The Safeguarding Children Conference 2027: Improving Multi-Agency Responses to Protect Children from Harm
Past Supporters Include
Overview
Safeguarding children requires professionals to understand the circumstances affecting a child, recognise concerns at an early stage and work effectively with other services when action is needed. While individual agencies have different responsibilities, protecting children depends on those responsibilities being understood and joined together in practice. The Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 guidance provides the framework for multi-agency working to help, protect and promote the welfare of children. Alongside this, developments in child exploitation, online safety, mental health and contextual safeguarding continue to shape the work of professionals across children’s services, education, health, policing and the voluntary sector.
- Over 400,000 children were classed as in need and nearly 50,000 children were on protection plans (Department for Education, 2026)
- It is estimated that around 1 in 10 children have experienced neglect (NSPCC, 2026)
- 1 in 5 children in the reviews had a recorded mental health condition; this rose to 58% among 16–17-year-olds (Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, 2026)
Join us at The Safeguarding Children Conference 2027 to hear from senior leaders and practitioners on strengthening multi-agency safeguarding, improving early intervention, and responding effectively when children are at risk of harm.
Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Andrew Rowland, Honorary Professor of Children’s Rights, Law, and Advocacy, Salford University (invited)
Keynote: Strengthening Multi-Agency Safeguarding Practice
- Examining the latest requirements and priorities within Working Together 2026
- Exploring what the updated guidance means for local authorities, education, health, police and safeguarding partners
- Improving shared responsibility, accountability and effective multi-agency safeguarding arrangements
- Considering how organisations can move beyond policy compliance to embed effective safeguarding practice
Dame Rachel de Souza, The Children’s Commissioner for England (invited)
Keynote: Tackling Child Exploitation: Refreshed Multi-Agency Practice Principles
- Examining the refreshed Multi-Agency Practice Principles for Tackling Child Exploitation
- Looking at how professionals can develop a shared understanding of exploitation and the different forms it can take
- Uncovering approaches to recognising vulnerability, identifying risk and responding to exploitation
- Exploring how practitioners can work with children and families while addressing risks outside the home
Dez Holmes, Director, Research in Practice (invited)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: Child Neglect: Identifying the Signs and Enhancing Early Intervention
- Recognising the signs and patterns of neglect and understanding cumulative harm
- Utilising professional curiosity when concerns develop
- Exploring how Family Help and early intervention can prevent concerns from escalating
- Working effectively with parents and carers while keeping the child’s welfare central
Ian Critchley, Member, Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel (invited)
Keynote: Missing Children and Child Criminal Exploitation
- Understanding the relationship between missing episodes, vulnerability and child criminal exploitation
- Exploring how children can be targeted, groomed, and exploited across different contexts
- Considering how professionals can build trust with children who may be reluctant to disclose their experiences
- Exploring approaches to disrupting exploitation while providing sustained support to children and families
Kate Wareham, Director of Young People and Families, Catch22 (invited)
Questions and Answers
Lunch Break
Panel: Ensuring Effective Multi-Agency Working
- Outlining how communication, information sharing, and coordination between safeguarding partners are used effectively
- Improving multi-agency decision-making when professionals hold different information or assessments
- Ensuring children and families experience a coordinated response from the services supporting them
- Strengthening the role of safeguarding partnerships in identifying gaps and improving local practice
- Identifying priorities for improving multi-agency safeguarding practice throughout 2027
Yvette Stanley, National Director, Regulation and Social Care, Ofsted (invited)
Korkor Ceasar, Associate Director for Safeguarding Children, NHS North East London (invited)
Questions and Answers
Breakout Networking
Comfort Break
Case Study: Building Effective Safeguarding Responses to Mental Health Concerns and Adolescent Self-Harm
- Exploring the relationship between mental health difficulties, self-harm and wider safeguarding concerns
- Identifying when mental health concerns may indicate experiences of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or trauma
- Ensuring collaboration and communication between schools, children’s social care, CAMHS, health and families
- Developing trauma-informed approaches to risk assessment and intervention
- Ensuring children receive coordinated support that addresses both immediate safety and longer-term wellbeing
Ian Lewis, National Children’s Services Adviser for Child Mental Health, NHS England (invited)
Case Study: Working with Parents and Carers
- Exploring how professionals can develop positive and trusting relationships with parents and carers
- Supporting meaningful engagement while maintaining a clear focus on children’s safety and welfare
- Responding effectively when parents are reluctant, resistant or difficult to engage
- Exploring how Family Help and relationship-based practice can improve safeguarding outcomes
Elizabeth Fajemisin, Family Early Help Service Manager, Southwark Council (invited)
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Andrew Rowland, Honorary Professor of Children’s Rights, Law, and Advocacy, Salford University (invited)
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Previous Speakers from Similar Events Include
Erica Thornton
CEO
Breck Foundation
Jess Edwards
Senior Policy Advisor – Childhood Harms
Barnardo's
Dr Tracee Green
Head of the Centre for Child Protection
University of Kent
Hannah Blower
Change Lead – Diversion
Youth Endowment Fund
Testimonials
Lots of great speakers who presented clear messages sensitively to help raise awareness of the importance of joined-up working in safeguarding children.
It was a really nice day with a good variety of speakers and a very good, professional online set-up, which was clear and easy to navigate.
This event was interesting and informative. It provided a much-needed opportunity to focus on the professional challenges we face when safeguarding children and young people. It refreshed my knowledge and provided new perspectives.
Wonderful conference filled with expertise, innovative ideas and joined-up thinking.
Why You Should Attend
✓ Gain insight into the latest developments, priorities and challenges in child safeguarding
✓ Develop your understanding of effective early intervention, child protection and multi-agency working
✓ Hear from leading practitioners and sector experts sharing practical approaches and lessons from frontline safeguarding
✓ Networking opportunities with speakers and senior colleagues working to safeguard children
✓ 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
Who Should Attend
| Job Title Examples | Organisation Examples |
| Police Officer | Police Force |
| Service Leads | NHS |
| Counsellor | Schools |
| Youth Justice Worker | Charities |
| Safeguarding Lead | Youth Justice Service |
Pricing Options
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Support and Information
Some of the issues explored in this programme may be difficult or personally relevant. If you have been affected by the subject matter, specialist organisations are available that may be able to provide information, advice and support. View support and advice.
Please note that we are a professional conference and learning provider and are not a crisis or specialist support service.
Sponsorship
Raise Your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us using the enquiry form below.
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
