Safeguarding News and Updates

Last updated: 07/03/2022

Independent Scrutiny of RBWM Children's Social Care Front Door: Learning Briefing

AidHour have published their findings from an audit they conducted last year. The independent scrutiny of the Children’s Social Care (CSC) in RBWM front door, focusing on how effectively it handles contacts from family members, anonymous referrers, and 'self referrals'. This review was commissioned in response to the tragic murders of Star Hobson, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, and Logan Mwangi, highlighting the critical importance of robust child safeguarding processes. Please read the CSC Front Door Learning Briefing here.

New Working Together 23

The Department for Education (DfE) statutory guidance ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ sets out what organisations and agencies who have functions relating to children must and should do to help, protect and promote the welfare of all children and young people under the age of 18 in England.

In December 2023, after a period of consultation, the government published the revised Working Together guidance. The key updates include:

A shared responsibility - Expectations for effective multi agency working and practice principles for working with parents and carers
Multi agency safeguarding arrangements - clarifying roles and responsibilities, it introduces a partnership chair and deepens accountability and transparency
Providing help, support and protection - Stronger expectations on early help and family networks, and clarification on permissions to work with children under section 17 of the Childcare Act 1989. Strengthens the emphasis on disabled children, new multi agency and child protection standards and approaches for harm outside of the home
Operational responsibilities - The guidance introduces changes that emphasise the advantages of prison and probation services exchanging information with children’s social care and other agencies.
Learning from serious child safeguarding incidents -Introducing reporting of the deaths of young people aged 18-25 where their care status is known

Social Media and Social Awareness

We are on Twitter and you can follow us @SafeguardRBWM

If you want to download our Social Awareness Calendar - click here and don't forget if you want us to add any events, just email us at safeguarding.partnership@rbwm.gov.uk

MIND YOUR LANGUAGE!

Please see the resource attached “Mind your language” created by members of the Family Justice Young People Board, aimed at encouraging professionals to be mindful of words and phrases young people prefer not to hear at family proceedings.

BOGUS CALLERS IN THE BOROUGH

The safety and peace of mind of local communities is at the heart of what the Royal Borough is
trying to achieve. Below are some advice leaflets and booklets together with a door sticker to advice cold callers
that you do not buy goods or services at the door. We hope that you find this useful and that by taking a few simple precautions you will stay safe and secure in your own home.

Cover letter from the Borough

Doorstep Traders

Nottingham Knockers!

National Panel Review publication - Letter from safeguarding Ministers

Please find attached a letter for all safeguarding partners from Will Quince MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Children and Families, Rachel Maclean MP, Minister for Safeguarding, and Gillian Keegan MP, Minister for State Care and Mental Health, regarding the publication of the National Review into the murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson.

The Independent Review Of Children's Social Care

This presentation has been delivered through the National Child Safeguarding Review Panel and looks into the key learning points into Child Protection in England - download to see the full presentation.

CUT IT OUT!

Cut It Out, a domestic abuse awareness campaign, was first launched in Norfolk following the death of Kerri McAuley, who was killed in 2017 by her abusive partner. Before her death, Kerri had disclosed to her hairdresser that she was the victim of abuse and reached out for support, but the seriousness wasn’t realised.

Free training for hair and beauty professionals, a free one-hour online training session for professionals working in the hair and beauty industry across Bracknell Forest, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Slough and Wokingham. To book your slot, just click here!

Helping those in need with the rising cost of living

Our ‘Here to Help’ campaign is continuing to highlight the latest local and national support that can help residents struggling with the rising cost of living.

Here to Help brings together a range of cost of living support from the council and our various partners onto one dedicated webpage, covering energy and water bills, rent, council tax, food, childcare, school meals, benefits and more.

We’re also promoting a growing network of safe, warm spaces where people in need can go this winter. Several partner organisations are offering safe, warm spaces, along with advice and support. All local libraries are also safe places for the community.

As part of this campaign, we’re using the government’s Household Support Fund to help vulnerable households most in need this winter, those in severe financial hardship who are having to make very difficult choices around household expenditure, such as between heating and eating.

To target the limited national funding, nine frontline distribution partners are identifying those residents in greatest need to receive a one-off cash payment of £145. Those residents will also be supported to explore further cost of living help that might be available to them.

Learn more about the Household Support Fund in our press release or visit our website . Residents are not able to apply to the council directly, and need to be identified by one of our listed partners.