October 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.

School nurse text service launched in Salford 

Young people in Salford aged 11-19 years old can speak to a qualified health professional, using a new service called ChatHealth. By sending a text message, they will get confidential advice from a school nurse in their area.

The Salford service is run by the School Health Team – part of Salford Care Organisation’s 0-19 Children’s Services Team.  The team can provide advice on a range of issues including relationships, bullying, alcohol, self-harm, healthy eating, drugs and smoking.

The ChatHealth number for Salford is 07312 263176 and is open from 9am to 4.30pm.

Salford homelessness strategy

Salford City Council is inviting people to complete an anonymous survey to share their views on combatting homelessness in Salford and have their say on the new homelessness strategy draft priorities and objectives. 

The draft key themes and priorities identified for the new homelessness strategy are: 

• Homelessness is prevented whenever possible.
• Quality support is available to homeless people and those at risk of homelessness.

The survey closed on 18th October 2022.

National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel Updates

Updated guidance on the Child Safeguarding Review Panel (September 2022): Relevant to local safeguarding partners, senior leaders and frontline practitioners involved in child safeguarding, as well as the relevant inspectorates. 

Bruising to non-mobile infants: This paper explores the current guidance on the management of bruising in non‑mobile infants, to support safeguarding partners in reviewing their current policies.

Domestic Abuse: This paper sets out key findings from a thematic analysis of rapid reviews and LCSPRs where domestic abuse featured, including common themes in relation to multi‑agency safeguarding practice for children who are victims of domestic abuse; examples of practice and recommendations for local safeguarding partners.

Hate Crime Awareness Week

National Hate Crime Awareness week runs from 8th to 15th October.

A hate crime incident is an offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by an offender's hatred of someone because of their:

• race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality or national origins
• religion
• gender identity
• sexual orientation
• disability
• alternative sub-culture (for example, goth or rocker)

Hate crime incidents can include:

• physical attacks - to people or property
• the threat of attack
• verbal abuse or insults - including written material and bullying

For ideas and resources to plan activities visit the NationalHCAW website. 

For local information on how to report a hate crime visit the Salford City Council information page on hate crime.

Black History Month

Black History Month Uk highlights that this month is a time to celebrate the continued achievements and contributions of Black people in the UK and around the world.  It is also a time for continued action to tackle racism, reclaim Black history, and ensure Black history is represented and celebrated all year round.  The theme for this year is 'Time for change: action not words'.  More information is available from the Black History Month website.

Greater Manchester Month of Hope

Greater Manchester Month of Hope runs from 10th September to 10th October, to raise awareness of suicide and encourage everyone in Greater Manchester to have open conversations about preventing suicide, and to inspire hope across the region.

The Month of Hope is delivered as part of the Shining a Light on Suicide Campaign, based on research showing that talking honestly about suicide helps to save lives.

Information on events and support available across Greater Manchester, can be found on the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership website.

World Mental Health Day

October 10^th is World Mental Health Day - The theme of 2022's World Mental Health Day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is 'Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority'. World Mental Health Day is also a chance to talk about mental health in general, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to talk about things and get help if you are struggling.

To find local services to support children and young people's social, emotional health and well-being access the Salford Thrive Directory which contains different types of resources and services that are available to support children and guidance when making a referral into services. 

External Training

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) – What? Why? How?

This is a short course (2 hours) designed for NRM First Responders for children.  The course will explain what the NRM is including what happens when a child becomes an adult and submitting additional information, how the NRM benefits children and where it fits in legislation, before taking you step by step through completing an NRM referral.

When: 24th October & 16th November 2022
Time: 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Place: Microsoft Teams
Cost: NWG members: £15.00/Non-Members: £20.00
Booking and full details

For more resources and training opportunities for working with sexually exploited children and young people visit THE NWG (formally the National Working Group for Sexually Exploited Children and Young People).

More training coming up in November...

Understanding Universal Credit - The Essentials

• Level: Basic
• Date: Friday 4 November 2022 (10am to 12pm)
• Duration: Two hours

This half day course is aimed at staff and volunteers working in Salford and will cover which benefits universal credits replaces, what are the changes that trigger a new claim for Universal Credit, what elements are included in Universal Credit, how it is calculated, dealing with common problems within Universal Credit, understanding current issues relating to Universal Credit in the context of COVID-19 and lastly when, where and how to get advice for families in financial hardships in Salford. 

If you would like to book on one or more of the workshops (or a bespoke workshop for your team) then pleas email fiona.barker@salford.gov.uk

Understanding Benefits for Children and Families 

• Level: Basic
• Date: Thursday 3 November 2022 (10am to 12pm)
• Duration: Two hours

This half day course is aimed at staff and volunteers who work with children and families in Salford. The session will support completion of the Thriving Families Assessment Tool by equipping you with the essential questions to ask and help you to gain the skills to identify where families are missing out on entitlements. This session will cover an overview of the benefits available to support families and children, when and why a family may find their benefits are reduced (for example benefit cap, two child limit, bedroom tax or sanctions), identifying missing disability and carer’s benefit and lastly when, where and how to get advice for families in financial hardships in Salford.

If you would like to book on one or more of the workshops (or a bespoke workshop for your team) then please email fiona.barker@salford.gov.uk

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.