Overview

Foster carers provide safety, stability, and emotional support that can be life-changing for children and young people in care. In today’s digital world, that care must also extend online, where the risks for looked-after children are often greater. Their lived experiences can increase vulnerability to manipulation, grooming, exposure to harmful content, and other online harms. This course offers practical insights into the digital behaviours of children in care, tools to build digital resilience, and clear guidance for safe, appropriate responses to online concerns.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Understand how digital safeguarding applies to looked-after children and care-experienced young people.
• Recognise online risks specific to fostering contexts, including contact with birth families, identity vulnerability, and targeted exploitation.
• Explore current trends in online platforms, gaming, and communication tools used by children and young people.
• Identify how abusers use digital tools to groom, exploit, and manipulate vulnerable young people.
• Gain practical strategies to support digital resilience, manage online disclosures, and promote safer online behaviour within fostering relationships.