- WSCP Learning Exchange Events - All Recordings Now Available!
- Keep Off the Ice - Winter Water Safety Advice
- WSCP E-Bulletin Evaluation Survey 2024 - Feedback
- WSCP Website Updates
- Resource Highlight for January: Professional Curiosity & Challenge Learning Briefing
- New Safer Sleep Protocol Guidance
- Lift the Baby - Safer Sleep Advice for New Dads/Male Carers
- Donations for Care4Us Awards for Children in Care
- Education Updates
- Managing Difficult Feelings
- Children's Mental Health Week 2025
- NCMD Child Death Review Data Release - Year Ending 31st March 2024
- Multi-Agency Training Dates
- NEW DATES - Multi-Agency Neglect: A Shared Responsibility Training
- WSCP Impact Evaluations
- Partnership Intelligence Portal (PIP) Training
- Every Sleep a Safe Sleep Bespoke Training for Nurseries and Childminders
- DfE Consultation - Keeping Children Safe, Helping Families Thrive
- FREE - Child Sexual Abuse Webinars and Resources
- Child Sexual Abuse - Directory of Support Services
- National Centre for Domestic Abuse (NCDV): Civil Orders Training
- Turning Point Inspiring Futures Webinars and Workshops
- Save the Date - YHMAST Multi-Agency Safeguarding Conference
- Family Hubs - Welcome Spaces
- Top Safety Tips for Families
- NSPCC Updates
- Useful Links
|
1. WSCP Learning Exchange Events - All Recordings Available Now!
|
Over the past few months as part of the Speak Up, Stand Up and Stop Exploitation campaign, WSCP have held a number of Learning Exchange events, designed to increase practitioners knowledge in specific areas. These have included:
- Serious Youth Violence (June 2024) - With input from the Violence Reduction Partnership, Youth Justice Service, West Yorkshire Police, Ivison Trust, St Giles Trust and WSCP audit activity we had a West Yorkshire wide audience where we shared best practice, a deeper understanding and knowledge around serious violence in the area and gained an invaluable insight into the lived experience of both child, parent and victim.
- From Information to Intelligence: Know its Value (Sept 2024)- At this event Ivison Trust and West Yorkshire Police discussed the value and context of information and intelligence, how it drives intervention and investigation and introduced the Partnership Intelligence Portal (PiP) to those who work and volunteer with children.
- The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) (Dec 2024) - This learning exchange looked at what is an NRM, including referral process and guidance, what happens after an NRM, who are the first responders and what do they do, when do the Police investigate, what partners can help and how, and how to write an NRM.
Does all the above sound useful? Don't worry if you weren't able to attend any of these events at the time, they were all recorded and can be watched at a time when it is convenient to you, or perhaps they could be viewed during your next team meeting, so all professionals have access to this learning. Click here to access them, and learn more. |
2. Keep Off the Ice - Winter Water Safety Advice
|
Children are attracted to frozen lakes, canals and lochs as they present natural play opportunities. During the recent cold spell in early January there were reports that children were playing on ice at sites throughout the Wakefield district. Ice, however, can be a serious hazard in the UK in the winter.
Areas with frozen lakes, ponds, canals and reservoirs can be beautiful places to visit during the winter months but all too often many people risk their lives by venturing onto frozen water. Don’t be fooled by popular movie scenes, ice can be extremely dangerous and across the UK and Ireland is unlikely to freeze to a suitable depth to safely walk on. Make sure the whole family knows basic water safety and what to do if they find themselves in the water unexpectedly.
What to do if you fall through the ice:
1. Keep calm and shout for ‘help’.
2. Spread your arms across the surface of the ice in front of you.
3.If the ice is strong enough, kick your legs to slide onto the ice.
4. Lie flat and pull yourself towards the bank.
5. If the ice breaks, work your way to the bank-breaking the ice in front of you.
6. If you cannot climb out, wait for help and keep as still as possible. Preserve heat by pressing your arms by your side and keep your legs together. Keep your head clear of the water.
7. Once you are safe, go to hospital immediately for a check up.
What to do if you see someone fall through the ice:
1. Shout for assistance and phone the emergency services – call 999.
2. Do not walk or climb onto the ice to attempt a rescue.
3. Shout to the casualty to ‘keep still’ and offer reassurance to keep them calm.
4. Try and reach them from the bank using a rope, pole, tree branch, clothing tied together or anything else which can extend your reach.
5. When reaching from the bank, lie down to avoid being pulled onto the ice.
6. If you cannot reach them, slide something which floats, such as a plastic bottle or football, across the ice for them to hold onto to stay afloat whilst help is on the way.
7. If the casualty is too far away, do not attempt to rescue them. Wait for the emergency services while calming and reassuring the casualty.
What to do after the casualty has been rescued from the ice:
1. Make sure the ambulance is on its way.
2. Lay the casualty flat, check for normal breathing and begin resuscitation if necessary.
3. Prevent them from getting colder by covering them with warm clothing, blankets etc.
4. Get them out of the cold under cover or create some shelter around them.
5. Until the casualty is in a warm place, do not undress them.
6. Do not rub their skin, do not apply hot water bottles and do not give an alcoholic drink.
7. Keep them wrapped up so they warm up gradually.
For more advice and information about winter water safety visit the Royal Life Saving Society Website or the WSCP dedicated water safety webpage. |
3. WSCP E-Bulletin Evaluation Survey 2024 - Feedback
|
Back in October the WSCP Business Unit circulated our annual evaluation survey, seeking feedback on the partnerships safeguarding children e-bulletin. Thank you to all of you who completed this, we have had the most responses received to date since the survey commenced back in 2022, and the information you have provided has once again been very useful.
We ask the same questions annually, so we can directly compare year upon year our subscribers thoughts on the e-bulletin and see where improvements might now be needed.
What's working?
We asked how useful you found the content of the e-bulletin and your responses are summarised in the pie chart below.
|
|
We also asked when you receive the e-bulletin what do you do with it and what parts you find most useful, the chart below shows your answers.
|
|
What parts of the ebulletin do you find most useful?
|
The survey results show that the majority of our respondents (over 80%) continue to find the content of the e-bulletin either very useful or useful. We understand that some editions of the ebulletin are quite big and packed with content, making it difficult to read everything at once. However the survey results show that each month you do find articles of interest with content that might help you in your practice. Remember, just because you may not have the time to read the e-bulletin in full when you first receive it, all previous editions are available on the WSCP website and can be accessed at a time when it is convenient to you. Your feedback and suggestions about how we can improve the e-bulletin
You said: "More frequent but with less information, slim it down a bit, there is a lot of information all at one time".
Our response: Unfortunately the Business Unit is only able to produce the e-bulletin once per month. We understand that this means some editions will be bigger than others, depending on what campaigns, training or updates we need to share in that month. We have previously considered having a specific set number of articles per month, but if we did that it would mean we didn't include some things that might be of use/interest to our readers. We try to make our content lists as clear as possible so you can easily see what is featured in the latest edition, and scroll down to what's of interest. As soon as it is possible to hyperlink the contents list to the articles we will do so to make it easier to go straight to what you want to read, but unfortunately this functionality is not yet available. You said: "Maybe make it a PDF so then it could be downloaded and kept/printed out".
Our response: A PDF document doesn't have the same functionality as the platform we use to produce the e-bulletin. Although a PDF would still allow us to use links we wouldn't be able to include things such as videos etc, and the process to subscribe/unsubscribe would be considerably more complicated than it is now. All past versions of the ebulletin are available 24/7 via the WSCP website and can be downloaded at your convenience. You said: "A short video, could be included to give a very quick, say 1/2 minute overview of what is detailed in the e-bulletin".
Our response: We will look into this suggestion further, however in the meantime for each edition of the ebulletin that is published we do an accompanying news post on the WSCP website, giving a summary of what is featured in the latest edition. Click here to see an example. Do you have any suggestions for e-bulletin content?
We welcome your suggestions and ideas for content for the partnership e-bulletin. Therefore, if there is something specific you would like to have included one month, maybe an event or training that you want us to promote, or have any suggestions for content that have a safeguarding children focus, please email wscp@wakefield.gov.uk.
|
The WSCP Business Unit have been busy updating the content on some of our published webpages. Please see the link below for the section that has been updated this month: Domestic Abuse - Wakefield Safeguarding Knowledge Hub
Coming next month: New Starter Page for partners – Designed for new employees as an introduction to WSCP and partnership working. More information to follow! |
5. Resource Highlight for January: Professional Curiosity and Challenge Learning Briefing
|
We know that being professionally curious can lead to better outcomes for children and their families by making sure the right interventions are delivered. It also helps improve our assumptions when assessing need by not missing vulnerabilities and less obvious indicators of abuse and neglect.
Interestingly, we asked practitioners what impact this has had on their practice… find out more here! |
6. New Safer Sleep Protocol Guidance
|
New Safer Sleep Protocol guidance is now available to access on the West Yorkshire Consortium Policies and Procedures page. The guidance is created to assist practitioners to discuss safer sleep arrangements to support parents to make informed decisions regarding safe sleep and to raise awareness of the risk factors associated with Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy and Childhood (SUDI/C).
The guidance covers several elements including providing clear and consistent evidence-based information for a muti-disciplinary workforce across West Yorkshire, to equip workers with confidence and knowledge to facilitate open and honest discussions to support parents in safer sleeping decisions and to ensure staff who visit households understand what constitutes unsafe sleeping.
Every Sleep a Safer Sleep Multi-Agency training is also available to book onto via the WSCP website. The training includes a webinar delivering key information about SUDI, how to effectively share safer sleep messages with parents and carers and a participatory session to use the tools and guidance to explore scenarios where risks are present.
To access the course please visit:
|
7. Lift the Baby - Safer Sleep Advice for New Dads/Male Carers
|
The Lift The Baby campaign is aimed at promoting safer sleeping in younger babies. The move follows figures showing more than 130 babies die in the UK every year in hazardous sleeping circumstances, for example, where a parent or carer falls asleep whilst holding the baby, unwittingly placing the child at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The risks are exacerbated if the adult has been smoking, drinking using drugs or heavy medication or is excessively tired. But in most cases, if adults follow the safe sleeping guidelines, these deaths are completely avoidable.
The Lift the Baby for Safer Sleeping film is the result of a year long piece of work pioneered by Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (ICB), East Berkshire ICB and a range of health partners. Research showed that the bulk of information and support offered to new parents was aimed primarily at mothers, and the health teams wanted to develop something to reach out to new dads.
A special webpage has been developed in partnership with the Lullaby Trust and features a range of safe sleeping advice:
Lift the baby – Welcome to BOBLMNS
Watch the short Lift the Baby campaign video below and find out more about safeguarding infants and babies by visiting the dedicated page on the WSCP website. |
8. Donations for Care4Us Awards for Children in Care
|
Thank you all those who made donations to the Christmas Care Leavers appeal. Thanks to the donations received it was possible to make 45 bags of presents which were given to care leavers at the Pathways/Next Steps team annual Christmas dinner.
If you missed the Christmas appeal there is still time to help.
Children live in care, away from their birth families, for many reasons, and this causes the child significant trauma and obstacles to face in their lives. The Pathways/Next Steps team want to celebrate the lives and achievement of these special young people, so they are hosting an annual celebration of achievement evening for young people on the 20th February 2025.
It would be great if each young person could be presented with a certificate and small gift at this event, the team will also be running a free tombola.
Would it be possible to donate experiences, unwanted gifts, stationery, or anything you feel would be appreciated by a young person aged 13-17yrs?
If you are able to help, please can you drop off donations to:
Crofton Young People’s Centre
High St
Crofton
Wakefield
WF4 1NF,
The Learning Academy
The Chesneys Centre
Regent St
Featherstone
WF7 5EW
Next Steps Office
Warren Court off Park Lodge Lane
Eastmoor,
Wakefield,
WF1 4XA.
Wakefield Council staff can drop off donations outside the Gawthorpe Room, Third Floor, Wakefield One. |
Illegal Vapes - Important Reminder
In December West Yorkshire Police (WYP) advised that they were aware schools across West Yorkshire are facing issues with children vaping but, recently this had taken a worrying turn. This was due to having an increasing number of school children being hospitalised after using vapes containing illegal substances. WYP wanted to make schools aware of the risks and for this to be shared with parents in order to keep children safe. Please click here to access a letter that can be distributed to parents. WYP also have a VAPES police input which can be delivered by your PCSO or SSO. Information about where children are obtaining illegal vapes can be shared through the Partnership Intelligence Portal.
Safer Internet Day 2025: Educational Resources
Please click on the link below to access educational resources published by the UK Safer Internet Centre, to help you deliver sessions for Safer Internet Day 2025 taking place on the 11th February. Education resources - UK Safer Internet Centre
Online SafetySWGfL has published a blog post looking at how filtering systems operate and managing school-issued devices to try to prevent children encountering harmful content online. The article briefly explores some of the challenges for schools and provides suggestions around parental controls and collaboration between parents and schools. Read the article: Navigating filtering concerns around school-issued devicesSee also on NSCPCC learning: Online safety and schoolChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill
The Department for Education (DfE) has published a press release on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill being debated in Parliament. The press release outlines how the new measures in the Bill will help protect children and young people from exploitation, grooming and abuse. The Children’s Charities Coalition, made up of five charities including the NSPCC, has published a response to the Bill. The response outlines the need for the Bill and welcomes the child protection measures it sets out. Read the DfE press release: Children's bill to keep children safe from exploitation
Read the Children's Charities Coalition response: CEOs from the Children's Charities Coalition respond to The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill
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:
|
10. Managing Difficult Feelings
|
Children and young people, just like adults, struggle to manage difficult feelings at times and need a little extra help and support. Additionally some children worry about and want to help their friends who they know are going through a difficult time.
We know that it can be hard for children to talk about their feelings or express what is happening to you or someone you care for.
When a child or young person is worried about something, talking to somebody can make them feel better and improve the situation they are experiencing. In Wakefield there are lots of services available that can give children and young people the right help when they need it, click here to to find out more.
Wakefield Council have published the following booklets aimed at young people to help them manage their difficult feelings:
Calling all professionals - Please share this information and resources with any children and young people you work with who you know are struggling with difficult feelings. |
11. Children's Mental Health Week 2025
|
Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week is less than a week away (3-9 February) and there is still time to decide how you would like to get involved.
The week exists to empower, equip and give a voice to all children and young people in the UK. The theme this year is ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself’, which is about encouraging children and young people across the UK to embrace self-awareness and explore what it means for them.
Place2Be have created a range of free resources to help you get involved and support the week - from assembly slides and top tips, to fundraising packs and creative activities, they’ll all help you take part in Children’s Mental Health Week 2025! Please see below for more details:
- Resources for schools - The primary and secondary/high school packs are jam-packed with easy-to-organise class activities and top tips.
|
12. NCMD Child Death Review Data Release - Year Ending 31st March 2024
|
The National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) recently published Child death review data, which covers all child deaths in England that were notified to them between April 2023 - March 2024.
The National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) was launched on 1 April 2019 and collates data collected by Child Death Overview Panels (CDOPs) in England, from reviews of all children who die at any time after birth and before their 18th birthday. There is a statutory requirement for CDOPs to collect this data and to provide them to NCMD, as outlined in the Child Death Review statutory and operational guidance. The guidance requires all Child Death Review (CDR) Partners to gather information from every agency that has had contact with the child, during their life and after their death, including health and social care services, law enforcement, and education services. This is done using a set of statutory CDR forms and the information is then submitted to NCMD.
Every child who dies is a precious individual and their deaths represent a devastating loss for parents, siblings, grandparents, carers, guardians, extended family and friends. With all child deaths there is a strong need to understand what happened, and why. We must ensure that anything that can be learned to prevent future deaths from happening is identified and acted upon.
The data in this report summarise information about child deaths in England up to 31 March 2024 and the findings of reviews carried out by a CDOP on or before 31 March 2024. To review the data please click here. |
13. Multi-Agency Training Dates
|
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 - Harmful Sexualised Behaviours Training
The Learning Academy in collaboration with FCAMHS have three courses on Harmful Sexualised Behaviours for 2025 available to multi-agency staff. These three courses will run on various dates this year, see below for descriptions for each and the date they are scheduled for.- Introduction to Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB)
Available course dates & times:
- Friday 14th March 2025, 09:30am - 12:30pm, taking place at Chesney's Centre
Technology Assisted Harmful Sexual Behaviours (TA HSB)
Available course dates & times:
- Wednesday 18th July 2025, 09:30am - 12:30pm, taking place at Chesney's Centre
Harmful Sexual Behaviours Safety Planning (HSB SP)
Available course dates & times:
- Thursday 25th September 2025, 09:30am - 12:30pm, taking place at Chesney's Centre
To find out more about the above courses and to book a place please click here
|
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
|
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 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
|
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
- NEW - Introduction to Eating Difficulties in Children and Young People
These sessions will be hosted on Microsoft Teams. For further information including dates and times, and to download a booking form please click here
|
NEW Dates - Impact of Parental Mental Illness on Children
A virtual package that considers the impact of a variety of parental mental illness on children at various ages and stages of development.
Available course dates & times:
- Thursday 3rd April 2025, times TBC
- Thursday 7th August 2025, times TBC
- Thursday 13th November 2025, times TBC
To find out more about the above course and to book a place 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.
|
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
|
|
Coming Soon - NEW LGBTQIA+ Pride in Practice
Check out February's edition of the ebulletin when the learning recording from this training, and access to the slides and updated webpage and resources will be available
|
14. NEW DATES - Multi-Agency Neglect: A Shared Responsibility Training
|
Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership have published new dates throughout 2025 for the free Multi-Agency Neglect: A Shared Responsibility Training course. Please see the flyer below for the dates that are available, and click here for further information and to book a place. |
15. WSCP Impact Evaluation
|
16. Partnership Intelligence Portal (PIP) Training
|
Over the last few months there has been a decline in the amount of information that is being shared from partners via the police intelligence portal (PIP). Too often during professional meetings information/intelligence is being shared, this been the first time that the police have become aware. When asked if this has been submitted via the PIP, unsatisfactory responses from professionals have been received.
We all have a duty to safeguard children, sharing information with the police in a timely manner is a key part of this.
There are 2 upcoming training events which will cover how to gain access, how to submit and the types of information that need to be submitted. To book onto the training click on either of the links below: Wednesday 12th February 10:00-12:00 Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 325 534 357 692 Passcode: UmEC8x Wednesday 19th February 14:00-16:00 Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 384 687 614 659 Passcode: H8iCwg |
17. Every Sleep a Safe Sleep Bespoke Training for Nurseries and Childminders
|
Public Health colleagues have developed bespoke Every Sleep a Safe Sleep training for Nurseries and childminders.
Taking place virtually on the 30th April 18:30 - 20:30, this course will help ensure nursery staff and childminders are equipped with every sleep a safe sleep skills and information. Please see the flyer below for further information and click here to book a place.
|
|
If you are not a childminder or nursery staff specifically, but a professional who works with parents and carers of babies aged 0-12 months, you can book onto the Every Sleep a Safe Sleep training taking place on the 4th February 13:00 to 16:00.
|
18. DfE Consultation - Keeping Children Safe, Helping Families Thrive
|
An opportunity to consult with the Department for Education on Keeping children safe, helping families thrive, and improving data sharing and introducing a Single Unique Identifier, is now available via the NWG. NWG are are reaching out on behalf of the Department Of Education and the Department for Health and Social Care to seek your views as practitioners on their information sharing proposals and Single Unique Identifier. These proposals are part of the wider package of Children’s Social Care reforms announced on 18 November in parliament. NWG are keen to hear from multi-agency frontline practitioners at this point to share their experiences, views on their proposals and how best they can be implemented, along with suggestions for their wider programme of work. Please come along to the consultation webinar taking place on the 13th February 10.30am - 12.30pm and help inform this work as it progresses. Please click here to find out more and to book a place. |
19. FREE - Child Sexual Abuse Webinars and Resources
|
The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) are hosting a number of webinars in relation to child sexual abuse over the coming months. Free webinars include:
- Spotting the signs and indicators of child sexual abuse
- Putting the Child Sexual Abuse Response Pathway into practice (6 dates available)
- Supporting parents/carers when their child may have been sexually abused
- Speaking to children about sexual abuse
- Responding to harmful sexual behaviour in education settings
To find out more about the above or to book a place please click here
Free Resources
Also available to access on the CSA website, is a range of practice resources. These can be utilised by professionals to identify, respond and support children who have been sexually abused. The resources include:
- Signs and indicators of child sexual abuse
- Communicating with children
- Supporting parents and carers
- Sibling sexual abuse and behaviour
- Managing risk and trauma after online sexual offending
- Resources for education settings
- Using supervision and team meetings
- Medical examinations and more!
Please click here to access the free resources. |
20. Child Sexual Abuse - Directory of Support Services
|
If you, or someone you know, has concerns of child sexual abuse there are places and people who can help. The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) has developed a directory of over 350 services for those affected by child sexual abuse in England and Wales. You can find specific support tailored to supporting children, adults, parents and carers, as well as services offering focused support for women and girls, men and boys, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people and for people specifically from ethnic minority backgrounds, in one easy to navigate list. Click here to visit the CSA website and access the directory. |
21. National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV): Civil Orders Training
|
Taking place virtually on the 10th February 2025, the NCDV are hosting a training session in relation Civil Orders for those suffering Domestic Abuse. Please see the flyer below for more information, and to book a place on this training please click here. |
22. Turning Point Inspiring Futures Webinars and Workshops
|
Turning Point Inspiring Futures is the service in the Wakefield district that provides support and advice for younger people under the age of 25 experiencing problems with drug and / or alcohol to stop or reduce that use and minimise the harmful affect that may have. Please click here, to download a poster that can be displayed in public areas, detailing what support Inspiring Futures has on offer. To download a poster about their Family and Carers service please click here
Turning Point Inspiring Futures are also hosting the following workshops throughout the year, which may be useful for professionals to book onto to find out more about the services and support that is on offer.
Introduction to Inspiring Futures and Under 25 Service:
- 23/04/2025 at 3pm - click here to find out more
- 12/08/2025 at 11am - click here to find out more
- 27/11/2025 at 3pm - click here to find out more
Family and Carers Support Awareness to Hidden Harm and more:
- 14/04/2025 at 2pm - click here to find out more
- 18/08/2025 at 11am - click here to find out more
- 28/11/2025 at 2pm - click here to find out more
Ketamine Awareness Workshop:
-
01/04/2025 at 11am - click here to find out more
-
25/07/2025 at 11am - click here to find out more
-
10/10/2025 at 11am - click here to find out more
|
23. Save the Date - YHMAST Multi-Agency Safeguarding Conference 2025
|
The next Yorkshire & Humber Multi-Agency Safeguarding Trainers (YHMAST) Conference is taking place on the 21st May 2025. Learn more about cultural competency from the UKs leading industry experts. Details to follow.
|
24. Family Hubs - Welcome Spaces
|
Children, young people, and their families will find a warm welcome space at their local family hub. They have a range of FREE family and youth activities like classes and coffee mornings, where you can meet new people and stay warm this winter. On the What’s on Guides, Welcome Spaces will be listed as ‘coffee morning’ or ‘WF Connect Café’. Drop in and chat to one of their friendly staff members and see what your local Family or Youth Hub has to offer. Family hubs can offer free of charge:
- Stay and play sessions
- Young Carers groups
- Connect Café – access to computers and the internet
Click here to find your local family hub and view their What’s on Guide’s. Youth Hubs can offer free of charge:
- Fun games and activities for young people aged 11-25
- Connect Café – access to computers and the internet
- Skills and employability sessions
- Sports sessions
Click here to find your local youth hub and view their What’s on Guide’s. |
25. Top Safety Tips for Families
|
The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) are reminding parents and carers that this new year they could commit to three simple actions which could save a child's life. These are
1) Fit blind cord safety devices - In just 15 seconds a young child can lose consciousness if they get tangled in a blind cord. They can stop breathing in 2-3 minutes. Yet something as simple as a £1 cleat hook and some strong adhesive can help to stop that happening. Please take a moment to check that any blind cords in your home have suitable safety devices. These include cleat hooks, tidies or tensioners. Click here to find out more about blind cord safety. 2) Do a button battery hunt - If your child swallows a button battery, the damage can be life-altering or even fatal. So, it’s important you know where they are in your home. And, now is the perfect time for a quick search. Since Christmas you’ve likely had lots of new products and toys come into the house which button batteries may power. Perhaps some presents even came with spare batteries that are now loose and need a safe home? Click here to access CAPTs range of free button battery resources. 3) Set a recuring reminder to test your smoke alarms - With busy family life, it can be hard to get into the habit of testing your smoke alarms (monthly is best) but it really only takes seconds to do and it could just save you and your loved ones’ lives. You are 8 times more likely to die from a fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm in your house. 10 baby products that could pose a serious safety risk (and what you can do about it)
It’s scary to think that something you might buy for your baby could harm, or potentially even kill them. So, CAPT have explained some of the big risks to your baby’s safety and the simple things you can do to keep them safe, click here to learn more. Calling all professionals - please share this important information with any families that you work with, particularly those who have babies and young children. |
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 adultification, foster care, children with chronic illness and non-accidental head injuries. Click here to take a look.
Family Courts
Cafcass has created a new animated film explaining family court proceedings to children and young people. Made in collaboration with young people who have experiences of family court proceedings, the latest Taking Me Seriously film explains to children and young people what court recommendations are and why it is important that they are understood clearly. While aimed at young people, the film is also useful for professionals to help develop an understanding into what it’s like for children to go through court proceedings. Watch the film: Cafcass emphasise the important of explaining decision making to children in the new animated film
Child Safeguarding Incidents
NSPCC Learning has published a CASPAR briefing summarising the recent Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s annual report, which looked at the child safeguarding system in England, based on serious child safeguarding incidents occurring between April 2023 and March 2024. The CASPAR briefing summarises: the context and challenges in the safeguarding and child protection system; data from rapid reviews; spotlight themes and learning for practice; and plans for the Panel’s future work. Read the CASPAR briefing: Summary of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel Annual Report 2023/2024
Digital Media
Springer has published a free eBook on the impact of digital media on infants, children and adolescents. With each chapter written by different academics and experts, the book explores current research on the cognitive, physical, mental and psychosocial impacts on children and how digital media influences relationships, family, culture, and society. Chapters include: cognition and brain development; cyberbullying; social media and youth mental health; gaming disorders among children and adolescents; dysregulated use of smartphones; digital wellbeing and social connectedness; and adolescents’ experiences of sharing nude images. This eBook is open access and each chapter is freely available to download as a PDF.
Download the book: Handbook of children and screens: digital media, development and well-being from birth through to adolescence
See also on NSPCC Learning: Online Safety |
|
|
Copyright © 2025 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:
|
|
|
|
|
