Online Safety Training in Children’s Services: A Practical Guide to Safeguarding
Why Online Safety Is a Core Safeguarding Responsibility
Online life is now part of childhood. Children connect with friends, build identity, and find communities through social media, messaging, gaming chats and livestreams. But the same spaces can expose them to grooming, exploitation, coercion, bullying and harmful content.
This is often at speed, and often out of sight.
That’s why online safety should never sit as a “separate” issue. In children’s services, it belongs where every risk belongs: within Safeguarding practice.
Whether you work in Early Help, Fostering, Residential Care, Youth Services, Education, or Family Support, the aim is the same. Spot concerns early, respond calmly, record clearly, and escalate appropriately.
Why Online Safeguarding can escalate quickly
Online Harm can intensify fast because:
· Contact is constant and can happen 24/7
· People can hide their identity or pretend to be peers
· Content spreads quickly and feels impossible to contain
· Shame and fear can stop children from disclosing early
What Online Harm can look like in practice
1) Grooming and Online Exploitation
Grooming may start with attention and compliments, then shift into secrecy, pressure and control. The child might believe the relationship is “real” and may protect the person causing harm.
Possible indicators include:
· Secrecy around devices or new contacts they won’t name
· Sudden changes in mood or routine after being online
· Unexplained gifts, money, phone credit or extra data
· Increased missing episodes or unusual travel arrangements
2) Sextortion and Image-Based Threats
Sexual Extortion (“sextortion”) typically involves pressure to share images, followed by threats to share them unless demands are met. The fear can be immediate and overwhelming.
Red flags can include:
· Panic, shame, or “I can’t tell anyone” language
· Urgent requests for money or extreme distress
· Deleting accounts, wiping devices, suddenly changing numbers
· Fear of school/parents finding out and sudden withdrawal
3) Harmful Content Loops (self-Harm, Eating Distress, Violence)
Sometimes the harm is not a person, but a feed. Children who are anxious, isolated or struggling with self-esteem may be pulled into repeated content that normalises harmful behaviours.
You might notice:
· Changes in eating patterns, body image distress, rigid rules
· Increased self-harm language, secrecy, or changes in clothing
· Sleep disruption, low mood, or agitation linked to phone use
4) Peer-On-Peer Abuse and Cyberbullying
Online bullying can feel constant: group chats, anonymous accounts, image sharing and public humiliation can make a child feel trapped.
Common signs include:
· School refusal or sudden drop in engagement
· Fear of notifications or avoiding phones around others
· Withdrawal from friendships and heightened anxiety
How to respond to Online Safeguarding Concerns
You don’t need to be an Expert in every app. You need a calm, structured Safeguarding response.
Step 1: Listen and Stabilise
Keep your tone calm and supportive. Reassure the child they’ve done the right thing by telling you. Avoid judgement or shock. Children often stop sharing when they feel blamed.
Step 2: Don’t Investigate
It’s tempting to “get the full story”, but Safeguarding isn’t investigation. Ask only what you need
Step 3: Record clearly and early
Strong records protect children. Where possible, include:
· What the child said (in their words)
· The platform/app (if known), usernames/handles, timeframes
· What action you took immediately and who you informed
Step 4: Escalate through your Safeguarding Pathway
Report to your safeguarding lead/DSL and follow your escalation route. Depending on the level of risk, this may involve Multi-Agency Safeguarding, Police involvement, or targeted support.
Step 5: Reduce risk and strengthen support
Support should focus on safety and wellbeing, not punishment. Practical actions might include:
· Safety planning with the child (and family if appropriate)
· Addressing shame and fear so the child stays engaged
· Helping the child understand pressure, manipulation and consent
· Working with schools/partners if peer harm is involved
How to talk to Children about Online Safety
Children are more likely to disclose when they feel they won’t be judged. Try calm, open questions that reduce shame, such as:
· “Has anything online made you feel pressured or uncomfortable?”
· “Has anyone asked you to keep something secret online?”
· “If something didn’t feel right, who would you talk to?”
The goal isn’t to “catch them out.” It’s to keep communication open so risk is identified early.
Why Online Safety Training matters for Teams in Children’s Services
Online Safeguarding concerns can feel complex.
Training builds confidence so staff respond consistently and safely. The difference between a child being protected and a risk escalating is often whether the first adult response is calm, informed and decisive.
Safeguarding Training: build confident, consistent practice
If you want your team to feel confident handling online disclosures, recognising grooming patterns, and responding using clear Safeguarding procedures, our Safeguarding Training supports Staff to:
· Recognise online risk indicators early
· Respond appropriately to disclosures
· Record concerns clearly and escalate through the right route
· Strengthen consistent safeguarding culture across your service
Visit Our Combined Safeguarding course
Contact Care Business Associate Training Today:
Phone: 01772 816922
Email: Marketing@cba-training.co.uk