The proposals include a few changes to the overall structure of the Board, which Ofsted last year endorsed as

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1 City of York Safeguarding Children Board Update June 2018 The newsletter is also available on the CYSCB website at: Welcome We re already underway with planning the transition to the new City of York Safeguarding Children Partnership (CYSCP), well ahead of the DfE s timetable. A draft proposal has been presented to the Board by City of York Council, North Yorkshire Police and the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group. The proposals include a few changes to the overall structure of the Board, which Ofsted last year endorsed as Outstanding. The draft also suggests sharpening the role of the new partnership and its sub-groups, and refreshing the terms of reference throughout. A refined proposal will go to the board next month, with final sign-off expected this autumn ready for the new partnership to start in the new year. We ll keep you updated with developments. Simon Westwood Independent Chair of City of York Safeguarding Children Board News It's not ok York St John University have been commissioned to develop an

2 online education resource for secondary schools and community groups to raise awareness of child sexual abuse and exploitation. The commission follows the success of phase I of the It s Not Ok campaign, a partnership between the NSPCC and the safeguarding board. A play and workshop of the same name was developed by the university s performing arts team in 2015/16 as part of the original campaign and toured all secondary schools in York. The NSPCC has now commissioned the university to produce a series of four films, based on the play. This includes teaching resources to further explore the key themes and issues with years 7 to 11. A package for children with special educational needs will also be launched this autumn and will be available free on the NSPCC website. For more information, please contact Helen Westerman, NSPCC Campaigns Manager - hwesterman@nspcc.org.uk GPs and young people in care GPs and primary care staff have received training in the particular health needs of children and young people in care following feedback from the young people themselves. The initiative follows the results of a consultation run by the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group with young people in care. The survey highlighted a number of issues, including that GPs often wrongly assume that the adult with a child or young person in their surgery is their parent. Feedback on the training from GPs has been very positive. Neglect CYSCB has developed a new screening tool for neglect which is designed to be used by any practitioner who is in contact with children and families. Practitioners can to use the tool to assess the level of concern and to help them decide whether to make an enquiry through the Children s Front Door either to the LATs (early help) or Children s Social Care about a GCP assessment.

3 The screening tool is online at the Neglect' section of the CYSCB site. The website also has a new Neglect Storyboard which describes York s strategies and initiatives to ensure best practice and deliver the best outcomes. You can find them here. Keeping children safe online New NSPCC research shows that one in four young people have been contacted over social media by an adult they don't know. A third of these children are aged under 13. The NSPCC has produced a guide called Net-Aware, in partnership with O2, which helps parents and carers stay up to date and keep their children safe by understanding what social media sites, apps and games young people use. Voluntary Sector Safeguarding Survey A survey to help voluntary sector partners check their safeguarding processes took place this spring. There are three key findings for organisations from the survey: 1. Ensure job descriptions of designated or named safeguarding staff refer specifically to their safeguarding responsibility 2. Ensure that designated or named safeguarding staff make sure that the voice of children and young people is heard throughout the organisation 3. Ensure contact details of who to talk to about safeguarding concerns are on display or easily accessible to all workers, volunteers etc. Safeguarding Week 25 to 29 June This week is national Safeguarding Week (25 June). The key message this year is Safeguarding is everyone s business. Check out our dedicated safeguarding week webpages and before, during, and after safeguarding week for information and actvities.

4 There are also be links to, and information about, events that Board partners are planning in or around the week. Using the right language The Children s Society, Victim Support and the National Police Chiefs Council have produced guidance to assist with the language that professionals working with children and young people use. It is important that the appropriate terminology is used when discussing children and young people who have been exploited, or are at risk of exploitation. Language implying that the child or young person is complicit in any way or responsible for the crimes that have happened (or may happen to them) should be avoided. The guidance and toolkits can be found at: Check out the new-look CYSCB website CYSCB has been busy updating content and adding pages on the board website to make it more accessible and informative for professionals and public alike. Check out the new bite size guides menu that links to short guidance documents on a variety of topics from adults who are a risk to children to young carers. It includes sections on modern slavery, county lines and private fostering. There are links from these guides to other trusted sites where more detailed information can be found. We also have new and revamped pages with advice, guidance, links and resources on Domestic Abuse; Child Abuse, Exploitation and Missing Children; Harmful Sexual Behaviour and Neglect. You can reach these from the link for Professionals on the Home Page

5 You said, we did CYSCB consulted with children and young people about their pages on our website. It elicited some very constructive points such as: More colour! Change the layout Too much writing, shorten it Check out our new-look pages. County Lines - children being used as drug couriers The National Crime Agency (NCA) Annual Report shows a record rise in referrals for potential victims of modern slavery since The number of children thought to be victims rose by 66%. More than 2,000 children were referred for help to the National Referral Mechanism which identifies and supports victims. The NCA reported that the growth of drug supply routes, known as county lines were partly responsible for this increase and also for UK nationals now making up the highest proportion of reported victims. County lines is the term for city-based gangs using young people as couriers to move drugs to rural and coastal areas. Information about this issue is available on the Bitesize Guides section of our website. Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS) for children and young people IDAS provides services to children and young people affected by domestic abuse. These include support for children and young people, who have witnessed domestic abuse. The Safer Futures team from IDAS works in partnership with the police to deliver sessions for school staff on the effects of domestic abuse on children and young people and what they can do to support them. The project also offers sessions for children and young people; and an ambassador programme for young people to develop campaigns to promote positive relationships. For more information, contact amanda.flanagan@idas.org.uk

6 Safeguarding training Research shows that multi-agency safeguarding training is useful in developing a shared understanding of child protection and decision making. CYSCB offers free multi-agency safeguarding training for practitioners working in York. Courses cover general awareness and safeguarding through to more specific topics around the Board s key priorities. Details of all CYSCB s courses are on the board s website and can be booked via Keep up to date with our work at and via twitter Copyright 2017 City of York Safeguarding Children Board CYC Privacy Notice (updated May 2018):