UPDATE NO 273 20 October 2017

Transforming the mental health services for children who have been abused

Helen English (Quality Lead, Nursing and Quality Directorate, NHS England – West Midlands) has written,

“Please see ‘Transforming the mental health services for children who have been abused’, a report which examines the extent to which Clinical Commissioning Groups in England are taking into account the particular needs of children and young people who have been abused and neglected when planning local mental health services. 

“NHS England will be working with the NSPCC to set up regional events with CCGs over the coming months to ensure the needs of children who have been abused are understood and properly considered in the plans. More details will follow, though in the meantime, can you please share the report across your networks.”

The report is subtitled “A review of Local Transformation Plans for Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing”. It highlights CCGs with Good, Poor or Absent Plans. South East CCGs that feature are: 

2017 Green Rating: Isle of Wight “This is an example of a very good and well-structured overall plan.”

2017 Red Rating: Aylesbury Vale and Chiltern; Guildford and Waverley, NW Surrey, E Surrey, Surrey Downs and Surrey Heath; Milton Keynes (also red in 2016); Portsmouth (also red in 2016).

Absent (plan not refreshed in 2016-17): Bracknell and Ascot; Fareham and Gosport; NE Hants and Farnham; Slough; SE Hants; West Hants; Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead.

48-hour missing challenge

Heather Hadfield (contact details below) of SEGfL writes:

This week, the NEN Safeguarding Group has considered an issue raised through a few schools across the country. It is regarding the so called ’48 hour missing challenge’ that is circulating around social media sites and through some media channels. There is no evidence in any of our regions so far that this is actually happening so it could be a case of ‘fake news’ which is alarming some parents and senior staff in schools. In case it is raised locally, the UK Safer Internet Centre has released a statement (see below), however UKSIC is unlikely to be producing a public statement on this, as it would just fuel the story. However, if you find that you might have a case relating to this, please contact UKSIC. 

The SIC statement is as follows: 

“The so called “48 hour missing challenge” appears to have arisen following recent reports of young people going missing. The UK Safer Internet Centre is not currently aware of any evidence to directly link such disappearances with an online challenge. When such stories arise it taps into parents’ fears, causing a ripple effect. This can prompt intrigue among young people that may have the adverse effect of leading them into exploring the very harmful behaviours that we are trying to protect them from.”

UK Safer Internet Centre Advice

One of the key issues raised over online challenges is that of peer pressure. Young people can sometimes be drawn into online challenges because it is what all their friends are doing; and saying ‘no’ can seem like a very hard thing for young people to do.

We would advise parents and carers to have an open and honest conversation with their children. Ask your children about what they’re seeing online and be prepared to talk about some difficult topics around negative influences online.

Go to our advice around online challenges for more information. We have published other tools that some parents my find helpful in managing their children’s online use.

If your professionals would like more information on this or any other online related safeguarding issue, please contact the UK Safer Internet Centre on helpline@saferinternet.org.uk or 0344 381 4772

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Heather Hadfield (contact details below) of SEGfL writes:

“I know many local authorities are trying to get their heads round GDPR. Here at SEGfL, we are collating information that will have a schools focus to help support them in the process of getting ready for compliance in May 2018. There will be a variety of resources for schools and member local authorities to use as well as staff training on offer.” 

In the meantime, SEGfL is hosting a briefing session in London (likely to be December) for staff supporting schools in GDPR, delivered by the lawyers Browne Jacobson. Places are limited, so if you would like to send someone along to this, please contact Heather Hadfield (details below) to reserve a place.

Bright Futures

The LGA has launched a new campaign “Bright Futures – A call to properly fund the services that change children’s lives.“

The campaign features a local case study Delivering children’s services differently – Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. 

Also published are A fundamental review of services for children – Greater Manchester and Recruitment and retention of children’s social workers – North Yorkshire County Council.

If you have a case study you’d like to share here, please get in touch with LGA. Please use our case study template when submitting.

SEDCS Peer Challenge 2018

Save the Date Wednesday 22 November. 

There will be a training and preparation session on Wednesday 22 November for hosts, visitors and observers who are planning to participate in the 2018 SE DCS Peer Challenge. We ask all those planning to participate in SE DCS Peer Challenge 2018 who are new to the process to save the date Wednesday 22 November. The challenge sessions will take place early in 2018, and the fieldwork will follow. Please contact Anna Wright (details below) for more information on the programme and the training session.

Entries in Bold are confirmed; entries in italics are provisional

SEND19

The SEND19 has recently published its calendar of events.

Please visit the SEND19 project page or download the calendar here.

Leadership Development

We continue to offer our successful portfolio of Leadership Development Courses all of which have been positively evaluated by delegates.

We are offering LAs the opportunity to train their own trainers for all our courses. Our aim is to increase the capacity and capability across the region  to ensure future sustainability within LAs. Courses can also be delivered with adult services and/or for schools. Please contact Di Smith, details below, if this is of interest to you.

All courses are run in-house in the LA who provides the venue. Each course is accompanied by a range of training resources for the delegates including a comprehensive handbook. The current courses on offer are as follows and details of each course and the costs for each can be found by downloading the April 2016 Leadership Development Prospectus. 

Coaching to Improve Performance

Embedding a Coaching Culture

Leading Change in Times of Austerity

Step Up to Leadership   

We can also arrange one-to-one coaching, especially to support newly appointed 2nd and 3rd tier managers

If you require further details or wish to book a course please get in touch with Di Smith (contact details below)