“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”
Welcome to Issue 66 of Quest News, the last one this year. We have 11 hours of off-the-job training for apprentices in care and education to read and learn.
Events of the week
Event of the week – International Human Solidarity Day 2022 December 20th
The new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda is centred on people & planet, underpinned by human rights and supported by a global partnership determined to lift people out of poverty, hunger and disease. It will be thus be built on a foundation of global cooperation and solidarity.
International Human Solidarity Day is:
a day to celebrate our unity in diversity;
a day to remind governments to respect their commitments to international agreements;
a day to raise public awareness of the importance of solidarity;
a day to encourage debate on the ways to promote solidarity for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals including poverty eradication;
a day of action to encourage new initiatives for poverty eradication
https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-solidarity-day Approx. 60 mins
December 18 - International Migrants Day 2022
December 22 – Winter Solstice
December 25 – Christmas Day
Legislation
Legislation/Regulation of the week – Children and Families Act 2014
The Children and Families Act 2014 is an Act of the Parliament of the UK. This is a landmark and wide-ranging Act designed to fully reform services for vulnerable children by giving them greater protection (paying special attention to those with additional needs), and also by helping parents and the family as a whole
Approx. 45 mins
Video
Video of the week – How to Crack the Class Ceiling
Amol Rajan investigates how young people from working class backgrounds can secure jobs in Britain’s elite professions. With industries like banking and the law traditionally dominated by the middle classes, are there any tips or tricks that will help candidates from less privileged backgrounds secure their dream jobs? He meets people who’ve found their own ways to hack the class system, from a school etiquette class to a university soft skills workshop, and follows the progress of young people trying to get into the civil service, law and the City. Chris feels his Hull accent will hold him back, Paige is worried she doesn’t look and sound like a typical barrister, and Adnan wonders whether to talk about his working class background in finance interviews. Will any of the advice help these young people, or are they fighting against an impossibly rigged system?
Approx. 120 mins)
Safeguarding and ED & I
Relationships and sex education
SafeLives has published a new report looking at students' and teachers' experiences of the relationships and sex education (RSE) curriculum in England. Surveys, interviews and focus groups were carried out with 1,000 students and 60 RSE teachers. The research found that that 46% of students feel confident about who to talk to if they or someone they know is experiencing abuse, and 13% believe the topic of coercive control was taught well.
Approx. 30 mins
Domestic abuse
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has published revised guidance on domestic abuse which includes the update confirming children affected by domestic abuse will be recognised as victims of domestic abuse.
Approx. 40 mins)
Family violence
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has published an analysis of a sample of non-fatal strangulation cases in the UK. The new analysis reveals that in 38% of cases a child was present.
Approx. 30 mins)
Children and Families Act 2014
The House of Lords Select Committee on the Children and Families Act 2014 has found that the 2014 Act has not met expectations due to lack of data and poor implementation and monitoring. Recommendations include: establishing an outcome focused task force to address the racism in the adoption system; more support for adoptive parents to care for children who have experienced abuse; and that care and supervision proceedings should focus on the voice and lived experience of the child.
Approx. 40 mins
County lines
The BBC has written a news story looking into county lines operations across the UK. The news story details the experiences of young people who had been criminally exploited as children and hears from organisations that provide support.
(Contains some upsetting scenes)
Approx. 30 mins
#WakeUpWednesday: What Parents Need to Know about Setting Up Apps, Games and Software
In Britain, more than half a million games consoles were given as gifts last Christmas. In the US, the figure was closer to three million. Add in the rest of the world’s major consumer economies – along with the multitudes of phones, tablets and so on which find their way into our Christmas stockings – and you have a lot of people unwrapping a lot of digital tech.
Given that many of the lucky recipients will be children, it’s important that parents and carers take some time to configure any new devices – and the games, apps and software they run – so that they’re safer for young eyes and ears. Our #WakeUpWednesday guide has some practical tips to give you extra peace of mind while the kids are excitedly enjoying their new gadgets.
Approx. 30 mins
Health & Safety
Fire Safety Matters Podcasts
Episode 28 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features Mark Sennett (CEO at Western Business Media) once again chatting with our regular Fire Safety Matters Podcast guest Warren Spencer (managing director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors). On this occasion, Warren outlines the new fire safety legislation being brought forward in 2023.
In addition, Mark hears from Colin Smith (field product manager for the UK life safety division at Eaton). In his present role, Colin is responsible for the ownership, development and marketing of the company’s fire alarm and emergency lighting platforms here in the UK. In conversation with Mark, Colin details Eaton’s new product roadmap for 2023 and also touches on the key issue of cyber security for life safety systems.
As always, there’s an informative round-up (and analysis) of several major industry news stories. This time around, we concentrate on the Building Safety Act, warehouse fires, the Building Safety Levy and also the Fire Industry Association’s Guide to the UK Fire Safety Industry.
Approx. 60 mins
Winter vaccinations
As a social care professional, you’re more likely to be exposed to the flu and COVID-19 viruses. You also care for people who may be at greater risk and it’s easy to pass these viruses on without knowing. Ahead of this winter you should get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines to help protect yourself and those you care for against getting seriously ill from these viruses. Evidence shows that vaccination against both viruses can make symptoms less severe and long-lasting, helping you to get back on your feet sooner. You can book your COVID-19 booster through the National Booking Service and it is a simple self-referral process. Alternatively, you can book by telephoning 119 or use the vaccination walk-in finder.
Approx. 30 mins
Online Safety Bill to criminalise encouraging self-harm - as Molly Russell charity hails 'significant move'
The government has vowed to stamp out "abhorrent trolls" who encourage people to self-harm online, following the death of schoolgirl Molly Russell, who took her own life after watching harmful social media content.
Approx. 30 mins
Wider Curriculum
Adoption workforce must become more diverse to help tackle racial disparities, says Lords report
Removal of explicit requirement to consider race in adoption has had limited impact, finds committee, who urge government to set up task force to tackle long waits for children from ethnic minorities
Approx. 30 mins
COVID-19 supplement to the infection prevention and control resource for adult social care (Updated 15 December 2022)
Updated to reflect policy change to enable care homes to initiate their own risk assessments and determine outbreak measures should they feel able to do so.
Approx. 30 mins)
Unregulated settings to face inspections a third as often as children’s homes
DfE proposes three-yearly inspections for supported accommodation settings and that managers will not be required to hold equivalent qualification to children's home counterparts
Approx. 30 mins
Minimum price of home care to rise by 12% next year, says provider body
Homecare Association says councils and NHS commissioners would have to pay providers at least £25.95 an hour in 2023-24 to cover costs and provide 4% profit, but warns too many commission care at 'far below the true cost'
Approx. 30 mins
