With growing numbers of autistic and possibly autistic children and adolescents with problematic or harmful sexual behaviours on the caseloads of frontline professionals, there is a rising demand for knowledge about autism and HSB and what constitutes good practice in assessments and interventions, to ensure informed, proportionate professional responses.
The Links Group works closely alongside allied professionals in the fields of animal welfare and safeguarding of people.
There is considerable evidence highlighting the significance of the human-animal bond, its promotion of physical and emotional health, and its influence upon decision making for individuals and families. The strength of the bond also makes it vulnerable to manipulation and abuse.
‘The Link’ between domestic abuse, child sexual abuse and animal abuse has long been known. In 88% of families investigated for physical child abuse, animal abuse was reported. A 2019 UK survey indicated that 97% of domestic abuse professionals believe that threats to pets are used as a tool to attempt to coerce and control someone. A recent freedom of information request from England and Wales found that in over 1,000 cases, 73% of offenders found with child sexual abuse imagery were also found to have images of animal sexual abuse.
This live webinar offers an introduction to “The Link” between the abuse of animals and people and how child protection professionals can respond safely and appropriately whilst providing support in these circumstances.
It will help you to better understand:
| Ticket Type | Price | Cart |
|---|---|---|
| Standard - Protecting Animals, Protecting People | £15.00 | |
| Member - Protecting Animals, Protecting People | £0.00 |
Anna is a qualified social worker and has worked within statutory front line child protection and specialist services as a practitioner and manager throughout her career. She specialised in child sexual abuse work, acting as an expert witness in the family courts on CSA cases. She was previously the CSA Centre's Practice Improvement Advisor for Social Work and, before that, the practice development lead for CSA within the local authority and contributed to local and regional service and policy development. Anna developed and led a multi-disciplinary specialist sexual abuse team, which provided assessments, interventions, supervision, consultation and training. Anna is an Associate Tutor at the University of Sussex and is currently the Editor of NOTA News, the quarterly magazine for members of the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abuse.
Dr. Mary Wakeham, BA (Hons), MA, MRes, PhD
Links Group Trustee, Chief Executive Officer of Refuge4Pets
Mary has over 15 years practice experience working in the domestic abuse sector. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Refuge4Pets, a charity providing a specialist animal fostering service to victim-survivors of domestic abuse. The charity is one of the Links Group specialist domestic abuse animal fostering services.
Mary is an academic researcher with a specialism in the dynamics and implications of animal abuse in the context of domestic abuse. In 2021 she completed her PhD in the Centre for Gender and Violence Research at the University of Bristol titled Animal Abuse as a Strategy of Coercive Control. Mary has held a number of Research Associate and Research Fellow posts at the Universities of Bristol and Birmingham in the areas of gender-based violence and social work.
Dr. David Martin, BVSc FRCVS
Links Group Trustee, veterinary forensic expert witness, Group Head of Animal Welfare at IVC Evidensia
Dave is the Group Head of Animal Welfare at IVC Evidensia, the largest corporate veterinary group in Europe. His role is to put animal welfare at the heart of what the team do and to ensure that alongside providing world class veterinary care the team also help clients give their animals (pets, production animals or equines) the best life they can.
Dave is also a clinical director and veterinary surgeon for Brownlow Vet Group a part of IVC Evidensia where he acts as an experienced independent expert witness undertaking regular instructions in both criminal and civil fields involving animal welfare, animal husbandry and disease including human injuries sustained from animal interactions. Dave accepts instructions from a wide range of clients acting for both prosecution and defence and am also an experienced single joint expert.
In his spare time Dave is a veterinary consultant to Forensic Access supporting both the development of their veterinary training programmes but also undertaking expert and advisory work for them.
Dave became a Trustee of the Links Group in March 2022.
Dr. Paula Boyden, BVetMed MRCVS
Chair, The Links Group
Paula graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, in 1992. She spent 11 years in general practice before moving into a technical role in the industry in 2003.
Paula joined Dogs Trust in 2010 and became Veterinary Director in 2011. Her responsibilities included veterinary matters, outreach work, and public affairs.
She is a founding member and past treasurer of the Association of Charity Vets, as well as a board member of the Blue Dog Trust. She is vice-chair of the Canine and Feline Sector group, sits on the RSPCA’s Prosecutions Oversight Panel and is a member of the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission. Paula previously chaired the Pet Advertising Advisory Group and has sat on BVA’s Policy Group and BSAVA’s International Affairs and Scientific Committees.
In 2017, Paula received BSAVA’s J A Wight Memorial Award for her contribution to the welfare of companion animals. In September 2023, Paula was awarded the WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) One Health Award in Lisbon; in November 2024, the BVA Outstanding Service Award (Chiron Award) in London.
Paula is a founding Trustee of the Links Group and is regularly involved in undergraduate training on Non-Accidental Injury (NAI) within UK veterinary schools.
Jason Fletcher, Principal Prosecution Case Manager, RSPCA
Jason joined the RSPCA in 1998 as an inspector before moving to the prosecutions department in 2014, and is currently a Principal Prosecution Case Manager. This role includes reviewing investigation case files submitted by the inspectorate and making prosecution charging decisions in line with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. Other roles include the training of new inspectors/officers on legal matters. In addition Jason lectures to student veterinary surgeons, law students and other organisations on animal welfare and the law. Jason is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) and a CILEx lawyer.
Rebecca Stephens, BA MA
Links Group Trustee, Associate Professor Social Work, Director of Education with the International Association of Veterinary Social Work
Rebecca has 30 years of experience in Social Work, with a background in front-line practice, consultancy and education and training in Australia and the UK. She is currently an Associate Professor in Social Work at the University of Sussex, Brighton, UK. Her teaching and research focus is on the human-animal bond, pet loss, ‘The Link’ between the abuse of people and animals, and human and animal safeguarding.
She is developing new interdisciplinary partnerships across social work, veterinary, and animal welfare practices to promote knowledge exchange, curriculum development, and educational and training opportunities. She is the Co-Director of Education with the International Association of Veterinary Social Work and is a PhD candidate exploring interdisciplinary approaches to psychosocial support for veterinary teams and clients, aiming to bridge the gap between human services and veterinary practice in the UK.
Opportunity to network with others and know I am part of a community of people committed to working for children and families; challenge to keep up to date and evidence-informed in my practice; sounding board with others for considering how best to improve policy and practice
