VIRTUAL HSCP - HSCP Annual Conference 2023

Parental/Carer Anxiety: Exploring the Potential Safeguarding Impact on Children

The Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership's (HSCP) Annual Conference will explore the potential impact of parental/carer anxiety on children of different ages and developmental stages to identify the possible different safeguarding concerns; from an unborn baby to 18 years. Presenters will discuss the importance of understanding the child’s lived experience and the impact of living with parents/carers with anxiety, to support working together to promote best outcomes.

The Conference will include learning from case reviews, which professionals from Hampshire partnership agencies will link to an operational context. Professionals who attend this Conference will learn how heightened anxious behaviour in parents/ carers should be recognised, responded to, and supported.

The Conference will provide insights into how professionals can be empowered to work with other agencies to provide an effective, collaborative response. This will include exploring effective safeguarding supervision, as well as policies and guidance associated with collective responsibilities when managing and escalating multi-agency professional disagreements.

Learning Outcomes: Recognise the voice and lived experience of the child where there is parental anxiety within the family. Explore own attitudes and values related to anxiety and identify what makes for good partnership when working with families. Explore the range and varied presentations of parental anxiety and how different levels/types of anxiety can impact on children throughout their life. Identify strengths and challenges for children in a family with parental anxiety. Understand the challenges faced when working with families where parental anxiety is a factor and focus on practical tips for working with these families. Understanding when parental anxiety escalates to a level that safeguarding interventions are required. Improve awareness of what effective safeguarding supervision is, its function and role within day-to-day practice and the impact good quality supervision has on practitioners and their practice. Explore the tools available to support reflective conversations and safeguarding supervision. Please note: The Conference will not teach professionals how to clinically diagnose anxiety.