"The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go"
Welcome to Issue 92 of Quest News. We have 15 hours of off-the-job training for apprentices in care and education to read and learn. (
Significant Events
July 1 - July 31- Talk To Us 2023
July 1 - July 31 - Good Care Month 2023
July 1 - July 31- Plastic Free July 2023
July 3 - July 9 - Alcohol Awareness Week 2023
July 7 - World Chocolate Day 2023
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.
Approx. 60 mins
Video of the week
Inside Our Autistic Minds
2 Episodes: Since sharing his own autism diagnosis with the world, naturalist and presenter Chris Packham has been flooded with letters and emails from other autistic people, frustrated that their friends, families and co-workers don’t understand them. And in this series, Chris wants to bridge the gap.
By teaming up with top filmmakers, graphic designers, animators and musicians, Chris helps a group of autistic people create short films to reveal to their family and friends how they’re truly feeling inside – what’s really going on in their autistic minds.
He helps an autistic comedian reveal to her mum what’s really going on inside her head, gives a non-speaking autistic man the chance to take his message to the world and visits the only state school in the country exclusively for autistic girls.
Approx. 120 mins
Event of the week
Plastic Free July 2023 July 1 - July 31
Join millions of people reducing their plastic waste.
Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. Will you be part of Plastic Free July by choosing to refuse single-use plastics?
Plastic Free July provides resources and ideas to help you (and millions of others around the world) reduce single-use plastic waste everyday at home, work, school, and even at your local cafes.
Approx. 60 mins)
Safeguarding & ED & I
Why language matters: ‘older boyfriend’
NSPCC Learning has published a new blog post as part of its Why Language Matters series on how the label ‘older boyfriend’ can mask child sexual exploitation (CSE). The blog post looks at: why the term is unhelpful; how the young person’s voice can be heard; and ways professionals can talk about the safeguarding concerns around potentially exploitative relationships..
Approx. 30 mins
Working together to safeguard children
NSPCC Learning has published a new blog post as part of its Why Language Matters series on how the label ‘older boyfriend’ can mask child sexual exploitation (CSE). The blog post looks at: why the term is unhelpful; how the young person’s voice can be heard; and ways professionals can talk about the safeguarding concerns around potentially exploitative relationships.
Approx. 30 mins
#WakeUpWednesday: What Parents and Carers Need to Know about Amino
Reuters reports that ChatGPT is the fastest-growing consumer app in history, with around 13 million users per day. Given those sorts of figures, it’s no surprise that a host of AI imitators have arrived – with many being grafted onto existing social networking platforms.
Our #WakeUpWednesday guide looks at the type of AI-powered online companions proving popular with younger users – and highlights what trusted adults need to know about these ‘virtual friends’.
Approx. 30 mins
Information sharing
The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a consultation on revising non-statutory advice to support practitioners in the processes of sharing information in England. The consultation aims to gather perspectives on how to make the advice clear and easy to understand so that practitioners feel confident in sharing safeguarding information effectively and appropriately. It closes on 06 September 2023.
Approx. 30 mins
Deprivation of liberty
The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory have published a report on findings from an analysis of applications to the national deprivation of liberty (DoL) court and a review of the outcome of DoL applications in England and Wales. Findings include: over 70% of the children where DoL orders was sought to manage risks related to criminal exploitation, emotional difficulties, behaviours that were a risk to others and self-harm were placed in at least one unregistered placement; and the use of restraint was permitted in 69.4% of cases. Recommendations include: children should be given the opportunity to communicate their views to the court; and there is a need to develop more suitable, local placements for children with complex needs.
Approx. 30 mins
Children and young people’s welfare in care
The Care Inspectorate has published a position paper on the practice of the deprivation and restriction of liberty of children and young people in care home, school care and secure accommodation services in Scotland. It sets out the Care Inspectorate’s expectations and actions including: care practices that restrict liberty of a young person must involve a multi-agency decision; and restriction of liberty must only take place for the least amount of time necessary to safeguard the wellbeing of the young person.
(Reading this can be counted towards your 20% off the Job learning – Approx. 30 mins)
Strategies for Violence Reduction in Schools - SOLVE CYVC
Last week there were several news stories relating to violence happing inside schools and on school premises. Sadly this is nothing new for the education sector. Violence between pupils, from pupils to teachers and from pupils to others does occur, and it is of vital importance that we take steps to minimize this as much as possible. But violence reduction is difficult, children and young people are learning the ropes of social interaction even at an older level. At that point in their lives they are prone to easily follow pupils who have undertaken leadership roles, within their informal society. Sometimes that can lead to unwanted consequences, with peers seeking to out do each other with a view to engaging in proving behaviour which can lead into violence. It is part of our job to find ways to reduce these 'competition' systems evolving into destructive behaviour. If you're interested in taking a deeper look into violence reduction strategies, and the causes behind violence in schools, Craig Pinkey, criminologist, urban youth specialist, lecturer at University College Birmingham and CEO of SOLVE CYVC has published a video discussing the issue.
Approx. 30 mins
Early years wellbeing
Ofsted has published a report on international perspectives on early years and how policies and services in England compare. Findings include: many countries recognise the importance of high-quality early years provision and how it should be available to children of all backgrounds; England and most other countries focus on the social, emotional and physical development in the early years; and in some countries, guidance for inspectors is not clear and this has an impact on keeping children safe.
Approx.30 mins
Online safety
Social media company Snap has published a new report on evidence of online sextortion schemes targeting teens and young people in six countries. A survey of 6,000 teens and young people from Australia, France, Germany, India, the UK and the US found that 65% of respondents said they or their friends had been targeted by such schemes.
Approx.30 mins
Eating disorders and self-harm
The Lancet has published a study on rates of eating disorder and self-harm among adolescents and young adults in the UK since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysing around nine million GP records of young people aged from 10 to 24, the study found: eating disorders were 42% higher than expected for girls aged 13 to 16 and 32% higher than those expected for those aged 17 to 19; and levels of self-harm were 38% higher than expected for girls aged 13 to 16. The study found these increases largely attributable to increases within less deprived communities.
Approx. 30 mins
From school to university: sharing safeguarding information
Practically speaking, the line between a 17 and 18-year-old is largely an arbitrary one, but legally it is hugely important. Overnight, a 17-year-old child becomes an 18-year-old adult and is no longer covered by the safeguarding protections afforded to a legal “child”. Around the same time the transition to the “big wide world” of higher education can be a watershed moment and many may want to leave troubled school years behind them. But when it comes to ongoing safeguarding issues, is this a good idea? What are the roles, and mutual responsibilities, of schools and universities when a pupil about whom there are safeguarding concerns transitions to higher education?
Approx. 30 mins
Health & Safety
UK Inquiry calls for Covid-19 stories
The Covid-19 pandemic didn’t just affect those who caught the virus. It changed the lives of everyone and, in many cases, continues to have a lasting impact on people.
To fully probe this universally life-changing experience, the independent UK Covid-19 Inquiry launched its listening exercise, in June 2023, known as ‘Every Story Matters’. This is your opportunity to help the Inquiry understand your experience of the pandemic in the UK as every story shared will be used to shape the Inquiry’s investigations, helping to learn lessons for the future. Stories will be fed into themed reports and submitted to each relevant investigation as evidence.
Approx. 30 mins
The future? Artificial Intelligence and safety
Is safety a good fit for AI? Graham Sharp at Stanley thinks so. Here he shares how the technology is changing the landscape.
Approx. 30 mins
Croydon primary school fined £35k after boy left with life-changing burns when nativity costume caught fire at carol concert
St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary School was found guilty of health and safety failings
Approx. 30 mins
Wider Curriculum
(Netflix video – if you have access) Take Care of Maya
In this documentary, an anguished couple in Florida battles authorities for custody of their ailing daughter after being accused of child abuse.
Approx. 145 mins
Open consultation: Visiting in care homes, hospitals and hospices
This consultation will inform the government's proposed development of secondary legislation on visiting in care homes, hospitals and hospices.
This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 16 August 2023
Approx. 30 mins
Reclaiming bossy: seeing girls and women differently in education and work
Have you, your daughter, or another woman you know ever been called ‘bossy’?
If so, you might relate to this episode of Let’s Go Further. We speak to two highly successful women from the fields of politics and education: Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley and Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding, and Debra Gray MBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Hull College Group. Informed by their personal lives and careers, Jess and Debra discuss the value that women bring to leadership, the structural changes needed to break down the barriers that women face, and the potential of education to transform the lives of girls and women. We also look at how women continue to shoulder the vast majority of care responsibilities and why this needs to change.
So, do join us as we aim to shift society’s perspectives of women – and reclaim bossiness as a good thing!
Approx. 40 mins
Supporting Children, Adolescents, and Families Impacted by Conflict and Forced Displacement
In this ‘In Conversation’ podcast, Dr. Janna Metzler discusses establishing an evidence-base for programmes used to support children and families impacted by conflict and forced displacement.
There is also a discussion on Janna’s recent JCPP paper ‘Improving adolescent mental health and protection in humanitarian settings: longitudinal findings from a multi-arm randomized controlled trial of child-friendly spaces among South Sudanese refugees in Uganda’
Approx. 30 mins
