“Believe you can and you’re halfway there”
Welcome to our 56th issue! We have got over 12 hours of updates below for you, as well as off-the-job learning.
Sector News and Updates
Almost 250 deprivation of liberty applications for children in first two months of national DoLs court
Creation of court follows rapid rise in cases of local authorities applying for authorisation to place children in bespoke placements because of shortage of secure and mental health provision.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Introducing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Handbook for The Early Years
From the moment of birth, and even before, children are part of ecosystems which support and nurture their well-being, sense of belonging and learning about their environment. In today’s world, pre-school experiences at childminders, nurseries, kindergartens or daycare centres are a vital element of these systems and nurture curiosity, offer new ideas and plant seeds of later understanding of our planet and how it functions.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 60 mins)
Child criminal exploitation
ITV News has carried out an investigation into child criminal exploitation and drug offences in the UK. Findings from a Freedom of Information request to police forces in the UK include: 5,425 children under the age of 16 have been arrested for drug offences since 2018, including a nine-year-old.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
County lines update
The Home Office has allocated funding to support young people who have experienced county lines exploitation and their families, focusing on four priority areas in England. Services will include: one-to-one specialist support for young people who have been referred by safeguarding partners; a rescue service helping those outside of their hometowns to be returned home safely; and mental health support and counselling to young people and their families.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Safer Internet Day
The UKSIC has announced the theme for next year's Safer Internet Day, taking place on 07 February 2023. The theme, ‘Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about life online’ will focus on encouraging children and young people to shape the online safety support that they receive. Schools and organisations can now register as a Safer Internet Day supporter via the UKSIC website.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Self-generated child sexual abuse material
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has launched their latest podcast episode exploring coerced self-generated child sexual abuse material. The episode includes contributions from police and law enforcement, people who have experienced grooming, and IWF professionals.
Story: https://saferinternet.org.uk/blog/iwf-launches-new-podcast-episode-of-pixels-from-a-crime-scene
(Listening to this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 210 mins)
Bruising in non-mobile infants
The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has published a briefing paper about the management of bruising in non-mobile infants. The paper explores current guidance on the management of bruising in non-mobile infants in the light of published evidence and variations in practice. Some recommendations include: the current NICE guidance is extended to all professionals, including children’s social care, early years settings and the police; the guidance is clarified to define clearly what is meant by a child not being independently mobile.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 45 mins)
Online searches on shortlisted candidates
Keeping Children Safe in Education, paragraph 220 says introduces a new duty to consider 'carrying out an online search as part of their due diligence on the shortlisted candidates'. Whilst this sounds like a good idea, it is not as straightforward to implement as one might imagine.
To help with understanding what needs to be done, education lawyer, Dai Durbridge, from Browne Jacobson, has produced a helpful FAQ on the topic.
More information here: https://www.brownejacobson.com/education/training-and-resources/guides/2022/09/how-to-carry-out-the-kcsie-online-checks-faqs
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
The Contextual Safeguarding Young People's Podcast Series
The Contextual Safeguarding Young People's Podcast Series has been developed as part of the Scale Up Project and produced by Tanika Trent-McSherry. Featuring young people from across the London and National Scale Up sites, this is the first time you can hear young people sharing their views on all things related to Contextual Safeguarding. The series comprises of four episodes, each focusing on different contexts: schools, the role of social workers, friendships and peers and neighbourhoods.
Find the podcast series here: https://www.contextualsafeguarding.org.uk/blog/the-contextual-safeguarding-young-people-s-podcast-series/
(Listening to this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 120 mins)
October 10 - October 14 National Work Life Week 2022
National Work Life Week is an opportunity for both employers and employees to focus on well-being at work and work-life balance.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 45 mins)
Planned 20% Off the Job Activities
Legislation of the week – RIDDOR
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, often known by the acronym RIDDOR, is a 2013 statutory instrument of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 45 mins and please remember to review this in your policy review workbook)
Video of the week – The Green Energy Scandal Exposed
The wood-burning Drax power station in Yorkshire provides 12 per cent of the UK’s renewable energy. Reporter Joe Crowley investigates where the wood comes from and uncovers an environmental scandal
(Watching this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Event of the week – October 10 World Mental Health Day 2022
The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. The theme of 2022's World Mental Health Day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is 'Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority'.
(This can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Completing activities Approx. 60 mins)
Approximate 20% off the job learning time this week: 12.5 hours
When recording any of this information please ensure that you reflect on what you have learned from completing the activity, use the link and the description of the activity completed.
