“A little progress every day, adds up to big results”
Welcome to Issue 63 of Quest News. We have over 9 hours of off-the-job training for apprentices in care and education to read and learn.
Events this week
Significant Events This week:
Saint Andrews Day – 30th November
World Aids Day – 1st December
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery - 2nd December
International Day of Person’s with Disabilities – 3rd December
December 3 - December 4 'Tree Dressing Day' 2022
Tree dressing, in the first week of December, is based on many old customs from all over the world and at different times of the year.
Tree Dressing Day falls on the first weekend of December. It was initiated by Common Ground in 1990 and has grown to become much more than an expression of a love for trees. It is a chance for the whole community to gather and celebrate the leafy friends we all have in common. It’s also a chance for communities to reflect on the social and cultural history of their local area, and the role trees have played in shaping this story.
(This can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Completing activities Approx. 60 mins)
Legislation
Display Screen Equipment Work: Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
As an employer, you must protect your workers from the health risks of working with display screen equipment (DSE), such as PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations apply to workers who use DSE daily, for continuous periods of an hour or more. We describe these workers as 'DSE users'. The regulations don't apply to workers who use DSE infrequently or only use it for a short time. https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/
20% off the job learning – Approx. 45 mins
Video - Jailed Over a Group Chat: UNTOLD
Abayomi Oderinde explores the reasons why his friend Ade, a head boy who was set to study law at university, is now serving an eight-year prison sentence after posting messages in a group chat.
(Watching this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 60 mins)
Safeguarding & ED & I
Child protection enquiries reach record levels, reveal official figures
10% rise in section 47 investigations comes amid surge in referrals to children's social care in wake of removal of Covid restrictions
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
TikTok has now raised its Livestreaming Age Requirement to 18 (BBC News)
TikTok has frequently been called out for its glaring failures to protect under 18s which use its service. With its flashy images, easily digestible content and ‘childlike’ feel it has always been popular among school aged children. A fact which has made its safeguarding failures all the more worrying. The platform’s attempt to ban under 18s seems to be unfeasible however, and so it is as important as ever to be aware of its usage in the classroom. In particular, its gift function can easily be manipulated in order to commit criminal acts against children. As such wariness around the app should not be lowered as a result
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
What to look for in Unsuitable Apps – A Guideline (ICO)
In addition to looking at how to store data concerning young people, the ICO has also published guidelines for app developers vis a vi their suitability for children. The document – ‘Age Appropriate Design’ can also be used by educational professionals to become better acquainted with what to look out for whilst executing safeguarding duties. Duties which today require a serious examination of mobile applications and the vulnerabilities they can impose on young users.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Children face greater risk of domestic abuse during World Cup
The NSPCC has highlighted concerns around domestic abuse during the World Cup. Data from the NSPCC shows that, during the last World Cup in 2018, the number of contacts to the NSPCC helpline about domestic abuse was 33% higher than the monthly average for the year; whilst the number of Childline counselling sessions was 17% higher. Alcohol, betting on the games and tension during the tournament were highlighted as potential triggers.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Bullying and mental health
The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) has released a new podcast on bullying. The podcast looks at the link between bullying and mental health and discusses the impacts and effectiveness of anti-bullying interventions.
(Listening to this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 40 mins)
#WakeUpWednesday: What Parents Need to Know about TikTok
Around an eighth of the world’s population use TikTok. Consider the scale of that reach, and that the app’s demographic is heavily skewed towards younger people – with almost half (41%) of those users aged 16–24. TikTok itself advises a minimum age of 13 to access the platform (with certain features for over-18s only), but reports suggest that some children as young as 10 use it.
Given the youthfulness of its user-base, TikTok has faced numerous age-related challenges such as inappropriate content in videos, in-app purchasing and children being contacted by strangers on the platform. Updated for 2022, this week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide tells trusted adults everything they need to know to help young people stay safe on TikTok.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Health & Safety
Work-related ill health
In the recent years prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the rate of self-reported work related ill health had been broadly flat. The current rate is higher than the 2018/19 pre-coronavirus levels. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, working days lost per worker due to self reported work-related illness had been broadly flat. The current rate is higher than the 2018/19 pre-coronavirus levels.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Work-related stress, depression or anxiety
914,000 Workers suffering from work related stress, depression or anxiety (new or long-standing) in 2021/22
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders
477,000 Workers suffering from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder (new or longstanding) in 2021/22
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Wider Curriculum
AMHPs making greater use of Mental Health Act powers to tackle suspected abuse or neglect
Use of section 135 powers of entry rose by 8% last year and by a quarter on pre-pandemic figures, though Home Office stresses data should be treated with caution
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Council still at risk of losing children’s services despite signs of improvement
DfE appoints second commissioner for Sefton after first concluded that removing services would be distraction but that significant practice and leadership problems remained
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
DfE working on plan to restrict use of agency social workers, says ADCS president
Response to care review likely to include action on agency work as directors’ concerns over increased use and costs mount
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Hunt announces two-year care cap delay to help councils deliver 200,000 extra care packages
Councils to get up to £2.8bn extra for social care in 2023-24 and £4.7bn in 2024-25 with money supplied by reform delay, government grants and greater ability to raise council tax
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
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