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Safeguarding in a Digital Age

Why is the BHSCP providing this course?

This half day course is provided by Brighton & Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership (BHSCP) and will equip you with information and practical safeguarding guidance to help safeguard children and young people in the digital age. It will help you understand how they communicate on the internet and through apps, how offenders may exploit this and other risks, and what steps parents/carers can take to prevent online abuse and exploitation. Participants will also learn different sources of support from which they/children can seek information and advice. This course is run is association with Safety Net/Impact Initiatives.

Target Audience:

Members of staff, who work predominantly with children, young people and their families, parents or carers, and who could potentially contribute to the assessment, intervention and reviewing the safeguarding needs for a child or young person, where there are safeguarding concerns, and or potential risks. There are no prerequisites to attending this course, people can do the course with no prior knowledge.

 

Learning outcomes:

  • Consider the different ways that children & young people interact online, and appreciate the positive aspects of this digital communication as well as being aware of the risks
  • Understand how offenders may use the internet to target or exploit children & young people
  • Discuss the potential connection between ease of access to inappropriate material online and violent crime, including a rise in the number of young people committing serious sexual offences. Consider how we can challenge the normalisation of this behaviour online.
  • Learn practical steps to protect children on the internet
  • Explain security steps that can be used and their benefits and limitations, including parental settings, firewalls and privacy settings
  • Identify other organisations to support children/parents around internet use
  • Recognise how we can work together to support children & young people to have a positive online presence, build their resilience to face the different challenges in a digital age, and stay safe both online and off.

Booking:

BHSCP courses are now booked via the Learning Zone platform. Agency Leads have been contacted requesting account information requirements for professionals who will require a Learning Zone account to view and book training from April 2024.  Once an account has been created for individuals they will receive an activation email from the Learning Zone.  If you need a Learning Zone account and haven’t yet requested one please email BHSCP@brighton-hove.gov.uk . Once you have an account you can book BHSCP courses.

You can access Learning Zone here: Brighton & Hove Learning Zone

Course Fees for 2024/2025:

Training is free for staff who are working with children and their families in Brighton & Hove from the following agencies:

  • Brighton & Hove City Council including maintained schools.
  • Foster carers.
  • Community/voluntary sector groups and organisations contracted by Brighton & Hove City Council Children’s Services.
  • Statutory health organisations.
  • Sussex Police and probation.
  • Early years staff (including private early years settings).

For other organisations including Primary and Secondary – Academy/Free/Independent Schools, and Further/Higher Education settings the charge will be £120 for a full day (over 4 hours) course (virtual and in person).

For courses April 2024 – end of March 2025 there will be no attendance charge for online webinars, selected briefings and training sessions under 4 hours (this is subject to change from 1 April 2025).  Charges may apply for specific ad-hoc events, but this will be detailed on promotional and booking communications.

Charging for attendance was limited during Covid restrictions and suspended when the Learning Gateway was decommissioned in September 2022 but has been reinstated with the arrival of the Learning Zone in April 2024.  Attendance charges will be invoiced on a quarterly basis as applicable.

 Non-attendance and Late Cancellation Charges:  

A £50 late cancellation fee applies to all BHSCP training bookings including conference places.  The cancellation charge of £50 will be made for non-attendance without 5 days’ notice.  Please note that substitution of staff at late notice is acceptable.

If a member of staff is not able to attend a session at late notice due to an emergency situation, they should notify BHSCP@brighton-hove.gov.uk on the day of the training or before, as we may be able to waive this fee in exceptional circumstances.  Learners should use their Learning Zone account to cancel booked training places with more than 5 days’ notice.

Charging for non-attendance was suspended when the Learning Gateway was decommissioned in September 2022 but has been reinstated with the arrival of the Learning Zone in April 2024.   Fees will be deducted from the budget code provided.

From 1 April 2025:

We will notify you of any changes relating to course fees and/or non-attendance/late cancellation charges from 1 April 2025.  Changes will also be posted on the BHSCP website Home – BHSCP

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