Children’s voices are often reduced to a procedural requirement. What does it truly mean to hear and honour what children are telling us?

In safeguarding practice, professionals are often told to "capture the voice of the child" - but what does it truly mean to hear and honour what children are telling us, both directly and indirectly? Too often, children’s voices are reduced to a procedural requirement, sidelined by adult-led priorities, or misunderstood through a behavioural lens.

 

This webinar challenges the tickbox approach to children's voices. It explores how children express their needs, fears, and wishes (even when they don’t use words) and how safeguarding professionals can meaningfully listen, interpret, and respond. Drawing on trauma-informed principles and practice reflections, we’ll consider what it looks like to truly value children’s perspectives in safeguarding conversations and decision-making.

 

Learning objectives

• Describe what is meant by a child’s voice in safeguarding and why it matters beyond compliance or recording requirements
• Recognise different ways children communicate their experiences and needs, including through behaviour and non-verbal cues
• Identify common barriers to hearing children’s voices in safeguarding practice and reflect on how these can be challenged
• Consider how to value and respond to children’s perspectives when making or contributing to safeguarding decisions

This session will be led by Aleks Tokarz-Tyler.

Register Here