- Safeguarding Week 2024
- Water Safety - Learn How to Float to Live
- Worried About the Safety of a Child?
- NEW - One Minute Guides
- Education Updates
- Information Sharing - Advice for Practioners
- Multi-Agency Training Dates
- NWG Events
- Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults who are Not Brought to Health Appointments
- Good Practice When Supporting Refugee Families in the UK
- Elective Home Education
- Wakefield District's Start for Life Offer
- Turning Point Inspiring Futures
- Parental Alcohol Use & the Impact on Children
- Could You Become a Social Worker?
- Child Safety Advice
- NSPCC Updates
- The Hatchling - A Dragon's Coming to Wakefield - Date for Your Diary
- Useful Links
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1. Safeguarding Week 2024
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During Safeguarding Week 2024 (24th to 28th June) Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership will be hosting a masterclass exploring what Serious Youth Violence looks like in Wakefield and the wider district. Join us for our virtual masterclass on the 26th June 9am - 12pm where we will take a deep dive into the lived experience of children and their families, restorative practice and learning from audit with input from:
- Violence Reduction Partnership - The local picture
- West Yorkshire Police - Disruption and working with young people
- Youth Justice Service - "Behind the Blade", the triggers and impact of knife crime and effective interventions (case study led)
- St Giles Trust - Gain a deeper understanding of the service, what they offer and referral pathways
- Ivison Trust - Lived experience of children and their families
Please see the flyer below for further details: |
To register for this event please click here
Click on the image above to check out the timetable for the rest of the week and to access workshops from Leeds, Calderdale, Kirklees and Bradford. |
2. Water Safety - Learn How to Float to Live
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WSCP are supporting the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) this summer by reminding everyone, particularly children and young people, that it is really important to learn how to "Float to Live" - this simple technique could save your life! If you found yourself struggling in the water unexpectedly, your instinct would tell you to swim hard. But cold water shock could make you gasp uncontrollably. Then you could breathe in water and drown. Instead, you should Float to Live. The best way to float is to tilt your head back with your ears submerged. Try to relax and breathe normally. You can gently move your hands to help you stay afloat if you need to. Spread your arms and legs out to improve stability – and it's okay if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety. There are 5 steps to know how to float, these are: 1) Tilt your head back with ears submerged 2) Relax and try to breathe normally 3) Move you hands to help you stay afloat 4) It's okay if your legs sink we all float differently 5) Spread your arms and legs to improve stability Watch the short video below which speaks about the dangers of cold water shock and explains how to float. |
WSCP have a dedicated water safety webpage, which contains key safety messages for children and young people about how to stay safe in and around the water, and additional advice and information about what to do if they get into difficulty. The webpage also contains some hard hitting videos to bring home the reality of the dangers of water and there are resources available for all ages. There is also a new section about water safety whilst on holiday. Calling all professionals - please share all of this important information with any children and families that you work with, so they are aware of the dangers and what to do in an emergency! |
3. Worried About the Safety of a Child?
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Everybody has a responsibility to keep children safe in Wakefield, but would you be able to spot if a child was at risk, do you know the signs? Please see the poster below for common signs to look out for:
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The NSPCC website has information on different types of child abuse and what you can do to help keep children safe. Learn more about busting the myths around child abuse here.
Click on the button below to find out about what steps to take if you are worried about the safety of a child. |
Where there is an emergency about the safety of a child and they are in immediate danger the police should be contacted on 999 without delay. |
4. NEW - One Minutes Guides
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WSCP have recently published the following new One Minute Guides (OMG):
There are many other OMG's available in the series, please click here to have a look. |
DSL's will already have received this information via Safeguarding Advisor emails and DSL Forums, however, in case they have been missed or overlooked, please see reminders below:
Inspections
Ofsted have updated their leaflet for inspections April 2024; Inspecting maintained schools and academies leaflet for schools (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Financially Motivated Child Sexual Extortion - Alert for Education Settings
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued an alert to schools across the UK about financially motivated sexual extortion or 'sextortion'. There has been an increase in reporting of teenage males falling victim of sextortion - the practice of extorting money or sexual favours from someone by threatening to reveal evidence of their sexual activity. This is financially motivated sexual extortion, or ‘sextortion’, and is a form of child sexual abuse. The alert explains how to spot signs of this type of abuse and support affected children. Guidance is also included to share with parents and carers.
Download the alert: Financially motivated sexual extortion: an alert for education settings
KCSIE 2025
The Department for Education (DfE) has opened a call for evidence on safeguarding practice in schools in England. The DfE is seeking views from schools and other professionals on safeguarding practice development to help inform Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025 guidance. (KCSIE 2024 will only undergo minor changes for next year).
They are seeking your views on:
- The role of designated safeguarding leads
- Child safeguarding information
- Safer staff recruitment
- Filtering and monitoring
- Supporting children following reports of sexual violence and harassment
- Protecting children in boarding and residential special schools
- Quality assuring safeguarding
- Children bringing their own devices to schools
- Artificial intelligence
Click here to provide your feedback. The closing date for responses is the 20th June.GOV.UK Guidance: Sharing Nudes and Semi Nudes: Advice for Education Settings
Please click here for updated guidance regarding sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people. Guidance is given about responding to incidents and safeguarding children and young people. Please ensure your whole DSL team is aware and update any links/print outs you may have, including the one page overview guide for staff. The main additions are in dealing with AI generated images and Sextortion.
Online Reputational ConcernsThere is a new toolkit for schools online reputation New Guidance Released to Support Schools with Online Reputational Concerns (swgfl.org.uk)West Yorkshire Safe in Sport WeekPlease click here for information in relation to ‘Keeping Children Safe in Sports Week’ which is taking place during the first week of October 2024. Please could you add this date to your diaries and consider any input you may wish to make, and can you include details about this in your parent newsletter at the start of next year.
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6. Information Sharing - Advice for Practioners
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The Department for Education (DfE) have published information sharing advice for practioners providing safeguarding services for children, young people, parents and cares. This document provides guidance about:
- The seven golden rules for sharing information (including personal information)
- Definitions
- Understanding "safeguarding"
- Understanding "information sharing"
- Understanding the term "lawful basis"
- The complexities of "consent" and why it causes confusion
To find out more about each of the above, plus much more please click here to download the guide. |
7. Multi-Agency Training Dates
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Multi-Agency Neglect: A Shared Responsibility Training
This course will explore how we identify neglect, what to consider, tools to use and how best to respond to Neglect through robust assessment and information sharing. This training encourages collaboration, professional curiosity, challenge and discussion. It is suitable for anyone who works or volunteers with children and their families.
*Please note: This is NOT Neglect Toolkit training.
Before attending this training, it may be useful to watch the new and updated recorded training, ‘How to’ guide for the WSCP Neglect Toolkit.
To access the Neglect Toolkit pages, please click here. Available course dates & times: - Wednesday 26th June - Wednesday 25th September - Tuesday 26th November |
This course is designed to increase the participants knowledge and understanding of Working Together to Safeguard Children and other key legislation, including the West Yorkshire inter-agency procedures and local guidance. It is delivered by the WSCP Business Unit. Please note: There is a pre-recorded video to watch prior to the training titled 'WSCP Safeguarding Children Basic Awareness'For more information click here
Available course dates & times:
- Tuesday 25th June 2024, 9.30am - 4.30pm
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Managing Allegations Against Staff Training
This session aims to provide employers and mangers with an introduction to the systems and procedures that are in place for responding to allegations made against people who work with children. This course is delivered by the Wakefield Council Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and the WSCP Safeguarding Advisor for Education Vicki Maybin. If you are interested in this training please email wscpevents@wakefield.gov.uk
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NEW - Ready to Relate/Infants Parents Relationship Cards Training Sessions
The Ready to Relate cards, developed by Bradford District Community NHS Trust, are a visual, interactive tool to help all practitioners assess, discuss and share healthcare information with families and to make National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended interventions accessible.
The cards aim to improve and enhance the parent‐infant relationship and promote infant attachment and optimal infant development.
These sessions take place face-to-face and are suitable and available for all practitioners. Please note services are limited to 5 places per booking.
Available course dates & times:
- Wednesday 24th July, 09:00am to 4pm
- Wednesday 14th August, 09:00am to 4pm
- Wednesday 18th September, 09:00am to 4pm
- Wednesday 23rd October, 09:00am to 4pm
- Wednesday 20th November, 09:00am to 4pm
- Wednesday 18th December, 09:00am to 4pm
- Wednesday 22nd January 2025, 09:00am to 4pm
- Wednesday 19th February 2025, 09:00am to 4pm
- Wednesday 19th March 2025, 09:00am to 4pm
- Wednesday 23rd April 2025, 09:00am to 4pm
- Wednesday 21st May 2025, 09:00am to 4pm
- Wednesday 18th June 2025, 09:00am to 4pm
To find out more about the above course and to book a place please click here
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Multi-Agency Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) Training
The Learning Academy, alongside Focus CAMHS, are proud to announce the following multi-agency Sexual Behaviour course for professionals in Wakefield:
Introduction to Technology Assisted Harmful Sexual Behaviour (TA-HSB)
Available course dates & times:
- Wednesday 10th July 2024, 09:30am to 12:30pm
To find out more about the above HSB course and to book a place please click here
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Future In Mind Workforce Development Training (CAMHS)
CAMHS are delivering training on the following subjects, with dates available throughout the year:
- An Introduction to Child and Adolescent Mental Health
- Understanding and Working with Anxiety in Children and Young People
- An Introduction to Depression and Low Mood in Children and Young People
- Supporting Children and Young People who have experienced Bereavement or Loss
- The Impact of Sleep on Emotional Wellbeing
- An Introduction to Attachment in Children and Young People
- An introduction to Self Harm
- An Introduction to Suicide and Awareness and Prevention
These sessions will be hosted on Microsoft Teams. For further information including dates and times, and to download a booking form please click here
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Relationship Matters: Reducing Parental Conflict Toolkit Training
Relationships affect everyone; they are part of being human and are one of the hardest to navigate around as both a child and an adult.
This course is designed to increase the participants knowledge and understanding of what parental conflict is, how to recognise it as well as encouraging participants to develop a range of practical strategies in supporting families to address conflict with the help of Wakefield’s Relationship Toolkit. Click here for more information including how to book a place. Available course dates and times:
- Thursday 25th June, 09:30 – 11:30 – Crofton Youth Centre
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YGAM Training - Gaming and Gambling Harms
Ygam’s mission is to ensure that every young person is resilient to, and safeguarded against, gaming and gambling harms. They do this through awareness raising, education and research.
This training equips you with the knowledge and confidence to deliver the programme directly to young people. The workshops are 100% fully funded and on completion all trained staff will gain access to resources to use with the young people you support and City and Guilds certification. The training is aimed at a range of youth-facing professionals, including teachers, youth workers, practitioners, universities, faith leaders and health professionals. Please click here for more information Available course dates and times:These are virtual workshops with various dates available in March. Please click on the link above for more details.
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The NWG are hosting the following FREE events which may be of interest to professionals working with children and families. Creating Stable Futures: Implementing a Positive Outcomes Framework for Children and Young People who have Experienced Human Trafficking This workshop takes place on the 12th June and will cover the following:
- Overview of the international and national picture of trafficking
- Dynamics of the trafficking of children and young people in the UK
- Understanding regional dynamics of the trafficking of children and young people
- Creating Stable Futures research and current responses and challenges in practice
- Introducing the Creating Stables Future practice tool
- Thinking ahead: exploring research recommendations
- Collaborating to develop next steps
Click here to find out more and to book a place.
Exploitation in Faith: As a volunteer, what do you need to know?
This short course takes place on 19th June and is designed specifically for people working or volunteering in the faith sector.
This course will provide attendees with an awareness of what exploitation is and the ways that children could be vulnerable to being exploited more generally before considering what exploitation might look like in a faith setting.
Attendees will be provided with an understanding of the signs they might see which could indicate a child is being exploited before being supported to know how to respond to concerns. This session will end by sign-posting people who want more information about relevant resources.
Click here to find out more and to book a place. Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Conference - Prevention, Emerging Trends and Themes
Lucy Faithfull Foundation and NWG Network have joined forces to bring you an exciting opportunity to hear from both organisations who are experts in their areas of tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation. Each has strong links with grassroots practitioners and a desire to share what they learn from their work, including what they see as new and emerging trends and themes when dealing with sexual abuse and exploitation.
This event is aimed at everyone raising awareness, preventing, responding or disrupting the crime of child exploitation, including local authorities, policing and law enforcement organisations, health professionals, youth justice, third sector, sport and leisure, foster and residential homes, and commercial businesses. Please click here to find out more and to book a place. Please note this event is not free of charge.
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9. Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults who are Not Brought to Health Appointments
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As part of Safeguarding Week 2024 the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SWYPFT) are hosting a webinar titled "Was Not Brought: safeguarding children and vulnerable adults who are not brought to health appointments". This is a multi-agency session open to all professionals. Please email SafeguardingTeam@swyt.nhs.uk to book your place and for more information. Please provide your full name, job title and place of work when booking the session. |
10. Good Practice When Supporting Refugee Families in the UK
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CFAB (protecting Children and uniting Families Across Borders) are holding a "lunch and learn" FREE session on Wednesday 19th June,1pm - 1.45pm focusing on good practices when supporting families in the UK.
With a growing number of forcibly displaced children and families, the world is facing a significant humanitarian crisis. As these families arrive in the UK, they need our support to settle and integrate into their new local communities. This session aims to provide information and tips for good practice for when you are supporting refugee families. Using case studies and CFAB's own experience, they'll explore some of the challenges faced by refugee families and the resources that are available to assist you in your work with them. They will also discuss best practice for building trust and the need for cultural sensitivity. Please register using the link below. |
11. Elective Home Education
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The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has published a briefing on elective home education in England. The paper collates learning from rapid reviews and local child safeguarding practice reviews to inform the work of safeguarding partners. It explores common themes and highlights practice issues. Please click here to download the full briefing. On the 27th June 12pm - 1pm the Panel are also hosting a webinar to cascade the key messages from this briefing. This is a 1 hour "lunch and learn" event and will include an overview of the key themes and local recommendations. This webinar will be conducted via MS Teams and you will be sent joining instructions and a full agenda via email from the Panel mailbox one week before the event. Please click here to register. |
12. Wakefield District's Start for Life Offer
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Wakefield Families Together are pleased to announce that they have recently refreshed Wakefield District's Start for Life offer. You can read the digital copy of the leaflet here. The new offer has lots of important information that will be useful for new and expectant parents. Providing them with information and local support they can access from pregnancy up to their child’s early years. Some of the information includes:
- Support during pregnancy
- Understanding feeding choices
- Bonding with your baby
- Information for dads
- Mental health support
- Debt and welfare advice
- Relationship support
- Activities for children aged 0-5
- SEND support
- Health and nutrition advice
- Family Hubs
Wakefield Families Together want to share the offer as far and wide as possible, so please make any new and expectant parents that you meet aware of the offer.
Physical copies of the leaflet can also be accessed by parents via Midwifery, Health Visiting, Family Hubs and Wakefield and Pontefract Registry Offices.
If any colleagues or partners would like to know more about the offer, or would like to promote the new offer on their websites, social media pages or newsletters, please contact WakefieldFamiliesTogether@wakefield.gov.uk for further information.
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13. Turning Point Inspiring Futures
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Inspiring Futures is the Young Person, Families and Carers Drug & Alcohol Service in the Wakefield District. This is a dedicated specialist provision for those under twenty-five and their families. Their confidential service covers the Wakefield District and is flexible so they can meet you wherever works for you - school, youth club or somewhere else. They also have a city centre site at Cross Street, Wakefield.
What they offer:
- Outreach – meet wherever it suits.
- Education about drugs and alcohol, by providing Young People and Professionals basic awareness workshops.
- 1:1 support and space to talk things through.
- Support to look at drug or alcohol use. Help with deciding what changes service users may want to make and support to cut down, quit and gain control.
- Access to support from our mental health nurse from SWYPFT linked to CAMHS
- Access to detoxification if required.
- Support for families and carers from our two family and carers workers.
- Family line, a free helpline for family members over the age of eighteen which offers befriending and counselling support Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm and a text crisis line outside of these hours.
- Hidden Harm support.
To make a referral:
Call: 0300 123 1912 Email: wakefield-IF@turning-point.co.uk
Referrals for the service come from self-referrals, GP, social services, schools, children’s homes, and Pupil Referral Units. They welcome referrals for young people up to the age of twenty-five who have a substance misuse issue or are affected by parental substance misuse. They take each individual’s age and experiences into account so they can assess what strategies can be put into place to build up resilience and confidence.
Click here to download and information leaflet and here for a poster which you can display in public areas such as waiting rooms.
A you a parent/carer and and have questions about confidentiality when your child is accessing support from Inspiring Futures? Please read their "parents guide to confidentiality" leaflet. |
14. Parental Alcohol Use & the Impact on Children
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Nacoa (The National Association for Children of Alcoholics) was founded in 1990 to address the needs of children affected by a parent’s drinking or similar addictive problem.
This includes children of all ages, many of whose problems only become apparent in adulthood.
Nacoa's aims:
- To offer information, advice and support for children affected by a parent’s drinking
- To reach professionals who work with them
- To raise their profile in the public consciousness
- To promote research into the problems they face and the prevention of alcohol use disorder developing in this vulnerable group
Click here to visit the Nacoa website and find out more about the information, advice and support available for everyone affected by a parent's drinking. 1 in 5 children are affected by a parent's drinking. John Taylor was one of those children. He was trapped in the family cycle until one day he broke free. Watch the documentary below by John Taylor titled "The 1 in 5 Documentary: A film about the forgotten children of alcoholics". It is now his mission to make a difference for the children of today. The 1 in 5 sheds light on the silent struggles behind closed doors, offering hope, awareness, and a call to action for a generation haunted by the spectre of alcoholism. |
Are you a parent/carer wanting support for your alcohol use or know someone that does. Then please visit the Turning Point Inspiring Recovery website for more information about the support they can provide to adults aged 25+ who are struggling with drug and alcohol use. Please see article 13 above for details of the support available for those aged under 25. |
15. Could You Become a Social Worker?
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Wakefield Council are looking for more ambitious and passionate people to join their social work team. Could this be you or maybe someone you know?
At Wakefield the Council are nurturing the right environment for good social work to thrive, and their staff are at the heart of that vision. When you join the social work team you'll get:
- A competitive salary
- Supportive supervision
- Manageable caseloads
- A learning culture
- Partnership working
- Clear progression pathways
- Great rewards and benefits
- Central location and commuter networks.
To find out more about joining Wakefield Council's Social Work team please click here
Watch the short video below featuring staff who have work with the Wakefield Social Care Team, explaining why it was the right choice for them.
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The Child Accident Prevention (CAPT) have recently published the following reminders to help parents and carers keep children safe. Choking
Amid growing concerns about children choking on food, CAPT have launched a selection of brand-new resources containing essential safety advice. Click here to access CAPT's free choking resources, and visit their "choking advice hub" for more information. Blind Cord Tragedies
It can take just 15 seconds for a toddler to lose consciousness if a blind cord is caught around their neck – and they can die in just two to three minutes. But many are unaware of the dangers. Visit the "blind cord advice hub" to learn more about the risks posed by blind cords to young children and ways to make sure blinds are safe. Click here to download a useful information poster for display in public and staff areas, which highlights the risks associated with blind cords. Button Batteries
Button batteries can badly hurt or kill a small child if they swallow one and it gets stuck in their food pipe. But far too many parents still don’t know about the dangers or the wide range of products powered by them. Please order free copies of CAPT's button battery poster which can be displayed in any public/staff areas so parents/carers are aware of all the products that can contain them. BBQ SafetyBBQ season will soon be upon us and we can’t wait to enjoy eating outside again. Just remember a BBQ and the ground underneath it can stay hot enough to cause a serious burn for a long time after it’s been used. So, stay alert and keep children well away from the cooking area until it’s completely cooled. Click here for more information about burns and scalds and how to prevent this from happening. Is Your Garden Child Friendly
Are you lucky enough to have a garden? Or can your child play in the garden of family or friends? Outdoor play is a great way to burn off energy but not every garden is child-friendly. So, make sure chemicals like weed killer and fertiliser are kept away from curious youngsters and garden tools are locked away in a shed. Test your garden safety knowledge by trying CAPT's quiz.
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The NSPCC have recently released the following updates which may be of interest to professionals working with children and families, and to share with parents/carers where applicable. Case Reviews
Eight new case reviews have been added to the collection this month featuring issues including family reunifications, medical care neglect, child criminal exploitation and physical abuse. Click here to take a look. Self-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material
Internet Matters has published a report on preventing ‘self-generated’ child sexual abuse material among 11- to 13-year-olds. The research included a literature review and panel discussions with 11- to 17-year-olds around effective messaging to help deter children from creating and sharing sexual images. Key findings include: many children said there were barriers to learning due to how they were taught about sexual image-sharing in school, with smaller, gender-based group work preferred; and most were supportive of peer learning approaches, learning though games, and learning from those with lived experience on social media. Download the report: Preventing "self-generated" child sexual abuse
Voice of the Child
NSPCC Learning has published a briefing summarising learning from case reviews to support improved practice around the voice of the child. The briefing is based on a sample of case reviews published between 2019 and 2023 where practice issues around hearing the voice of the child were a key factor. Learning includes: understanding what the voice of the child is; incorporating the child’s voice into assessments and arrangements; gaining appropriate skills and knowledge to understand and reflect upon the child’s voice; and building relationships to ensure the child’s voice is heard and understood. Read the briefing: Voice of the child: learning from case reviewsMaternal Mental Health
NSPCC Learning has collated a range of resources to help professionals support parents with mental health problems. This includes the Pregnancy in Mind NSPCC support service and a podcast on perinatal mental health. Find out more: Parental mental health resources
Online Safety
The UK Safer Internet Centre has developed an online safety resource alongside the Childnet Youth Advisory Board. The interactive resource “Reliability Online” helps to teach children about what they can trust when they are online and covers risks such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated imagery, scams, and body image. It is aimed at young people aged 13 to 16-years-old, but can be adapted for use with older or younger learners.
Access the resource: New interactive learning resource from Childnet looking at reliability online
See also on NSPCC Learning: Online safety resources |
18. The Hatchling - A Dragon's Coming to Wakefield - Date for Your Diary
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As part of Our Year – Wakefield District 2024, a huge 366-day programme of cultural and creative activity, Wakefield district prepares to welcome The Hatchling.
Standing taller than a double decker bus, The Hatchling is the world’s first and largest human-operated puppet to fly.
Hatching from an egg located at Wakefield Cathedral, the dragon will encounter locals and visitors around the city on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th August with a series of events prepared especially for her majestic visit.
The weekend will culminate with a breath taking finale, as The Hatchling takes flight over Pugneys Country Park on the evening of Sunday 25th August.
To find out more about this event please click here and watch the short video below for an idea of exactly what The Hatchling will look like!
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