"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail"
Events this week:
September 1st- September 30th- International Alzheimer’s Month 2024
September 1st- September 30th – Blood Cancer Awareness Month 2024
September 1st- September 30th – Organic September 2024
September 5th- International Charity Day 2024
September 6th- National Read a Book Day 2024
Legislation/Regulation of the week
Key sections of the Online Safety Act 2023
The Online Safety Act has returned to the spotlight again after recent violence across the county, partly caused by far-right groups using platforms like Telegram, TikTok, and X.
Sections within the act focus on dealing with false and threatening messages, also known as misinformation.
Section 179: It’s a crime to spread false information if it aims to cause harm. People who send false messages to hurt others mentally or physically can be imprisoned.
Section 181: It’s illegal to send threatening messages that aim to cause serious harm or financial loss. This law targets messages meant to scare or distress people.
As technology grows, laws like the Online Safety Act are crucial for ensuring accountability, respect, and integrity online.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Please remember to review this in your policy/legislation review workbook)
Videos of the week
Panorama: Sudden Child Deaths- The Search for Answers
It's a parent's nightmare. An apparently healthy child dying without warning, and no explanation of what went wrong. Yet unexplained deaths in children over a year old happen almost once a week in the UK. They sometimes result in parents being falsely accused of harming their child. Reporter Richard Bilton investigates these sudden unexplained deaths in children and looks at the research trying to find out why they happen.
(Watching this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 60 mins)
Event of the week/month
International Alzheimer’s Month 2024
Each September, people unite from all corners of the world to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia.
During World Alzheimer’s Month, we call on everyone, from individuals to large organisations, including every Alzheimer and dementia association globally, to support World Alzheimer’s Month by getting involved. In 2024 we are once again shining a light on attitudes to dementia around the world. The 2024 campaign and World Alzheimer Report, which will be launched on the eve of World Alzheimer’s Day, 20 September, will again challenge why so many people still wrongly believe that dementia is a part of normal ageing. This reason alone highlights how important public awareness campaigns, like World Alzheimer’s Month, are for changing perceptions and increasing existing public knowledge around Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
(This can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Safeguarding & ED & I
Supporting Your Neurodiverse Child to be Safe and Positive Experience Online
Neurodiverse young people, particularly those with autism (ASD) or attention deficit disorder (ADD), often face challenges when socialising online due to difficulties in understanding social cues and conventions.
Concepts like "trusted adults" or "friend requests" may not be clear to them, making it crucial to discuss who they can turn to for support.
Additionally, some may struggle to distinguish between online acquaintances and real-life friends, emphasising the need for clear rules on online behaviour and account usage.
Establish guidelines to help them understand who they can trust and how to navigate online interactions safely.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 40 mins)
The Digital 5-a-day Campaign
The digital 5 a day provides a simple framework that reflects the concerns of parents/ carers as well as children’s behaviours and needs.
Based on the NHS’s evidence-based ‘‘five steps to better mental well-being’, the digital 5-a-day campaign gives children and parents easy-to-follow, practical steps to achieve a healthy and balanced digital diet.
Connect: Encourage safe and meaningful online interactions with friends and family, while discussing privacy and who they connect with.
Be active: Promote regular physical activity, whether it’s walking, dancing, or sports, to support mental well-being.
Get creative: Use online resources to learn new skills, like coding or digital art, turning screen time into a productive, educational experience.
Give to others: Teach children to contribute positively online, offering support and reporting negative behaviour.
Be mindful: Help children manage their online time and recognize its impact on their feelings, using tools like diaries or apps to track and control usage.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 40 mins)
‘Exponential Increase in Cruelty’ as Sextortion Scams Hit Younger Victims
Children as young as 11 are being preyed on in sextortion scams, as criminal gangs are targeting younger victims and girls in an “exponential increase in cruelty”.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) is warning that younger children, as well as increasing numbers of girls, are now being exposed to sexual extortion, commonly known as “sextortion”.
In the first six months of 2024, child sexual abuse reports related to sexual extortion are up 19% compared to the same period in 2023.
Victims are getting younger – with a 25% increase in reports involving 14-15 year olds compared to the previous year. IWF analysts have even seen some children aged between 11 and 13 years old.
While boys still make up the majority of victims, there has been a 2,600% increase in reports involving girls.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 50 mins)
Attachment and child development in Early Years
Pregnancy and the early years of a child’s life are crucial for development. This period establishes the groundwork for all future learning, behaviour, and health. Infants and young children depend on their parents and caregivers to fulfil their needs, making the quality of these relationships essential for their development.
Certain circumstances can hinder the formation of secure attachment between a child and their caregivers.
These include: Abuse, maltreatment, and trauma experienced by either the parent or child Parental mental health issues Parental substance misuse The child having multiple care placements Separation of parents from their baby after birth, such as when the baby is in neonatal care Stress factors like low income, single parenthood, or young parenthood Bereavement or the loss of another caregiver to whom the child was attached.
What to look out for? Children's behaviour can be influenced by various circumstances and emotions. Signs that a baby or toddler might lack a secure attachment with their caregiver often emerge as a consistent pattern over time, especially during stressful moments or exploration. These signs may include: Fearfulness or avoidance of the caregiver Extreme distress when separated from the caregiver, even briefly Rejection of the caregiver's attempts to calm and connect Indifference to the caregiver's presence or absence Passivity or non-responsiveness to the caregiver Appearing depressed or angry Lack of interest in playing with toys or exploring their environment
What to do if you are worried about a child? If a child is in immediate danger, call the police at 999. If the child is not in immediate danger but you have concerns, follow your setting's child protection procedures.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 20 mins)
Exploring support for families affected by substance misuse: Podcast
Join us in this month’s episode to explore impact and support around substance misuse. The team from Change Grow Live (CGL) share their knowledge and insights on how we can all work effectively together to support families and people when they are impacted by substance abuse. In this episode we explore the harmful myths and stereotypes that get in the way of identification, how to effective engage those affected and where to refer for further support.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 60 mins)
Disabled children and young people’s experiences of social work services: a thematic review
The Care Inspectorate has published a thematic review into disabled children and young people’s views and experiences of social work services in Scotland. The review included work with disabled children, families, and social work teams as well as an analysis of publicly available data. Key findings include: many disabled children and young people’s views, feelings and wishes were not being heard; increasing complexity of need and high demand for services was outweighing the availability of supports; and children and young people were not always provided with meaningful choices about the support they received. The Care Inspectorate is calling for the views of disabled children and their families to be considered within service mapping and planning.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 60 mins)
Health & Safety
Is sleep apnoea dangerous? When snoring problems turn serious
From grunts to loud snorts, 1 in 4 of us are in the habit of snoring as we sleep. Snoring on its own is usually nothing to worry about, but for some people, it is the main symptom of obstructive sleep apnoea. This is a breathing condition connected to sleep that can have some serious consequences if it's left untreated.
Snoring is a common phenomenon that happens in around 6 out of 10 adult men and 4 out of ten adult women, according to the Sleep Foundation. It is estimated that one quarter of these people that snore, do so on a regular basis.
When it comes to unexplained medical symptoms, it's easy to bury your head in the sand and ignore them, especially if they're a bit embarrassing to discuss. But getting them checked out by a doctor could end up saving your life. Here are the cancer symptoms you should never ignore. When it comes to unexplained medical symptoms, it's easy to bury your head in the sand and ignore them, especially if they're a bit embarrassing to discuss. But getting them checked out by a doctor could end up saving your life. Here are the cancer symptoms you should never ignore.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Mental Health Coping Strategies for Childcare Professionals: Video
In this free childcare webinar, we explore some of the exercises and coping strategies we can introduce to support your own mental health, that of your colleagues, and the children in your care. These can be incorporated into everyday life and routine.
These coping strategies were discussed in the context of some of the following key topics of today:
• The cost-of-living crisis and help resources • Recognising bereavement and the importance of grieving for children and adults
• The Menopause, the perimenopause and how we can take steps in our settings to help those affected
• Anxiety in children that can trigger our own anxiety
Every single person has social, emotional, and mental health needs of one kind or another, and despite some of these topics being discussed from the perspective of childcare workers, this free webinar, suggested coping strategies and links for support are beneficial to all.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 20 mins)
5 steps to mental wellbeing - NHS
Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
How to check for breast cancer and what a lump feels like
According to Cancer Research UK, there are around 56,000 new breast cancer cases every year - more than 150 every day - making breast cancer the most common cancer in the UK. It's important you know how to check your breasts and when to get a lump checked. Even if you think it's nothing, that appointment could save your life. Breast cancer is the abnormal growth of breast cells, which results in the development of cancerous breast tissue, known as a tumour. These tumours can appear and feel like small lumps on your breast - and there are other symptoms to look out for too.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Wider Curriculum
What are the dangers of Synthetic Opioids such as Spice?
With lots of media outlets publishing reports of concerns of synthetic opioids being added to products like vapes its important to increase our understanding on what is known about the highly addictive drug and its impact on users.
Synthetic opioids such as Spice are man-made drugs that mimic the effects of natural opioids (such as opium or heroin) but can be much more deadly. Drugs such as these have been linked to hundreds of drug related UK deaths over the last year, due to it being very easy to overdose because there's only a small difference between a dose that will get you high, and one that might kill you.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
New draft education guidance around gender questioning young people
In recent years, there has been a notable increase in young people questioning their gender identity and how they fit into societal norms. This trend is associated with gender identity ideology, which posits that a person's gender can differ from their biological sex.
Provisions and colleges now face the challenge of navigating this sensitive and complex issue, as it is not fully understood. Acknowledging the difficulty for staff, parents, and learners, the Department for Education, in collaboration with the Government's Equality Hub, has developed guidance to offer clarity to educational institutions and reassurance to parents for the first time.
The guidance is designed to offer practical advice for provisions and colleges, encouraging them to make decisions regarding learners questioning their gender. The primary aim is to ensure a safe and respectful environment that protects the rights of everyone fairly, emphasising the importance of understanding and respect in the decision-making process
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 40 mins)
Poverty! Urgent action needed!
In the UK, our health is getting worse and there is a growing gap between the health and wellbeing of the richest and poorest people. Health in the early years of childhood lays the foundations for mental and physical health throughout life. Healthy children are more likely to grow into healthy, productive adults.
At a recent conference by the NSPCC, the Academy of Medical Science spoke about the importance of early intervention in childhood and how adults who work with young people should be aware of the indicators of poor healthcare in children that can lead to problems later on in life.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 60 mins)
Good Things Foundation - Skills for Life Network
Good Things Foundation is a social change charity that supports socially excluded people to improve their lives through digital.
We tackle the most pressing social issues of our time, working with partners in thousands of communities across the UK and further afield.
Digital technology and community action are at the heart of everything we do.
We bring together thousands of community partners to make up the National Digital Inclusion Network, reaching deep into communities to help people gain the support and skills they need to change their lives and overcome social challenges.
We work with thousands of organisations across the UK that specialise in digital skills support. So if you’re looking for free and friendly help to get you started, or a digital inclusion partner for a new project, our network will offer you the support you need.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 40 mins)
Sustainability
Why Climate Change Is a Matter of Justice
Climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of social justice. It intersects with pre-existing inequalities based on gender, class, race, and other dimensions, intensifying and exacerbating these discrepancies.
Climate change poses both physical and mental health risks. However, certain groups, particularly those who are socially and economically disadvantaged, face greater vulnerabilities. These disparities arise from structural factors such as ethnicity, race, and gender, and other socioeconomic factors such as exposure to weather hazards, health conditions, income levels, and limited access to resources.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Composting / RHS Gardening
Recycling your garden waste into home-made compost is both easy and environmentally friendly. Here we look at the basics of making this valuable soil improver and mulch. Composting is a great way to make use of your garden waste – everything from lawn clippings to annual weeds, hedge-trimmings to faded flowers. You can also add plant-based kitchen waste, such as veg peelings, along with paper and cardboard.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 40 mins)
22 Green Initiatives To Improve Sustainability In The Workplace
We are becoming increasingly more aware of the growing environmental issues the world is facing. Businesses big and small need to be more conscious of the impact they are having on our planet. There are lots of different things workplaces can do to become more sustainable. A great starting point is trying to reduce the amount of energy they consume and waste produced.
This guide will discuss 22 of the best green initiatives that your business can adopt to improve sustainability within the workplace. By taking a proactive approach towards sustainability, businesses can make significant progress towards becoming more eco-friendly. We are all responsible for playing our part in the global effort to protect the planet and our workplace should not be a space where we stop caring about this.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 min)
An Idiot’s guide to change the world- Accessibility should be a right not a privilege
In this episode Gail and Loyiso explore the Global Goal to reduce inequality (Goal 5) and are joined by famous youtuber Molly Burke, who happens to be blind and has a load of helpful tips for designing better accessibility offline and online. And architect turned big thinker Indy Johar calls for a fundamental overhaul of an old system that perpetuates inequalities in all its forms.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 60 min)
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