- PLACES STILL AVAILABLE: Multi-Agency Neglect: A Shared Responsibility Training
- Keep OFF the Ice - Winter Water Safety Advice
- WSCP E-Bulletin Evaluation Survey 2025 - Feedback
- Safe Sleep Week 2026 & Baby Safer Sleep Advice for Winter
- Safety Alerts: Baby Sleep Pillows & Magnets
- Tell Us Your Thoughts...Wakefield Proud to Be Smokefree Survey
- Buy Safe. Charge Safe. Dispose Safe - WYFRS Campaign
- WSCP Website Updates
- Education Updates
- New Resources: Catch Your Breath - Ditch the Vape - Youth Informed Anti-Vaping Videos
- Multi-Agency Training Dates
- FREE Bespoke Every Sleep a Safer Sleep Training
- Early Years Fest - February 2026
- Pride in Practice Training - Supporting & Safeguarding LGBTQIA+ Young People
- Perinatal Mental Health Multi-Agency Training 2026
- Online Training for Social Workers: How Babies Learn to Regulate their Emotions & the Impact of Trauma
- The Children's Society's #LookCloser FREE Online Training for Professionals re: "Missing & Exploitation"
- Reminder: NEW Wakefield Domestic Abuse Support Service
- Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse - Free Webinars & Resources to Support Practice
- Top Safety Tips for Families this January
- NSPCC Updates
- What Would You Like to Hear About?
- Useful Links
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1. PLACES STILL AVAILABLE: 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. There are still some places left on the course taking place next Thursday 5th February - so don't delay BOOK TODAY! |
Still not sure if this training will benefit you and your every day practice? Please click here to look at the feedback provided by those who have already attended the Multi-Agency Neglect - A Shared Responsibility Training. |
2. Keep OFF the Ice - Winter Water Safety Advice
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Icy ponds, lakes and rivers can be stunningly beautiful – the perfect #winterwonderland shot for your Instagram. Children are attracted to frozen lakes, canals and lochs as they present natural play opportunities. But frozen water is unpredictable, too. You can never really know what’s going on under that gleaming ice – and a fall through it could be fatal. In recent years, there have been several tragic cases of people losing their lives after falling through ice. With further cold weather forecast it is important to make sure the whole family, especially children and young people know and understand basic water safety advice, and what to do if they find themselves in 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.
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3. WSCP E-Bulletin Evaluation Survey 2025 - Feedback
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Back in November 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 bar far 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 to your role and your responses are summarised in the pie chart below.
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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. |
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What parts of the ebulletin do you find most useful?
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The survey results show that the majority of our respondents (over 80%) still continue to find the content of the e-bulletin either very useful or useful. This is great to hear and is consistent with previous years findings
Feedback that we are often receive is that the e-bulletin is very big and sometimes has a lot of content. We do understand that some editions of the e-bulletin 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. We do include a contents list for each edition, so you can just have a look through it to see if there is any of interest to you which you can then scroll down to rather than reading the full e-bulletin.
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. We would much rather include too much information than cut something out that some of you may have found useful and beneficial in your every day practice. We also publish a monthly news post to promote each edition of the e-bulletin, which does provide a summary of its content which you may find handy, please 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. |
4. Safer Sleep Week 2026 & Baby Safer Sleep Advice for Winter
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Safer Sleep Week 2026
Save the date...this years Safer Sleep week by The Lullaby Trust will take place from the 9th - 15th March 2026. This year’s Safer Sleep Week theme is the baby necessities – the essential items that a baby needs.
The Lullaby Trust will be reminding families to keep it simple to keep it safe, and will cover:
- The products a baby needs and which can (and should) be left on the shelf.
- What to look for in a product, or on the label, to know if it fits within safer sleep.
- What to dress a baby in for sleep in different temperatures
This year's resources for professionals include:
Click here to download the professionals pack on The Lullaby Trust's website
Further details to follow!
Safer Sleep in Winter
Overheating increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) so parents shouldn’t be tempted to overwrap their baby. But if the room temperature is slightly colder than the recommended temperature range of 16 – 20°C, consider the following: 1) If you use lightweight sheets and/or blankets, add an extra lightweight blanket or layer of clothing to the baby. 2) If you are using a baby sleeping bag, add an extra layer of clothing. Or, choose a sleeping bag with a higher tog. All babies are different so The Lullaby Trust recommend checking baby's chest and/or back of their neck to make sure their skin doesn't feel clammy or sweaty to the touch, (their hands and feet will always feel cold to touch.) Warm is fine but if it feels sweaty or clammy it means they are too hot so remove a layer of bedding or what they are wearing. Please take a look at and share The Lullaby Trust's Guide to safer sleep in winter with any families you work with. Especially those facing fuel poverty.
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5. Safety Alerts: Baby Sleep Pillows & Magnets
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Baby Sleep PillowsThe Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) recently issued a product safety alert concerning baby sleep pillows, please see images above for examples of what these products look like. These soft pillows and cushions are often marketed for baby sleep or as somewhere for a baby to be left unsupervised. But this can cause suffocation or overheating, and the baby might even die. The safest place for your baby to sleep is on a clear, firm, flat surface. You can read OPSS' recommendations in full on the gov.uk website, but in particular they have advised that these pillows should not be used for babies under 12 months old, should not be placed in cribs or cots, and that businesses should not market pillows for use in this age bracket. The National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) hope that this advice could make a real difference in avoiding the sad cases where these products have caused harm. Calling all professionals: Please share this advice and information with any families that you work with who have babies under 12 months old. The safety alert itself also has a useful list of alternative names for sleep pillows that families may know these products by. Magnets |
The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) are alerting parents/carers to the dangers posed by small loose magnets. They have advised that a four-year-old boy had died days after swallowing two small magnets.
He ate two 1cm-by-1cm pink magnets from his fridge door. Those magnets attracted together inside his body, tearing a hole in his bowel. This led to acute sepsis and the heart attack that tragically killed him.
Sadly, this isn’t an isolated incident.
Around 300 UK youngsters were admitted to A&E in a single year after swallowing magnets. One in 10 required life-saving operations.
A Safety Alert was issued by the Office of Product Safety and Standards in 2021 warning families about small, strong magnets.
Yet many families are still unaware of the dangers.
Please help CAPT spread the word in your communities about the risks.
You can:
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6. Tell Us Your Thoughts...Wakefield Proud to Be Smokefree Survey
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Calling all partners! Help Wakefield Council make smoking invisible to Wakefield's children and young people.
Please take 10 minutes to complete the Council's Wakefield Proud to Be Smokefree survey by clicking here or via the link/QR code below. Your answers will help Wakefield Council shape future priorities, strengthen partnership working, and support their Wakefield Proud to be Smoke-Free vision.
The survey is relevant to everyone working in the Wakefield District, whether you are currently involved in the tobacco control alliance or not. Please also share the survey with your colleagues!
The survey (closing 13 February 2026) explores:
- Their shared vision and plans
- Strengthening a whole‑system approach
- The role and development of the Wakefield Tobacco Control Alliance
- Key next steps towards a smoke‑free society by 2030
Wakefield has made strong progress in reducing smoking rates, however 33,371 adults still smoke in Wakefield and so there is more we can do together.
Achieving a smokefree future where smoking is invisible to children and young people will be possible through a strong, whole-system approach, with partners across the district playing a vital role.
How you can help:
- Please complete the survey
- Share it with colleagues, teams, and networks who contribute to, or have an interest in, reducing smoking and improving population health
Your voice matters - together, we are Proud to be Smoke-Free
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7. Buy Safe. Charge Safe. Dispose Safe - WYFRS Campaign
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West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (WYFRS) have launched a new safety drive after lithium-ion battery fires surged 93% since 2022. Testing shows 98% of fake chargers can cause electric shock or start a fire, and incident reviews indicate around 49% of e-bike fires are linked to counterfeit chargers. The campaign sets out clear, practical steps for residents to buy safely, charge safely, and dispose of batteries correctly.
Lithium-ion batteries power more of our lives than ever. When bought from unreliable sources, charged incorrectly, or stored on escape routes, they can create a rapid-fire risk in homes and shared spaces. The campaign focuses on three high-risk behaviours: using counterfeit chargers and batteries, overnight charging in hallways, and storing e-bikes on escape routes.
For more information on this important campaign, including statistics, electrical safety, a Q&A section, additional hard hitting videos and social media resources, please click here. |
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:
- WSCP Plan on A Page - We have created an easy read "plan on a page" to highlight our priorities for 2025 - 2028
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FREE Children's Mental Health Week Resources
This year's Children's Mental Health Week takes place from the 9th to the 15th February. Click here to access free Children's Mental Health Week Resources for primary and secondary/high schools including assembly slides. This year's theme is "This is My Place" - exploring the importance of of belonging for our mental health.
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Join the NSPCC's Number Day 2026!
Number Day is the NSPCC's mega maths fundraising event. Every year, thousands of schools and nurseries across the UK fundraise for the NSPCC by having fun with maths. You could take part in numerical games and activities or Dress Up for Digits - dressing up as a number! When you sign up for free, you'll also receive access to hundreds of free learning resources. Click here to find out more including how to sign up to take part.
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Physical Restraint
The Department for Education (DfE) has published updated guidance on the use of physical restraint in schools in England. The guidance, which comes into force from 01 April 2026, aims to help schools proactively minimise the need to use restrictive interventions. The updates include: new statutory guidance about recording and reporting the use of force; advice about the new legal duty to record and report the use of seclusion; and additional clarification on the use of reasonable force and responsibilities of school staff, governing bodies and proprietors. Read the guidance: Use of reasonable force in schools
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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 the 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. To access the education resources please click here. |
Sex and Relationships Education
The NSPCC’s Talk Relationships service is holding a free webinar on involving young people in the delivery of sex and relationships education. The webinar will cover the importance of youth voice as part of a whole-school approach and practical information on implementing youth voice in secondary education settings. The webinar will take place online on 12 February 2026 at 4pm.
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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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10. New Resources: Catch Your Breath - Ditch the Vape - Youth Informed Anti-Vaping Videos
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Following focus groups with young people in Bradford, and the sharing of findings from our own research in Wakefield, two new videos have been co-produced with young people as part of an anti-vaping campaign. Based on the input of young people regarding what would work best, the films adopt a humorous, light-hearted approach. However, they very importantly highlight the nature of addiction and use peer disapproval as a key message.
Here are the videos brought to you by the Bradford City FC Community Foundation and Bradford Metropolitan District Council, which they have kindly agreed we can share and use.
Film 1: |
11. 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 - Wednesday 1st July 2026, 9:15am – 4:30pm - Wednesday 30th September 2026, 9:15am – 4:30pm - Thursday 26th November 2026, 9:15am – 4:30pm - Wednesday 20th January 2027, 9:15am – 4:30pm
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NEW - 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 - 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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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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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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12. FREE Bespoke Every Sleep a Safer Sleep Training
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We are delighted to be able to share with you this FREE bespoke, online training package that has been developed for Early Years Staff and Colleagues. This one-hour training will discuss all aspects of safer sleep and awareness of safety standards in an early year setting. The Aims and Objectives are:
- An awareness of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI)
- Overview of Terminology
- Statistics: National, Regional and Local Data
- Knowing your Responsibilities
- Statutory Guidance
- Safer Sleep Principles for EY Settings
- Recognise when something is not safe, and what action to take
- Explore scenarios to extend professional curiosity and apply theory to practice
Please click here to find out more including how to access this 1 hour FREE session. |
13. Early Years Fest - February 2026
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Following the success of the Early Years Fest last year with nearly 600 parents, grandparents, children and professionals, Wakefield Families Together are having another Fest in February 2026 which will be even bigger!
Come along to this year's Early Years Fest and hear about all things baby - from pregnancy to a child being ready to start school! Here’s what you need to know:
- Wednesday 25 February 2026
- The event is open from 10:00am and will close at 4:00pm
- Pontefract Racecourse, Park Road, Pontefract WF8 4QD (in the Premier Suite – from the car park, head towards Grand Stand & Paddock. Free parking on-site, refreshments and snacks provided, café available)
For professionals, there is the chance to network, find out about local support for the early years and child development with a range of partners hosting information stalls, and a selection of Mini Masterclasses running throughout the day.
For families, there will be their children’s favourite characters, a pop-up Stay and Play with story time, a FREE playful learning kit to take home, an adventure trail, and of course the information stalls and Mini Masterclasses too!
The event is FREE and is open to all families and professionals in the Wakefield district. Please promote this event to the families you work with and encourage them to attend!
The Mini Masterclasses at this year’s Fest include: Baby Massage, Parent and Infant Relationships, A Parent’s Toolkit (programmes for parents), Feeding my Child, and Playful Learning.
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14. 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. |
15. 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. |
16. Online Training for Social Workers: How Babies Learn to Regulate their Emotions & the Impact of Trauma
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Please see the flyer below for details of FREE online training sessions designed to help practitioners learn about the impact of trauma on infants, and consider their role in helping parents understand what their infant needs in order to feel emotionally safe. To book a place please email sally.smith86@nhs.net |
17. The Children's Society #LookCloser FREE Online Training for Professionals re: "Missing & Exploitation"
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The Children's Society's next #LookCloser week of action is on 2nd-6th March. And as part of their work for their award-winning campaign in partnership with the British Transport Police and the National County Lines Coordination Centre, they are offering free online training on 'Missing and Exploitation' for professionals based in the North of England.
Two dates are available (with limited spaces!). Please note that both of these sessions are the same, so you only need to book onto one of them.
Bringing to life the themes of the next #LookCloser campaign awareness week and County Lines Intensification Week, this learning session will highlight the connection between children going missing and different forms of child exploitation. Why this session matters:
This session will examine why young people who go missing face significantly increased risks of exploitation and other serious harm and will highlight how going missing is itself a critical warning sign of potential exploitation. It will also explore how professional fatigue, victim blaming language and failure to share or act on key information can mean that perpetrators are not stopped and that young people face ongoing harm.
Drawing on The Children's Society's practice experience, learning from recent research and input from partners in law enforcement and the voluntary sector, this session will explore the changes to mindsets and systems which are needed to improve professional responses to missing young people to prevent and disrupt child exploitation. This session aims to equip professionals to:
- Understand the links between missing episodes, child exploitation and abuse, and serious violence and why all missing episodes should be viewed as safeguarding concerns and indicators of exploitation.
- Consider how to better use available tools to safeguard young people in advance of and following a missing episode, such as Return Home Interviews (RHIs) & Safe & Well Checks, Safety Planning, Risk Assessments & Trigger Plans, Multi-agency panel discussions and Disruption powers, including civil orders.
- Build positive relationships with young people to uncover the root causes of missing episodes and address them.
- Use appropriate language when discussing young people who are currently or have previously been missing.
- Explore the disproportionate representation of specific demographic groups among young people who experience missing episodes and how to support them.
Please do feel free to share this information far and wide, so that we can reach as many professionals across the North of England and encourage them to #LookCloser. |
18. Reminder: NEW Wakefield Domestic Abuse Support Service
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From 1st January 2026 Cranstoun became the new provider of the Wakefield Domestic Abuse Support Service (DASS). The service will be delivered by Cranstoun in partnership with Riverside and RASAC. For further information please contact the service using the details below: 📞 Phone: 0800 915 1561 (freephone) or 01924 972715 ✉️ Email: wakefielddass@cranstoun.org.uk 🌐 Website: www.cranstoun.org
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. |
19. Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse - Free Webinars & Resources to Support Practice
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NEW: Support for Children & Young People Displaying Harmful Sexual Behaviour
If you are worried that a child or young person might be displaying harmful sexual behaviour, there are services that can help. The Centre of Expertise's Get Support page contains the details of over 350 national and local support services for victims, survivors and their families. Last month, they updated their directory of support services to include services providing focused support to children around harmful sexual behaviour. You can find these, as well as many other tailored services offering focused support for those impacted by child sexual abuse, on their website. Click here to find a support service. FREE CSA Centre Resources on Harmful Sexual Behaviour
It is likely that professionals working with children will need to respond to concerns of harmful sexual behaviour during their careers. To help you respond with confidence, the Centre of Expertise's Key messages from research on children and young people who display harmful sexual behaviour provides you with a quick-read accessible overview to guide evidence-informed professional practice. Schools and professionals in education settings also play a pivotal role in identifying and responding to concerns about harmful sexual behaviour. For more information on supporting children following incidents of harmful sexual behaviour in practice, take a look at the Centre of Expertise's Safety planning in education guide. FREE Webinars
The Centre of Expertise have a number of free webinars available throughout 2026, from helping with research, consultation events, to free practice guidance. To find out more about the FREE upcoming webinars please click here.
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20. Top Safety Tips for Families this January
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The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) have published the following safety tips for families this January. Calling all professionals - where possible please share this important information with any parents/carers that you work with.
Winter Safety Guide
As the weather gets colder, there are extra hazards to watch out for. That’s why CAPT have created a new winter safety guide with top tips for keeping children safe from serious accidents this season. Click on the button below to take a look.
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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 intrafamilial child sexual abuse, child neglect, suicide, and infant deaths. Please click here to read the reviews.
Puberty and Learning Disabilities
NSPCC Learning has updated its resources on navigating puberty and sexual development for children and young people who have a learning disability. The resources include a guide for parents on navigating puberty, and a series of symbolised booklets exploring bodies and behaviours. New content includes a guide for parents and carers on humping and thrusting behaviour to help them understand and respond to this behaviour in a supportive, non-shaming and proactive way.
Access the resources: Navigating puberty and sexual development
See also on NSPCC Learning: Safeguarding children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Perinatal Support
NSPCC Learning has published four new case studies to help practitioners learn more about using the Graded Care Profile 2 Antenatal (GCP2A). GCP2A is an evidence-based assessment tool which helps professionals working with expectant and new parents to identify areas of parenting strength and areas where families may benefit from support. The case studies demonstrate how GCP2A can be used to: strengthen parenting capacity; support midwives to explore concerns; inform decision-making; and show parenting strengths.
Read the case studies: Graded Care Profile 2 Antenatal (GCP2A)
Misogyny
NSPCC Learning has launched a new online masterclass on recognising and responding to misogyny, sexism and gender-based hate. The on-demand training session explores: what misogyny means and why it is a safeguarding issue; the impact it has on children and young people; and how to recognise the signs. The masterclass has been designed for professionals working or volunteering with children and young people. Please not this masterclass has a fee of £20 per person.
Access the masterclass: Tackling misogyny masterclass
Online Safety
The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a guide to help parents and carers manage children’s digital lives. The guide aims to explain common online challenges, help families start and sustain open conversations, and provide support with setting boundaries. The guide includes a checklist of actions and an additional activity pack for children.
Read the blog post: What I wish my parents or carers knew..."Children's commissioner launches guide for parents and carers on managing children's digital lives"
Early Years
Research in Practice has published a briefing summarising key messages for practice from the third report of the national evaluation of A Better Start. A Better Start is a programme focusing on supporting families with babies and young children through local partnerships in five areas across England. The briefing summarises learning for early year practitioners and families, focusing on five themes including: engaging with families; involving families to support outcomes for children; and integrated multidisciplinary working.
Read the briefing: Effective support for families is vital in improving child development and outcomes |
22. What Would You Like to Hear About?
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What areas regarding child safeguarding do you want to hear about? WSCP welcome your suggestions for content for the partnership e-bulletin. Therefore, if there are any items you would like to be featured in the next edition or to provide feedback which will help us improve the newsletter going forward please email wscp@wakefield.gov.ukThe e-bulletin is circulated on or around the last working day of each month, therefore any suggestions for content would need to be received at the latest the week prior to circulation. |
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