Thoughts On The Social World

Jakub Sobik — Modern Slavery & Human Rights PEC

Jakub Sobik is a communicator with over one and a half decades of experience of working on addressing modern slavery. He worked at Anti-Slavery International, the world’s oldest human rights organisation committed to ending of all forms of slavery across the world. Now, as a Communications Director at the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (Modern Slavery and Human Rights PEC), he has helped to establish the Centre’s reputation as an independent, trustworthy, equitable, policy focused and forward-thinking funder and producer of modern slavery research. His work includes promoting the PEC research across the mainstream, trade and digital media, promoting survivor voices, and initiating research on framing of modern slavery.

The Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre was created by the investment of public funding to enhance understanding of modern slavery and transform the effectiveness of law and policies designed to address it. The Centre funds and co-creates high quality research with a focus on policy impact, and brings together academics, policymakers, businesses, civil society and survivors to collaborate on solving this global challenge.

Hosted by the Humanities Division at the University of Oxford,  the Centre is a consortium of three universities consisting of the Wilberforce Institute  at the University of Hull, the University of Liverpool, and the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights  at the University of Oxford, with the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law (part of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL)) working in close partnership. The Modern Slavery PEC is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council on behalf of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Read more about the Modern Slavery and Human Rights PEC at www.modernslaverypec.org.

Links:  Modern Slavery PEC publications across four areas of: prevention, survivor identification and support, effectiveness of legal enforcement and global supply chains: https://www.modernslaverypec.org/resources.

Practical interactive workshops for frontline practitioners in local areas across the UK: https://www.modernslaverypec.org/resources/interactive-workshops-regional-partnerships

UK Modern Slavery Helpline (run by Unseen): https://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/.

Next podcast on 23.09.24   Anne Lonsdale CBE.  CEO Centre for Young Lives. Former Children’s Commissioner for England and Author of new book ‘Young Lives Big Ambitions’

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Ann Marie Christian Independent Safeguarding Consultant qualified as a social worker in 1996.

She has worked for various local authoritieson on the front line, in management, Local Safeguarding Children Board Trainer, LADO, Safeguarding advisor to schools, school improvement advisor, Designated Safeguarding Lead trainer and Designated Safeguarding Lead coordinator.  She has a thorough knowledge of safeguarding in education.

She is well known amongst her peers and is very passionate about keeping children safe and sharing her knowledge about child abuse, violence against women and children and anti-racism work.  Ann Marie has specialised in safeguarding from 1992 and specialised within education and childcare settings since being a school-based social worker in 1999. She progressed on to manage social workers in schools for a Local Authority.

In 2010, she became an independent social worker and provided associate consultancy and training to various organisations including NSPCC, Local Authorities, ISI Consultancy, Early Years Teams, Youth Justice Teams, Boarding School Association, The Key for Leaders, Optimus Education, Council of International Schools, AEGIS, Charities, Faith organisations, Premier League, Multi Academy Trusts and more.

Ann Marie frequently delivers workshops and keynotes at National & International conferences. She raises the awareness of child abuse and promotes child protection internationally and over the last few years delivers training and keynotes in Dubai, Singapore, Monaco, Jamaica, Japan, and Armenia.

She was’ Highly Commended’ and received an award at the Win Trade Awards 2019 for ‘Woman in the Public Sector’ and nominated in 2018 & 2019 in the NSPCC Child Protection Trainer of the Year.

Ann Marie is a member of AOCPP (Association of Child Protection Professionals) and a Trustee since 2020. She is a safeguarding governor at a school in the UAE since September 2023.

Visit Ann Marie’s website for full details of her work.

[email protected]

+44 (0) 20 8662 0319

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Dr Craig Newman, author of recovery from abuse programme.. A Clinical Psychologist and Innovator, with over 25 years experience in supporting mental health recovery alongside research and innovation.  Craig is an author, founder and creator of ‘Get Out Get Love’ which is a proposed universal recovery model from experiences of abusive relationships shaped into both a self-help book and later developed self-delivered digital recovery programme. The programme supports self-referred people who seek to get answers, escape and/or recovery in addition to supporting domestic abuse services who are struggling to meet demand,  not able to support those who prefer not to opt into face to face therapy and not able to offer long-term help beyond crisis and stabilisation.  The programme has been evaluated with funding from Innovate:UK and the National Institute of Health Research, showing positive effect for people in need and services who support them.

Craig has over 15 years of experience in developing digital solutions to support at needs groups, winning national prestigious awards for his work to improve dementia assessments internationally, to reduce the risk of unexpected deaths in epilepsy and to support the wellbeing of NHS staff through the COVID period, to name a few.  His work has international impact and his apps have helped 1,000s of clinicians and patients across the world.  This experience he brings to the domestic abuse sector, in response to his own experience as a victim, and attempt to support people where the system struggles to help – namely long-term and towards the experience of self-love.

His book was published in 2023, and despite no track record as an author and no social media presence, the book has already attracted publication contracts for the UK, USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Estonia and Romania.  Craig recommends the book as a read for anyone who even questions a past relationship, suggesting that at worse it is an informative read and at best it could empower your life going forwards – the words of reader testimonials, not his.

‘Craig’s book Get Out Get Love, published by Sheldon Press is available now’  https://www.sheldonpress.co.uk/titles/craig-newman/get-out-get-love/9781399810357/

LINKS:

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David Mandel International author and trainer on domestic violence. I talked with David about his new book ( see below ) and more widely on his road to where he is today.

With over 35 years’ experience in the domestic violence and child welfare fields, David is the creator of the Safe & Together Model, a transformational approach to changing how systems and practitioners respond to domestic violence when children are involved. He has identified how a perpetrator pattern-based approach can improve the ability to partner with survivors, intervene with perpetrators as parents, and improve outcomes for children.

Contact Information:

http://Web: www.safeandtogetherinstitute.com

As always, please use Speakpipe on the home page of every podcast to leave messages/questions   Thank you.

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This episode is a slightly different one as it is the recording of the Global Social Work Talk from 28th March 2024. The Global Social Work TALK aimed to deliver “ideas to change the world”. I was one of three speakers on the session. Listen to this episode and hear some of the challenges across the globe for social work today.

Keynote Speaker: Professor Antoinette Lombard, Nominated for Incoming President, International Association of Schools of Social Work, started her academic career at the University of Pretoria where she became a full professor in social work and head of the Department of Social Work. She was the Vice President of the Association for Schools of Social Work Education Institutions (ASASWEI) and is IASSW Chair of the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development. She served on the executive of the Association for Schools

David Niven, presenter of the podcast Thoughts on the Social World for 10 years  interviewing a wide choice of guests, national and international appearing on the programme and the variety of subjects covered make good listening and provide a great research opportunity. He has over 30 years of experience working with the media as a former Chair of the British Association of Social Workers.

Professor Ngoh Tiong TAN, Chair, Global Institute of Social Work, for access to online training of social workers all around the world. Dr Tan is Director, Joy Foundation, Good Harvest International and President Connexions International as well as former Treasurer International Association of Social Workers, former Regional President IFSW (AP) and past President, Singapore Association of Social Workers.

Forum Chair: Dr Terence Yow, Vice President, GISW

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Andrew Wallis OBE founded Unseen, the Leading UK Anti-Slavery Charity. It’s an organization that fights tirelessly against all forms of slavery. Today’s podcast covers ground related to law enforcement, survivor’s welfare, training, the world wide nature of the crimes, predictions and the under application of legislation. Unseen provides safe housing and essential support services to survivors of trafficking, and they also operate the UK’s Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline. Unseen works alongside businesses and other entities to eliminate slavery. Andrew is an advisor to the Competent Boards Program and Tech Against Trafficking. He co-chairs the UK Home Office’s Modern Slavery Engagement Forum and chaired the landmark report on modern slavery in the UK called “It Happens Here.” His expertise was crucial in developing the UK Modern Slavery Act of 2015, for which he received an OBE. Andrew has faced many challenges over the years, from building flat-pack furniture for Unseen’s first safe house to advising multinational corporations on supply chain slavery. He also collaborates with governments on policies and legislation to combat modern-day slavery. Andrew frequently appears in the media to discuss modern slavery, human rights, and how they intersect in society and business. People who know him describe him as “the loveliest disruptor you could ever meet.” His contribution to the fight against slavery is invaluable.

Please note all contact details:-

http://www.unseenuk.org

https://www.unseenuk.org/modern-slavery-training/      

https://www.unseenuk.org/business/         

https://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org

http://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewwallis

David is on the International Advisory Panel of the GISW

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Traffiking and Slavery. Follow the Money. Such an important addition to the investigation and interruption of crimes that are conservatively put at costing over 150 Billion dollars a year. Karim Rajwani, B.A, F.C.A. C.P.A. ACAMS talks to me of his extensive history in several settings helping combat these scourges on our communities. We discuss the growth of these crimes as well as strategies adopted to support law enforcement. We talk about the huge need for more training, awareness raising accross the world. So much known yet so much to do including practical ideas that everyone can help with–such as challenging your own financial providers-banks, insurance companies etc – to say what training their staff has had in methods to shine a light on traffikers, slavery in all its forms and child exploitation. Currently he is an independent Financial Crimes Consultant advising financial instructions, consulting firms and FinTech’s and is also on several NGOs/NPOs advisory boards focused on fighting human trafficking and child sexual exploitation.

He was the SVP, Chief Operating Officer at Scotiabank, leading the bank’s Financial Crime remediation activities including transaction monitoring and screening. Mr. Rajwani also had global responsibility for AML Threat Intelligence, as well as the Strategic Planning, Project Management Office and the AML Solution Delivery.

Prior to that was he was the Global Head of Financial Crime Investigations and Intelligence, the Global Head of Financial Crime Technology Strategy, and the Money Laundering Reporting Officer at Deutsche Bank. In this role he was also responsible for the AML remediation program in response to regulatory actions as well as major client investigations.

He was also the Chief Anti-Money Laundering lead for the RBC Financial Group (RBC), where he oversaw the design, implementation and the day-to-day management of the Anti Money Laundering, Sanctions, Anti Bribery and Corruption and High-Risk Client Management) Programs for more than 15 years. In addition, he was responsible for the AML Compliance, Investigations and Data Science teams globally.

He also has significant experience in financial crime technology, managing artificial intelligence/data science teams as well as developing strategies for tacking human trafficking and child sexual exploitation, including leading a number public-private partnership. He continues to advise Fintech as well as NGOs/NPOs. He is a Board Member/Advisory Board Member for various NGOs and Hospitals.

In addition to his risk management experience, Mr. Rajwani is a Chartered Accountant both in Canada as well as the UK and has worked for various Financial Institutions, Chartered Accounting and Management Consulting firms.  In these roles, he has overseen the implementation of several enterprise-wide risk management and compliance initiatives and in total 40 years of risk management, compliance, audit, and financial accounting experience.

Mr. Rajwani was also a member of the Advisory Council on National Security for the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada between 2009 and 2012. He created and the Co-Chaired the Canadian Chapter of the Association of Certified Anti Money Specialists (ACAMS) and was a member of the Advisory Board of ACAMS. Currently on the advisory boards of Rahab’s Daughters and the Anti Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative, he is also a lecturer and international speaker including at the UN, training law enforcement, ACAMs as well as University Masters Programs.

https://www.icmec.org/

https://www.protectchildren.ca/en/

https://fintrac-canafe.canada.ca/intel/operation/exploitation-eng

https://followmoneyfightslavery.org/

https://www.acams.org/en/training/certificates/preventing-online-child-exploitation-with-financial-intelligence-an-overview

https://www.iwf.org.uk/

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In this episode I speak to award-winning children’s author, Christina Gabbitas, about her book ‘Trapped in County Lines’. This is a follow up book to ‘No More Knives or County Lines’. We discuss why books like this are important in how we educate young people and their parents about issues like county lines. Christina shares the work she does with her book alongside the police and in schools and speaks of the power of storytelling around these difficult topics.

We also talk about her poetry competition launching on 1st March 2024.

Christina’s safeguarding stories are in the NSPCC Library, and she is currently liaising with Childline about online content surrounding county lines. Trapped in County Lines was book of the week at the NSPCC in October.

Schools Feedback.  Check what’s been said.

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When it comes to facing the public after a serious event, safeguarding communications expert Miriam Rich has developed skills and experience highlighting the key factors that should always be present–truth, sensitivity and a priority for victims and survivors.

Miriam is a crisis communications consultant and media relations specialist with a background in safeguarding. She’s handled communications for some of the most high-profile incidents and investigations of recent decades, including London’s multi-agency crisis response to Covid-19, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the trial of the London ‘nailbomber’, the Soham murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, and multiple investigations into child sexual abuse. She started as a press officer at New Scotland Yard in 1999 in the aftermath of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, working on portfolios including counter-terrorism, racial and violent crime and the Commissioner’s press office. In 2006 she went on to be a founding member of staff and Head of Media at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, the government agency (now part of the National Crime Agency) set up in response to the explosion of the internet and what were, at that time, new threats to children via social media. She left the public sector in 2011 to work independently, founding her company which provides media training and crisis communications support to organisations with a safeguarding responsibility. Clients include schools and colleges, fostering agencies, religious organisations and charities. Public and private sector clients include leading day and boarding schools, universities, law enforcement agencies and charities, for whom she provide support, advice and guidance at board level and develop targeted communications materials for stakeholders. She provides media training in crisis communications to individuals and groups, working with a professional cameraman to provide an authentic experience that builds confidence and prepares you for the real thing.

Miriam has specific expertise in criminal justice, child protection, education and safeguarding issues with experience gained at New Scotland Yard, the National Crime Agency, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre and a wide range of other organisations and companies. She helps clients to respond to crises and reputation-threatening situations through:

providing strategic direction and media training at board level

Contact details. www.miriamrich.co.uk

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Grantown Remakery is a charity based in the Scottish Highlands, in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park near Aviemore. I talked about this, a year or so ago, with George Livingstone as the guest. It seemed a good idea to see how they weathered the pandemic and did George have views on how the wider community could support the causes and challenges they saw. We will hear that the project has changed since we last spoke in a number of ways.

We talk of the wider social trends and challenges faced by those they help. 3 strands of work for the 3 days they can afford to open.

1) Working with young learning disabled adults often isolated and lonely

2) Existing work with children helping to transition from school to further education.

3) developing a partnership with Job Centre Plus and 16 to 25 year olds who were deemed ‘not work ready’

It is a community social work scheme whose value to the area is significant, especially when the fall out from the pandemic adds to the existing challenges from rural poverty.

 In addition they are also working on two new developments; 1) meeting shortly with the local Medical Practice with the view to becoming and organisation that GP’s can use on a social prescribing basis, and 2) are about to meet with ex forces representatives to consider what support we might provide to veterans who are having difficulty accessing work. This would involve opening for a further day.

All of this assists with fundraising as they can apply for funds for each discrete part of the project rather than on a blanket basis.

Also acknowledge that they are a member of Circular Communities Scotland, a national organisation which is about encouraging reuse of items rather than replacement which opens up further funding opportunities to them and enables the support of core work.

Also George is thinking of stepping down over the next year or two so any interested parties in the NE of Scotland can contact and have a conversation.

Grantown Remakeryhttps://www.grantownremakery.org.uk  provides Employment Skills Development, volunteering opportunities and support for Young People who may be having difficulty in Transition from School to Further Education and Employment, Adults with a Disability or with Mental Ill-Health, supporting all in their journey to recovery and towards fulfilment of their personal goals.

Email [email protected]  Tel 01479 873612

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