Covid-19 and safeguarding children in Salford

In these challenging times, SSCP would like to remind everyone that safeguarding remains a high priority and if you have any concerns that a child is being abused or is at risk of abuse, to follow the appropriate process as normal.

Please download the position statement and latest guidance from Salford Safeguarding Children Partnership which sets out how the partnership will function during COVID-19.

Safeguarding Children Arrangements during Covid-19 (Adobe PDF format, 420kb)

We have a dedicated web-page throughout this period visit: https://safeguardingchildren.salford.gov.uk/news/coronavirus-and-safeguarding-children

If you have any questions or want to add anything to our dedicated page above please do not hesitate to email: sscp@salford.gov.uk

Multi-agency lunch bowl learning sessions

We are pleased to inform you that going forward, the SSCP will be co-ordinating multi-agency lunch bowls learning sessions which will be available to all agencies, particularly where the multi-agency workforce will benefit from the topics/information being shared in a bite sized way.

Lunch bowl sessions will be delivered via MS Teams and calendar invites containing the link will be sent out to organisational representatives of the SSCP including Training Champions. Agency representatives are asked to ensure you share the calendar invites with your teams across your agency/organisation.

All sessions can be accessed on a drop in/drop out basis so no formal booking on with the SSCP is required. Once you receive the calendar invite for the lunch bowl session, simply accept if you wish to attend and join. Any PowerPoints and relevant information from the session will be shared in the chat function and can be accessed afterwards.

All lunch bowls will be recorded and uploaded onto the SSCP YouTube page following the session, to access at any point to support workforce development. You can subscribe to follow our channel here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-cOwwXfiG_t_ejpY1wqZQ

Introducing Liquidlogic and our new referrals form

A lot of hard work has been happening behind the scenes to replace a number of systems currently used within Early Help, children’s social care and adult’s social care with a new system called Liquidlogic, which will go live on 10 August 2021. This will enable strengthening support to families and children across the city and work in a more joined-up way to meet the needs of residents and the increasingly digital world.

This system also includes a new portal for you to make referrals into the Bridge. You will continue to access this via the Salford City Council website, but the additional functionality will help improve the referrals process and provide children and families with the right help at the right time.

There will be regular updates in future editions of the SSCP bulletin as we move closer to Go Live, including a walk-through of the new referrals form. Please do keep your eyes peeled for those and if you have any questions, you can contact the project team on projectimagine@salford.gov.uk

Understanding benefits for children and families workshop

Salford City Council’s welfare rights and debt advice service (WRADAS) is running a two hour workshop to support a greater understanding of benefits for children and families. Aimed at professionals and volunteers, this workshop is designed to support you to complete the Thriving Families Assessment Tool by providing you with the knowledge and skills to identify where families may be missing out on their entitlements.

This workshop is part of a series of welfare reform workshops, which are free and open to anyone who works with Salford residents. You can find out more details about the workshops and details of how to book your place, on the welfare rights workshop section of the Salford website.

WRADAS has also published the social security and tax credit rates for this benefit year (April 2021 to March 2022). These pages will continue to be updated in line with rate changes we recommend you bookmark them if you work with Salford residents as specialist advice, income maximisation and representation are essential to both financial inclusion and tackling poverty.

Survivors of sexual abuse tell their stories

The Truth Project has published first-hand accounts from survivors of sexual abuse:

Laakia believes that when she was being abused, she showed “clues after clues, but no-one understood”

Nige was subjected to extreme neglect and abuse, but a psychiatrist labelled him “delinquent”.

Instead of being seen as a victim of abuse, Katrina was blamed for being “badly behaved”.

Social workers said Sienna had a “big imagination” when she tried to talk to them about abuse.

Morton says “I was sexually abused at home and in care homes. What can you do but run away?”

Read more of survivors’ powerful stories here:

Experiences Shared | Truth Project

Early Help Antenatal/Postnatal Pathway for new parents

A recent local case review has highlighted once more that babies are vulnerable and new parents may need extra support. Newly appointed Baby Leads in each locality of the city can support families with all aspects of caring for a newborn through online courses and sessions, plus advice on safe sleep, feeding, and coping with a crying baby. Find out more information on the Early Help web pages. Referrals from an early stage in the pregnancy are welcome.

Targeted referrals for the antenatal / postnatal pathway can be made via the Bridge referral form, selecting antenatal pathway as the reason.

Read the 7 Minute Briefing for the case review 2021-03.

Learning from Practice Reviews

A recent case review highlighted the importance of listening to children’s concerns about their home conditions and understanding their lived experience, and the need for timely reviews of multi-agency plans. Read the learning from the review in this Case 2021-02 7-Minute Briefing.

Please also see more information about the Salford Neglect Strategy

Welcome to Maria Ogunyemi, SSCP Participation Lead

Hello! My name is Maria Ogunyemi and I am delighted to introduce myself to you as the new Participation Lead within the SSCP.

I will be working with a wide range of partners and practitioners, focusing on the Promotion, Engagement, and Participation of children, young people (YP), families and communities in shaping our practice. A joined-up approach will be used to listen and to understand what matters to them and what would make a difference in their lives. This will be done via the “Listening Hub” so that we capture as many voices as possible and act upon what they are saying and their needs.

Part of my initial focus will be to continue to establish “The Listening Hub” and how this can used to ensure that Practitioners, Children, YP’s, Families and Communities give their “Voice” and link into various partnerships to ensure we are sharing their voices and working Holistically to provide a better service.

My focus will also be on developing the “Educational Hub” (which forms part of the umbrella of the Listening Hub) to improve how we engage and work better across all educational establishments across Salford. The aim of this is improve how we can work more closely with “all” educational establishments to better protect children and enable them and their families to flourish.

I look forward to taking this new innovative role forward and working with you so that we can make a positive difference to those living in Salford!

National Events

We stand together - May

#WeStandTogether month in May and is an opportunity to bring people together, increase understanding and respect and build strong relationships in and across communities. Further information and resources available from We Stand Together

World Day for Cultural Diversity - May 21

Every year on May 21st, the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development urges everyone to do their part to bridge the gap between cultures. For further information visit World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | United Nations

Useful Links to Training, Information and Resources

The SSCP has developed a Virtual Training Programme offering webinars, spotlight briefings, lunchbowls, practitioner forums and videocasts. Our training programme is complemented by e-learning courses, 7 minute briefings Learning from Practice Reviews, Learning Events and by subscribing our SSCP YouTube channel. We will continue to review the possibility of offering face to face training in line with Government advice and local needs.

Visit also Salford Thrive for further Training, Resources and Events including Eating Disorders, Psychological First Aid, Mindfulness, Helping young people with anxiety, low mood and depression during Covid 19
The Emotional Health Service Directory will help you access useful resources and services available to support children and young people's emotional health and well-being and to provide guidance when making a referral into services.
To support us to become more aware of trauma and how we can support resilience across the City, take a look at The Salford Way which includes self care resources for taking care of ourselves and our colleagues.

Safeguarding Resources, Training and Information

SSCP 7 Minute Briefings: Case 2021-02 and Case 2021-03
SSAB 7 minute Briefings: Peter - Joint Safeguarding Adult Review and Domestic Homicide Review
Domestic Abuse Awareness - Training, Information, 7 minute briefings and facts sheet
Latest Greater Manchester policies Tri-X briefings, Tri-X Circular and Tri-X Resource Hub – includes The Domestic Abuse Act 2021
Local supporting pathways and policies including Professional Challenge and Escalation Policy
Lessons Learnt from Practice Reviews including Chronology guidance and Ecogram guidance

Other Updates and Information

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