"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for today.”
Welcome to Quest News Issue 69.
We have 12 hours of off-the-job training for apprentices in care and education to read and learn.
Events of the week
Event of the week –Race Against Dementia Day 2023 - January 21
Race Against Dementia Day is a day dedicated to raising funds to help beat dementia. Everyone can get involved and accelerate change by joining the race.
Approx. 60 mins
Blue Monday - January 16
Winnie The Pooh Day 2023 - January 18
National Hug Day 2023 - January 21
Legislation
Legislation/Regulation of the week – Consumer Rights Act 2015
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom that consolidates existing consumer protection law legislation and also gives consumers a number of new rights and remedies.
Approx. 45 mins
Videos
Videos of the week 'The Big Cases' - The Big Cases - Killing My Children's Abuser
Sarah Sands stabbed to death a convicted paedophile who was accused of abusing three more young boys. BBC News can reveal, for the first time, that they were all her children. Now all three boys have become adults, they speak, alongside their mum, about the killing, and subsequent events
Approx 30 mins
Safeguarding and ED & I
WakeUpWednesday guide: What Parents & Carers Need to Know about World of Warcraft
A sprawling fantasy epic of wizards and warriors, World of Warcraft has raked in an estimated $9 billion plus in revenue, mainly through monthly subscription fees and in-game purchases. It’s this lucrative seam which has helped guarantee the game’s incredible lifespan: Warcraft continues to receive developer support and expansion packs almost 20 years after its initial release.
The game’s longevity is matched by its immersive – and often addictive – nature. There are frequent reports of players eating meals at their keyboard, guzzling energy drinks to prolong marathon gaming sessions late into the night. Our #WakeUpWednesday guide highlights this and other potential pitfalls that parents of young Warcraft fans should be aware of.
Approx. 30 mins)
Risk assessing social media
NSPCC Learning has published a blog on risk assessing online platforms to ensure the safety of children. The blog provides guidance on carrying out risk assessments and includes information on points to consider such as the purpose of the platform and any age ratings.
Approx. 30 mins
Social media and mental health
The teenage mental health charity Stem4 has published findings about the impact of social media on children and young people’s body image, mental health and wellbeing using data from a survey of 1,024 children and young people aged 12- to 21-years-old. Findings include: nearly half of respondents said they are regularly bullied online about their physical appearance; 69% said social media has a negative effect on their mood, and 62% were worried that their mental health is being damaged by online content.
Approx. 40 mins
Understanding the Playground – Fortnite
Since its release 2017, the battle-royale simulator – Fortnite, has become ubiquitous in classrooms and playgrounds throughout the world. The game, which features cartoonish renderings of characters, bright colours, and non-visceral consequence free violence, has had a mass appeal to children. Each Christmas another draft of young pupils is induced into its overcrowded multi-player lobbies, to the point that there is not a school pupil in the country who hasn’t owned it, begged their parents for it or played it round a friend’s house. As a result, more children than ever are exposed to multi-player chatting with strangers, and financial exploitation via the game’s spend-to-gain-advantage operating style. Allowing children to use real world money to gain perks and costumes. From criminal blackmailing to the coercion of nude exchanges by online ‘friends’ posing as children, the danger this game presents from a safeguarding perspective is clear. As an added complication, the verbiage surrounding the game used by pupils is near-incomprehensible, frustrating adepts to secure their safety. Fortunately to allow for greater comprehension of reports to staff involving the game, Internetmatters.org has published a guide to understanding the game and its terms.
Approx. 30 mins
A Guide to Online Safety and Gaming
As a new generation of young people arrive onto using multiplayer games and the internet in general this new year, it is more important than ever to make your pupils aware of how to stay safe online. The SWGfL has published a pamphlet on how to best keep safe whilst using online software and games. With advice on reporting and blocking, online socialization and the considerations on online gaming, the pamphlet can be a useful resource for any teaching staff, giving lessons on the topic. You can find a link to that resource below:
Approx. 30 mins
Building Healthy Relationships whilst Socialising Online
The use of the internet among young people is now everywhere. The rise in the cultural acceptance of internet relationships between young people and strangers that they play or talk with online, has opened the door to dangers. Yet it is only a small amount of these relationships which turn out malicious, but children and young people may find it difficult to understand when that arises. The Information Commissioners Office, the UK’s information rights agency, has published guidance on what to look for when these relationships turn sour. And more importantly, what to do about it. This guidance is applicable to teachers and parents alike. For teachings staff it is an excellent source of help when discussing with pupil’s their internet social life. Aiding to bring educational personnel up to date when it comes to the social world within which their pupils exist, outside of school.
Approx. 30 mins
Health & Safety
Cost of living
The British Medical Journal (BMJ) has published an article looking at how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting children’s health in the UK. The article explores the pressures faced by families experiencing social deprivation as well as policy interventions to provide support.
Approx. 30 mins
Disabled Employee Dismissed For Suitable Work Chair Request Was A Victim Of Disability Discrimination, Tribunal Rules
A remote tribunal has ruled unanimously that an employee dismissed from his position as an employability adviser has been successful in his claims of disability discrimination.
Approx. 30 mins
Call To Create More Neurodiverse Workforces
A chartered psychologist is calling on employers to consider neurodivergent employees when planning where staff should work so that these individuals can thrive in the workplace.
Approx. 30 mins
Employment law changes 2023: guide for HR and line managers
It looks as though the government has abandoned the long awaited Employment Bill. But that doesn’t mean 2023 is likely to be a quiet year. The government is pushing ahead with the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill which, if passed, will allow it to “set fire” to all employment and health and safety legislation derived from the EU by the end of 2023.
It has also introduced legislation which will limit the rights of some employees to take strike action to minimise risk and convenience to the general public.
Approx. 30 mins
Fire Safety Regulations 2022: What you should be aware of
New Fire Safety (England) Regulations are coming into force on 23 January 2023. The fire safety team at law firm, Addleshaw Goddard, explain the background, what fire safety professionals need to be aware of and the challenges ahead.
Approx. 40 mins
Chester nursery rated 'inadequate' as inspectors say children's safety 'compromised'
HETTY Pre-school in Hoole have responded to say they are "working tirelessly" to address issues raised. Children's health and safety is said to have been compromised at a Chester nursery school rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted.
Approx. 30 mins
Wider Curriculum
Social care staff worst hit by long Covid, figures reveal
Estimated 5.5% of workforce reporting symptoms such as fatigue several weeks after Covid infection, higher than levels in health and education, says ONS
https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2023/01/06/social-care-staff-worst-hit-by-long-covid-figures-reveal/
Approx. 30 mins
Care Act duties ‘permanently undermined’ by widespread breaches during Covid, argues study
Authorities cut services for adults with dementia and their carers despite not invoking Care Act 'easements' that allowed councils to relax statutory duties, finds research
Approx. 30 mins
‘Why social care staff should get their flu and Covid-19 jabs this winter’
NHS England is urging care staff, personal assistants and unpaid carers to get vaccinated against both viruses to protect themselves and those they support.
Approx. 30 mins
Care home discharge plan risks inappropriate placements and neglects causes of crisis – sector
Leaders criticise failure to invest in community services and 'disappointing' casting of social care as servant of NHS following £200m announcement
Approx. 30 mins
DfE proposes law change to improve adults’ access to adoption therapy
Support services providing counselling to adoptees, adoptive parents and birth relatives would no longer need to register with Ofsted following concerns requirement had led to shortfall of counsellors
Approx. 30 mins
£200m for NHS to buy short-term care placements to speed up discharge
Money designed to tackle 13,000 patients being stuck in hospital but fit to leave and is in addition to existing £500m discharge fund
Approx. 30 mins
Social work
The BBC has published new research on the shortage of children’s social workers and spending on temporary staff in the UK. Findings from a freedom of information request to councils in the UK revealed spending on temporary staff working with vulnerable children has increased. From the 125 councils that responded, the BBC learned that local authority spending rose from £164.5m in 2017 to £227m in 2022.
Approx. 30 mins
