Day 1: Wednesday 26th January 2022 | 2.00pm-5.30pm

Time Session
2.00pm Welcome and introduction 
2.05pm POLICY KEYNOTE: Delivering a Duty of Digital Care

The Online Safety Bill establishes a new regulatory framework to protect children from digital harm. Andy Burrows will set out the scope of the Bill and other key online safety legislation; what it all means for those working with children and young people; and whether it goes far enough to meet the government’s stated aim of making the UK the safest place in the world to be online.

Andy Burrows, Head of Child Safety Online Policy, NSPCC
2.50pm

GAMBLING AND GAMING: Staying Ahead of the Game – Educating Young People To Prevent Harm

There are around 55,000 “problem” gamblers aged 11 to 16 in the UK, according to the National Audit Office, with a further 85,000 estimated to be at risk. Kev Clelland will explain the scale of the issue, its impact on young people and some of the ways it is being addressed, including the Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme. The session will also look at ways to prevent harm in diverse communities and among vulnerable groups including young female gamers and children in care.

Kev Clelland, Director of Strategic Alliance, The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust
3.20pm Break 
3.40pm SCHOOLS: Sexual Violence and Harassment in Schools and Colleges

Ofsted spoke with more than 900 children and young people about the prevalence of online peer-on-peer sexual harassment and violence in their lives, as part of its rapid review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges, published in June. Wendy Ghaffar will share children’s views about the abuse they receive online, looking at how much professionals understand about the extent of sexual harassment and abuse, and crucially, what they can do to tackle it.

Wendy Ghaffar, Specialist Safeguarding Adviser, Ofsted
4.10pm

DIGITAL LITERACY: Developing critical thinking, digital skills and cyber resilience

Liz Green, Chief Executive, UK Youth
4.40pm Break 
4.50pm

VULNERABLE CHILDREN: Panel Discussion 

This session brings together experts in the field of looked-after children, children with SEND and other particularly vulnerable groups to discuss the risks and opportunities they face online and what policy makers and professionals can put in place to protect them.

Simone Vibert, Head of Policy, Internet Matters
Jenny Simpson, Senior Lecturer at The University of Northampton and author of Twenty-first Century Contact: The Use of Mobile Communication Devices and the Internet by Young People in Care
Autumn Roesch-Marsh, Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Care Leaver Relationships, Mental Health and Social Media Project Lead, The University of Edinburgh
Derren Hayes, Editor, Children & Young People Now (Panel Chair)
5.30pm End of day 1 

Day 2: Thursday 27th January 2022 |2:00pm-5:30pm

Time Sessions
2.00pm  Welcome and introduction
2.05pm POLICY KEYNOTE: Growing up in the digital age

Research by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner has exposed the gulf between children’s experiences online and the protections and preparation in place for them. Dame Rachel de Souza will talk about tackling internet porn and other harmful online content; what tech companies should be doing to protect children; and ways to ensure that children, young people, parents and carers have high access to quality advice and information on how to manage their online lives and relationships.

Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England
2.25pm Short break 
2.35pm

RADICALISATION: Multi-agency Responses to Risk of Radicalisation: Examples from Practice

This session will show key findings from research on how radicalisation is being addressed in children’s social care, commissioned by the Department for Education. The research involved consultation with local authority areas as well as national and regional stakeholders. The speakers will outline the prevalence, ideologies and influencers in radicalisation cases, including online and digital influencers and the role of multi-agency working. They will also give examples of good and promising practice in safeguarding responses to radicalisation.

Hannah Nickson, Principal Consultant, Cordis birght
Suzie Langdon-Shreeve, Principal, Cordis Bright
3.20pm Break 
3.40pm

DIGITAL RESILIENCE: Adopting a resilience and risk mitigation approach to online harms for children and young people

Based on three years of research with young people, HeadStart Kernow has developed an online resilience tool with Bournemouth University to support professionals making safeguarding judgements following online harms disclosures by young people. The session will discuss the importance of youth voice in developing digital resilience approaches; how professionals can use the tool to help them make decisions about whether behaviour represents risk of harm; and how to respond from an evidence-based position.

Professor Andy Phippen, Bournemouth University
Louisa Street, Trainer, Headstart Digital Resilience Project
4.10pm

YOUTH WORK: Switching the Narrative on Social Media

Being an effective professional involves addressing all parts of a young person’s life, including their digital world. The Social Switch Project, co-delivered by Catch 22 and Redthread, is supporting young people to channel their creative skills towards positive outcomes. Kristina Andrulyte will talk about the project’s strengths-based approach; and how frontline practitioners can use existing knowledge and practice to understand the issues faced online and navigate young people towards more productive and creative online activity.

Kristina Andrulyte, Training and Curriculum Manager, The Social Switch Project
4.40pm Break 
5.00pm

EARLY YEARS: Safeguarding children in the early years

Pre-schoolers are living in an increasingly digital world – according to Ofcom, 82 per cent went online in 2020, while around half of three and four year olds have their own tablet.  Some 45 per cent of parents say the benefits their pre-schoolers gain from being online outweigh the risks. Ken Corish will look at what can be done to mitigate those risks, and the resources available to support parents and early year practitioners.

Ken Corish, Online Safety Director, South West Grid for Learning  
5.30pm End of conference