Javid made when he left government was to lead an investigation into child sexual abuse and exploitation, in association with the Centre for Social Justice think tank. 

The result is a landmark, 180-page report that was published at the end of March. It contains 96 specific, cross-government recommendations designed to better protect children, covering everything from victim support to sentencing. 

Some of the key messages from his delivery were: 

“We are banging on an open door with central government aiming for a cross-party approach. Not just one government department. Holistic approach is needed”.  

 Collaboration is key – it is because of frontline workers and networks – front line workers working together from all services can make a difference.  Parents have a role especially when it comes to online access”.  

“Step change incapacity for all 16- and 17-year old’s to be in regulated settings is required”.    

The day then continued with our special interest group sessions, here are a few of the key messages from those sessions.  

Improving Safeguarding in Sport delivered by CPSU and ACT 

Key messages were the importance of education for all involved in sport, from director level to the volunteer, from elite sport to grassroots and community sport. 

Safeguarding also includes doping, sadly children are also victims of doping by unscrupulous coaches with their win at all costs mentality. Culture changes still needed in sports. 

The transition from child to adult athlete is also a huge issue, just because an athlete passes their 18th birthday does not make them not vulnerable to abuse, they are still subject to power dynamics and control is still taken away from them, funding can be reliant on success.  

Personal dignity, who helps athletes including Paralympians into tight-fitting swimsuits/cycling suits and how is their dignity maintained.  

Important for athletes to understand their code of conduct but also important that they know their coaches’ codes of conduct and boundaries, cited Marcus Erooga and the slippery slope of boundary /rules violation towards abuse, good clubs have clear boundaries and rules which are strictly enforced.  

Through the Eyes of the Survivor and lessons we learnt delivered by Gwent Police 

Key messages were: 

Reflections – language, terminology, and attitude of front-line professionals (Police in this instance) are crucial to early victim engagement and risk identification. 

Risk assessment of perpetrators is essential (weird after yesterday’s conversation at the Uni) 

Early stakeholder engagement and MASH essential 

“I want you to work together, together with me” – creating a culture of working alongside parents as safeguarding partners. Delivered by Maria Cassidy, NWG Network 

Key Messages were: 

Are families hard to reach or are we not reaching hard enough? 

Importance of building on community assets and strengths nurtured during the pandemic. 

The NWG “Parents as Partners: Exploitation benchmarking tool” can support areas to identify their strengths and gaps when reviewing how they work alongside parents as safeguarding partners. 

Meetings with parents and families – the language used in meetings, accessibility and timing of meetings and support provided to reduce trauma.  

Exploitation and Transition into Adulthood delivered by Steve Baguley, NWG Network 

Key Messages were: 

Exploitation and impact do not stop because you turn 18. Growth in interest to ensure young people transition into adulthood is fully understood and improved. 

Adulthood is not a destination, but a journey. 

Look at issues through a trauma lens- understanding of the Care Act especially prevention and well-being– how the impact of trauma relates to this. 

Need for more fluid support and safeguarding system across children’s and adult services 

Raising awareness of Child Exploitation during the coronavirus pandemic
delivered by Loudmouth Education and Training 

Key Messages were: 

The importance of pre-preparation before delivering online CSE sessions, key advice about delivering sessions in a virtual school environment with the need for a teacher to be present to help with any disclosures also do not deliver sessions to children directly in their homes or children homeschooling…who is there to offer support. Advice from the PHSE association about not delivering a session on CSE/DA to children directly in their homes, all need to be done via schools.  

needed to develop new skills transferring actor role to video role and also learn new skills developing videos and editing them as well, learn how to operate cameras and lighting systems as well.  

Benefits and learning, as we could not be present, we developed more monologues which fitted the new way of working better as it allowed the story to be non-judgemental and no victim-blaming. 

Benefit, good for professionals as could extend reach without cost of travelling and overnight stays, limitations is lack of audience participation which is one of the benefits of live theatre is audience engagement.  

The Pansy Project: Art practice, ritual and conversation, enabling the sharing of LGBTQ+ stories delivered by Paul Harfleet 

Key Messages were: 

The idea of healing and calmness can often conflict with the ‘bag of abuse’ that one is left with, due to the fact that abuse has long-lasting effects and the impact is so far-reaching. 

There is a spectrum of hate crime, from ‘low level/minor’ abuse to murder, but all experiences should be validated and recognised for their unique and individual experiences and support allocated appropriately.  

Disclosures and therapy can take many forms, for example through non-verbal communication and behaviour, and the arts should be recognised as an effective therapeutic response, as should other non-conventional activities.  

It is important to challenge and confront experiences in different (safe) ways and ensure that abusers, but also enablers and bystanders are held to account. 

Practitioners should refer to specialist agencies such as Stonewall for support to reach children and young people who are experiencing/at risk of abuse who are best placed to offer guidance. VW 

Awareness-raising/education in schools through resources such as the Pansy Boy book can help overcome barriers and encourage young people to explore their differences in a safe space. VW 

What our bodies and emotions are telling us? Delivered Sarah Brown, NWG Network 

Key Messages were: 

Consider how trauma may manifest and impact us physically and how we may support these practitioners.  

Reflect upon how complex our feelings can be and how we might develop our awareness to ensure needs are identified and supported.  

Cuckooing – reduce vulnerability and increase resilience delivered by Paul Callum, NWG Network and Jo Grimshaw, Surrey Police 

Key Messages were: 

SIO’s to consider a range of positive outcomes as well as prosecutions, like community confidence, family support. 

SIO’s to engage SNT at the earliest stage of an investigation to deal with the county lines as an ASB issue. 

Closure and partial closure orders can be used as a preventative tool when relocating victims etc.