- WSCP Launch Speak Up. Stand Up. Stop Exploitation! Community & Local Businesses Page
- WSCP Publishes Annual Report 2023-24
- NEW - Learning Exchange Event: Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking - A Partnership Response
- Safeguarding in Sport Information Session
- WSCP E-Bulletin Evaluation Survey - Your Feedback is Needed!
- Education Updates
- WSCP Website Updates
- Multi-Agency Training Dates
- Multi-Agency Neglect: A Shared Responsibility Training - Places Available!
- Domestic Abuse Resource Event
- National Safeguarding Week 2024 - FREE Workshops by Ann Craft Trust
- FREE - Online Safety Live Session
- Anti-Bullying Week 2024 - Resources Now Available!
- Wakefield Families Together Online Courses for Parents
- ICON Awareness
- Drug and Alcohol Support Services in the Wakefield District
- The ABC Online Safety Checklist
- Urgent Safety Alert Issued for Water Beads
- How to Keep Children Safe this Halloween
- The Safest Swimwear Colours for Children
- NSPCC Updates
- Name Change - Child Exploitation Team (CET)
- Discover Rainy-Day Activities
- What Would You Like to Hear About?
- Useful Links
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1. WSCP Launch Speak Up. Stand Up. Stop Exploitation! Community & Local Businesses Page
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WSCP are pleased to officially announce the launch of the new Communities and Local Businesses section of the Child Exploitation Knowledge Hub.
With information specific to the community our aim is to work alongside our partners, businesses and the public to prevent, identify, disrupt and stop child exploitation. With the help of the Speak Up Stand Up sections everyone will have access to information that will enable them to take responsibility to safeguarding children in and around our area.
What does the Community and Local Businesses page include?
A basic understanding of child exploitation is introduced through video, easy to read sections and signposting to services that the public can report to. We have also included a section of this page which gives specific guidance on what to look out for when working in the following establishments:
- Banks
- Delivery Drivers
- Hotels & Caravan Parks
- Public Transport
- Retail
- Taxis and private vehicles
- Fast Food Restaurants
Businesses will also be able to request a pack of posters and leaflets from WSCP to display in their establishment or visit the website to quickly download and print them for their own use. These include bespoke resources and information tailored to their workplace environment, as well as generic posters that can be displayed in communal areas such as family hubs, doctors’ surgeries, bus stations and local businesses for the public to raise awareness of child exploitation and to enable those concerned to report what they see to either 101 or Crimestoppers.
The bespoke resources and information should be displayed in staff rooms, toilets, reception areas, cashier desks and workplace environments to gain maximum visibility. To request a pack of posters please email wscpevents@wakefield.gov.uk or click on the button below to visit the website and download them directly. Further information about the Communities and Local Businesses section is provided in the campaign briefing. Please support this campaign by sharing this information with your networks, downloading the resources, and adding our messaging to your social media channels (suggested posts are including within the campaign briefing). |
2. WSCP Publishes Annual Report 2023-24
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Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSCP) have published the Annual Report for 2023-24 which summarises, reflects on and presents the work of WSCP from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024. This covers the fourth full financial year of operation of WSCP since it replaced the previous Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) in September 2019.
The report focuses largely on the impact the partnership has achieved, documenting the work undertaken by the partnership's Executive and 5 sub-groups, highlighting areas of strength and the areas the partnership needs to focus on developing within the next year. To access a copy of the full report please click here.
We have also produced an "annual report on a page" which summaries the key work undertaken during 2023 - 24, to access this version please click here. |
3. NEW - Learning Exchange Event: Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking - A Partnership Response
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WSCP are delighted to announce the next in our series of Learning Exchange Events which is titled "Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking: A Partnership Response". This is a face-to-face event which will take place on Tuesday 15th October, 9:00am - 12:15pm. For more information please see the flyer below and to register for a place click here. |
4. Safeguarding in Sport Information Session
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FREE for all Sports Clubs and Sport Providers in the Wakefield District, Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSCP), along with Yorkshire Sport Foundation and the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit are delivering a safeguarding in sport information session. This is a virtual session which takes place on the 9th October, 6:00pm - 7:30pm, please see the flyer below for more information. |
This session is aimed at any sport club or organisation who work or volunteer with children and young people. To book your place please click here
Calling all professionals: Please share the details of this information session with any sports clubs that you work with or are aware of, to help get as many involved as possible! |
5. WSCP E-Bulletin Evaluation Survey - Your Feedback is Needed!
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Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSCP) is seeking your feedback on the partnership’s free monthly safeguarding children e-bulletin. Since March 2021, WSCP has been issuing a free monthly e-bulletin to keep those who work or volunteer with children and families up to date with the latest local and national developments, training, and resources when it comes to safeguarding children. By completing this short survey (approx. 5 minutes to complete), your feedback will help inform how WSCP develops further in the way we communicate with you. To access the survey please click on the link below: https://forms.office.com/r/iGgPPHYBUY
To view an example of an e-bulletin please click here and for all previous editions visit the WSCP e-bulletin page on the WSCP website here, where you can also sign up for free.
The closing date for survey responses is Friday 1st November.
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Academic Calendars
Please find below links to some academic calendars that you may find of use within your school setting:
Parent Online Safety: Resources and Training for Schools.
London Grid for Learning (LGfL) understands that it is not easy to talk to parents about online safety, therefore they have created a ready to use presentation for you to deliver to them. The presentation contains top tips, discussion starters and resources to help empower parents to keep their children safe and start those key safeguarding conversations. Click here to download the presentation.
Early Years PANTS Resources
NSPCC Learning, with the PSHE Association, has updated its Talk PANTS resources for nurseries and primary schools to help keep children safe from sexual abuse. The updates include a presentation of the Underwear Rule to use with 3 to 5 year-olds.
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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:
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8. Multi-Agency Training Dates
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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 - 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
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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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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 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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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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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.
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Young Lives Consortium (YLC) Applied Suicide Interventions Skills Training (ASIST)
Young Lives Consortium (YLC) 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
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9. Multi-Agency Neglect: A Shared Responsibility Training - Places Available!
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Places are still available to book on the FREE Multi-Agency Neglect: A Shared Responsibility training taking place on the 26th November. Please see the flyer below for further information, and click here to book your place! |
10. Domestic Abuse Resource Event
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On November 20th, Wakefield Council's Learning Academy are hosting a Domestic Abuse Resource Event. With over 20 stalls in attendance, find resources, support and advice from charities/partners and professionals within the Wakefield District.
To find out more about this event please visit the WSCP Domestic Abuse webpage.This page not only contains details of this event, but also lots of other useful information and guidance in relation to domestic abuse, including where to go to access support. |
11. National Safeguarding Week 2024 - FREE Workshops by Ann Craft Trust
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Ahead of National Safeguarding Week taking place from 18th to 22nd November, the Safeguarding Adults Board have shared details of a series of free workshops offered by the Ann Craft Trust. The workshops on offer are:
- Monday 18th November - Look, Listen, Ask - Developing Professional Curiosity.
- Tuesday 19th November - Working in partnership: How to work effectively with the people you support.
- Wednesday 20th November - Establishing Professional Boundaries.
- Thursday 21st November - Recognising Exploitation: The ladder of criminality.
- Friday 20th November - Professional and Organisational Learning.
To find out more about the above workshops and to book a place on any that is of interest please click here. |
12. FREE - Online Safety Live Session
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The UK Safer Internet Centre are delighted to partner with Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSCP) to deliver a FREE Online Safety Session, taking place on Tuesday 21st January 1:30pm - 3:30pm. Please see the flyer below for further information and click here to sign up to the waiting list for this event. |
13. Anti-Bullying Week 2024 - Resources Now Available!
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There is less than eight weeks left to go until Anti-Bullying Week 2024, which is taking place from Monday 11th to Friday 15th November, with the theme: ‘Choose Respect’. To help you get involved with the week and show your support the Anti-Bullying Alliance have created everything you need – entirely free of charge – to help you get ready to choose respect in your school/setting. Please click on the links below to access the different resources that are available.
Schools Packs:
Resources for primary and secondary schools which include lesson plans, films, cross-curricular ideas, and assembly plans. These school packs are focused on developing children’s understanding of respect, including how to disagree respectfully. Odd Socks Day Pack: Odd Socks Day is taking place on Tuesday 12th November. We have a school pack with an assembly plan ready to go – alongside an amazing song and video from Andy and the Odd Socks currently in the making! Parents and Carers Pack: A tool to help parents and carers have conversations with their children about bullying. Resources from our Members: Amazing resources, events and activities courtesy of our members. |
14. Wakefield Families Together Online Courses for Parents
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Wakefield Families Together (WFT) have developed a new ‘Online Courses for Parents’ page on their website. This will support families who are not able to get to a Family Hub or Youth Hub during the day, and provide insights into the programmes and activities that Family Hubs and Youth Hubs have available. Support is available for:
- Aspirations (online support for parenting)
- Triple P – Positive Parenting Programme
- Solihull
- Separating Better
- Who’s in Charge and many more!
More courses will be added over the coming months!
Click here to download a poster which advertises the courses. Please could colleagues and partners help to promote the new page to parents and carers by displaying this poster in your buildings. WFT have also produced social media communications and graphics, so if you would like to share the page on your social media please contact WakefieldFamiliesTogether@wakefield.gov.uk to request a social media pack. |
ICON is a UK-wide programme aimed at educating health and social care professionals, parents, and carers about infant crying, effective coping strategies, and how to prevent Abusive Head Trauma. The third annual ICON Week took place from 23rd to 27th September 2024, and aimed to raise awareness about these issues and support families in managing stress related to infant crying.
The ICON programme is built around a simple, evidence-based acronym:
I – Infant crying is normal and will eventually stop.
C – Comfort methods can sometimes soothe the baby, and the crying will cease.
O – It’s OK to walk away for a few minutes if you have ensured the baby’s safety and the crying is overwhelming.
N – Never shake or hurt a baby.
This year’s ICON Week focused on sharing ideas and best practices. Friends and relatives play a crucial role in supporting parents and carers during the challenging times when a baby is crying. Although the awareness week has now finished, you can still explore ICON's new Friends and Family leaflet and other useful resources which is available on their website Resources - ICON Cope. |
16. Drug and Alcohol Support Services in the Wakefield District
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If you are worried about the drug or alcohol use of someone you know, work with or support, including children and young people, help is available to access in the Wakefield District. Please click here to download a poster which signposts people to local and national support and advice. Please share this across your networks as appropriate and display in reception or public facing building so families, parents/carers and young people can view what support is available to them. |
17. The ABC Online Safety Checklist
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We know it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start when it comes to keeping your children safe online. So, to help you get started, internetmatters.org have created the ABC online safety checklist. Visit internetmatters.org for further information and to access the checklist. |
18. Urgent Safety Alert Issued for Water Beads
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The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a Safety Alert to warn of the risks that water beads can pose to children and vulnerable adults. This follows action taken by OPSS to remove unsafe products from the market. The Safety Alert advises that water beads should be kept away from young children, under 5 years of age, and only used with older children or vulnerable adults under close supervision. Water beads are beads that can expand up to 400 times their original size when exposed to liquid. They are marketed for various purposes, including for use as toys, in crafting, as home decor or in floristry. They are sold under a variety of names including, but not limited to, jelly balls, water balls, sensory beads or water crystals. When swallowed, water beads expand and can block the gastrointestinal passage which can then require surgery. The beads can also cause choking and have harmed children in the UK, with reports linking them to deaths overseas. Water beads can be difficult to detect and do not show up in x-ray. If it is suspected that a water bead has been swallowed, medical help should be sought immediately. Read the Safety Alert for water beads.Read Product Safety Reports for specific water bead products where action has been taken.Visit the Child Accident Prevention Trust website to learn more and download their water beads poster to spread the message that water beads can be dangerous and should be kept away from young, and unsupervised children. If you aren't sure what water beads look like please see the pictures below: |
19. How to Keep Children Safe this Halloween
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Halloween can be an exciting time of year for children, dressing up and going out after dark. But, whilst Halloween is supposed to be spooky there are some horrors that families will want to avoid. The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) have provided the following top tips for a safe Halloween that you can remember for all the right reasons.
- Remember Halloween costumes are highly flammable
- Try to buy costumes from a reputable store or website
- Check costume labels for a UKCA or CE mark
- Encourage children to layer up
- Teach children to Stop, Drop and Roll
- Keep candles well out of the path of trick or treaters
- Consider switching to battery-powered candles
- Be visible
- Stay safe near roads
- Carve pumpkins carefully
- Watch out for treats that might be a choking hazard for young children
- Be wary of button batteries
To find out more about each of the top tips listed above visit the CAPT website. |
20. The Safest Swimwear Colours for Children
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Adult supervision is crucial to keeping children and young people safe in, on and around the water, but have you ever thought about whether the colour of your child’s swimwear could make a difference in preventing drowning? If the worst does happen, being able to quickly find a child in the water could save vital seconds and make the difference between a fatal and non-fatal incident. How many of us pick our children’s swimwear based on how it looks, their favourite colours or who their number one character is right now? Swim England are advising parents/carers that the colour of the swimwear makes a huge difference as to whether they can be seen even on the surface of the water, let alone if they are underwater. The colour of the bottom of the pool will make a difference BUT neon colours – orange, green, pink and yellow – will always be easier to see in a swimming pool than the colours mentioned above. This theory has been proven by a recent study, please click here to read it. If you’re going swimming in an outdoor setting, the results are the same. The caveat for this is that open water settings, such as beaches and rivers, also come with various hidden dangers such as tides and currents which need to be considered when making your choice. So now you know, when buying your child’s swimwear, think bright, neon, contrasting colours. To find out more about water safety visit the WSCP Water Safety page or take a look at the Swim England Water Safety Hub.
Please remember that just because the warmer weather has ended does not mean that water safety is not just as important now as it was in the summer months. Water safety is important throughout the whole year. Please click here to download a water safety booklet published by the Royal Life Saving Society, which provides safety advice for various scenario/activities. |
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 eating disorders, child sexual abuse, child neglect, and domestic abuse. Click here to take a look. SuicideNSPCC Learning has published a learning from case reviews briefing on suicide. The briefing is based on a sample of case reviews published between 2021 and 2023 where suicide was a key factor. The briefing highlights: the importance of understanding how suicide in young people often follows the accumulation of different vulnerabilities and adversities; the need to hear children’s voices and understand their experiences of the world; and the importance of promoting positive, trusting relationships in young people’s lives. Read the briefing: Suicide: learning from case reviews
Sexual Extortion
NSPCC Learning has published a Helplines insight briefing on young people’s experiences of online sexual extortion, or ‘sextortion’. Drawing from contacts to Childline and the NSPCC Helpline in 2023/24, the briefing explores: how sextortion occurs and how it can escalate; the impact on young people’s mental wellbeing; how to spot the signs; and how to talk to young people who may be at risk. It also provides guidance for reporting and preventing incidents of sextortion.
Read the news report: Young people's experiences of online sexual extortion or "sextortion"
Homelessness
The charity Article 39 has created a new resource for children aged 16 and 17 who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. The resource provides guidance on the rights that children have and information around: help from local authority children’s services; being looked after by a local authority; and getting help from an advocate.
Read the news story: New resource for children aged 16 and 17 without a home
Domestic Abuse: Multi-Agency Working
Ofsted has published updated guidance for inspectors carrying out joint targeted area inspections (JTAIs) of the multi-agency response to children living with domestic abuse in England. Upcoming JTAIs will evaluate local areas’ strategic arrangements for all children, with a specific focus on unborn babies and children aged 0 to 7-years-old. They will look at how children’s welfare is promoted and protected through effective and timely responses to adult victims of domestic abuse – such as through maternity and adult mental health services.
Read the press release: Joint targeted area inspections for focus on domestic abuse
See NSPCC Learning: Protecting children from domestic abuse |
22. Name Change - Child Exploitation Team (CET)
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The Children Vulnerable to Exploitation Team (CVE) have changed their name and will now be recognised as the Child Exploitation Team (CET). CET will continue working with all services under the Children and Young People's Service, their partner agencies, and importantly the Children and Young People of Wakefield. For more information about the work of the CET please click here. |
23. Discover Rainy-Day Activities
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Its not always beautifully sunny in the Wakefield District so its always good to know that there are plenty of activities and attractions available locally that can help fill a rainy day. Please visit the Experience Wakefield website to see what's available including the ongoing "Our Year" programme of events. |
24. What Would You Like to Hear About?
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What areas regarding child safeguarding do you want to hear about? WSCP welcome your suggestions for content for the partnership e-bulletin. Therefore, if there are any items you would like to be featured in the next edition or to provide feedback which will help us improve the newsletter going forward 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. |
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