15:50, Tuesday, 5th August 2025
Shine a Light: Child Sexual Abuse
Ai Generated Child Sexual Abuse Imagery – The BBC has published an article in respect to AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery and its impact on agencies in safeguarding children and young people.
Read the article here: AI puts real child sex victims at risk, IWF experts say – BBC News
The Internet Watch Foundation AI CSAM Guides for Professionals | IWF & NCA
The CSA Centre have published guidance based on key statistics on what you may need to know as a professional in respect to Child Sexual Abuse. Please find the information here: What you need to know about child sexual abuse | CSA Centre
The CSA Centre website also has a tool for to find a support service for someone effected by child Sexual Abuse which can be found here: Find a support service | CSA Centre
NEW Training: An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
and Cyber Risks in Safeguarding Children
11 November – 10am to 11am – Face to Face at Church Square House
18 November – 2pm to 3pm – Virtual via MS Teams
This session provides an introductory overview of artificial intelligence (AI), exploring its potential for both positive and harmful impact. It focuses on how AI technologies are increasingly influencing the digital landscape, particularly in ways that affect children and young people. The training will highlight key risks, including manipulation, misinformation, and exploitation, and offer practical guidance on how professionals can safeguard themselves and those they work with. It will also cover indicators to watch for in young people who may be vulnerable to online harm or radicalisation through AI-driven platforms.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Understand the basics of artificial intelligence and its applications in everyday life.
Identify the benefits and risks associated with AI, especially in relation to children and young people.
Recognise signs of vulnerability in young people who may be exposed to harmful online content or manipulation via AI tools.
How as professionals you can protect yourselves and the young people you work with from AI-related threats.
Please email mars@northlincs.gov.uk to book onto a session.
Shine a Light: Domestic Abuse
Women’s Aid has published its third child homicides report focusing on children who have been killed by a parent who was a perpetrator of domestic abuse, in circumstances relating to child contact in England and Wales.
Read the report here: Nineteen More Child Homicides – Women’s Aid
The NSPCC has published a news story on increasing contacts to its Helpline concerning domestic abuse.
Read the story here: Domestic abuse contacts to our Helpline reach record high | NSPCC
Further information on Domestic Abuse and spotting the signs can be found on the NSPCC website here How to Protect Children From Domestic Abuse | NSPCC or The Blue Door website here The Blue Door
The Children’s MARS Board also offer training sessions on Domestic Abuse Awareness, details of which can be found on our new training and events calendar here: Events for August 2025 – CMARS. Please email mars@northlincs.gov.uk to book.
The Children’s MARS Board have also added Non Fatal Strangulation Training onto our training plan, details of which can be found below. Please email mars@northlincs.gov.uk to book.
Talk Relationships Resources
The NSPCC have recently updated their FREE Talk Relationships resources. Talk Relationships supports all UK secondary education settings to confidently deliver inclusive sex and relationships education.
Resources can be found here: Talk Relationships: resources to deliver sex and relationships education | NSPCC Learning
Reminder: One Family Approach Workshop – Delivering Families First Programme in North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire Council is holding a series of workshops to raise awareness of the National Reforms for the Families First Partnership Programme and to engage partners and our workforce in shaping our local approach.
We’ll be sharing our vision, listening to your insights, and identifying opportunities to work more closely with partners across sectors. Whether you’re from health, education, police, the voluntary sector, or another key service, your voice is vital in shaping how we move forward together.
Information shared at the workshops will include:
An overview of the Families First Partnership Programme (FFP)
Key principles of the FFP Programme
North Lincolnshire’s Local Response to the FFP Programme
Working with partner agencies throughout planning and delivery
Current dates can be seen as below:
Tuesday 9 September 2025 – 10am – 11.30pm (Church Square House)
Monday 15 September 2025 – 9.30am – 11.00am (Church Square House)
Wednesday 24 September 2025 – 2pm – 3.30pm (Virtual via MS Teams)
To book onto a session, please email mars@northlincs.gov.uk
Upcoming Training
Responding to Domestic Abuse: A Practical Guide – delivered by The Blue Door – Monday 18 August 2025 – 10am – 12pm – Face to Face – The Baths Hall
Thursday 28 August 2025 – 1.30pm – 3.30pm – Face to Face – The Baths Hall
The Blue Door recently launched their new training offer for 2025/2026. In line with this launch, cMARS are excited to share the following dates for the Responding to Domestic Abuse: A Practical Guide.
Learning Outcomes
• To develop an understanding of domestic abuse & discuss the offence of coercive control.
• To enhance your awareness of domestic abuse, the behaviours and tactics used.
• How to respond in a trauma informed, domestic-abuse informed way when there is a disclosure of domestic abuse.
• Provide an outline of domestic abuse support available via The Blue Door.
• How to make a referral to The Blue Door.
Please note that completion of this session is mandatory to be eligible for subsequent advanced domestic abuse training sessions which will be added to our training calendar in due course. This training serves as the first module in an advanced awareness program delivered by The Blue Door, further dates will be communicated imminently. This training is open to all participants and serves as a gateway to accessing future advanced domestic abuse training sessions.
Request for Secure Accommodation for a child based on Offending – Concordat – Tuesday 2 September 2025 – 1pm – 3pm – Face to Face, Church Square House. Thursday 18 September 2025 – 1pm – 3pm – Face to Face, Church Square House
This training focuses on the Home Office Concordat, clarifying the local authority’s critical role in safeguarding children and minimising their detention in police custody.
We will cover:
Legal Duties: Understanding your statutory obligations under PACE and the Children Act 1989.
Reducing Detention: Your active role in preventing unnecessary police custody for children, especially overnight.
Accepting Transfers: The imperative to always accept children into local authority accommodation when requested by the police.
Joint Working: Emphasising effective collaboration and communication with police and other agencies.
The goal is to empower local authority staff to fulfil their duties, significantly reducing the number of children held in police cells.
(LADO) Managing Allegations against people who work/volunteer with children – Tuesday 9 September 2025 – 2.30pm – 4.30pm – Face to Face, Church Square House
The aim of the workshop is to know what an allegation is, and what to do when an allegation is made regarding someone who works or volunteers with children
Objectives:
• To have an understanding of the role of LADO
• To have an understanding of the managing allegations process
from start to conclusion
• To effectively respond to, and manage allegations
Drug Trends and Substance Misuse – local updates and offer to young people – Wednesday 10 September 2025 – 2pm – 3pm – MS Teams
This bitesize course will enable you recognise potential signs and symptoms of substance misuse, including any possible immediate risk that this poses to both the individual and those around them. You will be able to recognise what drugs look like, the effects of drugs and alcohol and understand the treatment options available locally.
The content of this course will vary according to current local trends and the impact of seasonal drug use.
Early Help – Practice and Process – Tuesday 23 September 2025 – 09.30am – 12.30pm
You will learn…
• The purpose and process – why and how we help families using Early
Help
• The local context – understanding levels of intervention and support
• Practical skills and process – building confidence about completing a
good quality Early Help Assessment, effective planning with families
and how to be an effective chair of early help meetings
Child Protection Masterclass – Thursday 25 September 2025 – 09.30am – 4.30pm – Face to Face, The Baths Hall
This course will develop an awareness of professional’s responsibilities to safeguard children and the key processes that underpin this.
Participants will:
• understand their roles and responsibilities to safeguard children
• understand the role and remit of the Children’s MARS Board
• understand how you apply statutory guidance
• understand the importance of information sharing and interagency
working
• understand private fostering
• understand the principles of Working Together to safeguard children
Please note sessions are available to all, but please ensure the suitability of the course for your role before booking a place.
To book a place on one of the above courses please fill in the below form and return to mars@northlincs.gov.uk
Childrens MARS Booking Form
Children’s MARS eWorkbooks
Did you know that the Children’s MARS Board offer a variety of FREE eWorkbooks for professionals across the partnership. Upon completion a certificate will be issued by the Children’s MARS Team. Please share with your service.
Safeguarding Children Awareness
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)
Early Help
