This document invites local authorities to a roundtable discussion exploring the potential uses of Web 2.0 technologies like social networking to improve safeguarding services for children and young people. The goals are to identify issues with existing information management, opportunities new technologies provide, and areas best suited for piloting a collective intelligence approach. Web 2.0 allows unprecedented information sharing and interaction, so the discussion will examine how to better collect and manage data on vulnerable children. The roundtable is organized by the Children's Services Network and FutureGov consultancy to bring together safeguarding and technology experts.

1. csn
children’s services
network
22 Upper Woburn Place
London WC1H 0TB
020 7554 2800
www.lgiu.org.uk
www.csn.info
USING WEB 2.0 TECHNOLOGY
TO IMPROVE SAFEGUARDING
INVITATION TO A ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION
Web 2.0 technology is widely used by most young needs to be done to inject energy and drive into
people to keep in touch through social safeguarding and child protection”. He drew
networking (eg. Facebook, Bebo, MySpace etc), attention to the support amongst professionals
file sharing and downloading (eg photos, videos across all the services for the approach of Every
and music) and, increasingly, to support learning Child Matters, and referred positively to the
both in and out of school (as recently reported by Working together guidance, but warned that
Becta1). “whilst the improvements in services for children
and families in general are welcome, it is clear
The LGiU’s Children’s Services Network (CSN) is that the need to protect children and young
collaborating with FutureGov 2 to explore the people from significant harm and neglect is ever
potential for using Web 2.0 technology to improve more challenging”.
safeguarding services for children and young
people, and you are invited to involve your The past few years have seen a massive growth
authority from the beginning of this exciting in the use of web technology, and
development. Web 2.0 has brought with it unprecedented levels
of openness, transparency and sharing of
Background information enabling free and easy interaction
between individuals and organisations.
At the heart of effective safeguarding is
intelligence gathering and information Given these developments, it seems an
management, bringing together the collective appropriate time to explore the links between
knowledge of a wide range of professionals from web based social networking and safeguarding.
across a number of disciplines and New and effective ways of collecting and
organisations. managing information on vulnerable children and
their families are possible taking data sharing to
The Every Child Matters change for children the next level.
programme has brought many improvements to
safeguarding, and the data sharing that supports The project will be launched at a roundtable
safeguarding. However, as Lord Laming event at the LGiU/CSN offices 22 Upper Woburn
remarked when he concluded his recent Place London WC1H 0TB on Thursday
progress report to the Secretary of State, September 10th 2009 bringing together leading
“keeping children safe and promoting their thinkers in the fields of safeguarding and web
wellbeing is a responsibility for us all, but more technologies to explore the topic in some detail.
See overleaf for more information
1 KS3 and KS4 learners’ use of Web 2.0 technologies in and out of school, Becta, July 2008
2 http://www.futuregovconsultancy.com/index.php/about/

2. Aims of the roundtable discussion practical policy advice, training, consultancy,
public affairs services and other resources to our
By the end of the session, we expect that the members and other organisations.
group will have: www.lgiu.org.uk
I identified the main issues in terms of CSN has acquired a first rate reputation for
existing information management and delivering services of the highest quality to the
the problems that can arise children’s workforce in more than 90 per cent
of English top tier councils. These include
I developed a shared understanding of comprehensive policy briefings, conferences,
the opportunities Web 2.0 technologies seminars, written guidance and a range of
could provide informative and accessible publications. We
are working with our partners to design and
I identified where there may be the deliver new research and policy projects,
greatest potential to pilot a new building on the network’s expertise, with the
approach to safeguarding along the aim of influencing policy development. These
lines of collective intelligence. currently focus on: social networking sites;
safeguarding and youth participation; raising
If you would like to discuss how your local attainment – opportunities for local government;
authority can take part in the project and for an children and young people’s wellbeing;
invite to this timely roundtable, contact accountability and governance in schools; data
Jasmine.Ali@csn.info or call 0207 554 2853. and PIRGE 3; and 21st century schools.
www.csn.info
About the organisations FutureGov is a government focused strategic
involved communications, engagement and organisational
change consultancy specialising in the use of
The LGiU (Local Government Information Unit) social media and online tools. Its expertise lies in
is CSN’s parent body, an award-winning driving change in the areas of organizational
independent think-tank and a resource for local collaboration, community engagement and
government. Our teams of policy analysts are customer service.
experts in local government. They provide www.futuregovconsultancy.com
3 Performance Information Reference Group in Education and Children’s Services
CSN AT HARROGATE: CHILDREN AND
YOUNG PEOPLE AS COMMISSIONERS?
Child and youth participation is a vital element in the work of the ADCS. CSN is currently
working with local authorities on an important new way in which we can get the views
of children and young people reflected in our joint commissioning, children and young
people’s plans and other business of the children and young people’s strategic
partnerships.
At the National Children and Adult Services conference taking place 21-23 October 2009
at the Harrogate International Centre, CSN will lead a policy session on the potential
of social network sites to engage children and young people who might normally find
our services ‘hard to reach’. The session will focus on the innovative engagement of
children and young people in the commissioning of services designed for them.
For further information contact Jasmine.Ali@csn.info or Pat.Stevens@csn.info