WEBINAR

Adultification Bias: What Is It, What Harm Does It Do, And How Do We Guard Against It?

Date: Tuesday, 1st April 2025

Time: 1pm-3pm (London, UK)

Price: Free

Speakers: Sosa Henkoma, Expert by experience in Criminal child exploitation, Sussana Clapcott, SHINE Social Worker, Complex Safeguarding Team, and Dr Nicholas Marsh, Director of 10 AND 23

Adultification bias happens when adults perceive a child as being older than they are, and it influences their judgements about them and the way they interact with them.

It can be present in any relationship between an adult and a child, but it is known to disproportionately impact Black children. Notably, the Child Q Safeguarding Practice Review undertaken by City and Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership in 2022 was one of the first reviews in England to refer to adultification. It illustrated, with distressing clarity, the role adultification bias played in the decisions and actions adults took in relation to Child Q.

In this webinar, we’ll be joined by Sosa Henkoma, Sussana Clapcott and Dr Nicholas Marsh, for a series of conversations exploring adultification bias. Together, we’ll unpick what it is; what it can sound, look and feel like to a child; why it causes harm and the many ways it can negatively impact on outcomes; and how we can start to unravel the range of assumptions it causes us to make in our interactions with children. 

We’ll examine how adultification biases are rooted in the way we conceptualise innocence and vulnerability – and the ways our underlying ideas about innocence and vulnerability are hidden in the judgements that we make about a child.

Adultification bias doesn't affect all children in the same way so we'll be exploring why it's important to adopt an intersectional lens if we are to ensure that all children are seen, heard and protected. We'll be challenged to pause, think, and reflect on our own interactions with children and engage with some key questions:

• How do we measure vulnerability and innocence?
• How do our judgements about vulnerability and innocence inform our approach to children and the decisions we make about them?
• How do our judgements about vulnerability and innocence link with expectations around behaviour, ability to regulate emotions, make informed decisions and the transference of responsibility?
• What does vigilance against adultification bias look like in practice?
• How do we use lived and living experience to help us understand what's at stake and to be motivated to intentionally guard against adultifying children ourselves?
• How do we guard against our judgements and actions interacting with the power we have to diminish children's rights, serve injustice and create poor outcomes?

Expect to reflect on your own practice and practice you are responsible for. If you work with children and young people, this webinar is for you.

Meet the speakers

Sosa Henkoma

Expert by experience in Criminal child exploitation

Bio to come.

Sussana Clapcott

SHINE Social Worker, Complex Safeguarding Team

As a complex safeguarding social worker, Sussana is dedicated to supporting children affected by criminal and sexual exploitation. She has committed her career to protecting vulnerable children and ensuring their safety and well-being. This dedication has driven her to conduct research that explores the ability of institutions to perceive Black and Brown adolescent boys as victims of criminal exploitation. Sussana's research highlights the systemic challenges and barriers these boys face in accessing safeguarding services. Her work underscores her passion for justice and equity for all children, advocating for equal access to services regardless of background or race.

Currently, Sussana is translating her research findings into a short film aimed at learning and development. With a deep commitment to empowering and equipping professionals, she draws on her experience as both a practitioner and researcher to share the knowledge needed to effectively address racial injustice within child exploitation, ensuring every child feels seen and cared for.

Dr Nicholas Marsh

Director of 10 AND 23

Dr Nicholas Marsh is a social worker, researcher, and the founder of 10 AND 23. He is dedicated to reshaping how we support and safeguard adolescents. His work bridges the gap between research, policy, and frontline practice to develop more inclusive, strengths-based approaches for young people. As a leading voice on adolescent safeguarding, adultification bias, and adultism, Nicholas is committed to ensuring that all young people’s voices are heard and actively shape the services they receive.

One of his proudest achievements is co-designing a UK government-funded service with young people with lived experience, creating an innovative approach to support those at risk of child exploitation. Nicholas continues to drive change in practice and policy internationally, including his work with the Center for Victim Studies in Chicago.