Research has found the disabled children are three to four times more likely to be abused and neglected than non-disabled children. Yet too often the safeguarding needs of this vulnerable group are not prioritised or incorporated into safeguarding strategies and practice.
Deaf and disabled children and young people may find it difficult to know how they can express concerns about their welfare and may not even know that the care they are receiving is not safe or appropriate. Practitioners may lack skills and knowledge to identify harm, or to support young people to communicate what they are experiencing.
Some young people may not have diagnoses and this may lead to not getting the right services or not being seen as in need at all. Some teenagers are picked up in the criminal justice system when if their behaviour had been understood earlier, they may have received more appropriate help.
This forum will address the challenges to be addressed at strategic, management and practice level. You will also learn how to support all children by helping them to develop their communication skills and express their emotions.
As local areas develop and embed the new multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, attend this forum to explore how the safeguarding needs of deaf and disabled children and young people in your community can be more successfully met.
Forum presenters:
The forum will be led by Sarah Goff, Development Manager, Ann Craft Trust and Co-Chair, National Working Group on Safeguarding Disabled Children (NWGSDC) and Chris Mullen, Social Care Policy Advisor from the National Deaf Children’s Society.
Who should attend:
This forum is essential for anyone who works with children and young people who may be deaf or may have diagnosed or undiagnosed disabilities in any organisation, business or charity including:
This may include:
Those working with younger children as well as teens and young people up to 25
Police and criminal justice sectors
Education (both mainstream and special education)
Safeguarding leads
Health and social care
Mental health
Adult workers who need to understand child protection
Those working in advocacy organisations
