NSPCC Learning Podcast

The online world is constantly changing, and young people are often more informed about online trends than adults. Young people are equipped with their own knowledge and understanding of what they need to know and do to stay safe online. It’s important to listen to their thoughts and opinions, and try to incorporate their voice into your online safety work. 

In this podcast episode, you’ll hear from Will and Zara, two young people from the NSPCC’s Voice of Online Youth Group. They provide an insight into what life online is like for them, what makes them feel safe online and what online safety topics they’d like to learn more about. The discussion touches on a wide range of topics, including moderation, privacy settings, algorithms, generative AI and online misinformation.

You can read this episode’s transcript on the NSPCC Learning website.

💬 About the speakers

Will and Zara are members of the NSPCC’s Voice of Online Youth, a group of young people aged 13-17 who help advise the NSPCC and the wider online safety sector on how to help children have safe and happy experiences online.

📚 Resources mentioned in this episode

> Access all of NSPCC Learning’s free online safety resources 

> Take our highly-rated online safety elearning course 

> Read our new research report on the impact of Generative AI on children’s safety 

> Find out more about the NSPCC’s Voice of Online Youth and read their manifesto
for change


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Mental health is as important to a child’s safety as their physical health; mental health issues can sometimes lead to safeguarding and child protection issues. By recognising when a child is struggling with their mental health, and intervening to provide appropriate support, professionals working with children can help prevent mental health problems from escalating into crisis. 
A mental health first aid kit is one tool that can be used to help. The kit contains a selection of resources to help young people manage their mental health if they’re struggling, such as ways to distract oneself, relax or calm down, and pointers to further support. 
Listen to this podcast episode to learn more about the mental health first aid kit and how you can use it with the young people you work with.

You can read this episode’s transcript on the NSPCC Learning website.

💬 About the speakers 
Gawain Griffiths is a Practitioner in the Childline Online Services team. He works to develop resources and content for the Childline website to help and empower young people using the Childline service. 
Alice and Douglas are members of the NSPCC’s Young People’s Board for Change. They meet monthly to discuss issues they care about, giving young people the chance to shape and influence the NSPCC’s work and ensure the young people’s voices are heard both inside and outside the organisation. Mental health is one of the priority areas in the board’s 2023-25 manifesto.

📚 Resources mentioned in this episode 

> Access the Childline mental health first aid kit resource 

> Find out more about child mental health 

> View Childline’s mental health information page for young people 

> Learn more about promoting mental health and wellbeing 

> Take our mental health and wellbeing safeguarding course


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The voices of people with lived experience of child sexual abuse play an important role in understanding how to respond to and prevent this form of abuse. Conducting participatory work with victims and survivors can move the conversation around CSA forward and create positive change. 
In this episode, you’ll learn about the benefits of involving victim-survivors including the impact of an IICSA Changemaker event in which victims and survivors shared their testimonies with policy-makers; the importance of creating a comprehensive risk register and safety plans; how to create a safe and inclusive environment for participants; and what to do to support victims and survivors after the participatory work is complete. 
The IICSA Changemakers are a group who want to amplify the voices of people with lived experience of child sexual abuse and ensure that the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) remains an important moment for child protection.

You can read this episode’s transcript on the NSPCC Learning website.

💬 About the speakers 
Peter Wanless (he/him) was Chief Executive of the NSPCC from 2013 to 2024, during which time he also chaired the IICSA Changemakers group. Before this, Peter ran the Big Lottery Fund for 5 years and worked as a Director at the Department for Education. In the 2021 New Year’s Honours, Peter was awarded a knighthood for services to Children, to Young People and to the Charitable Sector. 
Clare Kelly (she/her) is the Head of Programmes for the IICSA Changemakers and has previously worked for the NSPCC as an Associate Head of Policy and Public Affairs. She has a 15-year background in policing and the criminal justice system, holding the role of Chief Executive Officer for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in Bedfordshire and running a charity focused on supporting vulnerable victims and witnesses of crime. 
Denise Pringle (she/her) is the Adult Survivor Participation Manager for the IICSA Changemakers. She has spent her career advocating and working alongside survivors in the wider abuse & and violence sector. In 2024, she was invited to deliver training at UNWomenUk on best practice. She has also provided expert consultancy to the NHS, UK and international police forces, FTSE 100 organisations, and the UK government.

📚 Resources mentioned in this episode 

> Find out more about the IICSA Changemakers 

> Listen to our podcast series on the IICSA final report 

> Learn more about protecting children from sexual abuse 

> Read our Why Language Matters blog on the use of the term 'victim' in relation to child protection



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We speak to Anne Longfield, the Executive Chair of the Centre for Young Lives, about what needs to be done to improve the safeguarding support available to teenagers in the UK, the topic of her new book Young Lives, Big Ambitions.

In the interview, Anne explains some of the problems facing vulnerable teenagers, and presents the solutions she would implement to give every young person the best chance to succeed in life.

View the podcast transcript on the NSPCC Learning website. 

💬 About the speakers 

Anne Longfield CBE has spent the last three decades working to improve the life chances of children, particularly the most vulnerable. She has recently founded and become Executive Chair of the Centre for Young Lives. From March 2015 to February 2021 she was Children’s Commissioner for England. 

Wesley Powley-Baker is a Safeguarding Manager within the NSPCC’s Safeguarding Unit. He is responsible for supporting the development of high-quality safeguarding practice and providing professional expertise in matters relating to safeguarding and social work practice.

📚 Resources mentioned in this episode 

> Find out more about Anne’s book, Young Lives, Big Ambitions

> Read our Learning from case reviews briefing on teenagers  

> Learn more about keeping 16- to 25-year-olds safe from abuse with our elearning course 


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Being exposed to domestic abuse is a form of child abuse and children don't need to be directly involved for this to be the case. They may have seen or heard or experienced the effects of domestic abuse in the family and this can have a big impact on their behaviour, development, education and wellbeing. 
In this podcast episode, experts from the NSPCC Helpline and Childline talk about that potential impact, as well as how you can spot the signs of domestic abuse and support children who are affected.

You can read this episode’s transcript on the NSPCC Learning website.

💬 About the speakers 
Paddi Vint is a Quality and Development Manager overseeing the NSPCC Helpline domestic abuse project. She has been with the NSPCC in Belfast for over five years, joining as a Helpline practitioner and then working as a practice manager. 
Cormac Nolan is a Service Head with Childline. He holds responsibility for certain Childline bases delivering the live service as well as for the Childline website and social media. 
Joanne Walsh is a Domestic Abuse Practice Advisor with a background as a senior family support worker and local authority domestic abuse champion.

📚 Resources mentioned in this episode 

> Learn more about Childline 

> Find out more about the NSPCC Helpline 

> Get more information about domestic abuse 

> Read about healthy and unhealthy relationships on the Childline website 

> Learn more about multi-agency working


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Safe and effective sex and relationships education (SRE) plays a vital role in preventing abuse. However, teaching SRE can be challenging. According to a 2022 NASUWT and NSPCC survey, 46% of teachers say they don’t feel confident teaching sex and relationships education.

In this podcast episode, actor and Childline ambassador Natalie Dormer is joined by two teachers to talk about what it's like to teach sex and relationships in secondary schools. They discuss the challenges teachers may face when teaching SRE, as well as practical solutions to these problems.

You can read this episode’s transcript on the NSPCC Learning website.

💬 About the speakers 
Natalie Dormer is a British film, TV and stage actor and producer — her acting credits include Game of Thrones, The Tudors and The Hunger Games. Natalie is a passionate champion and advocate of children's rights.  She is a longstanding supporter of the work of Childline, which is a life-changing service provided by the NSPCC. Natalie's support of the charity over many years culminated with her being appointed as the NSPCC's Ambassador for Childline in 2019 and in 2024 Natalie was made an Honorary Member of the NSPCC's Council.
Pete Basham is a science teacher and form tutor in a state-funded secondary school who also delivers the school's RSE programme. 
Sarah Oakes is director of performing arts at an independent prep school in Dorset and head of RSE, delivering the curriculum to her form as well as overseeing it for the whole school.

📚 Resources mentioned in this episode 

> Find out more about our Talk Relationships service

> Learn more about our Talk Relationships elearning courses
 
> Learn more about how to take a whole-school approach to teaching SRE

> Read 'We have to educate ourselves', a report on how young people are learning about relationships, sex and sexuality

> More information about our Report Remove tool

> Advice for parents and carers from nspcc.org.uk on how to talk to children about relationships, sex and consent


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It is important for social workers to consider the voice of the child — their experiences, their worries and their wants — when undertaking their work, particularly when conducting assessments. This improves professionals’ abilities to act in the child’s best interest. 
In this episode, three consultant social workers from the NSPCC’s Quality and Practice team discuss: what we mean by ‘the voice of the child’ and why it is important; how to effectively capture the voice of the child and what barriers might get in the way of this; how to make use of the child’s voice in practical work, including in meetings, assessments, interventions and record keeping.

You can read this episode’s transcript on the NSPCC Learning website.

💬 About the speakers

Julian Fabian has been a qualified Social Worker for more than 26 years. He is currently Consultant Social Worker in the NSPCC’s Quality and Practice Team with a remit of quality assurance and practice improvement. 
Emily Waddington is a Supervisor in the Childline Service. Prior to this role, Emily has worked as a Consultant Social Worker at the NSPCC and in the Assessment and MASH teams in the Local Authority. Emily’s main areas of interest include systemic and reflective practice which is underpinned by a desire for continuous practice improvement. 
Damien Fitzpatrick is a NSPCC Consultant Social Worker based in the Service Quality and Practice Team. His role involves quality assurance of direct practice through a safeguarding lens, pre-post inspection support, supporting the development and implementation of practice standards and guidance. Prior to joining the NSPCC, Damien practiced in the local authority for 12 years in a number of different roles.

📚 Related resources

> Find out what case reviews highlight about the voice of the child 

> Listen to our podcast episode on pre-birth assessments 

> Learn more about what makes a good assessment with our ten practice points

> Discover other NSPCC Learning resources for social workers


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Language and communication barriers faced by d/Deaf children and young people can manifest in a way that increases safeguarding risk. It's important that there are professionals who can understand and communicate with a child or young person if they need to report or disclose any issues they are experiencing.

In this podcast episode, a panel of experts from the Social Workers with Deaf Children and Professionals Working Group explore how the differing language and communication needs of d/Deaf children can affect their safety and the child protection support they receive.

📺 A fully accessible video version of this podcast is available on the NSPCC Learning YouTube channel. 📺

You can also read this episode’s transcript on the NSPCC Learning website. 

💬 About the speakers 

Shirley Wilson MBE is the NSPCC's Senior Consultant on Deaf & Disabled Children and Young People and Professional Service Delivery Chair of the Social Workers with Deaf children and professionals group.

Jo Hornsby is a Social Worker in the Disabled Children and Young People’s Team in Suffolk and a member of the Social Workers with Deaf Children group.

Professor Alys Young is Head of Social Work at the University of Manchester and a member of the Social Workers with Deaf Children group. 

Tim Richardson is the Provider Collaborative Lead on the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership Children and Young People’s Mental Health Strategic Plan and a member of the Social Workers with Deaf Children group.

📚 Resources mentioned in this episode

> Read the full Guidance for Safeguarding Partners in England - Deaf Children, Young People and their Families document (PDF)

> Learn more about safeguarding d/Deaf and disabled children and young people

> Read our learning from case reviews briefing on d/Deaf children and children who have disabilities

> Take our training course on safeguarding d/Deaf and disabled children and young people in England


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Education is a vital part of ensuring children get the best possible start in life, and there can be safeguarding implications for children who are absent from school. If children miss school, the ability that schools have to offer them the support they need is compromised. And missing school may be an indicator of broader child protection concerns.

In this podcast episode, experts from the NSPCC and Childline discuss the potential causes for this, and what schools can do to address the problem. You’ll also hear two secondary school students share their thoughts on how the stresses and strains of school life can affect attendance.

You can read this episode’s transcript on the NSPCC Learning website.

💬 About the speakers

Janet Hinton is the NSPCC's Strategic Service Manager for Schools, working on the delivery of a range of NSPCC programmes for schools, including Speak out, Stay safe. 

Kelly Burnett joined the NSPCC in May 2021, as a Supervisor as the Childline Liverpool Base. Kelly is responsible for the management of staff and volunteers, training staff, and making safeguarding decisions on shifts. 

John Anderton joined the NSPCC in 2008 as a Childline Supervisor, after serving two years as a volunteer. John is currently practice champion at Childline's Birmingham base, supporting and guiding Childline counsellors on shifts. 

The NSPCC Young People's Board for Change is a cohort of young people who steer, advice and influence the NSPCC on issues that affect children and young people in the UK, ensuring that children and young people’s opinions and ideas are considered within the strategic direction of the organisation.

📚 Related resources

> Learn more about Childline 

> Find out more about our Building Connections service 

> Take our Safeguarding training for schools, academies and colleges course 

> View our other safeguarding resources for schools

> Learn more about protecting children from county lines


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Pre-birth assessments help social work professionals to identify strengths, needs, risks and protective factors in the lives of expectant families. They play an important role in safeguarding babies; effective pre-birth assessments can ensure that families get the support they need before issues escalate.

In this podcast episode, In this podcast episode, Sophie Bell, Associate Head of Development at the NSPCC, talks to Anna Squirrell and Nina Bell, social work practitioners working in children’s social care in Blackburn with Darwen. The two experts discuss the practicalities of conducting effective pre-birth assessments, including what good practice looks like, what challenges might arise, and how tools such as Graded Care Profile 2 Antenatal can help with assessments.

You can read this episode’s transcript on the NSPCC Learning website.

💬 About the speakers

Sophie Bell joined the NSPCC in 2010, moving into the role of Associate Head of Development in 2022. Sophie heads up the portfolio of projects and services in the Prevention of Abuse & Neglect in the Early Years Theme, managing the development and implementation of evidence-based support for families. 

Anna Squirrell has worked in children’s social care in Blackburn with Darwen for over 25 years. Anna has spent time working in different departments including the fostering team and residential homes with young people team. Passionate about early intervention and getting the right help to the families at the right time, Anna joined the Pre-Birth Team seven years ago as a family support worker, and now manages a team of seven practitioners.

Nina Bell is a children’s social care practitioner working in the Pre-Birth Team in Blackburn with Darwen.

📚 Related resources

> Find out more about the Graded Care Profile 2 Antenatal (GCP2A) assessment tool

> Read our Learning from case reviews briefing on assessments

> Learn more about attachment and child development

> Read our Learning from case reviews briefing on the early years sector


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