- WSCP Publishes it Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements Document
- Merry Christmas from WSCP Business Unit Team - Office Opening Hours
- Help Keep Christmas Safe & Joyful for Children
- WSCP Learning Exchange Event: The National Referral Mechanism - Recording Now Available!
- Speak Up, Be Heard, Shape Your Future Children & Young People's Plan 2025 - 28
- Youth Alliance Mapping Survey
- Splash Safety at Your Pad
- Education Updates
- Multi-Agency Training Dates
- NEW - Pride in Practice - Supporting & Safeguarding LGBTQIA+ Young People Webinar
- National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV): Civil Orders Training
- NWG Safeguarding in the Faith Sector Campaign
- Bereavement Support
- Christmas Online Safety Advice for Parents & Carers
- Winter Wellness Guide
- Prisoners' Families Helpline
- NCMD Report: Child Deaths due to Asthma or Anaphylaxis
- Top Tips for a Safe Christmas
- WalkSafe Wakefield - Get the App!
- NSPCC Updates
- Useful Contact Numbers - Support Services Available in the Wakefield District
- Cost of Living Support
- Useful Links
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1. WSCP Publishes its Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements Document
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Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSCP) is pleased to share it has published its updated Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements (MASA) document.
The updated MASA document sets out the partnership’s arrangements as prescribed within Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023: Chapter 2 Multi-agency safeguarding arrangements and replaces the previous 2019 version.
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2. Merry Christmas from WSCP Business Unit Team - Office Opening Hours
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The WSCP Business Unit would like to wish all our partners and colleagues a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please note our office opening hours for Christmas and the New Year are:
Monday 23rd December, 9am -5pm
Tuesday 24th December, 9am - 5pm
Normal office functions will be closed from 5pm on Tuesday 24th December until we return on Thursday 2nd January. If you are worried about a child or have any safeguarding concerns, call 0345 8503 503 or 999 in an emergency. WSCP Business Unit contact details:
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3. Help Keep Christmas Safe & Joyful for Children
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The holiday season is often seen as a time of joy and togetherness, but for many children, it can also bring increased risks to their safety and well-being. The combination of financial pressures, heightened family tensions, and the absence of regular safeguarding networks, like schools, creates a perfect storm for safeguarding concerns. During the holiday break, children are more vulnerable to a range of issues:
- Families struggling to make ends meet may experience heightened tension, potentially leading to neglect or conflict at home.
- Some children, particularly those in care or from fragmented families, may experience neglect.
- With changes in routines and increased alcohol or drug use during festivities, the risk of physical or sexual abuse can rise.
- With more free time and possibly new devices, children may spend more time online, increasing their exposure to harmful content or online predators.
Everyone has a role to play in safeguarding children.Here’s how you can make a difference: 1. Stay observant: Look out for signs of distress or neglect in children you know or interact with. Changes in behaviour, such as withdrawal or unusual anxiety, could indicate a problem. 2. Update your knowledge: Children often suffer neglect and abuse for years because people don’t always know how to spot the signs. Everyone should learn the signs of abuse so that we can all do our part in protecting children from harm. Do you know the signs of child abuse? – Wakefield Council3. Report concerns: Many people do not act on their suspicions because they’re worried about being wrong. But taking a few minutes to report a safety concern can improve and sometimes save a child’s life. If you’re concerned about a child’s safety, call 0345 8 503 503. If a child is in i mmediate danger, you must call 999. You do not have to give us your personal details such as your name and address. When investigating a safeguarding issue, we gather information from many sources. Your report would help by forming part of a bigger picture. By staying aware, we can help ensure that every child has the opportunity to feel safe and cared for this holiday season. If you would like to get involved with our Christmas Campaign, please click here to access our graphics and share our messages. For more information and advice, visit www.wakefieldscp.org.uk |
4. WSCP Learning Exchange Event: The National Referral Mechanism - Recording Now Available!
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This month, as part of the WSCP Speak Up! Stand Up! Stop Exploitation! campaign, we delivered our last virtual Learning Exchange event of the year. The session included a detailed input from West Yorkshire Police on the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) including an overview of the Modern Slavery Act, current and emerging trends around child exploitation and what the NRM is and how to make a quality referral and the evidence needed.
We also heard from the Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship Service (ICTG) at Barnardos who provided an overview of their service, how they provide direct and indirect support and how to refer in.
The session was recorded so if you were unable to catch it on the day, you can access the series here and by scrolling down to Learning Exchange events. Keep your eyes peeled for more of our series of Learning Exchanges in the new year. |
5. Speak Up, Be Heard, Shape Your Future Children & Young People's Plan 2025 - 28
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The Children and Young People’s Plan Survey is now live! This toolkit is designed to help you encourage participation. To ensure our children, young people, and their families can voice their priorities and contribute to shaping the future.
Why this matters
The current Children and Young People’s Plan ends in 2025 and we want to hear what matters to our communities. In the past, contributions from young people have led to real and meaningful changes, including improved activities, enhanced support services, and safer spaces throughout Wakefield.
This is a powerful opportunity to make a tangible difference once more.
How you can help us engage with children and young people:
- Digital and print materials: Ready-to-use graphics, posters, and flyers for sharing information across school platforms and community spaces.
- Parent communication resources: Newsletter wording to inform parents and carers about the survey.
Key details
Your support in promoting this initiative can make a significant difference. We can ensure that the voices of children and young people across the Wakefield district help shape a future that meets their needs and aspirations.
Thank you for being an essential partner in this process. Let’s inspire our young people to share their voices and contribute to meaningful change!
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6. Youth Alliance Mapping Survey
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As part of the ambition to develop a Youth Alliance for Wakefield, there is a keenness to capture all of the existing youth provision for 11 – 19 years (up to 25 with SEND) across the Wakefield District as of December 2024. Please can you complete the following survey by Monday 6th January 2025 to help identify the fantastic work that is already happening across the district and to help Wakefield Families Together understand areas where there might be gaps in provision. This will help inform the work and strategic direction of the Youth Alliance as it embeds.
The survey is open to VCSE organisations, Businesses, Schools & Colleges, Uniformed groups, Faith groups, Health, Parish & Town Councils, Criminal Justice organisations , Local Authority teams or anyone who offers a service to the specified age group.
Survey Monkey Link: https://eu.surveymonkey.com/r/CVLBN6N |
7. Splash Safety at Your Pad
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The new report highlights evidence from the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) which shows that the number of child drowning deaths in England has doubled over the last four years.
In the past 4 years 125 children have drowned with 51 incidents occurring at home - primarily during bath time and involving children under 5. The report emphasises the importance of adult supervision, as 86% of the cases involved unsupervised children. To read the report please click here.
In response to the report findings the RLSS have launched a brand-new fun and engaging water safety awareness campaign named "Splash Safety at Your Pad". The campaign offers free hints, tips and advice for families, to help parents and carers alike learn more about the risks posed by bath time and how to stay safe. Families can access the bath time safety resources by visiting www.rlss.org.uk/splash.
The key messages of the RLSS campaign is as follows: 1) Always keep young children within arm’s reach in the bath - Always keep children under constant adult supervision in the bath. If you need to leave the bathroom, take the child with you. In a recent survey the RLSS found that 59% of parents of children under five admitted to leaving the child unattended in the bath at least once in the past month – and for most, this was down to them forgetting something, such as a towel. 2) Never leave your child under the supervision of child siblings in the bath - If you need to leave the bathroom, take the child with you. The RLSS found that 2 in 5 parents (41%) think it's safe to leave a baby in the bath with an older sibling, as long as it's not for too long. 3) Drowning can happen quickly and silently – in a matter of minutes - You won’t hear that something is wrong. Parents often don’t realise that drowning happens quickly and silently. In the RLSS survey, 55% of parents believe they would hear thrashing and a lot of noise if their child was struggling in the bath. For information about water safety please visit the WSCP dedicated water safety webpage which has resources and information suitable for children of all ages.
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Prevent in Education Virtual Sessions from the DfE
Over the remainder of 2024 and in early 2025, DfE Regional Prevent Education Coordinators (RPECs) will be delivering training sessions aimed at designated safeguarding leads and school governors to support them in understanding the Prevent duty and their safeguarding responsibilities in protecting young people from radicalisation and extremism. Please click here to see all the available dates and further details.
Six ways to feel good over Christmas
Childline have published advice aimed at children who may not enjoy Christmas or may feel worried about the festive season, to help them feel better. Please click here to access this and consider going through this in your explicit check ins with vulnerable children before the Christmas break.
Have you taken advantage of the grant funding for senior mental health lead training?
This grant needs to be applied for by the end of the year! Senior mental health lead training - GOV.UK
Senior mental health lead training grants remain available for schools and colleges that still want to benefit, including a 2nd grant if your previously trained lead has left – make sure you reserve your grant by 31 December 2024. You’ll still have until 31 January to book your training and complete your claim.
Reminder: DSL Forums & Network Meetings Open to All!Also secondary and college DSL’s/ Independent school DSL’s please note dates for face-to-face DSL network meetings here:
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9. 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. |
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:
- 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 19th March 2025, 09:00am to 4pm - Wednesday 21st May 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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NEW Dates Added for Spring/Summer 2025 - 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
- Full Day Sleep Workshop for Professionals working with Children, Young People & Families
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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10. NEW - Pride in Practice - Supporting & Safeguarding LGBTQIA+ Young People Webinar
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On the 16th January Spectrum Health will be delivering a webinar on gender questioning titled "Pride In Practice - Supporting and Safeguarding LGBTIA+ Young People. You will learn how best to support a child in the LGBTQIA+ community, the host Steph Millar-Pollock will dispel myths and work with practitioners to help them feel confident in assessing risk and other vulnerabilities when safeguarding LGBTQIA+ children. To find out more please see the flyer below and to book a place please click here. |
11. National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV): Civil Orders Training
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Taking place virtually on the 10th February 2025 2pm - 3pm, the NCDV are hosting a training session in relation to Civil Orders for those suffering Domestic Abuse. Please see the flyer below for more information, and to book a place please click here. |
12. NWG Safeguarding in the Faith Sector Campaign
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NWG recognise the important role that faith communities play in shaping the well-being of individuals, which is why their latest campaign focuses on raising awareness of abuse and promoting positive responses in faith based settings and how it's important for us.
The new campaign features an animation that has been specifically designed for the faith sector to help individuals within these communities, whether parents, community members, faith leaders or volunteers, to understand how to recognise signs of abuse and respond effectively to concerns. A faith toolkit guide has also been developed as part of this campaign. To find out more about the campaign and to access to toolkit and animation please click here. |
The festive period can be tough for children and families when you are grieving. It is not “the most wonderful time of the year” for many people, for different reasons. Christmas can be a time to remember happy memories, but it can also be a challenging time of the year. For more information about grief at Christmas, including ways to remember a loved one, please visit the Cruse website . Cruse also have a bereavement helpline which is also open on Christmas Day from 10am - until 2pm. For further information about the helpline and webform/email support please visit their website
Energy Support
During these colder months, you might be thinking about your energy bills and meeting the financial demands of keeping warm. Facing a bereavement, or caring for someone in the final months of their life, can bring many challenges, including practical and financial worries. You may be eligible for the Priority Services Register (PSR) following a bereavement, and you can find out more about this here.
Did you know that the WSCP have also launched a dedicated bereavement support webpage, providing guidance to children and families who have suffered the loss of a loved one. On this page you will find information about bereavement and the support services and resources that are available both locally and nationally. There is a mix of services listed which can provide assistance to children, young people, parents, carers and their families, when they are bereaved by the death of a child, or a child is bereaved by the death of someone they were close to. To take a look please click on the button below. |
14. Christmas Online Safety Advice for Parents & Carers
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With Christmas fast approaching many families will be gifting children with new technology, but before you do please click on the links below to learn how to help them stay safe online.
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15. Winter Wellness Guide
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Please click here to access a guide that has been pulled together by the Wakefield Mental Health Alliance to give you information of services in Wakefield supporting mental health and wellbeing over the winter months. It includes information from members of the Positive Mental Health Network and Mental Health Alliance Stakeholder Group. Are you a child or young person living in Wakefield and looking for some help or worried about a friend?We know that it can be hard to talk about your feelings or express what is happening to you or someone you care for. When you are worried, talking to somebody can make you feel better and improve the situation you are experiencing. In Wakefield there are services which can give you the right help when you need it. Please click on the button below to check out the range of support services that are ready and available to help you with how you are feeling or if you are worried about a friend. |
16. Prisoners' Families Helpline
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The prisoners' Family Helpline offers free, confidential support and advice for families in England and Wales who have a loved one in contact with the criminal justice system. To find out more about the support available visit the Prisoners' Family Website or watch the short video below: |
Calling all professionals - Please share the details of this helpline with any families you work with who you feel would benefit from this support. Please click here to download a poster with more information about this service which can be displayed in public areas.
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17. NCMD Report: Child Deaths due to Asthma or Anaphylaxis
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The National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) have published their latest thematic report "Child deaths due to Asthma and Anaphylaxis".
This report draws on their unique data to investigate deaths in children due to asthma, anaphylaxis and severe allergies, and to draw out learning and recommendations for service providers and policymakers. To read the report please click here. |
18. Top Tips for a Safe Christmas
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Love it or loathe it the run-up to Christmas for parents and carers means having a lot on your plate (and we're not talking Christmas dinner). The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) want to help families keep it merry this Christmas by sharing six simple safety tips you can do that won't add to the to-do list. Click here to take a look. Lots of families will be looking for bargains online this year due to shop closures and financial pressures caused by the cost of living crisis, so we’re sharing tips to help you buy toys safely. If you are able to, then buy direct via the websites of well-known brand names. If you are buying from an online marketplace, enter a reputable brand name when you search for the toy you want, to be sure it’s safe. The number of dangerous toys sold online to unsuspecting families is on the increase, so it’s important to be extra cautious when buying Christmas presents this year. Dangers can include:
- Magnets so strong they can burn through a child’s gut if swallowed
- Long cords that can strangle a child
- Dangerous levels of chemicals
- Small parts that can choke or suffocate
- Easy access to button batteries that can get stuck in a child’s food pipe, cause internal bleeding and even death.
- Make sure you buy children's gifts for the correct age group and from reputable retailers, and ensure they comply to safety standards
- Remember to buy batteries for toys that need them – that way you won't be tempted to remove batteries from smoke alarms
- Keep decorations and cards away from fires and other heat sources such as light fittings and don't leave burning candles unattended
- Remember, Christmas novelties and decorations are not toys and they do not have to comply with toy safety regulations - place them high up and out of reach of young hands
- Give yourself enough time to prepare and cook Christmas dinner to avoid accidents that come from rushing, and wipe up any spills quickly
- Have scissors handy to open packaging, so you're not tempted to use a knife, and have screwdrivers at the ready to assemble toys
- Beware of trailing cables and wires in the rush to connect new gadgets and appliances, and always read the instructions
- Falls are the most common accidents so try to keep clutter to a minimum and make sure stairs are well-lit and free from obstacles.
- Plan New Year fireworks parties well in advance and follow the Firework Code
- Do not drink and drive, and plan long journeys so you won't be driving tired
Remember when it comes to button batteries what you see may be very different to what a 3 year old sees. |
19. WalkSafe Wakefield - Get the App!
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Wakefield is the safest city in West Yorkshire. But being out on your own can sometimes feel unsettling, especially for children and teenagers. WalkSafe is a personal safety app which was recently introduced in Wakefield, in partnership by Wakefield Council, Wakefield BID and the Safer Together Partnership Wakefield and District. This app can be used by any age (anyone under the age of 16 must have consent from their parent/guardian to be able to accept the terms and conditions, and certain features maybe restricted to those aged 18 and over), so may be perfect for teenagers when out and about!
The app can help you find safe spaces and give you peace of mind. As well as alerting your friends if don't reach your destination. The app has safety features including:
- WalkSafe – giving you the ability to share your destination, route and estimated arrival time with trusted friends
- HomeSafe – alerts your trusted friends if you fail to arrive at your destination on time.
- Safety Map – helps you find safe spaces and support. In Wakefield this will include trained venues that take part in Ask for Angela, Licensing SAVI, Safe Spaces and Safe Zones.
- SOS – hold down the SOS button to alert your trusted friends immediately that you are in danger.
- Reporting – issues or concerns can be raised and reported anonymously.
To find out more please click here. |
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 youth violence, children as carers, culture and parents who have learning disabilities. Click here to take a look.
Child Safeguarding Incidents
The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel for England has published its 2023/24 annual report. The report analyses data and outlines learning from Serious Incident Notifications, rapid reviews, a sample of local child safeguarding practice reviews, national reviews, thematic analysis and reports. Key themes explored include: safeguarding children with mental health needs; safeguarding pre-school children with parents with mental health needs; and extrafamilial harm. The Panel also sets out its priorities for future work. NSPCC Learning will publish a CASPAR briefing summarising the learning from this report.
Read the press release: "Mission-led" government must centre vulnerable children
Read the report: Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel: Annual Report 2023 to 2024
Intrafamilial Child Sexual AbuseThe Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has published a national review into child sexual abuse within the family environment – “I wanted them all to notice”. The report draws on rapid reviews and serious case reviews featuring intrafamilial child sexual abuse; interviews with children who had been sexually abused; interviews with people who had sexually abused a child; and group discussion with practitioners, senior leaders and people with lived experience of child sexual abuse. The report highlights the importance of hearing children’s voices, understanding the needs of parents, recognising the signs of child sexual abuse and responding effectively. It sets out ten national recommendations and six recommendations for local safeguarding partners in England. Read the press release: Safeguarding experts demand national action plan to tackle sexual abuseRead the review: National review into child sexual abuse within the family environment
Read the CASPAR briefing on NSPCC Learning: Summary of the National review into child sexual abuse with the family environment - "I wanted them all the notice"
Sibling Sexual Harm and Abuse
NSPCC Learning has published an analysis of research around sibling sexual harm and abuse, highlighting good practice principles for professionals working with children and families. The review looks at the prevalence, nature and dynamics of sibling sexual abuse and different risk factors for children and families. Key findings include: sibling sexual abuse is complex and professionals can find it hard to identify, understand and respond to it; and families need to receive holistic support with consideration for the wider family dynamic.
Read the report: Understanding and responding to sibling sexual harm and abuse
Puberty and Learning Disabilities
NSPCC Learning has designed a booklet on navigating puberty to share with parents and carers of children and young people who have learning disabilities. The guide sets out: what puberty is; changes that happen to everyone during puberty; and top tips to support children through the physical and emotional challenges that puberty brings.
Download the booklet: Navigating puberty
Children who have Disabilities
NSPCC Learning has published a Why language matters blog on using child-first language when talking about children who have disabilities. The blog explores how shifting language can help professionals to: see the child and not just the disability; understand how disability can be an important part of a child’s identity; and recognise and respect how children prefer to talk about their additional needs.
Read the blog: Why language matters: putting the child first - why we say children who have disabilities rather than disabled children
Listen to the blog: Why language matters: putting the child first - why we say children who have disabilities rather than disabled children
Adultification Bias
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has updated its guidelines on handling allegations of discrimination. The guidance outlines different types of discrimination and the types of allegations that may arise. The guidance includes a section on adultification, a form of bias where children from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities are perceived as being more ‘grown up’ and less vulnerable than other children. The guidelines explain that this can lead to the safeguarding and welfare of a child not being appropriately considered. A case study related to the adultification of a young person in police custody is included.
Read the guidance: Guidelines for handling allegations of discrimination
Read the Guardian news story: Watchdog calls for end to "adultification of black children by Police in England and Wales |
21. Useful Contact Numbers - Support Services Available in the Wakefield District
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Please click here to access a list of useful numbers for national and local support services that are available for residents of the Wakefield District, including local foodbanks. Calling all professionals - Please can you share this information with any families that you are working with who you think may need extra support over the Christmas/New Year period. |
22. Cost of Living Support
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Christmas is expensive, click here to learn more about the cost of living advice and support services Wakefield Council has to offer, such as job, housing, energy and more. |
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