- WSCP shortlisted for a national Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Workforce Award
- NEW - Learning Exchange Event: From Information to Intelligence
- Speak Up. Stand Up. Stop Exploitation! Impact Evaluation 2024
- Updated - Basic Awareness: Working Together to Safeguard Children Training
- Safeguarding Week 2024 - Serious Youth Violence Masterclass Evaluation Infographic
- Education Updates
- Partnership Intelligence Portal
- WSCP Website Updates
- Multi-Agency Training Dates
- YLC Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
- The Children's Society #LookCloser Programme of Learning
- The Inclusive Sports Festival
- Wakefield Families Together - Market Place Events
- NSPCC Loneliness Support Service
- Will your Child be Walking to School from this September?
- Warning - Babies can Suffocate on Nappy Sacks
- Just Don't Campaign
- Water Safety Information & Resources
- NSPCC Updates
- What Would You Like to Hear About?
- Useful Links
|
1. WSCP shortlisted for a national Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Workforce Award
|
WSCP is delighted to share that our Speak Up. Stand Up. Stop Exploitation! section of the WSCP Knowledge Hub has been shortlisted for a national LGC Workforce Award which takes place later this year in November. Congratulations to all the other nominees. For further information on the shortlisting please see - LGC Workforce Conference & Awards Programme 2024 - Back office heroes 2024 (lgcplus.com) What is the Speak Up. Stand Up. Stop Exploitation! section of the WSCP Knowledge Hub? This section of the Knowledge Hub provides a single point of access for anybody who works or volunteers with children and families to all the current information, videos, resources and learning offers to help prevent, identify, disrupt and stop child exploitation, covering a broad range of types and areas associated including:
- Child Criminal Exploitation, including County Lines
- Child Sexual Exploitation
- Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking
- Child Financial Exploitation
- Missing From Home & Care
- Extra-Familial Harm
What difference has it made? Since launching earlier in March this year, it has been accessed over 1,000 times by 450 practitioners*. Recent evaluation** from those who have used the resource has shown:
- 94% continue to use it as part of routine practice
- 82% report an increase in their knowledge of child exploitation after using the hub
- 94% feel more confident in identifying child exploitation as a result of using the hub
- 100% find the hub easy to navigate and the content accessible
- 100% are very likely or likely to recommend to others to use the hub
Child exploitation continues to be a key safeguarding focus; by accessing this online resource, you are joining the campaign to prevent, identify, disrupt, and stop child exploitation. Visit the WSCP website to help you in the support you provide to children and their families. *data taken from Google Analytics of the WSCP website at the time of writing.
**evaluation gathered from Speak Up. Stand Up. Stop Exploitation! Impact Evaluation. This impact evaluation is still live and has received 45 responses at the time of writing. |
2. NEW - Learning Exchange Event: From Information to Intelligence
|
WSCP are delighted to announce we are holding a virtual Learning Exchange Event titled "From Information to Intelligence". This event will take place on Thursday 26th September 2024, 10am - 11.30am. For more information, including how to register for a place, click here! |
3. Speak Up. Stand Up. Stop Exploitation! Impact Evaluation 2024
|
In March 2024, Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSCP) launched the Speak Up. Stand Up. Stop Exploitation! campaign aimed at those who work or volunteer with children and their families to prevent, identify, disrupt and stop exploitation in the Wakefield District. The campaign aimed to raise awareness and direct practitioners to a central knowledge hub of information, guidance and resources around child exploitation. To help us assess and evaluate the impact thus far of the first stage of the Speak Up. Stand Up. Stop Exploitation! campaign, please can you complete this short survey which should take approximately 2 minutes. Link to impact evaluation formBy filling out this quick survey, you will help the Business Unit to understand what information and resources are the most useful to you, how this is being used and how it is impacting practice. Any feedback you provide will assist us in consideration of next steps, continued stages of development and further promotion. The evaluation will close on Friday 13th September. Thank you for your time completing this evaluation. |
4. Updated - Basic Awareness: Working Together to Safeguard Children Training
|
The Working Together to Safeguard Children Basic Awareness recorded training, is an introductory course covering basic safeguarding. It gives participants information about the principles for working with children, young people and families.
WSCP advises all practioners who work or volunteer with children and families to undertake this training as part of induction.
|
5. Safeguarding Week 2024 - Serious Youth Violence Masterclass Evaluation Infographic
|
During Safeguarding Week 2024 (24th to 28th June) Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership hosted a masterclass exploring what Serious Youth Violence looks like in Wakefield and the wider district. During this event we took a deep dive into the lived experience of children and their families, restorative practice and learning from audit. With input from the Violence Reduction Partnership, West Yorkshire Police, the Youth Justice Service, St Giles Trust and the Ivison Trust, it was an excellent opportunity to share knowledge and information, network and learn about the local picture in respect of Serious Youth Violence. If you missed the masterclass, the recording is now available to watch from our website Masterclasses & Briefings - Wakefield Safeguarding Children (wakefieldscp.org.uk)
Still not sure watching it will be of any benefit to you? Click the button below to download the masterclass evaluation infographic, which summarises the feedback provided by the professionals who attended the event, including how they will put what they have learnt into practice. |
Do you have a whole school approach to addressing misogyny?
With recent headlines ‘Violence against women at 'epidemic' levels and is a threat on par with terrorism, UK police warn’ and ‘Influencers driving extreme misogyny, say police’, we know this is a serious and deep seeded issue schools are grappling with.
Have you considered a whole school approach?
Secondary schools will all be aware and using Spectrum’s resources however please also see some whole school approach tools, research and other resources below:
With the introduction of Tik Tok influenced “tradwife” - a married woman who keeps house, extols “traditional” values and yields to her husband and “stay-at-home girlfriends,” SAHG promoting ‘feminine ease’ are these current ‘trends’ being discussed and debated within your RSHE?
The Labour government have promised to help schools with this issue but until announcements are made please consider some of the useful resources and templates above to implement a whole school approach. These and more are linked on the WSCP website Schools & Colleges Key Links & Resources - Wakefield Safeguarding Children (wakefieldscp.org.uk) under Sexual harassment, abuse, HSB and misogyny. Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood (SUDC) Support in Schools
SUDC UK are delighted to launch "SUDC Support in Schools" - a guide to assist families and schools after a child has suddenly died. Copies of this free resource are available to order by emailing info@sudc.org.uk or a downloadable version is available through their website, please click here to access it.
|
7. Partnership Intelligence Portal
|
Have you heard of the Partnership Intelligence Portal (PiP), is your organisation signed up to it and do you know what it's used for?
The Partnership Intelligence Portal is owned and managed by West Yorkshire Police. It is a web-based reporting portal that allows you to submit intelligence you gather during your daily business. It is user friendly, simple to access, gives you a direct link to report intelligence to the correct team in West Yorkshire Police and reduces the time you spend reporting intelligence to the force.
Click here to access a flyer which provides more information and a link enabling you to sign up for a secure account for your organisation. If you already have an account the flyer has a link to the Portal via your organisations secure account. |
The WSCP Business Unit has recently been busy updating the content on some of our published webpages, so that all resources associated with that topic are in one place. Please see the links below for the sections that have been updated:
|
9. Multi-Agency Training Dates
|
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 25th September - Tuesday 26th November |
UPDATE: Working Together - A Shared Responsibility
Please note that the advanced face to face training is now on hold and unavailable to book onto. You can still access the basic awareness training here. We will update you as soon as we can and apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. |
NEW - Every Sleep a Safer Sleep Multi-Agency Training
The sudden and unexpected death of an infant (SUDI) is one of the most devastating tragedies that can happen to any family. At least 300 infants still die suddenly and unexpectedly each year in England and Wales. West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership has seen a sharp increase in the number of infants who have died because of unsafe sleep practices over recent years. As part of the Local Maternity System public health recommendations, it was also recognised that much can be done before, during and after pregnancy to support women and their babies. In 2020, the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel published ‘Out of Routine’ a Thematic Report into SUDI. This report identified these deaths occur more frequently in families where there are certain vulnerabilities. In response, we have developed this training to support frontline workers to engage parents with safer sleeping advice. This training is multi disciplinary for all agencies who work with parents and carers of babies aged 0-12 months including pre-birth Available course date and time:- Tuesday 24th September, 13.00pm - 15:30pm To find out more about the above course and to book a place please click here
|
NEW - Impact of Parental Mental Illness on Children
This virtual package provided by SWYPFT considers the impact of a variety of parental mental illnesses on children at various ages and stages of development. The session is aimed at any member of staff who works in the Wakefield District and has contact with children or carers of children.
Available course date and time:
-Wednesday 16th October.
Additional dates coming soon!
To find out more about the above course and to book a place please click here
|
NEW - Risk and Resilience Framework Training
The training is delivered by Wakefield Public Health and colleagues from across the Wakefield District.
The aim of the training session is to:
- Increase confidence in navigating the Risk and Resilience website
- Explore the support tools, interventions and resources on the website
- Understand how it can support your work
- Share best practice
Available course dates and times:
- Thursday 10th October, 09:30 - 15:30
- Thursday 21st November, 09:30 - 15:30
- Tuesday 4th February, 09:30 - 15:30
- Thursday 10th April, 09:30 - 15:30
To find out more about the above course and to book a place please click here
|
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
|
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 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
|
Young Lives Consortium: safeTALK Suicide Alertness Training
Know what to do if someone is thinking about suicide by following the easy to remember TALK steps- Tell, Ask, Listen and Keep-safe.
Places are free for those that live, work or learn in the Wakefield District.
These practical steps offer immediate help to someone having thoughts of suicide and help you both move forward to connect with more specialised support.
- Identify people thinking of suicide.
- Overcome barriers in talking about suicide.
- Identify reasons we may miss, dismiss or avoid suicide.
- Practice using the 4-step model of suicide alertness.
- Connect people at risk of suicide with further appropriate help.
Available course dates & times:
- Tuesday 10th September, 15:30 - 20:00
- Thursday 26th September, 15:30 - 20:00
To find out more about the above course and to book a place please click here
|
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
|
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. Please click on the link above for more details.
|
10. YLC Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
|
Young Lives Consortium is a membership organisation of Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) groups working with children and young people aged 0-25 across the Wakefield District.
They work alongside a broad range of organisations which include charities, voluntary and community groups, uniform and faith groups providing youth services, play, sports services and much more.
Young Lives is currently offering a Two-day ASIST training course.
What is ASIST?
An accredited two-day, interactive training that prepares professionals to provide suicide first aid interventions.
Who can attend ASIST?
Anyone over 16 can learn to use the ASIST model. No previous mental health or suicide prevention experience is necessary.
For further information about this training course, including costs and to complete an expression of interest form, please visit the Young Lives Consortium website |
11. The Children's Society #LookCloser Programme of Learning
|
The Children's Society are delighted to invite you to join them for their latest #LookCloser programme of learning. They have developed sessions based on learning from The Children's Society and wider partners to tackle the issues of child exploitation and abuse. All sessions are free of charge and delivered on Microsoft Teams which means:
- Interaction with the presenters and participants will be limited
- There will a Q&A function
- They will use tools such as Menti to provide opportunities for engagement and discussion
To find out more, including the dates and times of the courses available, please click here. |
12. The Inclusive Sports Festival
|
Wakefield Council are inviting you to join them for the Wakefield Districts biggest disability sports event! The Inclusive Sports Festival will feature sports for all abilities and its FREE.
Explore new sports, make new friends, and have loads of fun! Their events are designed especially for children, young people, and families with disabilities, learning disabilities and neurodiversity. Everyone's welcome!
Event details:
-
Sunday 15th September - Time: 10am to 1pm, Featherstone Sports Complex: Pontefract Road, Featherstone, Pontefract WF7 5AJ
This multi-sport event offers the opportunity for lots of different organisations and providers to get together and showcase what disability inclusive sport and physical activity is available in the district, aiming to give greater choice, quality, and accessibility of opportunities to be active. There is something for everyone to try on the day ranging from group exercise and bowls to tennis, football, basketball and many more.
Quiet sensory spaces and self-lead activities will be offered to give young people the opportunity for some quiet, chilled time during the event. Plus, the Council's amazing partners will be holding taster events throughout September, offering even more opportunities to try out new sports and activities! To find out more please click here |
13. Wakefield Families Together - Market Place Events
|
Wakefield Families Together are hosting a number of partnership networking Market Place events!
The Market Place events are where organisations from across the district come together to provide information to other professionals and the public.
There will be a main focus this year on drugs, alcohol and smoking cessation services.
If you are a local organisation who provides services for any of the above, please get in touch to discuss and book your information stand. If you provide any other services that are relevant to the families of the district, then also get in touch. The dates are:
- Central, North & South West Area – Wakefield Trinity Rugby Club (MKM Suite),19th Sept – 4.00-6.30 pm
- Normanton, Featherstone & South East Area – Red Roof Children’s Day Nursery in Kinsley, 25th Sept – 3.30-6.00 pm
- Castleford, Airedale, Pontefract & Knottingley Area – St Mary’s Community Centre, Pontefract, 30th Sept – 4.00-6.30 pm
If you are unable to offer an information stand you and your colleagues are invited to attend at any of the events to meet with the agencies and have a chat/network about the work they do. If you have any queries about these events or want to attend with a stand please contact Joanne Browning, Project Officer at jbrowning@wakefield.gov.uk |
14. NSPCC Loneliness Support Service
|
The NSPCC have a new support service called "Building Connections" that could be beneficial to young people supported within the Wakefield area.
Research shows by age 16-18, 73% of young people do not feel equipped to deal with loneliness and Building Connections want to change that (Vote for Schools survey, 2023).
At Building Connections, they remotely connect young people up to the age of 18 with a befriender to help them overcome, manage and build strategies to deal with loneliness as part of their targeted and focused early intervention strategy. This service is completely free to all young people across the UK.
Any professional working with young people is able to refer in through the link below. You will also find further information, including their advert which is aimed at professionals.
Watch the short video below which explains a little bit more about the "Building Connections" service and the support that can be offered: |
15. Will your Child be Walking to School from this September?
|
It's that time of year when many parents/carers are thinking about the return to school for their children. Perhaps this year will be the first your child is walking alone with their friends. Or maybe your child is changing school and they have a new route to learn. It can be a nerve-wracking time. But, there are things you can do to help your child with the transition and keep them safe. The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) have published really useful information about teaching children pedestrian safety. Please click here to access the information, so children are prepared when they walk to school from September. |
16. Warning - Babies can Suffocate on Nappy Sacks
|
A recent incident in the UK where a baby died following suffocation from a nappy sack has highlighted the need for greater awareness about the dangers. Professionals are being encouraged to read the safety campaign from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents about the danger of nappy sacks: Nappy Sacks - RoSPA and to share this information with frontline practitioners. |
In 2023 a campaign in Yorkshire was launched aimed at tackling everyday harassment and inappropriate male behaviour towards women and girls.
The 'Just Don’t' campaign has been launched after statistics showed that 86% of young women in the UK have experienced sexual harassment in public. Research and testing with focus groups found men were "frequently unaware of the issues women face all too often," according to campaign organisers the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).
The key message calls for men and boys to reflect on their own behaviour as well as that of their friends and family. Women from West Yorkshire spoke to the WYCA about their experiences.
Watch the campaign video below, highlighting types of problematic behaviour. |
To find out more about the campaign and how you can help to improve the safety of women and girls, click here. |
18. Water Safety Information & Resources
|
If you are not already aware this is just a reminder that in September 2022 the WSCP Business Unit launched a dedicated "Water Safety Webpage". This page contains key safety messages for children and young people about how to stay safe in and around water and also what to do if they get into difficulty. There are also some hard hitting videos, to bring home the reality of the dangers of water and resources available for all ages. The page was created in consultation with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) UK and the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) UK, and is regularly updated with new information and resources. Remember - water safety is important throughout the whole year, so take a look at the webpage today, and learn what to do should you ever find yourself/or someone else struggling in water. Calling all professionals - please share details of the webpage with any children and families that you work with to help spread awareness. |
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 child sexual abuse, child criminal exploitation, suicide and infant deaths. Click here to take a look. Self Harm
The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) has published a new podcast episode on self-harm in children and young people and technology. The podcast discusses: the prevalence of self-harm and risk factors; the support accessed by children and young people who self-harm; and different digital interventions. Listen to the podcast: Digital interventions and self-harm prevention
See also on NSPCC Learning: Child mental health
AI-generated content
South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) has created a new advice hub on synthetic media, often called ‘deepfakes’, which provides information about this form of AI-generated content. The hub includes information on the impact of synthetic media, the technology behind it, and the support available for anyone affected by harmful or sexual synthetic content.
Read the news story: New synthetic media hub launched
Visit the hub: Synthetic media (deepfakes)
See also on NSPCC Learning: Online harms: protecting children and young people
Violence affecting children
The Youth Endowment Fund has published a report on trends in violence affecting children and young people in England and Wales, looking at data on homicides, knife crime, involvement in the criminal justice system, poverty and other indicators. Findings indicate that children’s involvement in serious violence in 2022/23 was higher than a decade ago but is now falling; boys are disproportionately affected by violence; there is an overrepresentation of Black children in custody; and violence is concentrated in the poorest areas. The report also discusses services and sectors supporting children and young people and growing evidence about what works to prevent violence such as mentoring, therapies and ‘hot spot’ policing.
Read the report: Beyond the headlines: trends in violence affecting children
Child Sexual Extortion
The Guardian has published a news story on how financially motivated sexual extortion or ‘sextortion’ is affecting children. Featuring a Childline counsellor, the article discusses cases of teenagers contacting Childline with experience of financial sextortion. The Guardian has also shared guidance on how sextortion fraud works and how to deal with sextortion scams.
Read the news story: "It looks so real": amid rise in financial sextortion, Childline is helping teenagers fight back
Read the guide: How can children be protected from online sextortion fraud |
20. What Would You Like to Hear About?
|
What areas regarding child safeguarding do you want to hear about? We welcome your suggestions for content for the partnership e-bulletin. Therefore, if there is something specific you would like to have included one month or have any suggestions for content that have a safeguarding children focus, please email wscp@wakefield.gov.uk. The e-bulletin is circulated on the last working day of each month, therefore any suggestions for content would need to be received at the latest the week before circulation. |
|
|
Copyright © 2024 Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership, All rights reserved.
Has this email been forwarded to you? Why not sign up yourself here so you don't miss out on future
WSCP e-Bulletins?
Our mailing address is:
|
|
|
|
|
