News and announcements : Cumbria County Council

March 2016

Safeguard children within religious or faith settings

The NSPCC have created 6 short films showing how to safeguard children within religious or faith settings

Source: NSPCC Website 30 March 2016

NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line

The NSPCC recently launched a government funded Whistleblowing Advice Line. This will take calls from professionals from any sector who are worried about the way their, or another, organisation is dealing with child protection issues. Employees who don’t feel able to escalate these issues internally can contact the service, as well as those who have been unsuccessful in doing so. It can be reached for free on 0800 028 0285 and can be contacted anonymously. More information and free resources are available on the NSPCC website.

Source:NSPCC website 17 March 2016

Blog focusing on the voices of Young People affected by CSE

To coincide with National Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Awareness Day on 18 March, the International Centre at the University of Bedfordshire has launched a blog focusing on the voices of young people affected by CSE emerging from their research. One of the first posts is by a young man called Greg who reflects on his experiences of grooming and sexual exploitation.

Source:The International Centre Blog 18 March 2016

CSE Facebook Chat Event - 16 March 2016

Specialist officers, along with Cumbria’s Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB), Cumbria County Council Children’s Services and the NSPCC, will be holding a Facebook chat event on Wednesday (March 16th), 6-7pm, to provide answers to any questions people may have about CSE – whether that be a young person who is concerned about a friend, or a parent who wants to be able to spot the signs of CSE.

The event, which follows a social media campaign by the Constabulary to heighten awareness of CSE, will also provide a link for people to ask questions anonymously.

Police and partners are also taking the opportunity to raise awareness of the dangers associated with young people taking and sharing indecent images.

The Facebook chat event can be found https://www.facebook.com/cumbriapolice

Breast Ironing

Breast Ironing also known as "Breast Flattening" is the process whereby young pubescent girls breasts are ironed, massaged and / or pounded down through the use of hard or heated objects in order for the breasts to disappear or delay the development of the breasts entirely. Much like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Breast Ironing is a harmful cultural practice and is child abuse. Professionals working with children and young people must be able to identify the signs and symptoms of girls who are at risk of or have undergone breast ironing. Similarly to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), breast ironing is classified as physical abuse therefore professionals must follow their Local Safeguarding Children’s Board Procedures.

Source: View full Tri.x Briefing

Announcement of a new strategy to prevent violence against women and girls

The government has announced a new strategy to prevent violence against women and girls which is being described as a shift from crisis response to early intervention and prevention.

Source:Home Office 08 March 2016

Further information: Ending violence against women and girls: 2016 to 2020

Those working with families affected by domestic violence

NICE has produced a quality standard for those working with families affected by domestic violence. It includes guidance on supporting children and young people affected by domestic violence that is not directly perpetrated against them. This includes children taken into care.

Source:NICE 11 March 2016

Published review - relationship between poverty and child abuse and neglect

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published a review of the evidence on the relationship between poverty and child abuse and neglect.

Source:Joseph Rowntree Foundation 03 March 2016

Protect Deaf and Disabled Children from Abuse and Neglect

The NSPCC has published webpages for professionals on how their organisations can protect deaf and disabled children from abuse and neglect.

Source:NSPCC 03 March 2016

3 New Factsheets for Young People in Care and Care Leavers

The Who Cares? Trust has published three new factsheets for young people in care and care leavers. They focus on: financial support for care leavers; different children's services professionals who children in care may meet; and how to get the most out of a pathway plan.

Source:The Who Cares? Trust 01 March 2016

Further information: All about the money (PDF); The name game (PDF); Pathway to success (PDF)

Series of films and digital resource packs on Self-Harm

Young Minds, the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust and the Royal College of Psychiatrists have created a series of films and digital resource packs on self-harm. These have been created with the help of children and young people, parents and professionals.

Source:Young Minds 29 February 2016

New Information Sharing Platform Pilot

New Philanthropy Capital and NSPCC are piloting a new information-sharing platform for organisations supporting children to rebuild their lives after abuse or neglect. SupportShare.org enables organisations to share ideas, evidence, and best practice. By exchanging information on what works, we hope this will help organisations learn from each other, improve services, and build a community.

Source:NPC press release 25 February 2016

Further information: SupportShare.org

Young People's Mental Health Report

The government has released its response to the Youth Select Committee's report on young people's mental health in which it sets out actions relating to each of the report's recommendations.

Source:Youth Select Committee 25 February 2016

Further information: The government response to the 2015 youth select committee report: young people's mental health (PDF); British Youth Council and Youth Select Committee 2015: Young people's mental health (PDF)

Transforming Mental Wellbeing Services for Children and Young People in Cumbria

Update from Anne Sheppard Strategic Manager Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health (February 2016).

The procurement process undertaken by the Cumbria Partnership Foundation NHS Trust, for the new Primary Mental Health Early Intervention Service is now complete and the contract was awarded to ‘Barnados North West’ in December. Currently a recruitment process is underway to staff the teams that will be working in all areas by the end of April. Howgill Family Centre are sub-contracted to provide the service in Copeland.

Barnados North West are a separate organisation to our own Cumbria Barnados Early Help and Children’s Centre Provider. They have experience of delivering other targeted (Tier 2) emotional and mental wellbeing services in the North West of England. The new service (which is about to be renamed with a more user friendly name) will be fully integrated with our Specialist CAMHS Teams across the County and are at present developing the process for the provision of a Single Point of Access for both targeted and specialist non urgent mental health support. The rationale for this is to make the referral process clearer for those seeking help in supporting a child/young person’s mental wellbeing and also to ensure that the right help is provided at the right time and that children and young people are not referred into CAMHS when they don’t need to be.

Commissioners across the CCG, Public Health and Children’s Services are pleased that we will soon be able to see this service in operation in all districts and also see if forming an effective and key part of our wider Whole system approach to supporting the emotional wellbeing and mental health of all children and young people living in Cumbria. Details of who to contact in your area will be available shortly once recruitment is completed.

HeadStart Phase 3 – The Cumbria Strategy and Implementation Plan for Phase 3 have been/will be (?) submitted to the Big Lottery Fund on 26th February. This is the culmination of months of hard work on the part of the project team, our partnership, stakeholders and over one hundred children and young people that have been involved in co-production of the plan. We have also had the support of leaders at the highest level. Our proposed programme is ambitious and Cumbria wide, phased over the next 5 years. The aim is to equip children and young people with the tools they need to build emotional resilience and cope with life’s challenges.

We now have to wait until June to hear the outcome! In April we will be asked for the answers to ‘clarification questions’ and at the end of May the project leads and officer will go to London to deliver a presentation to the England Committee and that’s where the final decision will be made.

Whole System Implementation Workshops - These have been running at the LSCB Practitioner Forums and have been well received. There are also 3 Whole System evening workshops on the following dates

Tuesday March 1st 6.30 – 9.30 p.m. at the Newby Bridge Hotel, Newby Bridge

Thursday 3rd March, 6.30 – 9.30 p.m. Morton Community Centre Carlisle

Thursday 10th March 6.30 – 9.30 p.m. Cockermouth Hospital

There are places available on all 3 and to book your place simply register your attendance at Childrens.admin@cumbriaCCG.nhs.uk

New Children’s Bereavement Service – I wanted to flag up to practitioners that Cumbria now has access to this service in both the North and the South of the County

Child Bereavement UK supports parents after the death of a child (of any age) and also supports children and young people following the death of someone significant. In Cumbria, they have a practitioner based in South Lakes – Christina.sudlow@barnardos.org.uk. Another practitioner based in Carlisle – mark.harkness@childbereavementuk.org

The new Team Lead for Cumbria, Carol Green, commences on 21st March so we will update our details accordingly. Tina and Mark currently focus on support for children and young people, with concurrent advice for family members caring for the children. We are also keen to raise awareness and increase understanding of bereavement issues for teachers, social workers, school nurses and other practitioners who have concerns for the emotional well-being of young people they encounter. The impact of bereavement is often overlooked as a root cause of difficulties young people and families are experiencing.

Child Bereavement UK can offer, for example, twilight sessions where schools have had a bereavement, or awareness-raising sessions for other professionals. These can be at no cost, but we also have an extensive range of specialist and bespoke training days available on our website if organisations require more intensive workshops. Initial enquiries can be made to Child Bereavement UK’s North Development Lead: Shirley.potts@childbereavementuk.org; tel 07867 306578 www.childbereavementuk.org

Targeted Youth Work

There is currently an interim targeted youth work arrangement in Cumbria County Council for young people aged 11 to 19 years requiring Tier 1 Emotional Health and Well-Being support, such as young people with issues around self-esteem; bereavement; sexual health awareness; missing from home; alcohol and drugs awareness, CSE awareness and keeping safe.

Tier 1 service requests can be made but only via the Early Help Assessment process. An Early Help Assessment must therefore have been registered and initiated via the Safeguarding Hub and the request for the young person needing support with their emotional health and well-being can then be made. Any requests for Tier 1 services cannot be made directly to the County Council Targeted Youth Team. If a request is made when an Early Help Assessment is not in place then this will be go back to the referrer and an EHA Assessment requested where appropriate.

Targeted Youth Workers also offer individual or group support to young people aged 11 to 19 years through their community, school and issue based provision. This is where a young person could approach a Targeted Youth Worker directly. The Youth Worker may then register an EHA if required, or provide a single agency response, or signpost on to other services. The Youth Workers have an area based delivery plan which includes e.g. drop-in’s, targeted youth support, team around the community, youth work in schools and youth participation.

There is a generic team email address available from Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Your email will be forwarded to the most appropriate team leader for a response youth.support@cumbria.gov.uk

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Policies & Procedures

A number of policies and procedures in our online manual have been updated. These updates will go live on 29 February 2016 and can be found here: http://cumbrialscb.proceduresonline.com/index.htm

Did you know you can register for alerts for when our procedures, policies and guidance are updated? We can alert you when this manual is updated, to register for updates, please complete the form below. http://cumbrialscb.proceduresonline.com/chapters/register_updates.html

The full list of policy and procedure updates

New procedure:

Children Visiting Psychiatric Wards and Facilitates

Amended policies and procedures:

Children & Families that go missing (including unborn children)

Children who go missing from care or home

Children from Abroad

Underage Sexual Activity

Bullying

Agency Roles and Responsibilities

E-Safety: Children Exposed to Abuse through the Digital Media

Female Genital Mutilation

Information Sharing Protocol

Guidance for Safe Recruitment, Selection and Retention for Staff and Volunteers

Children Living Away from Home with Other Families

Supporting Children and Young People Vulnerable to Violent Extremism and Radicalisation

Child Protection Enquiries

Conflict Resolution – now escalation policy

Child Sexual Exploitation

Domestic Abuse

Suicide & Self-Harm

Responding to Abuse and Neglect

Joint Protocol form Homeless 16-17 Young People in Cumbria

February 2016

NSPCC Whistleblowing Helpline 0800 028 0285

The new Whistleblowing Advice Line that the NSPCC Helpline will officially launch on Saturday 13 February 2016. This has been developed to provide support to employees wishing to raise concerns over how child protection issues are being handled in their own or other organisations.

The NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line can be reached on 0800 028 0285

The Home Office and Department for Education commissioned the NSPCC to manage the advice line after a firm commitment to do so was made by the Government in its Tackling CSE report in March 2015.

The advice line is not intended to replace any current practices or responsibilities of organisations working with children. The helpline advisors would encourage professionals to raise any concerns about a child to their own employer in the first instance. However, the advice line offers an alternative route if whistleblowing internally is difficult or professionals have concerns around how matters are being handled.

More information on the helpline is available on our website, where further resources will be available in March.

Source: NSPCC Whistleblowing 12 February 2016

Children's Mental Health Week 8-14 February 2016

The theme of Children's Mental Health Week this year is 'building resilience' and teaching children to 'bounce forward' from life's challenges.

While we cannot always change children's circumstances, we can teach them the skills to cope with the difficulties life throws at them. Join us this Children's Mental Health Week in helping children grow up with prospects not problems.

https://www.place2be.org.uk/ Place to be will be running a hotline for Children's Mental Health Week offering guidance for parents and carers on their children's mental health.

Parents and Carers Helpline: 0808 168 9144 (Freephone)

Source:https://www.place2be.org.uk/our-story/childrens-mental-health-week/ 09 February 2016

Identify if a child is being neglected

In an article in the Guardian Social Care Network, the NSPCC's Robyn Johnson gives tips for identifying if a child is being neglected and assessing whether parents are making progress.

Source:Guardian 04 February 2016

Mandatory reporting of Female Genital Mutilation

The Home Office and the Department for Education have published a factsheet on mandatory reporting of female genital mutilation and what it means for professionals affected by the duty.

Source:Home Office 29 January 2016

Early Help & Family Support Panels

Across Cumbria we have been working to develop the use of the Early Help to ensure that Children, Young People and their families receive the help they need when they need it. The involvement of the Early Help team working with frontline staff across the county, and across the spectrum of support networks for families, has brought about a significant increase in the use of the assessment process highlighting the benefits but also the challenges.

In a move to bring key agencies in a locality together on a regular basis to consider some of these more complex cases that sit at the Early Help Threshold, Early Help and Family Support Panels are being developed in each area.

Further information:http://www.cumbrialscb.com/professionals/earlyhelp/default.asp

January 2016

NSPCC Campaign for improved access to therapeutic services for abused children and young people

On Wednesday 27 January the NSPCC is launching their long term It’s Time campaign to raise awareness of the barriers abused children face getting help to rebuild their lives and to call for improved provision and access to therapeutic services, such as counselling or play-based therapy, that meet their specific needs.

The It’s Time campaign is based on a recognition that a significant number of children and young people often fail to receive or even access the help and support that they need to enable them to recover from the abuse and neglect that they have experienced. As a result many may face long term emotional and psychological difficulties.

Further information:www.nspcc.org.uk/time

Early Help update for all professionals working with children

Further information:http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKCCC/bulletins/132aa09

The Department for Education is consulting on measures to keep children safe at home and online

They include: appropriate filters and monitoring so that children cannot access harmful content via the school's IT systems and concerns are spotted quickly. Consultation closes on 16 February 2016.

Source:Department for Education 22 December 2015

Further information: Keeping children safe in education: proposed changes

FGM protection orders

A Guardian article comments on FGM protection orders, introduced last year to protect girls from being subjected to the practice.

Source:Guardian 04 January 2016

Further information: How to apply for a female genital mutilation protection order

Graded Care Profile 2 Launch

Join the NSPCC in London on 25 January to launch the Graded Care Profile 2 (GCP2). Learn about our pilot phase with 27 local authorities, hear from Dr Srivastava (the developer of the original GCP) and preview the new GCP2 materials and associated resources. We will share research findings on the original and updated GCP tool and will explain how to become part of the next phase of GCP2. For more information and to book a place contact: gcp2@nspcc.org.uk

Source:NSPCC 08 January 2016

Further information: Sign up to the Graded Care Profile 2 launch

December 2015

New website launched to educate peers about FGM

'Everybody's Business' is a new website launched by young people to educate their peers about FGM and what they can do to stop it.

Source:Department for Communities and Local Government 10 December 2015

Further information: Everybody's Business

A guide for parents on coping with their child's self-harm

The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford has published a guide for parents on coping with their child's self-harm which is based on their in-depth research with parents.

Source:University of Oxford: Department of Psychiatry 26 November 2015

Further information: Coping with self harm: a guide for parents and carers (PDF)

Private Fostering Arrangement Notifications

The Department for Education has published its response to the results of the consultation on revisions to private fostering arrangement notifications.

Source:Department for Education 16 December 2015

Transforming Emotional and Mental Wellbeing Services for CYP - Cumbria’s Whole System Approach

Anne Sheppard from Children’s Services and Nicola Jackson from Cumbria CCG plus other colleagues have started to deliver brief workshops to practitioner forums and networks about our whole system approach to improving emotional and mental wellbeing. There are several strands to this innovation and improvement programme and our vision across all this work is, ‘All our children and young people can access the support they need to achieve emotional wellbeing and mental health.’

The aims of the workshops are to:

To raise awareness and explain the model
Provide an opportunity to reflect on your place and role within the system
Update practitioner forums on developments
Provide feedback to the Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Partnership

Further workshops are scheduled for the following practitioner forums (there's no need to book to attend these sessions):

Tuesday 12th January Barrow Practitioners Forum (Vickerstown School from 9.30am)
Tuesday 16th February Kendal Practitioners Forum (County Hall Kendal from 2.00pm)
Wednesday 16th March Allerdale Practitioners Forum (Oval Centre from 10.00am
Thursday 17th March Copeland Practitioners Forum (Howgill FC Cleator Moor 10.00am)

In addition 3 evening workshops (which do require booking) have been organised in February and March as follows:

Thursday 4 February 2016

Cockermouth Health Centre

6.30pm refreshments

7.00pm – 9.00pm workshop

Tuesday 1 March 2016

Newby Bridge

Hotel, Newby

Bridge

6.30pm refreshments, 7.00pm – 9.00pm workshop

Thursday 3 March 2016

Morton Community Centre,

Morton Manor,

Carlisle

6.30pm refreshments, 7.00pm – 9.00pm workshop

To book a place on one of the workshops please complete the attached form and email toChildrens.Admin@CumbriaCCG.nhs.uk or telephone 01768 245920.

November 2015

Anti-Bullying Alliance Survey

A survey by the Anti-Bullying Alliance of 1496 young people aged between 16 and 25 and 170 teachers has found that almost two thirds reported they were bullied at school. Of these, nearly half reported experiencing mental health issues as a result and 70% of teachers feel ill-equipped to support children with mental health issues related to bullying.

Source:National Children's Bureau 16 November 2015

Provision and accessibility of mental health support for children who have experienced abuse or neglect

To inform an upcoming campaign, the NSPCC is surveying a range of professionals about the provision and accessibility of mental health support for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. It is well documented that CAMHS services are stretched, but less is known about the range of therapeutic support for children who have been abused. Please fill out this 5 - 10 minute survey to help us as we campaign to ensure that every child who has been abused has the support they need.

Source:Therapeutic support for children where the effects of abuse or neglect are a primary concern 18 November 2015

Child Sexual Exploitation

Research in Practice has published an evidence scope of effective service design and practice development to address child sexual exploitation

Source:Research in Practice 13 November 2015

Further information: Working effectively to address child sexual exploitation: evidence scope

New national report published today, from the Children’s Commissioner, on hidden child sexual abuse in the family environment

Protecting children from harm – version for young people - 24 November 2015 - Version of our report, Protecting children from harm, specifically for young people.

Protecting children from harm – summary - 24 November 2015 - Executive summary of our report, Protecting children from harm: A critical assessment of child sexual abuse in the family network in England and priorities for action.

Protecting children from harm – full report - 24 November 2015 - Full report, Protecting children from harm: A critical assessment of child sexual abuse in the family network in England and priorities for action.

Transforming Mental Wellbeing Services for Children and Young People in Cumbria

This is a brief update, from Anne Sheppard - Strategic Manager Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Services, on the many work streams that together form the ‘whole-system’ approach to supporting and improving the emotional and mental wellbeing of children and young people in Cumbria.

Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group and Children’s Services had their Local Transformation Plan approved by NHS England. The production of this plan was a requirement following the publication of ‘Future in Mind’, a government task force report published in March 2015. The overall implementation of the plan will be led by Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and highlights the key challenges faced in transforming and improving emotional and mental wellbeing services for children and young people. It also sets out how partners will work together to address them between now and 2020. The plan will be published and available on the CCG website by the end of November, it will be further developed over the next 12 months and there will be opportunities for children, young people, parents, carers and practitioners to influence and shape it’s development. Now that the plan has been ‘assured’ the CCG will start to receive additional funding equating to approximately £5m over the next five years.

The HeadStart Project Team are now working with key stakeholders (including children and young people 10-16 years) and senior leaders across the county to work up our Phase 3 HeadStart Strategy and Implementation Plan for Cumbria. The deadline for submission to the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) is 26 February 2016. The Team are evaluating all the commissioned projects and the work undertaken in 26 schools in Carlisle and Furness for our Phase 2 test and learn period, distilling the learning and evidence into a plan which can make a real and positive difference to the emotional resilience of 10-16 year olds in Cumbria by 2021. HeadStart Phase 3 presents the opportunity of local investment by BLF of £1m+ per year over the period 2016-2021. To be successful in securing the funding, the BLF need to be certain that plans are both deliverable and sustainable beyond their investment. The mission statement for HeadStart Phase 3 is Children and Young People aged 10 to 16 living in Cumbria, have the strength and confidence to ride life’s inevitable ups and downs, now and in the future.

During the remainder of November, partners across the NHS and Local Authority are working through the procurement process for a new Primary Mental Health Early Intervention Service. The plan is to have the service in place from the end of February 2016. This offers up another opportunity for children and young people to be involved and to come up with a much more user friendly name for the service.

Colleagues working together from Children’s Services and Cumbria CCG are rolling out ‘whole-system’ workshops and events between now and April 2016. These will be delivered via local Practitioner Forums. Other meetings and events, including a multi-agency workshop will be held in each of our 3 areas between January and March 2016. These present an opportunity for professionals to learn more about the work programme and how they can become involved and feedback to the multi-agency Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Partnership.

Through the Local Transformation Plan and HeadStart Strategy there is now a fantastic opportunity to invest significantly over the next five years and to help our journey to ensuring that every child and young person can access the support they need to achieve emotional and mental wellbeing. We all have an important part to play in helping to take this work forward. Remember to sign up the LSCB Newsletter for future updates.

The Serious Case Review (SCR) Panel has published a report detailing its work in the second year of operation

It makes a number of recommendations including: LSCB chairs should appoint SCR reviewers with strong analytical skills who have the ability to produce a clear, succinct account of what happened and why and what needs to change to prevent it happening again.

Source:Department for Education 10 November 2015

Further information: Second report of the national panel of independent experts on serious case reviews (PDF)

The NSPCC has launchedfree Share Aware lesson plans and classroom guidance for teachers on helping children to stay safe online

These teaching resources have received the PSHE Association quality assurance mark.

Source:NSPCC: Share Aware - resources for schools and teachers 10 November 2015

The NSPCC has published a report giving an overview of our research on child neglect, evaluations of assessment tools and services, and new evidence on how we can work together to prevent child neglect

Source:NSPCC 03 November 2015

Further information: Spotlight on preventing child neglect: an overview of learning from NSPCC services and research (PDF)

Barnardo's and the Marie Collins Foundation have published a report examining the impact of technology on the sexual abuse and exploitation of young people

Findings include: the internet has given perpetrators greater access to potential victims. Young people believe that due to anonymity they are protected online and therefore take more risks and are less inhibited. All children are at risk of online harm, even those without any vulnerabilities commonly associated with the risk of sexual exploitation such as being in care.

Source:Barnardo's 05 November 2015

Further information: Digital dangers: the impact of technology on the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and young people (PDF)

As part of the spotlight on child neglect

NSPCC has published an evaluation of their Pathways Triple P (Positive Parenting Programme) - a service to help parents build strong relationships with their children and keep them safe from neglect. Findings include: at the start of the programme 74% of children had severe emotional and behavioural difficulties, by the end of the programme this figure had reduced to 45% of children.

Source:NSPCC 26 October 2015

Further information: Child neglect and Pathways Triple P (PDF)

Ofsted figures show that the number of serious case reviews published between April 2014 and March 2015 has risen 16% on the previous year, from 143 to 166

Source:Children & Young People Now 29 October 2015

Further information: Serious incident notifications from local authority children's services 2014 to 2015

October 2015

The Minister of State for Community and Social Care has set out plans to improve children and young people's mental health

These include: a national anti-stigma campaign for teenagers and parents which will launch next month; and the creation of a new section on the NHS Choices website providing information on mental health which is tailored for young people.

Source:Department of Health 22 October 2015

Further information: NHS Choices: young people and mental health

NSPCC published "what help is currently provided by universal services to tackle child neglect" report

The NSPCC has published a report drawing on the views of health visitors, school nurses, GPs, midwives, teachers, early help practitioners and young people exploring what help is currently provided by universal services to tackle child neglect, what the barriers are to providing early help and what stakeholders' views are on how services can be better supported to provide early help. It sets out a model for early help for neglect in universal services and makes recommendations for what is required to get there.

Source:NSPCC press release 20 October 2015

Further information: Realising the potential: tackling child neglect in universal services (PDF)

Stepping down to Early Help

As Early Help Assessments are becoming more commonly used Cumbria's Early Help Team are concentrating on key areas to improve upon. One of the areas the team are trying to influence is the point at which a young person no longer requires statutory involvement via children in need or child protection plans. At this stage all but a few cases should step down to an Early Help Plan.

The purpose of stepping down is to sustain the level of positive change in a young person’s circumstances. This could ultimately reduce the chance of the situation deteriorating and then being re-referred for statutory intervention.

Remember - Responsibility for step down doesn’t just sit with the social worker – but with other key agencies involved with the family. It needn’t involve more than the role they already play in a families life – with planned review meetings at agreed intervals. At the stage of step down the Early Help Plan should be registered by the social worker with the Early Help Mailbox as this registers that it has happened. If there are any problems in securing a Team around the Family at that stage, workers can contact their local Early Help Officer for support in identifying key services.

Closing Assessments

As well as step down the Early Help Team are looking at the closure process. The team need to know how effective the process of assessment and planning has been for a young person and their family.

The main method of monitoring this is by regular audit, but also by looking at the closure records. This shows the team whether an assessment was closed due to the family disengaging, moving out of the area or having their needs met and therefore the Team around the Family can cease to meet. We would stress the need to close using the closure form which is available from the LSCB website, see - www.cumbrialscb.com/professionals/earlyhelp/.

Overall, the team are really pleased at the extent to which the use of the Early Help has increased. Ultimately this must mean that families are getting the help that they need when they need it at that earlier stage. Early Help Officers are being used extensively in a variety of ways, something the team want to continue. If you have any queries regarding either step down or registration of closures – please contact your local Early Help Officer or email Early.Help@cumbria.gov.uk

Information and support for professionals if they suspect a young patient is at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

In a blog for the General Medical Council (GMC), John Cameron, NSPCC head of helplines, advises professionals on what to do and where to turn for information and support if they suspect a young patient is at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM).

Source: General Medical Council 06 October 2015

Further information: NSPCC website: FGM at a glance

Briefing summarising risk factors and learning from Serious Case Reviews

The NSPCC Information Service has published a briefing summarising risk factors and learning from serious case reviews relevant to perinatal healthcare teams.

Source:NSPCC 09 October 2015

Published Child Mental Health Provision in England findings

The NSPCC has published findings from an FOI request into child mental health provision in England. In the 35 mental health trusts that responded: of 186,453 cases referred by GPs and other professionals, 39,652 children did not receive help. In the 6 mental health trusts that provided a breakdown of outcomes for children with problems associated with abuse or neglect, 305 of the 1,843 cases referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) were rejected.

Source:NSPCC Press Release 12 October 2015

Training and qualifications for the children's workforce guide

Children and Young People Now has published a guide to training and qualifications for the children's workforce.

Source:Children & Young People Now 01 October 2015

Briefing on Female Genital Mutilation and the Law

The organisation, Rights of Women, has published a briefing on female genital mutilation and the law.

Source:Rights of Women 01 October 2015

September 2015

Supporting victims of Domestic Abuse

The government is urging local authorities in need of help in supporting victims of domestic abuse to bid for a share of a £3 million fund.

Source:Department for Communities and Local Government 18 September 2015

NSPCC & Chance UK conference: an opportunity to consider the evidence on intervening early to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation

This conference, organised by NSPCC and Chance UK, takes place on 3 November 2015, in London.

Source:NSPCC Website

Free Child Sex Exploitation Awareness Course

PACE (Parents against child sexual exploitation)have developed a short online course that raises awareness of how to spot the signs of child sexual exploitation and is free for anybody to complete.

Training link:https://safeguardingchildren.vc-tms.co.uk/selfregistration.aspx?version=9679

More information about the course: http://www.safeguardingchildrenea.co.uk/safeguarding-news/keep-them-safe/

The Department for Education has launched a new online service for schools to give parents tips and advice on preparing their children for adult life.

It covers a range of issues including: online safety; spotting the signs of self-harm and having a healthy body image.

Source:Department for Education 06 September 2015

Report published on meeting the needs of young people with learning disabilities who experience, or are at risk of, sexual exploitation (CSE).

Barnardo's, the Children's Society, the British Institute of Learning Disabilities, Paradigm Research and Coventry University have published a report on meeting the needs of young people with learning disabilities who experience, or are at risk of, sexual exploitation (CSE). It recommends governments, local agencies and schools raise awareness of CSE amongst young people with learning disabilities and their parents / carers, and give them the skills and knowledge to keep safe and ask for help.

Source:Barnardo's 10 September 2015

Further information:Full report (PDF)

Unprotected, overprotected: meeting the needs of young people with learning disabilities who experience, or are at risk of, sexual exploitation (executive summary - PDF)

Report published on Health inequalities in children under 5 across England.

The National Children's Bureau has published a report on health inequalities in children under-5 across England. It looks at 4 key measures of a child's health and wellbeing: obesity, tooth decay, accidental injury and 'school readiness'. Findings indicate that a child's chances of experiencing one or more of these poor outcomes depends on where they grow up.

Source:National Children's Bureau 07 September 2015

Further information: Poor beginnings: health inequalities among young children across England (PDF)

NSPCC - Protecting Young People involved in gangs

The NSPCC has launched a new animation about how to protect young people involved in gangs.

Source:YouTube 31 August 2015

The Department for Education has published a new policy paper outlining how it is tackling extremism through the education and children's services sectors.

Work covered includes the Prevent duty, guidance for schools and childcare providers and inspections.

Source:Department for Education 01 September 2015

The BBC reports that more than 5,500 alleged sex offences in UK schools were reported to police in the last three years.

The figures, which were provided in response to an FOI request sent to all UK police forces, also show that at least one fifth of offences were carried out by children.

Source:BBC Online 06 September 2015

Further information: Observer 05 September 2015

NSPCC and O2 have joined forces to keep children safe online

The work includes: an online safety helpline for parents to call for technical advice; online safety workshops in schools and workplaces; and training staff in O2 stores to help adults with their online safety concerns.

Source:O2 and NSPCC 27 August 2015

Further information:NSPCC website

August 2015

International Survey on Children's Wellbeing

The Children's Society has published the results of an international survey on children's wellbeing. Findings include: children in England (aged 10 and 12) are unhappier with their school experience than in 11 other countries, ranking England 12th out of 15 countries surveyed. 38% of 10 and 12-year-olds in England have been physically bullied in the last month and half have felt excluded.

Source:Children's Society press release 18 August 2015

Further information: The Good Childhood report 2015

Unexplained Infant Deaths in Infancy

The Office for National Statistics has published data on unexplained infant deaths in infancy in England. 249 unexplained deaths occurred in 2013, a rate of 0.36 deaths per 1000 births. This is the first rise in unexplained infant deaths since 2008.

Source: ONS 19 August 2015

Protecting children from radicalisation: the prevent duty

The Department for Education has launched a helpline for anyone concerned about a child who may be at risk of extremism, or about extremism within an organisation working with children and young people. Email: counter.extremism@education.gsi.gov.uk. Telephone: 020 7340 7264.

Source:Department for Education 17 August 2015

SeeProtecting children from radicalisation: the prevent duty

Cumbria LSCB Safeguarding Procedures Updated – What’s new

The LSCBs multi-agency procedures and practice guidance have been updated. These revised guidelines and procedures are up to date with Working Together 2015.

More information -Cumbria LSCB Safeguarding Policies and Procedures Briefing Note - Online Procedure Manual - August 2015 (PDF)

See the manual at http://cumbrialscb.proceduresonline.com/, please register to be alerted for all future updates.

July 2015

New course launched 'How to write an Early Help Assessment'

Focussing on quality and the child's voice - book now How to Write an Early Help Assessment (link) or see the Full Training Programme and Learning Events Brochure (link).

NSPCC Report - Learning from Parents with a mental health problem: Summary of risk factors and learning for improved practice around parental mental health and child welfare

The learning from these reviews highlights that professionals must recognise the relationship between adult mental health and child protection. Adult and children’s services need to work together to safeguard children when there is a parent with mental health problems.

See - Learning from Parents with a mental health problem (link)

June 2015

Specialist Integrated Support Services for Victims of Sexual and Domestic Abuse

Safety Net has over 10 years experience developing and delivering high quality services to victims of sexual and domestic abuse. Safety Net offers a specialist two levels of service to support children, young people and adults recover from the devastating effects of sexual and domestic abuse (Mental Health Tiers 2 and 3):

Our newly appointed Integrated Support team, piloted with support from the Police and Crime Commissioner, provides practical short term interventions to victims of Sexual Abuse, including Child Sexual Exploitation and Rape; and victims of Domestic Abuse who are not receiving support from MARAC/Let Go.
We provide specialist counselling and therapeutic support for children, young people and adults who have been affected by Sexual and Domestic Abuse.

A referral form can be found here or call the team on 01228 515859 for more information or to discuss how we can support your clients.

Protecting children from radicalisation

The Department for Education has issued advice and social media guidance to schools and childcare providers to help them keep children safe from the risk of radicalisation and extremism.

Guide for schools (Head Teachers, Teachers, Safeguarding Leads) on how terrorist groups such as ISIL use social media to encourage travel to Syria and Iraq.

See The use of social media for online radicalisation (PDF)

‘Say Something’ - New service for young people to report sexual exploitation - Briefing for professionals

The charity Missing People is working in partnership with the NWG Network Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation to provide an awareness campaign and national Freephone reporting service, funded by the Department for Education (DfE). The service will go live on 1st July 2015.

The new service will provide young people with a means of reporting CSE through a free, 24/7, anonymous helpline. This service will not replace existing local services or existing helpline or service provision, but may generate additional information about exploitation in your area.

For resources and further briefing seehttp://www.nwgnetwork.org/resources/resourcespublic?cat=115

Workers can share the Say Something helpline with young people who aren’t able to be fully open about what is happening, so they can report their worries anonymously, see:

‘Say Something’ helpline - Call or Text 116000
Website www.stop-cse.org/saysomething

Cumbria Constabulary supports launch of national Child Sexual Exploitation campaign

Today (Monday 29th June 2015) the NWG Network and Missing People have launched their “Say Something” campaign to tackle Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). Cumbria Constabulary has released the below statement in response. Detective Superintendent Cath Thundercloud said:

“We welcome this new national campaign, which will help raise awareness of CSE and encourage more people to come forward and seek help and support.

“I would urge any young people who have any concerns or questions about CSE, to contact the new free, 24-hour, anonymous phone and text service provided by Missing People (116 000). I think the fact that young people will be able to remain anonymous will encourage more children and teenagers to have the confidence to report possible signs of exploitation. I would encourage any young person who is concerned to ‘say something’ as soon as possible.

“We have undertaken a lot of work in Cumbria, together with our partners, to raise awareness of CSE among parents, children, key areas of local communities (such as taxi firms and hotels), and the general public, with the aim that more people will be able to recognise the possible signs of exploitation and work with professionals to step in before the situation escalates any further.

“CSE can take many forms, for example it could be a young person having sex in return for attention, gifts, alcohol or cigarettes. Although the young person may not realise they are being exploited at the time, this can cause a lot of damage to their physical, emotional and psychological health as they come to realise that they have been a victim.

“Many people think that because Cumbria has a low crime rate that CSE does not happen here. However CSE can happen to any child, anywhere, which is why it is so important that people are aware of the issue.”

Anyone who is concerned about CSE can also call Cumbria Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always call 999.

The NPCC have issued a national press release available here: http://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/police-service-welcomes-launch-of-say-something-child-sexual-exploitation-helpline

Survey of Professionals Working with Children and Young People

We are seeking the views of professionals from across the partnership who work directly with children, young people and their families, in Cumbria. The survey covers the following areas: use of Thresholds, Safeguarding Procedures, Early Help, Supervision, Learning/Development and Information Sharing.

We kindly ask you to complete this questionnaire offering as much detail as you can.

Our previous survey conducted in October received over 400 responses. We used these responses to help inform our areas of focus and priorities which we’ll be publishing later in July, in the development of our safeguarding procedures/tools and the commissioning of multi-agency training. This is your opportunity to feed in, share your ideas and suggestions and make a contribution to shaping services for the future.

The closing date for this survey is Monday 13 July 2015.

The link is:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GL7FBPZ

If you have any queries about the survey please email LSCB@cumbria.gov.uk.

NSPCC Report released - How safe are our children?

The NSPCC report compiles and analyses the most robust and up-to-date child protection data that exists across the 4 nations in the UK for 2015. The report sets out indicators which look at the question of 'how safe are our children?' from different perspectives. They also include historic data, to help track progress over time.

Key messages from the NSPCC:

More support is needed for the victims of abuse - We’ve seen a rise in the number of people coming forward about their experiences of abuse. The support must match this increased willingness to speak out. Victims of child abuse need more therapeutic support, and age-appropriate support at every stage of the criminal justice process.

We must not lose sight of neglect - While child sexual exploitation is dominating the media, it’s important to remember that neglect remains the most common form of child abuse across the UK. We need to continue to gather evidence into what works in tackling neglect.

Early intervention is key - We need to intervene early to address problems before they become more serious and entrenched. By intervening early we can protect children more effectively and save money.

See How safe are our children? (link)

Nude selfies: What parents and carers need to know

Today, the National Crime Agency, has launched a campaign for parents to deal with an increase in young people sharing nude selfies.

To give parents the tools to deal with these issues and reduce the dangers of sexting, CEOP have created a series of short animations entitled ‘Nude selfies: What parents and carers need to know’. The new Thinkuknow films are packed with information and advice on helping parents to advise children about avoiding taking risks online, knowing what’s safe and what’s not, and where to get help if anything goes wrong.

The four films are available to watch for free online, cover the following issues:

Film 1: Helps parents and carers understand the reasons why young people create and share nude or nearly nude images.
Film 2: Helps parents and carers learn about effective strategies for talking to your child about nude or nearly nude images.
Film 3: Helps parents and carers understand how to respond if your child discloses that they have shared nude or nearly nude images by risk assessing the different contexts in which images may be shared.
Film 4: Helps parents and carers learn about how to get help and support if your child shares nude or nearly nude images.

If you’re a teacher or trainer, you can download the animations and accompanying guidance pack which will provide you with everything you need to deliver a session with families from www.thinkuknow.co.uk/teachers.

Video resource - Taking it to the next level: the health of looked after children

Taking it to the next level: the health of looked after children (link)

A short animated film (3 mins 2 seconds), from National Children's Bureau (NCB), giving practical advice for making health and support services welcoming and accessible to children and young people in care or care leavers. Covers where and how services are set up; provision of information; staff communication with young people; and support from corporate parents. Based on the views of young people and corporate parents.

Counter-Extremism resource from London Grid for Learning (LGfL)

In response to potential concerns from teachers, and in partnership with Sara Khan from counter-extremism and women's rights organisation Inspire, LGfL has created an open-access video resource for all UK schools: Counter-Extremism - narratives and conversations. It is primarily aimed at school staff, but may be deemed appropriate for use in Citizenship and PSHE lessons. See http://www.lgfl.net/esafety/Pages/counter-extremism.aspx

Female Genital Mutilation Resource Pack and National Roadshows

All GP practices in England have been sent a ‘Female Genital Mutilation Resource Pack’ from the Department of Health.

The pack includes:

Raising Awareness of Female Genital Mutilation – a training DVD developed by Health Education England, with materials from the existing ‘eLearning for Healthcare’ elearning modules:
Female Genital Mutilation Risk and Safeguarding – Guidance for professionals published by the Department of Health in March 2015
2 copies of the Patient Information Leaflet in English, available to order from DH Orderline in other languages and English. Please note, all language versions are available to download on this page at NHS Choices.
2 copies of ‘A Statement Opposing Female Genital Mutilation’ also known as the FGM Health passport, available to order from Home Office or to download from NHS Choices
FGM Enhanced Dataset: Implementation Summary for GP Practices – for further information please see www.hscic.gov.uk/fgm. Please note, all GP practices will be required to submit information under the Enhanced Dataset when treating patients who have FGM from October 2015, so we now have less than 6 months to support implementation.

Please do consider how you can draw attention to this with your colleagues working in community healthcare settings and please forward this to any relevant networks.

Protecting Girls from FGM - Free National Roadshows for those working in Community Healthcare settings (PDF)

If you’ve any questions, please get in touch with us at FGM@dh.gsi.gov.uk

Cumbria’s Whole System Approach to the Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health of Children and Young People - Update June 2015

Some recent highlights include:

Self Harm Awareness for All Cumbria (SAFA) are now able to extend the county wide service they offer to more young people, following successful funding applications to both ‘Children in Need’ and ‘The Big Lottery’. SAFA offers professional counselling, psychotherapy and support to young people aged 13 upwards and their families where appropriate. The service provides support for all forms of self-harm including eating disorders.

The Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (CYPIAPT) Programme is now delivering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to children and young people and ‘Incredible Years’ Parenting Support Groups and coaching to parents. In this first year of delivery, Tier 3 CAMHS, Action for Children and Barnardo’s are working together. Practitioners are all undertaking training at Manchester University as part of the national evidence-based CYPIAPT programme. There are three ‘Incredible Years’ groups currently up and running, in Barrow, Workington and Carlisle. Rachael McMullin, Parenting Group Supervisor for Cumbria said:

‘The emphasis on a ‘new start’ is very powerful for vulnerable families and a collaborative approach offers these families something special and unique. The fact that agencies are encouraged and supported to play their part in supporting the family during the programme, e.g. Social Care, Family Support agencies, Adult Mental Health etc. makes CYPIAPT a brilliant example of what a ‘Whole-System approach’ can achieve.’

For further information about the parenting groups contact Rachael on 01228 603017.

Workshops - Anne Sheppard from Cumbria County Council Children’s Services and Nicola Jackson from Cumbria CCG are planning ‘Whole System Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health’ district based workshops to be run in September and October 2015, which will include an update on current projects including the development of the Primary Care Mental Health Early Intervention Service. This service will provide County wide cover once commissioned and up and running.

HeadStart is a very exciting programme currently making a difference to children and young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health outcomes in the County, by building emotional resilience. The impact of recent collaborative partnership working and the HeadStart Programme was referred to positively in the recent Ofsted report.

The pilot project is now 6 months into its implementation stage. All commissioned projects are in full swing and are delivering across the 26 HeadStart schools, including Mindfulness, Horseheard, Mates in Mind and Creative Futures. More targeted services such as Emotional Resilience Outreach Worker and Kooth.com are also up and running and a Family Resilience offer is being developed alongside these. Pilot schools have been developing innovative projects within their schools which will be developed as good practice, as part of this the Project Team are exploring what is needed for a whole school approach to emotional resilience.

The HeadStart programme has been extended to run until July 2016 which will allow more time to test and learn what is really making a difference to children and young people’s emotional resilience. The team are working to progress a further bid for funding for up to 5 years, to roll out HeadStart across the whole County.

It's estimated that Cumbria HeadStart will touch the lives of up to 4,000 children and young people aged between 10 and 14 in 2015/2016.

For further information or to get involved please contact Lindsey.ormesher@cumbria.gov.uk. The programme can also be followed on both Twitter and Facebook.

School-based education programmes for the prevention of child sexual abuse

The NSPCC Information Service has written a summary of key findings and recommendations from the recent Cochrane review.

Source: NSPCC Website

NSPCC Update - Learning from Case Reviews Summary for Health Colleagues

NSPCC Information Service has published a summary of risk factors and learning for improved practice taken from recently published serious case reviews which are relevant to professionals working in paediatrics and accident and emergency.

Source: NSPCC

Safeguarding Disabled Children and Young People

The National Working Group on Safeguarding Disabled Children is undertaking a review of Local Safeguarding Children Boards' activities in relation to safeguarding disabled children and young people. We would be grateful if LSCBs in England could respond to our survey which will inform our work in supporting LSCBs and constituent agencies to meet the safeguarding needs of disabled children. Deadline for responses is 14 June 2015.

Source: Safeguarding disabled children and young people - questionnaire for local safeguarding children boards

Guidance for parents of children and young people who have got in trouble online

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation has launched a guide to support parents of children who have been in trouble for viewing or sharing sexually explicit images online.

Further information: What's the problem? A guide for parents of children and young people who have got in trouble (PDF)

May 2015

Mapping sexual abuse therapeutic services for children and young people (NSPCC)

In 2009, the NSPCC carried out a mapping exercise to understand the nature, scope and type of therapeutic services available to children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse.

The NSPCC are refreshing this work through an audit of services across the UK to understand how the picture may have changed in the six years that have passed and to re-assess the gap between demand for and availability of services.

Help to map the availability and accessibility of sexual abuse services for children and young people across the UK (by 31 May 2015):

https://jfe.qualtrics.com/form/SV_9EIqJVTGLOhpeu1?utm_content=bufferbdc55&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Support for the children and families of offenders – Free workshops in Cumbria

A rolling programme of 2 hour workshops for professionals about the needs of and available support for the children and families of offenders - Workshops are taking place in Barrow and Kendal on 9 June and two workshops in Carlisle on the 23 June.

These multi-agency workshops are FREE and aim to:

raise awareness about the impact of parental imprisonment on children and families
highlight ways in which professionals can ensure that these children and families receive the support they need
consider how professionals in your local area can work together to support these children and families effectively

Please follow the links below to register to attend the workshops:

Children affected by parental offending are known to experience reduced education, health and social outcomes – for further information please visit the i-HOP website.

Report reveals significant improvements to Cumbria Local Safeguarding Children Board

The Chair of Cumbria’s Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) has welcomed a report, published today by Ofsted, which recognises significant improvements in the board’s work. The report follows a review of the LSCB which took place during March 2015 as part of the inspection of Local Authority Services .

Inspectors concluded that good progress had been made and that the board should be rated as ‘requiring improvement’.

Link to LSCB briefing 13 May 2015 -http://www.cumbrialscb.com/professionals/briefings.asp

Link to Ofsted report - Single inspection of LA children's services and review of the LSCB (PDF) - See page 43 for LSCB findings

Nightstop Cumbria Update

Nightstop Cumbria now has a total of 4 active households across Cumbria. They are based in Workington (Allerdale), Ravenglass (Copeland), Kendal (South Lakes) and Grange over Sands (South Lakes). It takes on average 3 months for new hosts to become approved and ready to accept placements and there are more in the pipeline, who will gradually be coming on board too.

The risk assessment, referral form and agency quick guide can be found in the LSCB Online Procedures Manual at:

http://cumbrialscb.proceduresonline.com/chapters/docs_library.html

Please also note the following:

It’s better to call to check availability before making a referral – Nightstop can tell you where any availability is located, so that you can check it suitability for young people. In the case Nightstop don’t have any availability this enables you to make alternative arrangements.
Referral time is 9am to 4pm – Nightstop need to have received a completed referral form by 4pm. Please bear in mind that the earlier in the day Nightstop receive a referral, the better chance there is of making a placement for that evening. Nightstop close at 4.30pm, if risk assessments can’t be completed by then they will not be able to make the placement that night.
Placements are on a night by night basis – the young person would receive a hot meal that night, their own room, access to washing facilities and breakfast the following morning. The young person would need to leave the following morning, then if they require Nightstop again the next night we ask that they or the referral agency let us know by midday. Someone already using Nightstop would be prioritised over a new referral until midday.
Re-referrals do not need a new referral form each time – Nightstop would only need an update to their last accommodation if it is more than a couple of nights since they had been referred to the service. Nightstop only require a new referral form if it has been a significant amount of time since the first referral or if a significant amount of information has changed.
Transport – Nightstop need people to become volunteer drivers. This involves picking up young people and taking them to their host for the night.

Please also see http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/nightstop/ for more information.

(Research) The International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Trafficking at the University of Bedfordshire has produced 12 short films for anyone who wants to access key learning about child sexual exploitation from their latest research.

Source - University of Bedfordshire 07 May 2015

The Early Intervention Foundation has published a rapid review of interventions which are effective in improving the quality of interactions between parents and children under the age of 5. This report highlighted several NSPCC services including: Baby Steps, Minding the Baby, Parents under Pressure, Triple P and Video Interaction Guidance.

Source - Early Intervention Foundation 08 May 2015

Further information - The best start at home: what works to improve the quality of parent child interactions from conception to age 5 years (PDF)

The NSPCC has launched a new version of our successful Underwear Rule guide to help protect deaf children from abuse

Talk PANTS and stay safe.

Source - NSPCC Website

(Research) Children bullied by peers at 'greater mental health risk' (from NSPCC Pro)

The Guardian reports that a paper published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry has suggested that children who are bullied are five times more likely to experience anxiety and twice as likely to talk of suffering from depression and self-harm in later life than children maltreated by adults in their family.

Source:GuardianFurther information: Adult mental health consequences of peer bullying and maltreatment in childhood: two cohorts in two countries

Parents missing vital information in online safety talks with children (from NSPCC Pro)

Primary school children mark privacy as top concern in online safety.

The NSPCC asked more than 600 primary school children what information they needed to stay safe online. More than 80% said online privacy settings on mobile apps and games was a topic they thought their parents should cover when talking about online safety.

Just over half (54%) opted for location settings, which can prevent sex offenders tracking children (link).

However, although 8 out of 10 parents said in a YouGov poll that they knew what to say to their child to keep them safe online, only 28% had actually mentioned privacy settings to them and just 20% discussed location settings (link).

Net Aware provides tools to tackle online safety concerns

Net Aware provides key tools needed to tackle issues surrounding online safety with their recently updated Net Aware guide, which includes information about popular social media sites and online platforms.

New sites are added to the guide, which many parents may not be familiar with, plus well-known games like Call of Duty that allows users to chat online.

The latest websites, apps and games featured in Net Aware were reviewed by a panel of parents and all were rated poorly in terms of how easy it was to change privacy settings, report concerns about abuse or bullying, and find safety advice (link).

Net Aware now covers a total of 60 social networking sites, apps and games popular with children and is free to access.

April 2015

i-HOP rolling programme of workshops - Dates in Cumbria

Barnardo's i-HOP is delivering a rolling programme of 2 hour workshops across England for all professionals working with children and families. These multi-agency workshops are FREE and aim to:

raise awareness about the impact of parental imprisonment on children and families
highlight ways in which professionals can ensure that these children and families receive the support they need
consider how professionals in your local area can work together to support these children and families effectively

Dates are: 9 June 2015 (Kendal) and 23 June 2015 (Carlisle).

See http://www.i-hop.org.uk/app/answers/detail/a_id/681/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNDMwMjI4NzkwL3NpZC92UkRlZ19rbQ%3D%3D

Swedish delegation visits Focus Family team

On 25 March Cumbria’s Children’s Services and our partners took part in an EU wide programme to share good practice in improving access to employment. The project had been organised by North of England EU Health Partnership, who hosted a small team of 5 delegates from the Gothenburg region of Sweden for a week. The delegates visited Blackpool, Huddersfield and the Focus Family work in Cumbria.

The visitors had the opportunity to meet with Children’s Centre staff from Penrith, and see some of the excellent work going on in a typical Children’s Centre. The staff explained how their wide range of family support helps to encourage and support adults to volunteer in their community; a concept that was a bit lost on our guests as volunteering is not really used as a stepping stone to employment in Sweden.

The lead Focus Family Employment Advisor, Trudy Dane, outlined the current benefit system and the changes with the introduction of universal credit. This was compared with the Swedish benefit system and we learned about some important differences.

The delegates were impressed with Focus Family’s multi-agency approach to addressing the root causes of unemployment and could clearly see how long term barriers are removed to build long term success for the families involved. One delegate commented “I’ve got so inspired to come home and see what we can develop in our work at home”.

If you are working with a family who have out of work benefits and you would like to help them improve their situation then please contact Focusfamily@cumbria.gov.uk and the team will be happy to help.

HMIC Survey of Domestic Abuse Practitioners 2015

HMIC is carrying out a survey of domestic abuse practitioners to gather their views on their experiences of working with frontline response officers. Deadline for responses is midnight, 15 May 2015.

See HMIC

The Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) Webinar - Understanding grooming for abuse

6 May 2015 - 11am - 12pm

This free webinar will introduce a model that explains how grooming of children, adults and organisations contributes to the sexual abuse of children. It will include a sports based practical exercise, and explore what can be done to reduce risks to children in a sports environment.

https://thecpsu.org.uk/news/2015/may/understanding-grooming-for-abuse/

Register for Policy and Procedure Alerts

We can alert you whenever our mutli-agency procedures manual is updated, we’d highly recommend all Designated Safeguarding Leads register for updates, please complete the form at:
http://cumbrialscb.proceduresonline.com/chapters/register_updates.html

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015 - Policy Briefing

In January 2015 the Department for Education undertook a consultation process regarding proposed changes to Working Together 2013. Our procedures provider (Trix) has produced a policy briefing to provide an overview of the changes made to Working Together following the release of the new statutory guidance on 26 March 2015.

See Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015 - Policy Briefing (PDF)

also

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015 and the Consultation response March 2015 have been issued and can be viewed here.

Tri.x will be working on these amendments and they will be reflected in the web enabled Working Together 2013 shortly.

'Duty to Refer' - A free event for safeguarding professionals

22 September 2015 - 09:30 - 12:30 or 13:30 - 16:30

The event will provide you with information on the practical changes to referrals following the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 – and just as importantly what isn’t changing.

The events will cover:

The role of the Disclosure and Barring Service
The services provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service
Referral responsibilities and good referral practices

See Training - Workshops for course descriptor.

Cumbria LSCB Online Procedures Manual Launch Sessions

You may already be aware following the recent LSCB briefing notes, we have been working with a company called Trix to develop a web based policies and procedures manual which launched on Friday 20th March 2015. This was developed in direct response to feedback from staff that our procedures were difficult to access, and sometimes not user friendly or up to date.

Cumbria Local Safeguarding Children Board Procedures Manual can be accessed at:

http://cumbrialscb.proceduresonline.com/

We are now holding a series of launch events across the County on the 14th, 15th and 16th April 2015. These launch events will consist of a number of 40 minute briefing sessions throughout the three days, which will cover everything that you need to know about using our new policies and procedures manuals.

Please see Cumbria LSCB Online Procedures Manual Launch Sessions - April 2015

March 2015

Nominations open for Cumbria Children in Care Council Awards 2015

The Cumbria Children in Care Council Awards 2015 are all about celebrating the achievements of children looked after in Cumbria and the people who support them. Last year the awards had over 80 nominations.

Please think about whether there is someone you could nominate for an award. It could be a child or young person, a colleague, a foster carer or someone else who goes the extra mile for children in care.

There are six awards categories and nominating is easy, just write up to 300 words explaining why your nominee deserves recognition.

All the details and an online nomination form can be found at www.cumbria.gov.uk/cicc2015

Nominations close on 30 April.

For further information contact: debbie.holt@cumbria.gov.uk

Cumbria LSCB Child Sexual Exploitation Procedure

The LSCB’s Chapter 12 - Sexual Exploitation of Children procedure, praised by National Working Group, has been enhanced based on best practice and following feedback from practitioners. Please see the link below.

The procedure is deliberately wide ranging and outlines:

Definition including understanding sexual exploitation categories
Risks and vulnerability indicators including use of other tools
Role of multi-agency partners in identifying and challenging CSE
Cumbria Safeguarding Hub, multi-agency oversight and tracking and multi-agency district coordination
Prevention , Early Help and what works
Assessing a child’s needs where CSE may be present
District based multi-agency management of individual young people
Admission to local authority care
Legislative frameworks Identifying and prosecuting perpetrators, including supporting Children and Young People through related legal proceedings

Please see Child Sexual Exploitation Procedure and Tools Briefing Note - March 2015 (PDF)

For further information contact LSCB@cumbria.gov.uk

Cumbria LSCB Policies and Procedures

In addition to the above, all LSCB procedures have been updated to ensure that they reflect and are consistent with 'Working Together 2013'. The revised guidelines and procedures will replace the existing ones and are live from Friday 20 March 2015.

On Friday please go to http://www.cumbrialscb.com/professionals/policies.asp for further information and to access the new procedures manual.

If you have any feedback/queries please contact the LSCB Office at LSCB@cumbria.gov.uk.

Cumbria HeadStart Newsletter (PDF) - The start of something special...

Cumbria is one of 12 areas nationally that has been awarded funding from the Big Lottery to focus on building children and young people’s Emotional Resilience as part of the HeadStart project.

The next 12 months are a pilot phase to test and learn different approaches to building emotional resilience for children and young people aged 10-14. Some aspects of the project are universal and some are targeted at more vulnerable groups.

CSE Awareness Day - 18 March 2015 - Get involved

Please support the Cumbria Police Thunderclap social media campaign to help stop Child Sexual Exploitation. It's free, easy, and only takes a second by going to the following site to add your Twitter and Facebook accounts - http://thndr.it/17ylD2j

By supporting the Thunderclap campaign the following message will automatically be posted out at 1pm on Wednesday 18th March from all the social accounts that have signed up to it:

“Together let’s stop Child Sexual Exploitation. Recognise the signs & take action #CSECumbria http://thndr.it/1AKlVxe”

100 participants are needed for the Thunderclap to be activated so please sign up and promote the link to staff across your agencies.

Please feel free to also share and retweet our Twitter #CSECumbria messages to help increase the reach of our #CSECumbria awareness campaign.

February 2015

PHE is raising awareness of the dangers of accidental child drowning involving the use of bath seats

Public Health England (PHE) is alerting parents, carers and health professionals to the dangers of children drowning in baths following a small number of deaths and ‘near misses’ reported by Child Death Overview Panels in London. Accidental child drowning in baths is a tragic but preventable cause of child injury and death, which remains an issue across the country.

Bath seats have been implicated in each case, and according to reports, one in three deaths from accidental drowning in children aged 0-2 involve bath seats.

See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/drowning-in-baths-a-risk-for-young-children-warns-phe

Cumbria LSCB Young People’s Advisory Forum

We believe that it is important for children and young people to take an active role in the design and development of services provided for them. It is important that all young people have access to an effective mechanism through which they can influence policies, services and decisions that affect their lives.

Good practice identified by Ofsted shows that in some of the best examples, LSCB’s have focussed on a programme of initiatives involving children and young people. With this is mind we are looking to develop a specific LSCB Young People’s Advisory Forum to provide a platform for conversations with children and young people about issues that are important to them.

This will involve young people age 12 years and up who have had experience of receiving support from services at a range of levels including Early Help, Child In Need, Safeguarding and Children Looked After.

An initial meeting has been arranged for Wednesday 18th February 2015. The theme for the first meeting is ‘emotional wellbeing’ and at this meeting the young people will be able to learn more about the aims and objectives of the advisory group, there will be information from speakers, presentations and activities led by young people.

How can you support the project?

We are asking organisations to support young people to attend. Please can you consider any young people who you are currently working with who may be interested in being involved in the forum and discuss their possible attendance at the meeting.

Young people will need to be supported in attending the meeting by an adult, so there will be an opportunity for adults to network at the event.

Theatre show to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation in Cumbria

A national theatre production is touring Cumbrian schools this month, with the aim of raising awareness about Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).

Cumbria Constabulary and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner have provided the funding for the play to visit Cumbrian schools.

The play is called ‘Chelsea’s Choice’ and is 40 minutes long, and is produced by a not-for-profit organisation called AlterEgo Creative Solutions, who use theatre to inform, educate, and entertain.

The hard-hitting play is aimed at students aged between 12 and 15 and highlights the issue of CSE, and how both boys and girls can be groomed by adults. It shows the devastating consequences this can have on the young person’s life.

It aims to:

Raise awareness of healthy relationships
Promote safe internet use
Identify risky situations
Raise awareness of the grooming process and the forms it can take
Raise awareness of CSE and the forms it can take
Signpost to relevant services

For more information about CSE please see:

Professionals - www.cumbrialscb.com/professionals/cse/default.asp

Parents - www.cumbrialscb.com/parents/cse.asp

Children and Young People - www.cumbrialscb.com/children/links.asp

or www.cumbria.police.uk/cse

January 2015

Launch of NSPCC Awareness Campaign on Child Online Safety

The NSPCC has launched a public education campaign, called Share Aware, to help parents keep their children safe online

We know some parents feel confused by the internet – out of their depth, and out of control. The Share Aware campaign aimed at parents of children aged 8-12 – to help to provide reassurance, information and resources to help keep children safe.

The internet is a great place for children to be. Being Share Aware makes it safer.

The Share Aware campaign aims to give parents the tools to feel confident to start conversations with their children. The campaign also directs parents to a range of new resources, including Net Aware, a simple NSPCC guide to the social networks, sites and apps children use – as rated by parents and young people themselves.

See http://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/share-aware/

News and announcements

LSCB News and Announcements