Highland conference to consider online safety for children
Online safety will be one of the main topics for discussion at a major child protection conference in Inverness next week.
More than 150 practitioners from across the Highlands are expected to gather for the event at Eden Court in Inverness on Tuesday, hosted by he Highland Child Protection Committee (CPC).
The day will have a particular focus on the online safety of children and young people and prevention of child sexual abuse online.
The keynote speech will be delivered by Chris Hughes, hotline director from the Internet Watch Foundation, an international organisation which aims to eliminate child sexual abuse images from the internet.
Mr Hughes said: “Online child sexual abuse and exploitation knows no boundaries and can have significant impact on children, young people and their families. It is vital that services know how to recognise and respond to any emerging risks effectively.”
The event will also consider other emerging issues and approaches to child protection including child exploitation, neglect, misogyny, child sexual abuse, early protective messaging and ICON, a programme to support parents/carers and prevent head trauma in babies.
Mhairi Grant, independent chairwoman of the child protection committee, said: “We are pleased to be hosting such an important event to update practitioners about the work being undertaken by partners and provide opportunities for networking and relationship building.
“It is crucial that priorities for protecting children in Highland are shared by all agencies and services.”
Chairman of Highland Council’s health, social care and wellbeing committee and a member of the CPC, Councillor David Fraser, added: “We all can play a part to keep children safe.
“The discussions regarding online safety, especially the key insights from Chris of young people’s experiences, will help us all in supporting our vulnerable young people and their journey into adulthood. I wish everyone taking part a very successful conference.”
Local services will be showcasing a range of poster presentations highlighting good practice across Highland.