CASPAR

The NSPCC's current awareness service for safeguarding and child protection, policy and research Subscribe to our weekly CASPAR email newsletter

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Supporting new parents

The NSPCC's Insight and evidence series features a blog by Tove Andersson, evaluation assistant at the NSPCC, evaluating the implementation of NSPCC's Baby steps program - which helps vulnerable parents prepare for parenthood through a series of pre-natal and post-natal sessions. Factors contributing to successful implementation of the programme include: creating a multi-agency steering group; providing reflective supervision; and establishing strong referral pathways. Findings of the evaluation will be used to inform the way we support other organisations to implement the Baby steps service.

Source: NSPCC impact and evidence insights blog  Date: 11 June 2018

Further information: NSPCC – Baby steps

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Request for proposals: parenting perspectives on preventing sexual abuse of children with disabilities

The NSPCC is requesting proposals for a research project looking at how parents and professionals can work together to prevent the sexual abuse of children with disabilities. Please email [email protected] for a copy of the tender. Proposals are due by 22 June 2018.

Source: NSPCC

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NSPCC and BASPCAN trainer of the year award 2019: open for nominations

Nominations are now open to find the NSPCC and BASPCAN’s national child protection trainer of the year for 2019. Nominations must be submitted by 30 June 2018. The award will be presented on 15 January 2019.

Source: NSPCC - Child protection trainer of the year 2019

Further information: Make your nomination (Google doc)

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NSPCC conference: How safe are our children? Growing up online

The NSPCC’s annual conference takes place on 20-21 June in London. The conference will feature talks from sector leaders and explore the latest research and insight on keeping children safe in the digital age. Speakers include Digital Secretary Matt Hancock MP, who will deliver the keynote address on day one; professor of social psychology Sonia Livingstone OBE; and experts from O2, Facebook, Google, the Internet Watch Foundation and CEOP. The conference will also see the launch of the NSPCC’s How safe are our children? 2018 report, a comprehensive overview of the latest child protection data from the UK.

Source: NSPCC conference: How safe are our children? Growing up online

Further information: Conference schedule (PDF) NSPCC #WildWestWeb campaign

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NSPCC online course: It’s your call

The NSPCC has developed a short (15-minute) interactive online course to help workers who enter or have access to people’s homes recognise the signs of child abuse and neglect and understand what actions need to be taken. Workers who visit or enter people’s homes may see or hear things that others may not and the course will: help them recognise the signs of possible abuse and neglect; encourage them to report concerns; and support those who may have already witnessed signs of child abuse to know what to do about it and provide advice.

Source: NSPCC online course: It’s your call  

Further information: NSPCC It's your call - online training course (video)

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Suicide in England and Wales increasing among young people

The Guardian reports that figures obtained by the Brent Centre for Young People through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request indicate that overall the number of deaths by suicide among those age 10 to 19 in England and Wales has increased by 24 per cent from 2013/14 to 2015/16. The number of deaths by suicide in the same age category increased by 107 per cent from 2013/14 to 2015/16 in London itself. The Brent Centre calls for more investment in mental health services to better support young people.  

Source: Guardian  Date: 08 June 2018

Further information: Brent Centre for Young People

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Department for Education forms child safeguarding practice review panel

The Department for Education (DfE) has formed the Safeguarding Practice Review Panel to identify and review serious child safeguarding cases which the panel believe raise issues and themes that are complex or of national importance. The independent panel has six members and is chaired by former children's minister Edward Timpson.

Source: DfE  Date: 07 June 2018

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Redefining the word 'bully'

The Oxford, Cambridge and Collins dictionaries will no longer define bullies as strong and their targets as weak, in response to a campaign by the anti-bullying charity Diana Award. The new definition of ’bully’ will state: a person who habitually seeks to harm or intimidate those whom they perceive as vulnerable.

Source: The Diana Award  Date: 05 June 2018

Further information: BBC

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Video series: protecting children from criminal exploitation

Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT) has published a four-part video series on how to protect children in criminal exploitation. ECPAT's head of training, Laura Durán, was interviewed for the series, which focuses on issues surrounding: child trafficking; children's rights; and using legal frameworks to safeguard child victims.

Source: ECPAT  Date: 22 May 2018

Further information: An insight into child trafficking

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Young people and their foster carers’ experience of education

TACT (The Adolescent and Children’s Trust) has published a report of its annual survey of children and young people and their foster carers’ experience of education. 81 children and young people were interviewed and 89 foster carers surveyed. Key findings include: most children and young people interviewed feel supported at school, with 92 per cent able to name someone they could talk to if they had a problem; 30 per cent of foster carers said they did not get to choose which school their foster child attended – not reflecting changes in the admission process, which enable looked after children to get their first school choice. Recommendations include: tutoring from a Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) tutor in the home to further support education outcomes.

Source: TACT  Date: 04 June 2018

Further information: Reaching for the best? What children in care and their carers really think about education (PDF)

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Trauma-informed recovery service model

The Department of Health and Social Care has published a commissioned report summarising current knowledge on trauma-informed care approaches to child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation. Areas covered include: defining trauma; impact of child sexual abuse and exploitation; and theories informing trauma-informed recovery. Describes a trauma-informed recovery service model, based on current research.

Source: Department of Health and Social Care  Date: 31 May 2018

Further information: A trauma-informed health and care approach for responding to child sexual abuse and exploitation: current knowledge report (PDF)

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Child health profiles for 2018 published

Public Health England (PHE) has released the child health profiles for 2018, providing an overview of child health and wellbeing for each local authority in England. The profiles present data on key health indicators, including: childhood obesity; young people and alcohol; and young people's mental health. PHE has also created an interactive version of the profiles for local authorities and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).

Source: PHE  Date: 05 June 2018

Further information: Overview of child health (profiles) Overview of child health (interactive tool)

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Minimising risks to social workers’ safety

The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Northern Ireland has published a report highlighting social workers' experiences of intimidation, threats and violence. Based on a survey of 220 social workers in Northern Ireland, key findings include: 86 per cent of those surveyed have experienced intimidation; 75 per cent have experienced threats; and 50 per cent have been subjected to physical violence on the job. Recommendations to minimise these risks include: providing social workers in a community setting with a personal safety alarm or a smartphone and lone worker safety app; and covering the cost of home security measures where there is evidence of risk outside of the workplace.

Source: BASW  Date:  05 June 2018

Further information: Insult and Injury: exploring the impacts of intimidation, threats and violence against social workers (PDF)

Insult and injury: exploring the impacts of intimidation,threats and violence against social workers (infographic) (PDF)

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Supporting young carers

The Department of Health and Social Care has published a carers action plan for England for 2018-2020. The plan includes a section on supporting young carers, which covers: identifying young carers, improving educational opportunities and outcomes, improving access to support services and the transition for young adult carers.

Source: Gov.uk  Date: 05 June 2018

Further information: Carers action plan: 2018 - 2020: supporting carers today (PDF)

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Children in institutional care’s rights

The charity Article 39 has launched a new website for children and young people living in institutional settings. The website sets out and explains the rights of children who live away from home.  

Source: Rights 4 children  Date: 04 June 2016

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Safeguarding in emergency care

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has published updated standards for children and young people in emergency care settings in the UK. The standards include a section on child safeguarding, which covers: identifying and reporting concerns, sharing information, and staffing and training.

Source: The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)  Date: 04 June 2018

Further information: Facing the future: standards for children in emergency care settings (PDF)

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Asking about adverse childhood experiences

The Department of Health and Social Care has released a report summarising a pilot study of an implementation pack to help health professionals make routine enquiry about adverse childhood experiences (REACh). The implementation pack was piloted by three services in North West England and is designed to support services in developing, implementing and embedding routine enquiry about adversity in childhood, such as abuse or sexual exploitation. Key findings include: health professionals taking part were reluctant to ask young people who access their services if they have been affected by adverse childhood experiences. A 14 item questionnaire was developed for the project and is included in the report.  

Source: Department of Health and Social Care Date: 31 May 2018

Further information: Routine enquiry about adverse childhood experiences: Implementation pack pilot evaluation (PDF)

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