White Gold Cornwall is always looking for ways to improve our service and develop the skills of our sessional workers. Alan Milliner has recently attended a very important conference on Child Protection where the main speaker was Professor Ray Jones originally from Redruth.

Professor Jones is one of the UKs leading experts in child protection is a registered social worker with over 40 years of practice and management experience in residential care and community social work within local authorities and a major national child care voluntary organisation. From 1992 to 2006 he was director of social services, and then director of adult and community services, in Wiltshire, leading a top three-star rated service with an annual spend at 2014 equivalent costs of £250m.

The main theme of the conference was to improve child protection in the UK by improving inter-agency communications to ensure key groups work together and share appropriate information. Prof Jones used a number of recent high-profile cases to illustrate his points and pass on valuable learning to the assembled audience. In particular, Alan found the ‘what if’ scenario planning discussion and the process and consequences of serious case reviews of great interest to WGC.

The most powerful message running through Prof Jones presentation was the need for making sure people share information at every level and not keep things to themselves if they have concerns regarding a child’s protection.

At the end of the event, Alan said -‘This was an important conference and made all those present working with young people more aware of the risks and benefits of the work we do’

Professor Jones has agreed to allow his two presentations to be used for further learning of agencies such as White Gold Cornwall. These presentations are set out below for reference and a learning resource.