• Keynote discussions to include protection of children in sports and the role of the judiciary in safeguarding children

The University of Warwick is hosting a major conference about child protection.

Taking place between 8 and 11 April 2018, the event is organised by BASPCAN the membership association supporting child protection workers across the United Kingdom.

The organisation provides education and professional development opportunities for child protection professionals, whilst also seeking to educate and inform the general public.

This year will be the 10th international congress and will bring together practitioners, survivors of abuse, researchers, trainers and policy makers. This year’s theme is “Thinking Outside the Box: innovative perspectives on protecting children and young people”. The aim of the event is to learn, reflect and consider how to improve services to support families and protect children and young people. Each of the four days will offer a range of speakers within and outside the child protection fields, to reflect on theory, research and practice in order to gain a deeper understanding of child abuse and neglect.

Keynote speakers include Cath White, clinical director, St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre and Dr Daniel Rhind whose most recent research was the foundation of the recently launched International Safeguards for Children in Sport.

Other keynote speakers include Carnegie Medal and Whitbread (now Costa) award winning author Anne Fine and Lord Justice Ernest Ryder, Senior President of Tribunals who will be discussing the responsibility of the justice system in the safeguarding of children.

Themes covered this year will include: understanding child abuse and neglect; prevention; investigation, assessment and planning and protection, therapy and rehabilitation.

This year also sees some inspiring initiatives to encourage creative thinking about how we work with children, families, and survivors of abuse, including performances by Motionhouse Dance Company, Playbox Shakespeare Young Company, and an interfaith event at Coventry’s iconic Cathedral.

Dr Peter Sidebotham, associate professor of child health, Warwick Medical School, Co-Editor of the journal ‘Child Abuse Review’ and co-convenor of the event said: “There will be an inspiring programme of keynote talks, free papers, symposia and workshops designed to update professionals’ knowledge and skills, learning from new and emerging research and interacting with others who feel passionately about protecting children and supporting families.”

4 April 2018

Notes to Editors:

BASPCAN is a membership association for those working in child protection in the UK. Further details can be found at www.baspcan.org.uk

For further details contact Nicola Jones, Media Relations Manager University of Warwick 07920531221 and N.Jones.1@warwick.ac.uk