It’s almost National Safeguarding Week!
04 November 2026
With National Safeguarding Week fast approaching on 9th - 13th November 2026, there are lots of events for staff to get involved in.
This week is an opportunity for staff to come together and raise awareness of important safeguarding issues, learn best practice, share knowledge and learn from others.
National Safeguarding Week is a week-long campaign across Wales that promotes awareness, learning and professional development around safeguarding matters.
Safeguarding involves protecting children and adults from abuse, neglect and other forms of harm, while ensuring that appropriate support and intervention are in place to help people remain safe and well.
This year's theme, Safeguarding Fundamentals, focuses on the core principles that support effective safeguarding across all services. The programme features expert speakers from across Wales and the UK, covering topics including child exploitation, online harms, substance misuse, child sexual abuse, safeguarding adults at risk, trauma-informed practice and professional resilience.
Some key events taking place throughout the week that staff may be interested in attending:
Webinar: Introduction to Suicide Prevention & PAPYRUS Services
Date & Time: Monday 9 November, 11:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Online
Delivered by Erin Williams, Suicide Prevention Officer at PAPYRUS, this session provides an introduction to the national youth suicide prevention charity and the support services available to young people experiencing thoughts of suicide, as well as to those concerned about them. The webinar will also explore common misconceptions surrounding suicide and highlight practical approaches to keeping individuals safe. It is suitable for professionals across all sectors.
Staff can book a place here.
Webinar: From Grooming to Exploitation - Understanding the Risks Facing Young People Today
Date & Time: Monday 9 November, 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Location: Microsoft Teams
Delivered by Wes Cunliffe, an experienced safeguarding practitioner and survivor of exploitation and serious violence, this powerful and thought-provoking session explores the realities of child criminal exploitation, knife crime, online grooming and the increasing risks facing young people today. Drawing on lived experience, frontline safeguarding practice and real-life case studies, Wes will challenge common misconceptions and provide practical insight into recognising vulnerability, understanding online influences, identifying hidden signs of exploitation and strengthening safeguarding responses.
This session will be particularly valuable for professionals working with children, young people and families across education, social care, health, youth services, policing and the third sector.
Staff can book a place here.
Webinar: Safeguarding in Practice - Understanding Complex Risk and Hidden Harm
Date & Time: Tuesday 10th November, 10:00 - 11:00
Location: Online
What to expect?
Delivered by Louise Hughes, Head of Safeguarding and Advocacy, Age Cymru, this session explores safeguarding insights from case records across Wales. The presentation examines themes including financial abuse, coercive control, self-neglect, dementia-related vulnerability, carer breakdown and domestic abuse.
The session will highlight emerging patterns, learning points and practical recommendations to strengthen safeguarding practice, early intervention and multi-agency working.
Target Audience:
Multi-agency professionals working with adults at risk.
Staff can book a place here.
Webinar: Honor's Story: Learning from Tragedy to Protect Children and Young People from the Risks of Ketamine
Date & Time: Tuesday 10th November, 1pm – 2pm
Location: Online
In this powerful and deeply moving session, Sarah Green, founder of the H23 Foundation, will share the story of her daughter Honor and the circumstances leading to her tragic death as a result of ketamine addiction.
Drawing on her lived experience and the knowledge she has gained since Honor's death, Sarah will explore the devastating impact that substance misuse can have on children, young people and their families. The session will highlight the increasing risks associated with ketamine use, the warning signs that may be missed, and the challenges families often face when seeking help and support.
Sarah will also reflect on the lessons she has learned about gaps within systems and services, examining how professionals, organisations and communities can work together more effectively to identify concerns early, respond appropriately, and prevent harm. Through an honest and thought-provoking discussion, she will encourage practitioners to consider how safeguarding approaches can be strengthened to better protect vulnerable children and young people.
The session will provide valuable insight for professionals working across safeguarding, education, health, social care, policing and the third sector, offering both practical learning and opportunities for reflection.
Target Audience:
Multi-agency professionals working with children, young people and families.
Staff can book a place here.
Webinar: Disrupting Exploitation
Date & Time: Wednesday 11th November, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Microsoft Teams
What to expect?
Delivered by Alice Walton from The Children's Society, this session will explore how practitioners can play a crucial role in disrupting exploitation, protecting children and young adults, and targeting those responsible for their abuse. Delegates will learn about practical disruption tools, multi-agency working, the use of legislation and evidence-led approaches, supported by real-life case examples.
Target Audience:
Practitioners and managers working with children and young people across the safeguarding partnership.
Staff can book a place here.
Webinar: Vicarious Trauma and Resilience
Date & Time: Thursday 12 November, 10:00am to 11:00am
Location: Online
Delivered by New Pathways, this session explores the impact of supporting people who have experienced trauma. Attendees will learn about the signs of vicarious trauma, protective factors, self-care strategies and ways to maintain resilience while working in safeguarding and support roles.
Staff can book a place here.
Webinar: The Scale and Nature of Child Sexual Abuse - Learning from New Evidence
Date & Time: Thursday 12th November, 11:30 - 12:30
Location: Microsoft Teams
What to expect?
Delivered by Anna Glinski from the CSA Centre, this session will explore current evidence and research relating to child sexual abuse, helping professionals better understand prevalence, risk factors, emerging trends and the importance of early identification and intervention.
Target Audience:
Safeguarding professionals and practitioners working with children and families.
Staff can book a place here.
CVSB Safeguarding Conference
Date & Time: Friday 13th November, All-day event
What to expect?
The Cardiff and Vale Safeguarding Board's annual conference will bring together professionals from across agencies to reflect on current safeguarding challenges, share learning and showcase effective practice. The conference will provide an opportunity to hear from experts, network with colleagues and strengthen collaborative approaches to safeguarding.
Target Audience:
Multi-agency professionals.
To secure a place, click here. Places cannot be guaranteed unless registration has been completed through Eventbrite.
In addition to these events, there are many other activities being hosted online throughout the week, covering a range of safeguarding topics relevant to professionals working with children, young people and adults at risk.
To find out more or to book your place at an event, head over to the News from the Board section on the Cardiff and Vale Safeguarding Board website or contact CardiffandValeRSB@cardiff.gov.uk.
Everyone who works for the Council has a duty to report concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child, young person or adult at risk.