News From Safeguarding Children

(28/07/2010) : Updated training for professionals

Following the update briefing on Serious Case Reviews held on the 19 July 2010 at the Culver Centre South Ockendon, links to the resource and research material is now available on the Training for Professionals page.

(05/07/2010) : Revised Child Protection Procedures Available for Consultation

The Southend, Essex and Thurrock (SET) Child Protection Procedures 2010 and Child Death Review Procedures June 2010 are available for consultation from Monday 5th July to Monday 2nd August 2010 (please see how to access PDFs).

All partner agencies are asked to carefully review the drafts for consultation by Monday 2nd August, providing feedback and any suggested amendments using the consultation document below:

A summary consultation document is also provided to assist a quick read through of the new SET Child Protection Procedures 2010.

Completed feedback for either procedure should be sent to .

(06/10/2009) : New information relating to Safeguarding Standards

The latest Safeguarding Standards for the Eastern Region for the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sectors have been added to the website.

(21/08/2009) Keeping safe online - update for parents, carers and children

Visit our Keeping safe online page for the latest advice and information from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre.

(21/07/2009) Keeping safe online - information for parents, carers and children

Ofcom has today launched a campaign to help keep children safe online during the summer holidays.

The internet offers a range of opportunities for fun, learning and development at the click of a mouse, but it's important that parents, carers and children have the right skills and information to help keep them safe online.

  • Two-thirds of 5-7 year olds now use the internet at home, rising to over three-quarters of 8-11 year olds and over four-fifths of 12-15s.
  • Of these, one fifth of 5-7 year olds use the internet without an adult present, as do almost half of 8-11 year olds and two-thirds of 12-15s.
  • 12-15 year olds say they spend an average of nearly 14 hours a week online.
  • Over a third of 12-15 year olds say they mostly access the internet in their bedroom. During this time they could encounter inappropriate or even potentially harmful content.

Find out what you can do to help children enjoy the internet safely this summer by watching or reading Ofcom's guide to show parents and carers how to use parental controls and filters to manage their children's access to digital TV and internet content. The guide also encourages parents and carers to talk to their children about what they do on the internet and how to use it safely.

Please visit the http://www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/guides/media/ for video and guide.

(07/07/2009) New Government Publications

The publications listed below are available via the Serious Case Reviews page.

  1. The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report - Lord Laming (March 2009)
  2. Understanding Serious Case Reviews and their impact - A biennial analysis of Serious Case Reviews 2005-2007 - Brandon et al (June 2009)

(21/04/2009) Latest Government Guidance on bullying for those working with children and young people

The following government guidance outlines possible bullying in different settings and describe steps to prevent it and respond effectively.

Safe from Bullying in Children's Homes

For managers, social workers and staff and how to fulfil National Minimum Standards.
publications.everychildmatters.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DCSF-00447-2009&

Safe from Bullying in Play and Leisure Provision

For staff and volunteers in leisure centres, play provision, the cultural and sporting workforce, and the voluntary management committees and Trustees for these activities.
publications.dcsf.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DCSF-00450-2009&

Safe from Bullying on Journeys

For those with responsibility for safety of children and young people on journeys to and from home, school and leisure activities. It includes transport operators, LA transport coordinators or commissioners, police and community safety teams, schools, colleges, leisure and play providers.
publications.dcsf.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DCSF-00444-2009&

Safe from Bullying: Guidance for local authorities and other strategic leaders on reducing bullying in the community

For LA anti-bullying co-ordinators, CT anti-bullying leads, and Community Safety Teams. It is also relevant for LA managers involved in commissioning services.
publications.everychildmatters.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DCSF-00451-2009&

Safe from Bullying in Extended Services in and Around Schools

For those who work in before/after school provision and holiday playschemes, and managers and staff in extended services in and around schools.
publications.everychildmatters.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DCSF-00446-2009&

Safe from Bullying in Youth Activities

For managers, staff and volunteers in youth activities, clubs and groups - including LA and third sector providers, and voluntary management committees.
publications.everychildmatters.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DCSF-00448-2009&

Safe from Bullying in FE Colleges

This guidance is aimed at Student Services and other Further Education College staff.
publications.dcsf.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DCSF-00445-2009&

Safe from Bullying: Training resources

These resources support the Safe from Bullying guidance and is designed for use by Children's Homes, Extended services in and around schools; FE Colleges; Play and Leisure services; Youth Activities; and those whose work relates to children's journeys.
The document aims to support people working with children and young people to understand the various forms bullying takes, be able to recognise bullying behaviour and understand what they can do to prevent it.
publications.dcsf.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DCSF-00449-2009&

(16/04/2009) Sleep Simple, Sleep Safe: Five Essentials to Reduce the Risk of Cot Death

The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) has launched an online resource for new parents to highlight the only 5 essential products needed to reduce the risk of cot death:

Blankets or baby sleep bag - Place your baby with feet to the foot of the cot, with sheets and blanket/s firmly tucked in and no higher than the shoulders, so s/he can't wriggle down under the covers. Or, you can use a baby sleep bag.

Mattress - The mattress should be clean, dry, firm, flat and well fitting. If not able to buy a new one for each baby, ensure the mattress was made with a completely waterproof cover and has no tears, cracks or holes.

Cot - The safest place is for a baby to sleep on his/her back in a cot, crib or moses basket in a room with you for the first 6 months. If you use a moses basket make sure it has only a thin lining.

Thermometer - Babies don't need especially warm rooms. All-night heating is rarely necessary. To keep an eye on the temperature buy a simple room thermometer (available from FSID)

Dummy - Using a dummy every time you settle your baby to sleep can reduce the risk of cot death. If breastfeeding, do not give a dummy until your baby is 1 month old to ensure breastfeeding is well established. Don't worry if the dummy falls out while your baby is asleep, and don't force him to take a dummy if he doesn't want it. Never coat the dummy in anything sweet.

For further advice and to download the leaflet, please go to:
www.fsid.org.uk/sleepsimple.html

(24/03/2009) Publication of Lord Laming's report into Child Protection in England

Lord Laming has published his latest review of Child Protection services in England which has a number of recommendations, at both national and local level, to improve the quality and integrity of services for children and young people.

The report is titled The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report (see how to access PDFs):

Thurrock LSCB will be considering the findings and recommendations of this report at its next Full Board meeting in April 2009, and updates on progress for the LSCB will be posted on the website after that date.

(11/03/2009) Information on the latest initiative about tackling Child Sex Abuse Images

Tackling the commercial side of child sexual abuse

Led by Child Exploitation Online Protection (CEOP) and funded by the European Commission, the new European Financial Coalition (EFC) will bring together an increasing number of organisations from across all key sectors to send out a stark warning to criminals who seek to make money from the distribution of Child Sexual Abuse images.

The objective of the EFC is to bring together all stakeholder groups engaged in the fight against the commercial distribution of child abuse images in order to facilitate and support pan-European police operations, with cross-sector solutions targeting, in particular, the electronic payment systems that are used to purchase child exploitation and abuse images on the internet.

Organisations behind the coalition believe that this will ultimately help to:

  • Identify, locate and safeguard victims
  • Identify, locate and arrest perpetrators
  • Identify, trace and seize the assets of offenders
  • Educate, inform and empower key stakeholders to prevent the spread and ultimately disrupt and dismantle this crime once and for all

For more information visit the links below:

(17/11/2008) National Anti-Bullying Week 17th-21st November - Cyberbullying

This week is Anti-Bullying Week, and the Thurrock LSCB would like to take this opportunity to highlight the effects of cyberbullying.

(03/11/2008) New advice from Child Exploitation Online Protection (CEOP) service on 'Spimming'.

Most of us are aware of SPAM – the junk messages that we get sent to our email inbox or to our mobile phones. Some people are now using popular chat facilities and Instant Messenger applications to send something called ‘SPIM' to others.

The term 'Spimming' is used to describe unsolicited messages which are being sent through Instant Messenger (such as Windows LiveMessenger, Yahoo Chat etc), usually from automated accounts. The messages can be harmless links to adverts, or in more serious cases can link to adult sites or websites with abusive content. The confusing thing about these messages is that they often seem to be from a real person (when they are not) and will take the form of a conversation.

'Spimming' Advice

(24/10/2008) Forthcoming Seminar for Professionals

The Thurrock LSCB has organised a half-day seminar for professionals working with children and young people to inform them about the findings from the latest Serious Case Review undertaken by the Board.

In addition to identifying the lessons to be learned in this case, the LSCB has invited Jane Black, one of the co-authors of the latest national biennial review of serious case reviews (2003-2005) to present the findings of the research, with particular emphasis on neglect.

The seminar will be held on the 10th November 2008 in South Ockendon. Please refer to the flyer linked below for details of how to apply.

Thurrock LSCB Seminar, 10/11/2008 (PDF *File Missing*)
 NOTE: please see how to access PDF files

(14/10/2008) Information for Professionals involved in the SET Child Death Review process

Please note that the Form A, Form B and Form F have been amended. The updated versions of these forms are available on the Essex Safeguarding Children Board web site: www.escb.org.uk

(12/08/2008) Updated Training for Professionals

New training courses have been added to our Training for Professionals page.

(01/07/2008) Child Death Reviews

Information, advice and guidance on Child Death Reviews is now available online.

(01/04/2008) Child Death Review Functions

With effect from today, 1st April 2008, the Thurrock Safeguarding Children Board, in common with other LSCBs across the country, is required by law to have in place child death review functions, to review all child deaths occurring in Thurrock.

Here in Essex, the three LSCBs, Southend, Essex and Thurrock, have agreed to have a joint Child Death Review Process, and have been working jointly to develop these procedures.

There are three components of the Essex Process:

  1. Rapid Response Team
  2. Locality Child Death Review Panel
  3. Strategic Child Death Review Overview Panel.

Further details will appear on this website under a separate link "Child Death Reviews" shortly, and will explain each part of the Process more fully.

(07/03/2008) Thurrock Assessment and Responses to Children System published

The multi-agency Thurrock Assessment and Responses to Children System (ARCS) is now available online.

(15/02/2008) Keeping Safe Online (e-Safety)

A new page has been added to this website for children, young people, parents and carers, and professionals, giving information about where to find advice about keeping safe online. There is also a link if you wish to report something you have found online which may be suspicious or abusive. Please see the Keeping Safe Online (e-Safety) tab for more information.

(02/09/2007) Serious Case Reviews

The latest Serious Case Review undertaken by Thurrock LSCB has been published on our web site. Please see the Serious Case Reviews tab for more information.

(22/08/2007) Proposed Refresh of the Thurrock Safeguarding Children Board

A proposal has been brought to the full Board of the Thurrock LSCB, requesting endorsement of a significant refresh to the strategy and the way in which the LSCB fulfils its statutory functions.

The first annual report of the new Thurrock LSCB highlights the fact that the original Business Plan was overly ambitious in its size comparative to the resources at the Board's disposal, and also that it is has a significant amount of activity led actions.

It is significant that government departments, both the DfES centrally and the Government Office East at a regional level, are encouraging LSCBs to take a more evaluative role, requiring those organisations working with children and young people to provide evidence of their effectiveness in safeguarding children.

The broader remit identified for LSCBs in the Children Act 2004 has inevitably led to some confusion and duplication in effort between activities carried out under the auspices of the LSCB, and those already being undertaken by partner agencies, and other partnerships such as the Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership, and the Safer Thurrock Partnership (Crime and Disorder Reduction partnership).

It is therefore proposed that those activity led objectives currently written into the LSCB Business Plan be moved where appropriate into the new Children and Young People Plan. The LSCB Business Plan would then identify appropriate targets and measurements by which effectiveness of local safeguarding activity could be proven.

Proposal

In order to delineate between activity led processes and evaluative ones, it is proposed that the Thurrock LSCB revise its organisational structure, Terms of Reference and Business Plan, in order to clearly identify the role of the LSCB as one of guidance, advice, scrutiny and overview into safeguarding practices within the Borough.

Please find below a refresh strategy proposal that was agreed by the Full Board at their meeting on 8th August 2007.

Full strategy document

Thurrock Local Safeguarding Children Board Refresh Proposal 2007/2008 (PDF 38.5kB)
[ For PDFs see how to access PDF files ]

(22/08/2007) Local Safeguarding Children Boards - A Review of Progress

This Government report sets out the findings of the Deparment for Education and Skills (DfES) priority review and national survey into the funding and membership of local safeguarding children boards (LSCBs). The report also sets out the government's plans to provide further support to LSCBs.

Full report

Local Safeguarding Children Boards: A Review of Progress (PDF 286.1kB)
[ For PDFs see how to access PDF files ]

(22/01/2007) Additional Child Protection Procedures

Additional procedures on the Thurrock LSCB Children in Need process, the CATSE (Children Abused Through Sexual Exploitation) process and the ABC process (Abusive Behaviours by Children - child protection process for those with inappropriate sexual behaviours) are now available on the child protection procedures page.

(01/12/2006) New Child Protection Procedures produced

The new DfES national guidance on child protection matters, "Working Together to Safeguard Children" 2006 , was implemented on 1st October 2006. It introduces changes in the way we safeguard and promote the welfare of children and includes information regarding:

  • Reasons for the changes in safeguarding policy and practice since 1999.
  • The roles and responsibilities of each organisation.
  • Details of the responsibilities of Local Safeguarding Children Boards.
  • Statutory guidance on managing individual cases.
  • Procedures for serious case reviews.
  • Details of the new child death review process.

In order to meet these new obligations, the Thurrock Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) has been working closely with its colleagues in the Essex and Southend LSCB's in reviewing all child protection procedures with the aim of producing a new document that will cover the whole of Essex, thus providing a consistent service for children and families across the County.

The full child protection procedures are now available for access/download and replace the previous child protection procedures from the Thurrock ACPC with immediate effect.

A pocket-sized handbook outlining the key child protection procedures is also being more generally distributed in Thurrock, free of charge, to key professionals within agencies who are involved with children.

If you require further information regarding the distribution of the procedures handbooks please contact the Thurrock LSCB on 01375-652730 or email via .

(07/11/2006) Artistic Ben Is Safe For Sure

Photo of David Watts, Ben Sisterson and Cllr Mike Revell.

The artistic skills of a young Aveley boy will be promoting Thurrock's Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) in the years to come.

And on Friday, Cllr Mike Revell - Cabinet member for Children and Learning - and David Watts, the council's LSCB Manager, joined the whole of Aveley Primary School to recognise his achievement.

Schools across the borough were asked to come up with a design for the LSCP logo, highlighting the safety aspect. Ben Sisterson's drawing of a family hug within a house "captured just what we were looking for", said Mr Watts.

He added: "The recent Children Act (2004) required all local authorities and their partner agencies to create Local Safeguarding Children Boards."

"Here in Thurrock we have been working hard to develop something which we feel can make a real difference to the safety of our children.

"We wanted our logo to reflect this feeling of safety, and Ben's concept was chosen as the one which most closely captured this sentiment.

"This logo will soon be seen all around our community as we start to get information to young people and adults alike about how children can be kept safe, so we would ask all Thurrock residents to keep an eye out for it during 2007."

And Cllr Revell said: "It is fantastic that children in primary schools were encouraged to design the logo and I'm delighted that Ben's creation will now be seen all over Thurrock - well done Ben!

"Ben's inspirational concept was brilliant. Its final form gives the visual message that the safety of children is now clearly the concern of us all."

Eight-year-old Ben joined Cllr Revell and Mr Watts at the front of the school's Achievement Assembly where he was shown the logo and presented with £50 in Lakeside vouchers.