This is a standalone event and attendance at part one on 27 January, which is already sold out, is not necessary before attending the session on 5 February.

Learning Objectives

• Highlight and increase awareness of the national and London profile of childhood neglect
• Increase knowledge in how to respond to neglect in practice, including having courageous conversations
• Focus on themes and types of neglect, including anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice and the differences amongst different demographics
• Explore the challenges in safeguarding children from neglect, including learning from child deaths or significant safeguarding incidents related to neglect

Welcome

• Nigel Chapman, Corporate Director of Brent Council

Session 1: Poverty, affluence, and neglect - understanding the role of systems theory

• Led by Rahana Hussain
• Explore the role of systems theory in safeguarding
• Explore the concepts of financial and emotional poverty
• Use some case examples to highlight the complexity

Session 2: When neglect isn’t noticing - racism, neurodiversity, and the pathway to exploitation

• Led by Dr Junior Smart OBE FCGI
• Define how racism and structural bias contribute to systemic neglect in education and safeguarding
• Recognise how missed neurodiversity assessments and diagnostic inequity increase vulnerability to exploitation
• Identify patterns of educational neglect that reflect unmet needs, not poor parenting
• Reflect on personal and organisational bias in professional judgment and safeguarding decisions
• Apply strategies to ensure racially and neurodivergently marginalised children are seen, supported, and safeguarded earlier

Session 3: Engaging men and other significant adults in the context of neglect

• Led by Emily Nickson Williams and Gráinne Fegan from We Are Amity
• Examine the unique impact of dads’ involvement in children’s lives and the growing body of evidence that highlights its significance
• Reflect on how dads and significant others are sometimes sidelined, surveyed, or seen primarily as risks rather than assets and the implications of these perspectives for both practice and outcomes.
• Identify the factors that make engaging dads easier or more challenging and develop practical strategies to ensure they are included meaningfully in assessment, planning, and support
• Hear from dads themselves about what helps and hinders their involvement and reflect on our experiences of working with fathers and significant others in the context of neglect

Speakers panel Q&A

• Rahana Hussain
• Dr Junior Smart OBE FCGI
• Emily Nickson Williams
• Gráinne Fegan

Final thoughts

• Daksha Mistry, chair of the LSCP Training Sub-Group

Attendance

• If you no longer wish to attend this event, please cancel on Eventbrite
• If you do not attend without cancelling beforehand you may be charged a £20 fine
• We aim to create a respectful and productive learning environment and reserve the right to refuse entry if this cannot be upheld

Joining Instructions

After booking a place, you will receive an email from Eventbrite two days before the event containing the Microsoft Teams link for the online training.

Further reminders will be sent by Eventbrite containing the Teams link:

• 2 hours before the event
• 10 minutes before the event

Book tickets