9 February 2021 is the 18th edition of Safer Internet Day, with a global theme of "Together for a better internet", the day calls upon all stakeholders to join together to make the internet a safer and better place for all, and especially for children and young people.
To mark Safer Internet Day 2021, the IT'S NOT OK campaign are hosting a virtual conference on Online Safety
The conference will take place on Monday 8 February 2021, 13:00-15:30.
The conference will include three keynote speakers covering the following topics:
- Mikael Sheath, Manager for Assessment and Intervention Team, Lucy Faithful Foundation - Indecent Images of Children viewers, what drives them? What might deter them? How can law enforcement reduce unintentional harm to suspects and families?
- Jessica Willets – Child Protection Manager National Crime Agency – Keeping children safe on-line and supporting victims
- Detective Inspector Ian Harwood - Cyber & Digital Crime Unit – Operation Artemis, Cumbria Police
The conference will be delivered over Microsoft teams, to book your place visit the event page on Eventbrite here
The event will begin promptly at 13:00 so we ask that colleagues join the event from 12:45.
|
Attensi, specialists in gamified simulation training, have collaborated with NSPCC Learning on a new 3D learning tool to help adults talk to children about abuse. The free tool enables learners to: access simulated scenarios and interact with fictional child characters; learn how to respond to the children and build their trust to help them talk about their experiences; and build knowledge and confidence to talk to children about abuse.
Read the news story and access the tool: Learn to navigate difficult conversations with children about abuse with ‘Talk to Me’
|
The NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) has published a briefing paper highlighting safeguarding responsibilities when running virtual events and competitions for children and ways to mitigate risks associated with using digital platforms. Separately the CPSU has published a safeguarding planning checklist for sports organisations and activity providers who are running events for children and young people.
Read the briefing paper: Virtual events and competitions for children
Read the checklist: Event safeguarding checklist
|
Research in Practice (RiP) has published a blog in which NSPCC development manager Dawn Hodson discusses Graded Care Profile 2 (GCP2). This tool, designed by community paediatrician Dr OP Srivastava and the NSPCC, helps practitioners identify neglect and assess the quality of care children receive. A new antenatal version, Graded Care Profile 2 - Antenatal (GCP2-A), is being developed that supports midwives and health visitors with early decision making and ensures the right support is put in place before the baby is born, with the aim of preventing concerns from escalating.
Read the blog: Helping professionals measure care and get the right support in place for parents-to-be
See also on NSPCC Learning > Working with families
|
The Department for Education (DfE) has updated the Working together to safeguard children 2018 statutory guidance for England to include factual changes in relation to information sharing, homelessness duty and references to domestic abuse.
Read the guidance: Statutory guidance: working together to safeguard children
|
The Guardian reports that TikTok, a social video app that allows users to share short videos, has announced that users under 16 will no longer be able to receive comments from strangers, have their videos used for “duets” or mark their posts as available to be downloaded. Accounts will default to “private”, which prevents anyone other than friends from viewing their videos.
Read the news story: TikTok to tackle grooming with safeguards for young users
See also on NSPCC Learning > Online safety training
|
Thinkuknow, the national online safety education programme from the National Crime Agency, has adapted their online safety toolkits for remote delivery. The content includes short activities for use with children aged 5-7s and 8-10 on topics such as sharing pictures, gaming and livestreaming. Separately, a short video has been created for secondary school children and young people that explores reporting online grooming and sexual abuse.
Access the resources: Online toolkits for online delivery (primary) Reporting to CEOP
|
Ask for ANI (Action Needed Immediately) is a codeword scheme developed by the Home Office to provide a discreet way for victims of domestic abuse to signal that they need emergency help from the safety of their local pharmacy.
The scheme has been launched across the UK this month. Victims of domestic abuse will be able to use the codeword ANI in participating pharmacies (including all Boots stores and participating independent pharmacies) to let staff know that they require an emergency police response or help contacting a helpline or specialist support service.
Locally, Cumbria Police have contacted almost every pharmacy in the county, particularly in rural towns and communities and they have all indicated they will sign up to the scheme. The list of participating pharmacies will be continually updated and they will all display the poster within their premises to let customers know that they can approach their staff to seek help. Any information shared will be treated confidentially.
When a victim uses the codeword or asks for help, the member of staff will offer to accompany the individual to the consultation room. They will then check whether the victim wants the police to be called. If so, the staff member will offer the use of a phone to dial 999 or make the call on the victim’s behalf.
Briefing for local partners on Ask for ANI domestic abuse codeword scheme
|
NSPCC Learning has published updates to its safer recruitment page and self-disclosure forms to reflect updates to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Order, for England, Scotland and Wales, and new guidance about checks for teachers from the European Economic Area (EEA) from January 2021.
Visit the page: Safer recruitment
Download the self-disclosure forms: Example self-disclosure forms
NSPCC Learning has published updates to its safer recruitment page and self-disclosure forms to reflect updates to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Order, for England, Scotland and Wales, and new guidance about checks for teachers from the European Economic Area (EEA) from January 2021.
Visit the page: Safer recruitment
Download the self-disclosure forms: Example self-disclosure forms
The Department for Education (DfE) has updated the definition of GDPR and the Steps you should take section of the guidance on data protection for education providers. The guidance outlines steps data protection officers and organisation heads of education providers should take to stay compliant with data protection laws after the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December 2020.
Read the guidance: Data protection for education providers
|
|
