- Join Our Team! We Are Recruiting a new Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership Manager
- NEW WSCP Campaign - Children's Safety On Our Roads - Phase 1 Moped & E-Scooter Safety
- Drug Awareness: The Local Picture Masterclass - Recording Now Available!
- Merry Christmas from WSCP Business Unit - Office Opening Hours
- This Children Won't be Comfort and Joy for All Children
- Safer Sleeping for Babies During the Festive Period
- Spotlight on...The Children's Mental Health Podcast
- SEND Seasonal Advice
- What Works in Send - Youth Voice
- WSCP Website Updates
- Education Updates
- Pause Before You Post Awareness Campaign for Parents
- VoiceAbility - Children's Advocacy Service
- Multi-Agency Training Dates
- NEW DATES FOR 2026: Multi-Agency Neglect: A Shared Responsibility Training
- NEW: Pride in Practice Training - Supporting & Safeguarding LGBTQIA+ Young People
- Engaging with Men Multi-Agency Training
- Challenging Stereotypes Training 2026
- Perinatal Mental Health Multi-Agency Training 2026
- The Children's Society #LookCloser Programme of Learning
- Reminder: WSCP Training Courses - If You Can't Attend Please Let Us Know!
- NEW Wakefield Domestic Abuse Support Service
- Coping with Grief over the Festive Season
- Substance & Alcohol Misuse - Festive Season Harm Reduction Guidance
- Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse - Free Webinars & Resources to Support Practice
- Gadget Gift Guide - Give Children a Safe Online Experience this Christmas
- Top Safety Tips for Families During the Festive Season
- NSPCC Updates
- Useful Links
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1. Join Our Team! We Are Recruiting a New Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership Manager
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Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSCP) Business Unit is looking for an outstanding individual to provide strategic leadership across the Partnership to enable the statutory leads – Wakefield Council, West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and West Yorkshire Police, alongside it’s partners to continue to strive for excellence for children and families through effective multi-agency safeguarding arrangements which promotes their welfare.
As the Partnership Manager you will provide strategic and operational management to a multi-disciplinary Business Unit team to enable the Partnership to fulfil its statutory requirements set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023, these responsibilities include but are not exclusive to:
- Oversee the progressing of the Partnership’s 2025-28 Delivery Plan which is reported on quarterly to the WSCP Executive who scrutinise the work undertaken.
- Manage the process of Rapid Reviews and Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews, including when required managing LCSPR Panel, drafting Terms of Reference, quality assurance, drafting of action plans and submission to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.
- Provide direct line management of up to four members of the WSCP Business Unit and overall management of the team which comprises of six full-time equivalent staff.
- Oversee all WSCP Business Unit activity which includes the development and delivery of a multi-agency learning offer, co-ordination of its multi-agency subgroups, quality assurance and safeguarding review activity, school safeguarding training delivery and support, multi-agency policy, procedure and guidance development and delivery of the partnership’s communication and engagement strategy.
- Develop and maintain a close working relationship with senior leads of partners, including chief officers of Wakefield Council’s Children’s and Young People’s Services, West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and West Yorkshire Police, acting as a point of contact for support and guidance in respect of the partnership’s multi-agency safeguarding responsibilities
For further information on the role and to apply, please click here.
Applications close on Sunday 18th January. Should you wish to have a conversation about the role please contact Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership – wscp@wakefield.gov.uk / 01924 306497.
Please share this vacancy with anybody who you may think is suitable and may be interested in the role across your networks.
Thank you,
WSCP |
2. NEW WSCP Campaign - Children's Safety On Our Roads - Phase 1 Moped & E-Scooter Safety
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Sadly in 2025 there have been 31 incidents where a collision on a moped or e-scooter has caused injury or death to a child in the Wakefield District.
Wakefield Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSCP) has launched this campaign to help parents and carers understand the serious risks of allowing children and teenagers to ride mopeds and e-scooters. Our goal is to educate parents and carers about the risks and legal responsibilities surrounding mopeds and e-scooters, helping to prevent accidents and keep children in the Wakefield District safe.
As practitioners and professionals working directly with children and families, you play a vital role in sharing this important message. Please help us by:
- Sharing our campaign messaging with the parents, carers, and families you engage with every day.
- Promoting the campaign and resources across your networks and on your social media channels.
- Displaying posters in your settings to raise awareness.
Together, we can raise awareness, reduce risks, and help keep children safe! |
3. Drug Awareness: The Local Picture Masterclass - Recording Now Available!
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WSCP have just completed our final Learning Exchange for the year on Drug Awareness. We were joined by West Yorkshire Police and Turning Point, Inspiring Futures for an excellent session where we took a deep dive into the local picture, what drugs children have access to, the rising cases of Ketamine use, local support, referral pathways and lots of resources for practitioners to access. If you missed it, you can now revisit the exchange on our website from either the new Substance Use page or the Learning and Development section of the Speak Up Stand Up Stop Exploitation Resource. |
4. Merry Christmas from WSCP Business Unit - 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 22nd December, 9am -5pm
- Tuesday 23rd December, 9am - 5pm
- Wednesday 24th December, 9am - 5pm
Normal office functions will be closed from 5pm on Wednesday 24th December until we return on Monday 5th 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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5. This Christmas Won't be Comfort and Joy for All 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. For more information and advice, visit www.wakefieldscp.org.uk |
6. Safer Sleeping for Babies During the Festive Period
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7. Spotlight on ... The Children's Mental Health Podcast
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Please click on the link below to access a podcast series on a range of different issues by Nip in the Bud Children's Mental Health charity. Subjects covered include:
- Neurodiversity
- How to support anxious children in schools
- Friendships, social connections, online word and executive functions
- Plus many more!
Click here to access the podcasts! |
Visit the new toolkit for a ‘happy neurodivergent Christmas’! (scroll down to resources for more info on setting boundaries, meeting needs and post-Christmas support) Explore Neurodiversity - Wakefield Safeguarding Knowledge Hub |
9. What Works in SEND - Youth Voice
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The Youth Work Unit Yorkshire and Humber has been asked to support Wakefield Council to develop their Young Leaders work, building on the work and approach undertaken regionally with the Yorkshire SEND Alliance.
The Young Leaders would support Wakefield Council; to develop their youth offer and be supported by the Youth Engagement Team that has responsibility for youth voice social action programme including UK Youth Parliament and children in and leaving care council. As part of this work it is proposed the the Youth Work Unit will develop and deliver a train the trainer pack for 21 practitioners, sharing a basic training pack but with a focus on being the "trainer/facilitator". To find out more about this proposal and to put forward a nomination to be involved 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 links below for the sections that have been updated this month:
- Substance Use Substance Use - Wakefield Safeguarding Knowledge Hub – learn about how we can tackle substance use together in the Wakefield Area, who you can refer into and what resources you can use when working or volunteering with children and their families.
- Emotional Wellbeing Page - 2 in 5 children experience verbal abuse and the result is as damaging to a child as physical abuse and neglect. Understand how to identify and respond to a child who is struggling with their emotional wellbeing and learn more about the impact and associated safeguarding risks. Emotional Wellbeing - Wakefield Safeguarding Knowledge Hub
We have also updated the following:
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Safeguarding Christmas Plays/Concerts - Filming, Photographs and Live Streaming
It is that time of year again where schools and others will be hosting Christmas plays and concerts. Please take some time to remind yourselves of best practice with filming and photographing these events.
There are some rules regarding Data Protection but hosting agencies can strengthen this by creating their own policy taking into account the individual nature of their children. Remember there may be some children who may be left vulnerable if photos or films are posted publicly or if live streaming occurs e.g. Children in Care or children who are fleeing domestic abuse situations. For others, cultural or religious reasons may be why they wouldn’t consent to this.
It is wise for hosting agencies to make their rules clear to audience members well in advance. There are some good template letters available in the links below. You may also wish to add any other rules you see fit e.g. no flash photography, no devices in changing areas, no standing etc.
Please also remember the general safe photo publishing advice i.e. not using full names or identifying location etc.
Further information is available on the useful links below.
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Safer Internet Day - 10th February 2026
The UK Safer Internet Centre have created a range of resources to help professionals deliver sessions for Safer Internet Day, whether you are a school, nursery, youth group, library, police service, or wider. These educational resources have been specifically designed to support educators in delivering messages about our campaign theme of: Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI. They have created free resources for use with 3-7, 7-11, 11-14 and 14-18 year olds, with each resource pack containing presentation slides, activities and also an assembly for the whole school. Accompanying letters to parents and carers coming soon. To access the education resources please click here. |
Speak Out Stay Safe Resources
NSPCC Learning has updated its Speak out Stay safe resources which aim to equip children with the knowledge they need to stay safe from abuse and neglect. The updates include: new toolkits for home educators and practitioners in alternative provisions; supplementary lesson plans to follow the existing programme for primary schools; and follow-up lesson plans for pupils who have additional needs. Click here to access the resources.
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Reminder: DSL Opinion Form
WSCP are interested in general themes, repeated issues or areas of good safeguarding practice which DSL's experience within Wakefield. This may then be raised at multi agency strategic level meetings. NB this is not the forum for individual case specifics - please raise these individual case details with the appropriate managers in accordance with the professional disagreement procedure. 2.7 Resolving Multi Agency Professional Disagreements and Escalation (proceduresonline.com) These opinion forms are your voice as education settings at the WSCP so if you have anything to share please do complete and submit these forms which are sent out 6 times a year.
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Reminder: DSL Forums & Network Meetings Open to All!
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12. Pause Before You Post Awareness Campaign for Parents
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Have you heard of the term "sharenting"? The term "sharenting" is a combination of the words parenting and sharing and is used to describe the practice of parents regularly sharing information, photos and videos about their children on social media and other online platforms.
The simple act of sharing information, photos, and videos of children online can lead to unintended oversharing of personal data, which, in the wrong hands, can have serious consequences.
Sharenting can present a number of risks including:
- Digital footprint
- Misuse of images for harmful purposes
- Vulnerability to unwanted contact
- Online reputation
- Identity theft and fraud
The “Pause Before You Post” Awareness Campaign is designed to show how those risks can play out in real life, via a short video which highlights how a parent's social media posts have inadvertently “shared with the world” their daughter's name, age, date of birth, photos of her friends, the name and location of her football club, her training schedule and the fact that her Dad is not always on time to collect her. We also show how easy it is for images to end up in the wrong hands, as we see our third stranger downloading one of the photos of Éabha and saving it to his phone.
Click here to learn more about the Pause Before You Post and watch the short video. |
13. VoiceAbility - Children's Advocacy Service
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Advocates support children to have their say and make their own choices. An advocate can help a child if they have a problem and feel they are not being listened to. Advocates don't work for the council, the NHS or care providers, and children don't need to pay for them.
To find out more about the VoiceAbility Advocacy service in the Wakefield district please click on the links below:
Calling all professionals: please share the top two guides above with any children and young people you work with who may benefit from this service. |
14. Multi-Agency Training Dates
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This course is designed to increase the participants knowledge and understanding of Working Together 2023 to Safeguard Children and other key legislation, including the West Yorkshire inter-agency procedures and local guidance. It is delivered by the WSCP Business Unit. Audience:
This full day course is aimed at multi-agency practitioners from health, education, police, social care, early help and the voluntary sector who work with children and families and who need to refer to, and work with other agencies to safeguard children. Attendees must complete the WSCP Safeguarding Children Basic Awareness course or an equivalent level of learning in safeguarding children. Booking Information:
Please click here for more information Available course dates and times:
- Thursday 12th February 2026, 9:15am – 4:30pm - Thursday 26th March 2026, 9:15am – 4:30pm - Thursday 21st May 2026, 9:15am – 4:30pm
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NEW - Relationship Matters: Reducing Parental Conflict Toolkit Training
Relationships affect everyone; they are part of being human and are one of the hardest to navigate around as both a child and an adult. This course is designed to increase the participants knowledge and understanding of what parental conflict is, how to recognise it as well as encouraging participants to develop a range of practical strategies in supporting families to address conflict with the help of Wakefield's relationship toolkit. Audience: This course is aimed at multi-agency practitioners who work or volunteer with children and their families, from health, education, police, social care, early intervention and prevention and the voluntary sector for example.# Booking information:Please click here for more information. Available course dates and times:
- Thursday 12th February 2026, 1.30pm - 3pm - Online via MS Teams - Wednesday 11th March 2026, 1.30pm - 3pm - Online via MS Teams
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NEW - Parental Mental Health - 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. Audience: This course is aimed at any member of staff (with limited or no knowledge of parental mental health) who works in the area and has contact with children or carers of children. Please note this training is not useful for midwives/0-19 practitioners or safeguarding leads. Booking information:Please click here for more information. Available course dates and times:
- Wednesday 29th April 2023, 10am - 12pm - Online via MS Teams - Thursday 3rd December 2026, 10am - 12pm - Online via MS Teams
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NEW - 16 Days of Action - Wakefield Domestic Abuse Learning Opportunities
Colleagues from Wakefield Council have produced a programme of learning to support the 16 Days of Action and White Ribbon Campaign for 2025. The learning included is:
- Civil Orders for those Experiencing Domestic Abuse
- Behind Closed Doors: Understanding and Supporting Those Who Have Experienced Domestic Abuse
- Domestic Abuse Related Death Review (DARDR) Briefing (Part 1)
- Various Self-Directed Learning
For more information, including how to access the links please click here
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Managing Allegations Against Staff Training
This session aims to provide employers and managers 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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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
- Introduction to Eating Difficulties in Children and Young People
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Through Teenage Years
- Nature Connectedness for Wellbeing
- NEW - An Introduction to Trauma & Sleep
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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Wakefield Parent & Infant Relationship Team Training Sessions
The Wakefield Parent and Infant Relationship (PAIR) team invite you to their free, drop-in lunchtime learning sessions.
These will focus on key areas of importance, impact, and interest when assessing the Parent infant relationship to help consider babies mental health and the Voice of the child. There will also be a regular chance to drop-in and find out more about PAIR team. Training is available on the following subjects:
- Introduction to the Wakefield Parent and Infant Relationship Team and ”Giving a voice of the Child”
- PAIR team updates to practice and “Working with sick and premature babies”
- Wakefield Parent and Infant Relationship Team and ‘The importance of engaging Fathers’
- The PAIR team updates to practice and ‘The impact of parental ACES on the Parent-Infant relationship’
- “How the Parent-Infant Relationship can be affected by a crying baby and feeding difficulties”
- The Parent and Infant relationship team “Working with behaviour that parents find challenging”
- The Wakefield PAIR team and “The role of Family Peer Support”
Audience:
Any professional working with babies and infants from conception to 2 years.
Booking InformationPlease click here for more information. If you would like to watch the Wakefield Parent & Infant Relationship (PAIR) Team Training Sessions from 2024, please click here to access the recordings. 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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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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15. NEW DATES FOR 2026: Multi-Agency Neglect: A Shared Responsibility Training
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WSCP have released new dates throughout 2026 for our Multi-Agency Neglect: A Shared Responsibility Training. To find out more about this training course please see the flyer below and to book a place please click here. |
16. NEW: Pride in Practice Training - Supporting & Safeguarding LGBTQIA+ Young People
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During 2026 Spectrum Health will be delivering a number of webinars on gender questioning titled "Pride In Practice - Supporting and Safeguarding LGBTIQA+ 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. |
17. Engaging with Men Multi-Agency Training
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WSCP still have a date available for the multi-agency Engaging with Men training course, please see the flyer below for more details. For more information and to book your place please click here. If you are interested in this training, please don't delay in booking onto - there are just 8 places remaining on the November session! |
18. Challenging Stereotypes Training 2026
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Wakefield Council's Learning Academy have arranged Challenging Stereotypes Training for 2026 that is designed and delivered by Young People. This training is available to anyone within the partnership, free of charge.
Course Description:
The training is designed and delivered by care experienced young people.
Challenging Stereotypes training available for those in the wider partnership to help them recognise the barriers that children in care and care leavers face and give an insight into how to build productive trusting relationships.
This training is interactive and does not shy away from the impact of professional’s decisions on young people’s lives. Available Dates:
| Dates: |
Time |
Venue |
| Monday 9th March 2026 |
12:30-15:45 |
Crofton Young People’s Centre |
| Monday 27th April 2026 |
12:30-15:45 |
Crofton Young People’s Centre |
| Monday 7th September 2026 |
12:30-15:45 |
Crofton Young People’s Centre |
| Monday 2nd November 2026 |
12:30-15:45 |
Crofton Young People’s Centre |
| Monday 23rd November 2026 |
12:30-15:45 |
Crofton Young People’s Centre |
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Please click here to book on any of the above dates and times. Enquiries:Please contact learningacademy@wakefield.gov.uk for any questions regarding this training. |
19. Perinatal Mental Health Multi-Agency Training 2026
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Please see the flyer below for details of the new Perinatal Mental Health Multi-Agency Training courses that are taking place in 2026. For more information, including dates, times and how to book please click here. |
20. The Children's Society #LookCloser Programme of Learning
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The Children's Society have released their latest #LookCloser programme of learning for January - March 2026. These sessions draw from The Children's Society's expertise working around child exploitation and abuse and the rich insights gained from consulting with strategic partners and young people across England and Wales. All sessions are free of charge and are delivered via MS Teams.
Click here to find out more including what learning events are available including dates/times and links to sign up. |
21. Reminder: WSCP Training Courses - If You Can't Attend Please Let Us Know!
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Wakefield Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (WSCP) is proud to offer high-quality, face-to-face training – completely free of charge for anyone working or volunteering with children and families in our district. These sessions are bespoke, relevant, and in high demand.
However, we are frequently seeing people who are booked onto are training courses, failing to turn up without notifying us to advise they can no longer attend.
Why does this matter?
This is a growing concern. Most of our training courses have a waiting list. When someone doesn’t turn up without letting us know, it means a valuable place is wasted and someone else on our waiting list misses out on essential learning.
We understand that urgent matters can arise in our line of work, but please remember: If you cannot attend, let us know as soon as possible whatever the reason. We can then offer your place to someone else who has requested it.
Cancellation & Charging Policy
To address this issue, WSCP will be adhering to the updated Cancellation and Charging Policy, which applies to all face-to-face training. The policy is available when booking via the WSCP website. It will also be sent with your confirmation email. Click here to view the policy. Please Share
We ask all partners to disseminate this message across your teams and networks. Together, we can ensure these valuable sessions reach those who need them most, and the limited places that are available don't end up being wasted. |
22. NEW Wakefield Domestic Abuse Support Service
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From 1st January 2026 Cranstoun will be the new provider of the Wakefield Domestic Abuse Support Service (DASS). Wakefield DASS, delivered by Cranstoun will bring together an integrated range of programmes and interventions to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
Please click here to download an information flyer to find out more about the services that will be offered as part of the Wakefield DASS. |
23. Coping with Grief over the Festive Season
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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 . With memories of past celebrations and anticipations of this year's gatherings, alongside constant reminders in shops and on social media, navigating grief at this time of year can be difficult.
It’s important to look after yourself and work out the best ways to cope. We've shared some tips on coping with grief over the festive season- from considering different ways of celebrating or unplugging from social media to finding ways to remember your loved one.
The Lullaby Trust's Bereavement Support helpline will be open from Thursday 25th December to Thursday 1st January 6pm - 10pm - call 0808 802 6868.
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. |
24. Substance & Alcohol Misuse - Festive Season Harm Reduction Guidance
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Please click here to download a holiday harm reduction leaflet published by Turning Point Inspiring Recovery. This provides helpful, practical guidance for young people under 25 to stay safer around alcohol and drugs during the festive season. Print it, share it and help reduce harm! |
25. Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse - Free Webinars & Resources to Support Practice
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NEW Webinar Series: Strengthening Multi-Agency Leadership
Between January and July 2026 the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse Between are holding six free online sessions to support safeguarding partners to reflect, plan and lead the implementation of the recommendations for safeguarding partners in England, set out in the 2024 National review into child sexual abuse within the family environment.In November 2024, the review's final report uncovered significant and long‑standing systemic issues in the identification of and response to child sexual abuse in family settings. The final report made six recommendations for local safeguarding partnerships which they can implement immediately without waiting for changes at a national level. Book onto an individual session:
NEW Resource: What Police Professionals Need to Know About Child Sexual Abuse
This month the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse have published their latest resource: What police professionals need to know about child sexual abuse. The new version of their accessible, quick read summary of the key facts from research, practice and policy now contains new insights for policing to help professionals build an informed understanding of child sexual abuse. It is useful for all professionals in policing: whether you’re the attending officer responding to a call or the officer assigned to a case.
Click here to read the full resource to learn more about topics ranging from what we know about the scale and nature of abuse to how to identify and respond
Get HelpIf you have been impacted by childhood sexual abuse, or are worried about someone you know or work with, there are services that can help. Visit the Centre of Expertise's Get support page to find the details of organisations who can offer advice and assistance, as well as their directory of over 350 national and local support services for victims, survivors and their families.
FREE Webinars
The Centre of Expertise have a number of free webinars available throughout 2025, from helping with research, consultation events, to free practice guidance. To find out more about the FREE upcoming webinars please click here. New dates for 2026 been added!Other FREE ResourcesAlso 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 take a look and access the resources you need. |
26. Gadget Gift Guide - Give Children a Safe Online Experience this Christmas
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Although Christmas might be the most popular time for gift-giving, let’s face it – birthdays, confirmations, celebrations and other special occasions make it a year-round pursuit!
Cybersafe Kids research shows that in Ireland, smart device ownership reaches 100% by the age of 13, which is why they've designed another CyberSafeKids Gadget Gift Guide to help you — as parents and guardians — be better informed before purchasing smart devices (any device with internet connectivity) for your children and young people. This easy-to-read reference guide is available to download or read (click on link above) and covers:
- The benefits and risks of popular smart devices and toys
- What you can do to make them safer for your child
- Age recommendations to guide your purchases
- Useful links to official manufacturer websites for more information
Whether you're gifting a smart device at Christmas or any other time of year, we hope this guide helps you to give your child a safer online experience. TOP TIP: Whatever the smart device, don't allow it into bedrooms at night – charge devices in communal areas in the house overnight! |
27. Top Safety Tips for Families During the Festive Period
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The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) have published the following safety tips for families during the upcoming festive period. Calling all professionals - where possible please share this important information with any parents/carers that you work with.
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. |
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.
Child Deaths
The National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) has published data on the number and nature of child deaths in England in the year ending 31 March 2025. Key findings include: 3,492 children in England died in 2024-25, a decrease of 2% from 2023-24; the death rate for children in the most deprived areas of England was more than twice that for children in the least deprived areas; 17% of children were known to social care at the time of their death; and a further 15% of children had been previously known to social care before their death.
Access the data: Child death review data release: year ending 31 March 2025
Harmful Sexual Behaviour
NSPCC Learning has published new information about the NSPCC’s Safe Home programme. Safe Home supports the parents and carers of children who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour (HSB). Practitioners work with parents and carers across 13 sessions to help them to: reflect upon and process what has happened; develop their understanding of appropriate, problematic and harmful sexual behaviour; learn the signs of sexual abuse; and create a personalised safety plan with practical steps to prevent or minimise risk of sexual harm to and from their child in the future. NSPCC Learning provides information about Safe Home’s development and evaluation, and the support available for organisations wanting to adopt, implement and deliver the programme in their local area.
Visit the page: Safe Home
See also on NSPCC Learning: Problematic and harmful sexual behaviour
Relationship Abuse
The National Youth Agency (NYA), Refuge and Tender have launched new guidance to support youth workers to tackle intimate partner abuse amongst 16-to-25-year-olds. The guidance includes: advice on recognising and responding to abuse; information about technology-facilitated and intimate image abuse; insights into intersectionality and tailored support for diverse identities, including people who have disabilities and LGBTQ+ young people; and tools for trauma-informed practice and listening to the voice of the young person.
Download the guidance: Intimate partner abuse among 16 - 25 year olds: a resource for youth workers
Online Blackmail
NSPCC Learning has published new research on parents’ and carers’ knowledge of the online blackmail of children and young people. Based on a survey of 2,558 UK parents and carers, the report explores knowledge of online blackmail, steps taken to keep children safe, and information and support needs. Findings include: 1 in 10 parents and carers have supported their child with online blackmail; most parents and carers feel responsible for protecting their children from online blackmail but face challenges in talking to or supporting their child; and two thirds of parents and carers think the government and technology companies are ineffective in preventing online blackmail. The report calls for the development of further resources for parents and carers, and for more to be done to prevent online blackmail and support children and young people.
Read the report: A collective concern: parent and carer views on the online blackmail of children and young people
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