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December 2022

Salford Safeguarding Children Partnership circulate monthly E-Bulletins; if you would like to be included on the distribution list, please email sscp@salford.gov.uk.

News items are available by month of publication from the menu on the right.

The SSCP Business Unit will be closed from 23rd December 2022 to 3rd January 2023 and emails will not be monitored during this period.  

We will respond to your e-mail as soon as possible after 3rd January. If your email is related to SSCP Training please contact debbie.hulme@salford.gov.uk.

Confidential and sensitive information pertaining to individuals should not be sent to the SSCP inbox unless specifically requested by the SSCP.

Agency summaries for rapid reviews/ child safeguarding practice reviews or escalation requests should be sent using your agency’s secure email facility.

All enquiries concerning the welfare or safety of a child or requests for information MUST BE SENT DIRECTLY to the Bridge Partnership.   

The Bridge Partnership can be contacted on 0161 603 4500. All referrals and requests for support must be completed on the online referral form. The Bridge Partnership is available Monday to Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm.  If you need to speak to someone outside these times, please contact the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) on 0161 794 8888. If a child is in immediate danger of being harmed or is home alone, call the police on 999.

For any problems related to the portal contact worriedaboutachild@salford.gov.uk 

If you are worried about an adult - Report abuse or neglect by telephone on 0161 631 4777 and for further information visit the safeguarding adults page on the Salford City Council website.

Free workshops to support practitioners engage with residents on cost of living issues

Salford Welfare Rights and Debt Advice Service (WRADAS) has worked with people experiencing financial worries for many years. As part of the city’s response to the current cost of living pressures, they’re delivering a series of 90 minute skills sessions.

Designed to increase confidence when talking to residents about money and offering help and support, they’re for practitioners and volunteers from the council, NHS and voluntary community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. They sessions are not directly for residents.

The sessions include:

  • Understanding how current cost of living issues are contributing to financial hardship with real life examples.
  • Tips on when and how to have effective and non-stigmatising conversations about money.
  • Active signposting and identifying when and how to make a referral to services for advice and support.

The first session will take place is in person at the civic centre in Swinton on Monday 12th December and is booked through Eventbrite.

The second session is online via Teams on Wednesday 14th December and can also be booked via Eventbrite.

The WRADAS team are in the process of booking further sessions in the new year.

Safety alert issued for baby self-feeding pillows

The Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued an Urgent Safety Alert for baby self-feeding pillows. The alert states that:

'Businesses selling these products must immediately remove them from the market as they cannot comply with the safety requirements under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

Baby self-feeding pillow products are designed to be attached to a bottle so that the baby may be positioned on its back to self-feed without the assistance of a caregiver holding the bottle and controlling the feed.

This is inconsistent with NHS guidance in relation to safe bottle feeding.

When used as intended, even whilst under the supervision of a caregiver, it could lead to immediate, serious harm or death from choking or aspiration pneumonia'.

The public is urged to stop using them immediately and dispose of them safely.

Safer sleep for babies in winter

The Lullaby Trust have published advice on 'how to keep your baby safe when the weather gets cold'.

They highlight that parents and carers may have worries about heating bills and how to keep their baby warm over the winter months. They recognise that it can be tempting to wrap baby up to keep them warm but warn that overheating as a result of this can increase the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

Their webpage provides information on what to consider for babies and their sleep spaces during the winter, things to avoid and what to do if a baby appears unwell.

NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care have also produced a poster which can be displayed in public settings, with tips on how to keep a baby safe in winter.

Free webinar on Sudden and unexpected deaths in infancy and childhood

The latest report from the NCMD (National Child Mortality Database), Sudden and Unexpected Deaths in Infancy and Childhood, is due for publication on Thursday 8 December 2022. The NCMD are hosting a 1-hour webinar on 14th December 2022, to discuss the key findings of the report and will be joined by a panel of the report’s authors. The session was free and open to all.

Bullying and mental health

Through work carried out via the SSCP Listening Hub, we are aware that issues of bullying and also mental health are concerns for a significant number of young people across Salford.

The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health have recently published a podcast titled Bullying and Mental Health: Impact and Interventions which discusses the relationship between the two. The podcast covers prevalence, the roles children play when bullying takes place, the impact on mental health, interventions, and much more.

The SSCP 'My child is being bullied' page offers information on bullying and a number of links which professionals may also find useful.

NSPCC article - risk to children from domestic abuse during the World Cup

An article published by the NSPCC reports that during the last World Cup calls from concerned adults to the helpline increased by 33% and calls to Childline about domestic abuse increased by 17%.  The article adds that 'Alcohol, betting on the games and tension during the tournament were highlighted as potential triggers.'  Further evidence is cited showing a link between increased calls to emergency services following domestic abuse incidents, during large sporting events.  The NSPCC is calling for the UK Government to deliver a Victims Bill that is strengthened to ensure specialist support is available for all children impacted by domestic abuse.

The NSPCC have produced further information and advice on domestic abuse.

Information and support for children and young people on domestic abuse is available through Childline.

The SSCP website has lots of information about domestic abuse and local and national support services.  Visit the SSCP Domestic Abuse Homepage for links, resources and toolkits.

Tech Abuse

Tech abuse is a term for when an abuser uses technology to control, harass or intimidate a person. They may carry out physical, sexual, psychological, or economic abuse using technology. Refuge provides information and support around domestic abuse.  They report that 1.5 million women in the UK have experienced online abuse. They have a dedicated web pages on what tech abuse is and how to stay safe.

Gender Based Violence - Virginity Testing

To mark this years 16 days of action Karma Nirvana have launched a new animation to raise awareness of virginity testing and issues around Honour Based Abuse.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that runs from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, until 10 December, which is Human Rights Day. The theme for 2022 is 'UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls”.

Annually the campaign is usually supported by a number of organisations offering information and support.  Look out for links across social media platforms during this time.

Christmas can be challenging - Getting Help and Support

Christmas can be a challenging time for many people for lots of different reasons.  Mental health charity MIND explains how the period around Christmas and New Year might affect mental health. They give tips on how to cope and suggestions for supporting someone else.

The Salford Thrive Directory provides a comprehensive list of contact details of services and organisations that provide help, support and advice, with a focus on supporting children and young people’s social, emotional and mental wellbeing.

Loan sharks

Stop Loan Sharks investigates and prosecutes illegal money lenders and provides support for borrowers in the UK.  They warn that Loan Sharks will seek to profit during the Christmas period, as people and families struggle to pay for the increased cost of living. You can access more information, support or report a Loan Shark via their website.  Loan Sharks can also be reported by calling their dedicated helpline number: 0300 555 2222. 

Bridge referrals

A recent upgrade to the Salford City Council Portal allows referrals to the Bridge to be made anonymously.

Please remember that professionals making referrals to the Bridge cannot choose to remain anonymous. (See 4.2 Making Referrals to Children's Social Care, Section 4 of the Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures Manual).

The ability to make a referral anonymously should only be used by a member of the public.

Disability History Month – 16 November to 16 December

Disability History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the lives and achievements of disabled people. This year’s theme is Disability, Health and Well Being.

UK Disability History Month provide a narrative of the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the rights and well-being of people with disabilities.   You can watch their launch event and access further resources on via the UKDHM webpages.

Digital Accessibility

Digital accessibility relates to the design of technology products and environments.  It is about universality and making something that can be used by as many people as possible.

The SSCP is undertaking work to improve the accessibility of the website and the documents available for download.

There is government guidance available to support you in becoming more aware of digital accessibility and on creating accessible documents. 

Good Practice Guide - Working with Gypsy and Traveller Families

A guide has been produced on carrying out welfare enquiries, to help social workers, police, housing, and others, to support families affected by the measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.  The publication titled 'Understanding the welfare impact of the Police, Crime, sentencing and Courts Act,' has been produced by the British Association of Social Workers.

Equality and Diversity

Our vision is to make Salford a fair and inclusive city where everyone has an equal voice, access to services and opportunities, and are included and represented in decisions that affect them, irrespective of their age, disability status, ethnicity, faith, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic background. Salford has a strong commitment to tackling inequality which is reflected in The Salford Way, a city-wide approach to ensure partners work together to build a fairer and more inclusive Salford for all. A key part of this approach is the Salford Equality Strategy our catalyst for change to ensure we work together to build a fairer and more inclusive Salford for all.

All partners of the SSCP are required to ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion are a thread through all our priorities/activity, as are the views and voices of young people. 

Latest news

Details of all the latest news from the Salford Safeguarding Children Partnership.

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