One Day Online Harm Training (04/03/2024)

Target Audience: Multi agency children and family practitioners

Following this training delegates will be able to:

• Work within Welsh Government Guidance and Procedures when responding to harm by, or to children online,
• Understand the current legislative context, and how this may impact on our work with children,
• Consider how children are developing online and how this impacts on their sexual development,
• Take a contemporary and balanced overview of what may be happening for children online,
• Understand the impact of issues relating to sexual development online including use of: pornography, social media, extremism and activism content,
• Identify sexual behaviour concerns online using the continuum of sexual behaviours,
• Provide proportionate responses to children who are harmed online or who harm others in this context,
• Understand vulnerability of children and young people to being harmed/abused online, including the impact of this on CYP and families,
• Assess what children may need from their parents and support services to aid safeguarding and recovery,
• Create workable safety plans to promote healthy child development online while managing risks associated with digital spaces.

Over the past decade technology access has increased for all groups within society, perhaps even more so within the COVID 19 pandemic context. For children and young people most aspects of life today have an online element, including education, social relationships, and entertainment. At Better Futures we have observed an increase in referrals for support in relation to HSB, CSA and CSE where technology is a feature.

This training will focus on research and practice evidence regarding factors to consider when identifying, assessing, and intervening with children and young people who either harm or have come to harm online. It will provide insight into the factors that increase risk to harm and vulnerability to be harmed for children in digital spaces, as well as what this means for intervention.

This training will be interactive in nature, use case study examples and provide delegates with practise resources to use in direct work with children to support, primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.

The importance of child development, including child sexual development online will be considered as part of the workshop as well as how children can be supported to thrive in online spaces and become responsible digital citizens of the future.