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Race, Racism and Safeguarding Training

Race, Racism and Safeguarding: Courageous Conversations for Safer Practice

Race and racism are increasingly recognised as critical safeguarding issues, yet many professionals report feeling uncertain about how to discuss them confidently and effectively in practice.

This thought-provoking and practical workshop explores how race, racism, bias and language influence safeguarding decision-making, risk assessment, and outcomes for children and families. Drawing on learning from national safeguarding reviews, including the recent Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel report '“It’s Silent”: Race, racism and safeguarding children', participants will examine how racialised assumptions, adultification, cultural misrecognition, and everyday language can impact children's safety and visibility within safeguarding systems.

Through interactive discussion, reflective exercises, and case study analysis, delegates will develop the confidence to have courageous conversations about race, recognise racism as a safeguarding concern, and apply practical strategies to strengthen anti-racist safeguarding practice.

Participants will explore:

• Why race and racism are safeguarding issues
• The impact of bias, stereotypes and adultification on professional decision-making
• How language shapes risk assessment and protection
• Learning from national safeguarding reviews and serious case learning
• Recognising and responding to racialised harm
• Developing culturally responsive and anti-racist safeguarding practice
• Practical tools for linguistic safeguarding and reflective recording

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Identify how racism can affect children's safety, wellbeing and safeguarding experiences
• Recognise the influence of bias and language on safeguarding decisions
• Apply principles of linguistic safeguarding to case recording and professional conversations
• Challenge racialised assumptions and adultification in practice
• Feel more confident discussing race and racism within safeguarding contexts
• Identify practical actions to promote safer, more equitable outcomes for children and families