Professionals
Procedures
THURROCK LSCP
As a statutory body the LSCP has a requirement to meet certain procedural expectations. In order to achieve this there are in place a number of policies, protocols and structures to ensure that it meets both national, regional and local expectations.
This section of the website is predominantly for professionals and agencies that work within the safeguarding arena so they are able to monitor the work of the LSCP. It also provides to the community the opportunity to see some of the inner workings of the LSCP and be a supportive observer.
THIRD PARTY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Thurrock LSCP Delivery Plan
Thurrock LSCP are pleased to publish their Delivery Plan for 2019/20.
Should you have any queries or comments, please do not hesitate to contact one of the LSCP Business Team.
Threshold Document
To ensure that we all take responsibility for safeguarding children and young people and considering their welfare, we want to identify vulnerable children and young people as early as possible and work in a coordinated and integrated way to help children and young people before they reach crisis point.
We also want to ensure that Children and Young People who are abused or who are at risk of significant harm, are promptly referred to Children's Social Care.
Thurrock Local Safeguarding Children Partnership has updated the Threshold Document, which will help to identify when a child may need additional support to reach their full potential
Below you will find the revised threshold document and information on the new pathways to children's services. We do not intend to produce hard copies of this document.
To view the refreshed document, please click on the picture below:-
With reference to the two documents referred to within the Threshold Document - please see the links below.
Thurrock Common Assessment Framework (CAF)
Introduction
The majority of children and young people enjoy their lives and develop satisfactorily with the support of universal services (such as the usual health and education services). From time to time however they may require help from a single agency for a specific issue or from a range of agencies if the issues are more complex.
Within Thurrock the Multi Agency Common Assessment Framework is designed to support children and young people by focusing on early help for them and their families through the delivery of services and support to meet identified needs.
The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a method of assessment used across all children's services/agencies both locally and nationally. A CAF is used to assess what help and support a child or young person may need.
The CAF will help to ensure early identification of needs, reduce the need for multiple assessments and children and families repeatedly "telling their stories" and coordinate the delivery of services.
If at any stage, you are worried that a child or young person is suffering, or is at risk of suffering, significant harm then you should contact Thurrock Children's Social Care for advice.
Children with Additional Needs
The CAF is a tool to help identify those children with additional needs before these escalate into more serious concerns. This might include situations where there are issues with:
- Disruptive or anti-social behavior
- Involvement in, or risk from offending
- Overt parental conflict or a lack of parental support/boundaries
- Disengagement from education or training
- Poor school attendance
- Repeated fixed term or permanent exclusion from school
- Special educational needs
- Disability
- Poor nutrition or ill health
- Substance misuse
- Poor emotional or mental health
- Housing
- Pregnancy and parenthood
- Domestic violence
Who will undertake the CAF?
The CAF will be used by a range or staff working in children's services. It is anticipated that most will be undertaken by those working in universal services; schools, nurseries, various health settings, community and voluntary agencies.
When is a CAF not appropriate?
In the majority of cases children and young people make satisfactory progress with the support of universal services. From time to time they may require help from a single agency for a specific issue. Referral to a single agency does not require a CAF to be completed.
Please Note: Referrals for Troubled Families Programme will need to be on a CAF.
All referrals to both Social Care and the Prevention and Support Service (PASS), including the Troubled Families Programme will now go through MASH as a single front door.
The Role of the Lead Professional
To support Partners in their role as Lead Professional, the LSCP Business Team has produced a guidance document. We hope you find the below information and document helpful.
Who is the best person to be a Lead Professional?
Depending on the needs of the family and the threshold for the intervention, the Lead Professional should ideally be someone who is already working with the child, young person or their parents and knows them well, or is about to get involved and play a major role in supporting them. The best person to take this role is usually agreed at the Team Around the Family (TAF) meeting.
Expectations of the Lead Professional
The Lead Professional role has four core functions:-
- Act as a single point of contact for the child, young person or family.
- Co-ordinate the delivery of the solution focused actions, and to ensure that progress is reviewed regularly.
- Reduce overlap and inconsistency in the services received.
- Supports improved outcomes for the child, young person or family.
A Lead Professional is accountable to their own agency for their delivery of the Lead Professional functions. They are not responsible or accountable for the actions of other practitioners or services.
For more information, please refer to the leaflet below.
Graded Care Profile 2
This page is currently being developed to support practitioners awareness of the Graded Care profile 2 process now implemented in Thurrock.
If you have been registered as a GCP member please go to the Members page.
Child Death Reviews
Child Death Review Process
The Child Death Overview Panel is responsible for reviewing the deaths of any children who are normally resident in the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Local Authority areas, whether from natural, unnatural, know or unknown causes, at home, in hospital or in the community.
The purpose of this review is to:-
- Reduce the number of childhood deaths
- Identify matters of concern affecting the safety and welfare of children
- Identify wider public health or safety concerns arising from a particular death or from a pattern of deaths
- Undertake a co-ordinated agency response to all unexpected deaths of children
Further information can be found in the documents below:-
Notification of a child death
Any agency who becomes aware of either:-
- A child death occurring in Southend, Essex or Thurrock
- A death of a child who is normally resident in Southend, Essex or Thurrock, occurring outside of the Borough
Should make a notification to the SET Child Death Review Manager via their nominated Child Death Review Lead.
To make the notification, please follow the link below to complete the Notification Form within 24 hours.
Notification Form link
On submission of your Notification, our Child Death Review Health Team will be alerted and will be able to view the Form. The Form will also automatically be shared with the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD).
If you experience any problems with submitting a notification via the above link please contact:-
Janet Levett, Southend, Essex and Thurrock Child Death Review Manager
Child Death Review Team
Cdr.notifications@nhs.net
Tel:- 01992 566131
Further information on Child Death Reviews can be found here
Contact details for the Rapid Response Countywide Service can be found here
Child Death Annual Reports
An Annual Report is produced which provides information that will assist professionals in understanding child deaths. Although some child deaths are unavoidable, there are occasions where we may be able to reduce this risk then there are aspects known as modifiable factors. These are things that we may be able to change, through the lifestyle that we live or through better safety precautions.
Annual Report 2018-19
SET Procedures
SET Child Protection Procedures.
A copy of the procedures can be found here. We have also provided a reference document, which lists those chapters that have been updated and any impact on practice.
Primarily the key changes made to the procedures are to reflect the new Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements (MASA) that came into force nationally from 29 September 2019 and replaces Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs).
Across Southend, Essex and Thurrock the ‘Local Multi-Agency Safeguarding Partnerships/Boards’ will co-ordinate these new arrangements on behalf of their named Statutory Partners and will be referred to throughout the SET Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedures.
LSCP Documents you may find helpful
This section of the website aims to provide you with details of recent safeguarding documents , research and news items that we hope will assist you in your roles.
It will include details of various local Policies, procedures and Strategies developed by the Board
If you have details of a report or other useful information that those working in safeguarding children could benefit from, please let us know and we will consider adding to this page.
Thurrock Neglect Strategy 2016-2019.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [1.4 MB]
Working Together 2018.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [1.6 MB]
Working Together 2015
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
Please explore the options on the side for useful information and publications on the subject of child sexual exploitation along with local forms and guidance for practitioners.
Definition of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
Sexual exploitation of Children and Young People under 18 involves exploitative situations, contexts and relationships where young people (or a third person or persons) receive 'something' (e.g. food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, money) as a result of them performing, and/or another or others performing on them, sexual activities. Child Sexual Exploitation can occur through the use of technology without the child's immediate recognition; for example being persuaded to post sexual images on the Internet/mobile phones without immediate payment or gain. In all cases, those exploiting the child/young person have power over them by virtue of their age, gender, intellect, physical strength and/or economic or other resources. Violence, coercion and intimidation are common, involvement in exploitative relationships being characterised in the main by the child or young person's limited availability of choice resulting from their social/economic and/or emotional vulnerability.
SET CSE STRATEGY
Thurrock LSCP has joined with its Southend and Essex Board partners to develop an Essex wide CSE strategy that supports children from across the County.
The strategy outlines the overarching approach to tackling child sexual exploitation across SET, and provides a coherent Essex-wide response which is both needs-led and outcomes-focused.
Risk Assessment
If you have concerns about a child or young person who may be at risk of sexual explotation,please open the file below and follow the guidance.
http://cse-toolbox.uk/
Intelligence
If you see or hear something that you feel is not right, dont wait for someone else to do something. The smallest piece of information could be the crucial piece of the jigsaw the Police or Social Care need to make the picture complete.
Managing Allegations against Adults in a position of trust who work with children - LADO
Children can become victims of abuse and exploitation by those who work with them in any setting. They have been found to be vulnerable in all organisational settings including social care, education, health care, the leisure industry and in faith communities.
Section 7 of the SET procedures for Allegations against staff or volunteers, who work with children, is based on the framework for dealing with allegations made against an adult who works with children and should be followed by all organisations providing services for children and young people.
Compliance with these procedures will help to ensure that allegations are dealt with consistently and in a timely manner; that a thorough, proportionate and fair process is followed and that processes are open to challenge.
Arrangements for managing concerns or allegations of this nature should be robust and effective in keeping children safe. All allegations should be taken seriously, approached with an open mind, and not be driven by preconceived opinions about whether a child has or has not been harmed.
Who to refer concerns to:
To report a concern or allegation to the Thurrock LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) that an adult working or volunteering with children:
- Has or may have harmed a child
- May have committed a criminal offence related to a child and / or
- Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children
Step 1: If your workplace has a Designated Safeguarding Lead who deals with allegations contact them. They must contact the Thurrock LADO within 24 hours of any situation arising at 01375 652921
Step 2: If your workplace does not have a Designated Safeguarding Lead you must contact the Thurrock LADO directly on 01375 652921.
Step 3: In an emergency outside office hours contact the Emergency Duty Team on 01375 372468. They will ensure that the matter is passed promptly to the Thurrock LADO, and assist in initiating any priority safeguarding activities.
The Thurrock LADO must be contacted within 24 hours of any situation arising as above.
Role of the Thurrock LADO
The Thurrock LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) promotes a safer children’s workforce by providing effective guidance, advice and investigation oversight to cases.
Thurrock LADO may be able to offer advice and assist with communication in situations which sit outside the statutory criteria, albeit at the discretion of the LADO Officer and where the broader goals of a safer children’s workforce are relevant.
The service will give advice on how concerns or allegations should be investigated, including if a referral needs to be raised with the Police and/or Children’s Social Care. Thurrock LADO is not directly responsible for investigatory activities but will actively support any investigation, and give advice around a range of parameters including suspension, possible media interest, when to tell the adult, and ensure all interested parties are appropriately linked together.
Thurrock LADO will retain oversight of individual cases to ensure concerns or allegations are investigated thoroughly in a fair and timely manner, and will advise in relation to any subsequent duties to communicate with regulatory bodies and/or the DBS. For more information please download the Thurrock LADO Leaflet.
To make a referral to the Thurrock LADO, please contact lado@thurrock.gov.uk for a referral form.
Signs of Safety
Signs of Safety in Thurrock
Thurrock has adopted Signs of Safety as our way of working with families because this is helping to support us to achieve the type of service that children, young people, parents and carers have told us they want. Best practice is child-focused, solution-orientated, and respectful and inclusive of families, and this is what we want to achieve through adopting Signs of Safety.
Where Signs of Safety has been adopted by other local authorities it has been welcomed by families. Families have reported that (often for the first time) they are clear about what services expect from them. Families particularly like that their views and strengths are acknowledged as well as their weaknesses understood.
Signs of Safety is now widely recognised internationally as the leading approach to child protection casework. It provides a clear framework for how to do the work within children’s services, how to build relationships with families and work effectively with them to achieve strong outcomes for children and young people.
Signs of Safety changes the way we work so that we can involve families fully in decision making. It will affect:
- how we carry out assessments and how we create plans
- the types of questions we ask
- how we conduct meetings
- the language we use and how we explain what’s happening
You will be asked to talk about:
- What's working well
- What we're worried about
- How worried you are on a scale of 0-10
- What needs to happen
Guidance on using Signs of Safety
Click here to go to the dedicated page of resources and Guidance on how to use Signs of Safety within early help and prevention at CAF, child in need and child protection, and services for cared
Signs of Safety Training
The two different options for Signs of Safety training, dates and how to book are included below.
2 Day Training
Who is it aimed at? Practitioners who work directly with families, and their line managers
What does it cover? What Signs of Safety is, how to use it in practice, and tools for working together with children, young people and families. The two day covers similar content to the half day but goes into more detail on using the practice and includes practising applying the approach to live cases.
To find out more information about this training, please contact mylearning@thurrock.gov.uk
Half Day Training
Who is it aimed at? Anyone who works with families and needs to know about Signs of Safety and what it involves.
What does it cover? What Signs of Safety is, how to use it in practice, and tools for working together with children, young people and families. The half day course is a concise version of the 2 day course.
To find out more information about this training, please contact interagencytraining@thurrock.gov.uk
Guidance on using Signs of Safety
Signs of Safety was developed in child protection services, so this is the umbrella term that we use for the approach. When we use Signs of Safety within different services we adapt it to those situations and it is known as:
- Signs of Wellbeing at prevention and early help (CAF)
- Signs of Safety at child in need and child protection
- Signs of Stability for work with cared for children and young people and care leavers
- Resources for work in each of these areas are included below.
Guides
Brighter Futures
Brighter Futures Vision
The Brighter Futures vision is to promote the wellbeing and resilience of families with children from conception to 18. For children with additional needs, support continues until they are 25 as we work with adult services to ensure a smooth transition for help and support into adulthood.
This vision will be achieved by empowering and supporting children and families wherever possible to help themselves, using universal and community-based services in the first instance. When more specialist help is needed we will support families by offering the right service, at the right time, by professionals with a range of skills to prevent escalation of need.
In Thurrock, we are using a whole range of professionals who work with children, young people and their families to deliver the Brighter Futures Strategy, meaning that we will work together to ensure services are co-ordinated, accessible and where possible, local.
Full details of the Brighter Futures Strategy can be found by clicking here
The Brighter Futures Training Plan is set out below with links to the relevant training page:-
SETDAB Stalking Campaign 2019
What is stalking?
Stalking is a pattern of unwanted, fixated and obsessive behavior which is intrusive and causes fear of violence or serious alarm or distress.
Stalking is a criminal offence and anyone can be a victim. On average 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men will experience stalking in their adult life. It causes victims to make changes to their lives such as stopping or changing the way they socialise, changing their routes to work or isolating themselves. This in turn can have substantial adverse effects on mental and physical health.
Most victims know their stalker but the most common is the ‘ex-intimate’. These perpetrators have been in a previous relationship with the victim, usually abusive and controlling in nature. Stalking will begin once the relationship ends in an attempt to keep control.
A stalker will have little or no regard for their victim and boundaries no longer exist. Although victims ‘just want it to stop’, the words ‘no’ and ‘stop’ become meaningless to the stalker and typically the stalking behavior will escalate.
More information can be found on the SETDAB website by clicking here
Thurrock LSCP are planning to run learning events on Stalking and Harassment, please view our online training brochure on a regular basis for information and also details of other learning events available.
Oakwood Place SARC
Oakwood Place SARC offers a comprehensive service for adults and children in Essex, who have experienced sexual violence or sexual abuse. Clients can access Oakwood Place via the Police and other professionals, as well as via the self-referral pathway (booking an appointment at the SARC, without police involvement).
At the SARC, individuals will be offered support and guidance, a medical assessment/treatment, a forensic examination, and the opportunity of aftercare referrals for support services. Clients will be offered these services based on their individual needs, and can choose to use as much or as little of the service as they wish.
For more information regarding what services the SARC can offer, please click here
Professionals - If would like to visit the SARC, please book onto one of their Open Days, more information can be found in the flyer below
SARC Professionals Open Day
Safer Sleep for Professionals
Promoting Safe Baby Care
There is no advice that guarantees the prevention of SIDS or SUDC but parents should be informed that, by following the safer sleep advice, it is possible to significantly lower the chance of this tragedy occurring.
Parents make decisions on safe baby care, for example about where to sleep their new baby and what bedding to buy, at different times. Therefore it is vitally important for midwives and other professionals working with parents during pregnancy to target parents with our safer sleep message.
This advice should be followed up by the midwife after the birth, and again by the health visitor in the early weeks of the baby’s life.
It is essential that all professionals in touch with parents and visiting the family home make sure that the messages are understood by them, and do not assume that someone else has already offered leaflets or other materials.
Training
Thurrock LSCP offer an E-Learning course on Safer Sleeping for Babies - Reducing the Risk of SIDS - if you would like to learn more about the course, or to apply, please click here.
Should you any additional questions about the advice, the research or anything else, please contact the Lullaby Trust as detailed below:-
Resources
Reducing Parental Conflict
Conflict is a normal and necessary part of family life. However, when conflict between parents is destructive, it can have negative consequences for both the parents and their children.
In Thurrock, we believe that family stability is the key to delivering the best outcomes for children and young people, and that good parental relationships (whether they are living together or not) are at the heart of the stability.
Arguments and conflict between parents may occur for a number of reasons and when they are managed and resolved, there are few, if any, lasting effects on the relationships or on children. However, where arguments and conflict are frequent, intense and poorly resolved, children can be affected in many different ways, such as:-
- They may feel responsible
- Become withdrawn, sad or angry
- Poor academic outcomes
- Negative peer relationships
- This can also potentially impact on their ability to form and maintain health relationships of their own.
How are we reducing parental conflict?
Thurrock is working with Partners on reducing family conflict and supporting families earlier so that conflict does not lead to lasting damage for children, young people and their parents.
Offering support to address other issues in families is likely to be ineffective where the conflict between parents is not acknowledged and addressed.
Training for practitioners and supervisors
A suite of training options is available for front-line practitioners. These range from online training modules to face-to-face training and 'train the trainer sessions'.
The aim is to ensure that this important training becomes embedded in our practice and that practitioners across the Partnership are:-
- Aware of parental conflict and its impact on children
- Able to identify parental conflict, discuss with parents and signpost to appropriate services where relevant
- Able to build sustainability to deliver future training themselves via a 'train the trainer' approach.
Reducing Parental Conflict across Thurrock - One day course
This is being offered on a range of dates and covers the following areas:-
- Recognising and supporting parents in Parental Conflict - Applying knowledge, skills and techniques
- Working with Parents in Conflict: How do you support, refer or intervene?
Please note that attendees will be given access to and are expected to complete an eLearning programme prior to attending the training on Module 1 - Understanding Parental Conflict and its impact of child outcomes
To book to undertake the eLearning course, please click here
Parents & Carers
Information for Parents
Being a Parent or Carer is not always easy. There are many challenges and demands and knowing that you are not alone can often help.
If you are concerned that a child or young person is being harmed, neglected or is at risk you should contact Thurrock Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub on 01375 652802. Out of hours (Monday to Thursday 16.30 to 09.00, Friday from 16.30 through to 09.00 Monday and public holidays) plase call the Emergency Duty Team on 01375 372468
To assist we have provided some information and useful links to different organisations that you may find helpful.
As we improve and develop our site ,we will also add from time to time articles or information that may be of assistance, so please visit us when you can.
To help you remember to visit us you can save this site in your favourites folder or download our quick link to your mobile or tablet homescreen. Just add Thurrock LSCP to your browser URL and when page opens save to your homescreen.
Drugs and Alcohol
Drugs
Most young people will come into contact with some form or drugs at some point during their life. The majority of teenagers make the decision not to take them but if they do it can be for a number of reasons:-
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Rebellion;
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Peer pressure; or
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Curiosity
As a parent/carer it is a good idea to fully understand the facts around drugs. Talk openly with your child about drugs and the risks and different effects that they have, this could help them feel more comfortable and confident about making the right choices both now and in the future.
Legal Highs
What are these you may ask. Legal Highs are psychoactive drugs that contain various chemical ingredients, some of which are illegal while others are not. They produce similar effects to illegal drugs like cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy.
These are sold in a variety of forms:-
- powder;
- pills;
- liquids;
- capsules; to name just a few examples.
The main difference is that they are not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Although the mimic the effects of illegal drugs, they are chemically and structurally different enough to avoid being officially classed as illegal substances.
One of the biggest problems is that little research has gone into their effects, especially over the longer term. However, if they produce similar psychological effects as cocaine, ecstasy or cannabis, they are also likely to carry similar risks and may some will have new risks that are not known about yet.
Alcohol
Children can be drawn into alcohol even if their first experience of it is unpleasant. They may not like the taste or the feeling of being drunk but often they continue to drink.
It is important for them to understand the risks of underage drinking and evidence shows that meaningful conversations between parents and their children help the child develop a sensible relationship with alcohol.
For advice, tips and facts please look at the Parent Guide to talking to Children by clicking:-
Where can I go for support
Domestic Abuse
Every child deserves a safe and secure home, however around 1 in 5 children have been exposed to domestic abuse and witnessing this can have long-term effects on children and young people.
So what is domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse is any type of controlling, bullying, threatening or violent behavior between people in a relationship. This can seriously harm children and young people and witnessing domestic abuse is child abuse.
It is important to remember that domestic abuse:-
- can happen inside and outside the home
- can happen in any relationship and can continue even after the relationship has ended
- both men and women can be abused or abusers
- can happen over the phone, on the internet and on social networking sites.
For more information on the types, effects and signs of domestic abuse please visit:-
Where can I get help?
To make a disclosure of domestic abuse for either yourself or someone else, please contact:-
- Essex Police Domestic Abuse Central Referral Unit on 101 extension 180340
- Essex Police Domestic Abuse - non emergency number - 0800 358 0351
Or visit:-
Further information and support
For Female Victims of Domestic Abuse:-
For Male Victims of Domestic Abuse:-
For Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT+) victims
Disability Support Groups
For perpetrators of domestic abuse
Tutoring
Are you thinking of employing a private tutor or coach?
Parents and carers may seek private tuition for their child for a variety of reasons:-
- to help with their school work and improve their grades;
- develop their language skills;
- to learn a musical instrument or be accompanied on a musical instrument; or
- other extracurricular activity (eg sports coaching, drama).
Most private tutors and tuition centers advertise in local papers and on the internet and it is the responsibility of the parent/carer to ensure the tutor is appropriately qualified and safe to work with children or the tuition center has undertaken the necessary safeguarding checks.
Some simple steps/checks that you can undertake are:-
- Always interview the tutor and be satisfied that they answer your questions fully
- Ask to see personal references and ensure you contact them to confirm the referees
- Ask to see their qualification certificates
- Ask to see their CV or employment record
- If the tutor is a qualified teacher ask to see a copy of the tutors Teaching Agency Registration and a copy of their DBS (Criminal Record Check)
Remember - Any tutor that is mindful and aware of current expectations towards safeguarding children should have no objection to any of these checks or arrangements. Do not feel that you are acting unreasonably to expect this and you should not accept arrangements you are not happy with.
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
What is Child Sexual Exploitation?
CSE is when an abuser manipulates, coerces or forces a child or young person into performing sexual acts.
Abusers are usually older males, but they can sometimes be of a similar age or be female. They are very sophisticated in the way they operate, meaning what they do is well thought out and planned.
An abuser will know areas to target. They are skilled in approaching children or young people in person or may use a young girl or woman, or boy or girl to make the initial contact. Some use the internet or mobile phones to engage the child or young person.
To do this they may use threats, violence, introduce them to alcohol or drugs and create a dependancy, or make the child/young person feel special through attention or gifts or pretend to be their boyfriend or girlfriend.
They will aim to alienate them from their friends and family - this is referred to as the grooming process.
More information can be found in the CSE Parent Guide which can be downloaded by clicking here
Safer Sleep
Co-sleeping risks
While there is a decreasing trend nationally, there has been a marked rise in the number of Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths in recent years in Southend, Essex and Thurrock.
No evidence has been identified to suggest a particular cause for the recent rise but there are certain co-sleeping risk factors, including:
co-sleeping with a regular smoker
co-sleeping on a sofa
co-sleeping after consuming alcohol or drugs
If the baby was born prematurely or had low birth weight
Quick Tips for Safer Sleep
Things you can do
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep
- Keep your baby smoke free during pregnancy and after birth
- Place your baby to sleep in a separate cot of Moses basket in the same room as you for the first six months
- Breastfeed your baby
- Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition
Things to avoid
- Never sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby
- Do not sleep in the same bed as your baby if you smoke, drink or take drugs or are extremely tired, if your baby was born prematurely or was of low birth-weight
- Avoid letting your baby get too hot
- Do not cover your baby's face or head while sleeping or use loose bedding.
Additional Advice and Support
If you are a parent or carer of a young child, or know someone that is, you can get support and advice from your midwife or health visitor, so please speak to them if you have any questions, whether this be about safer sleep or other things like getting help to give up smoking, advice on settling your baby and getting rest.
Click on the Unicef logo to find out about their baby-friendly initiative to promote and support breastfeeding and close, loving parent-infant relationships.
Call 0808 802 6869 or click the Lullaby trust logo for Safer Sleep advice, bereavement support and awareness raising.
Resources
Safer Sleep for Babies - a guide for parents
Baby Check booklet
Safer Sleep Advice for Premature Babies booklet
Safer Sleep Product Guide
CEOP Activity Packs
CEOP have created a page to support parents during COVID-19 and the closure of Schools.
Every fortnight, they will be releasing new home activity packs with simple 15 minute activities that you can do with your child to support their online safety at a time when they will be spending more time online at home.
Visit their website using the link below to access these.
Voluntary, Community & Faith Sectors
Church, Worship and Faith Groups
We appreciate there are many demands facing all organisations. Safeguarding children is everyone's business, but those responsibilities do not need to be complex.
Churches, other places of worship and faith based organisations provide a wide range of activities for children and young people. They are some of the largest providers of children and youth work, and have an important role in safeguarding children and supporting families.
Religious leaders, staff and volunteers who provide services in places of worship and in faith based organisations will have various degrees of contact with children.
Like other organisations that work with children, churches, other places of worship and faith based organisations need to have appropriate arrangements in place for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. These arrangements should include:
- Procedures for staff and others to report concerns that they have about the children they meet that in accordance with Thurrock Safeguarding Children Partnership (SET) procedures for protecting children which can be found in the child protection section of these procedures by following the link or in our "about us" section of this website.
- Appropriate codes of practice for staff, particularly those working directly with children, such as those issued by the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) or their denomination or faith group.
- Recruitment procedures in accordance with Safe from Harm (Home office, 1993) principles and local (SET) procedures, alongside training and supervision of staff (paid or voluntary)
Churches and faith organisations can seek advice on child protection issues from CCPAS and Thurrock Safeguarding Children Partnership, who can help with policies and procedures.
CCPAS operates a national 24 hour telephone helpline for churches, other places of worship and faith based groups and individuals, providing advice and support on safeguarding issues.
As appropriate, churches, other places of worship and faith organisations should report all allegations against people who work with children to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), and notify the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) of any relevant information so that those who pose a risk to vulnerable groups can be identified and barred. In addition, where they are a charity all serious incidents need reporting to the Charity Commission.
It is essential that faith communities have in place effective arrangements for working with sexual and violent offenders who wish to worship and be part of their religious community. This should include a contract of behaviour stipulating the boundaries an offender would be expected to keep. Faith communities should consult the MAPPA Guidance (2009) issued by the National Offender Management Service Public Protection Unit which specifically addresses ‘Offenders and Worship’.
http://www.ccpas.co.uk/
Safeguarding in Sports
If you run an organisation which provides sports activities for Children and Young People, it is essential that you have the correct safeguarding policies and procedures in place. It is also important that your staff, whether they are paid or voluntary, know what their responsibilities are with regards to the safety and welfare of Children and what to do should they be concerned about a child within their care.
By having the correct policies and procedures in place to safeguard children and young people shows that your organisation/group takes safeguarding seriously.
Why do you have to have safeguarding procedures in place?
In England, Working Together 2018 states that people who work with children and young people have a duty to keep them safe.
There are lots of organisations who can provide further information and links to some of these are detailed below. However, below is a checklist of what your organisation should have in place:-
- A safeguarding policy, with a clear procedure for dealing with concerns or risks of abuse. All parents should be aware of how they can access this policy.
- A named and contactable welfare officer who is responsible for the implementation of your safeguarding policy and issues regarding the protection of Children and Young People.
- Procedures for dealing with complaints or concerns regarding poor practice, abuse or neglect.
- Written standards of good practice, such as a code of conduct or behavior.
- A parental consent and emergency details form that should be completed by all parents/carers and returned to yourselves.
- Safer recruitment procedures for those working with children and young people, which includes:-
- a clear job description
- appropriate references
- criminal records check (e.g. DBS) for all relevant posts
- technical qualifications
Further information can be obtained by clicking on the links below:-
As part of this, Thurrock LSCP would like to offer you the opportunity to undertake a FREE e-learning course in relation to Child Exploitation in Sport. If would be interested in undertaking this course, then please click here and complete the online booking form. Registration details will then be sent through to you.
We will continue to update this page with more information however, in the meantime, if there is more information that you would like, then please do not hesitate to contact the Business Team at lscp@thurrock.gov.uk
Training & Conferences
Thurrock LSCP Training Provision
Please note that due to current guidance all face to face training has been postponed for the foreseeable future. If you are currently booked onto a course, you will be notified by a member of the LSCP Business Team when your course has been rescheduled.
As I am sure you will appreciate, information and guidance is changing quickly, therefore can we please ask that you check our website regularly on the status of training courses.
Please note that we are running some of our courses virtually - please visit out full list of training programmes for more information
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the LSCP Business Team.
Thurrock LSCP offer a range of safeguarding programmes to support those agencies working within Children's Services.
Our programmes include face to face and online packages that enable a wide range of learning opportunities to be undertaken.
Some of the programmes provided by the Partnership will incur charges, full details can be found in our Charging Policy and Procedures. This is to ensure that Thurrock LSCP can continue to offer agencies a wide range of multi agency programmes.
Charges will apply mainly to those programmes where the Partnership commissions outside providers. Learning events from Serious Case Reviews will continue to be offered free of charge.
Full information of all training programmes and charges applicable can be found in our Training Brochure below. This brochure will be updated regularly to reflect any new courses introduced.
Thurrock LSCP Training Brochure 2019-20
In relation to our online programmes, we continue to increase the range of courses available and the section of online courses will be updated regularly to reflect this.
To apply for one of our courses please click on the online application form within the programme information.
Thurrock LSCP Learning and Development Programme Charging Policy
Please find attached full details of our Learning and Development Programme Charging Policy.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the LSCP Business Team on either interagencytraining@thurrock.gov.uk or 01375 652813
Training Presentations and Useful Information
How to Access LSCP Course Material
If you have attended one of our Multi-Agency training events, you will be able to view or download the training information provided at the event from this webpage. Following attendance on one of our courses or events and completion of the initial evaluation you will receive within 48 hours a password enabling you to access the information. Course and event information will be refreshed every three months.
If you have not received the password, please contact a member of the team on interagencytraining@thurrock.gov.uk
Foster Carers Child Protection Training
2nd and 7th December 2019
Presentation
Walk Online Roadshow for Parents, Carers and Professionals
December 2019
Presentation
Designated Safeguarding Leads Training
December 2019
Presentation
Safeguarding Children and Young People affected by Intra-Familial Child Sexual Abuse
December 2019
Presentation
Considerations for Assessments
Trauma Informed Practice Training
January 2020
Presentation
Inter-Agency Child Protection Training
January 2020
Presentation
Violence and Vulnerabilities Conference
Tuesday 21st April 2020
09.30 till 16.30 (please arrive at 09.15 for registration and refreshments)
Aveley Football Club
Parkside, Park Lane, Aveley, Essex, RM15 4PX
Thurrock LSCP are pleased to offer you the opportunity to attend a FREE one day conference looking at violence and vulnerability across Thurrock.
This conference is one of a number of conferences taking part across SET and is aimed at anyone in Thurrock working with young people and adults up to the age of 25.
The day will be split into two sections with the morning session content being delivered universally across SET and the afternoon session being tailored to the needs of Thurrock.
Morning Session Key Note Speakers:-
- University of Bedfordshire
- National Working Group (NWG)- Steve Baguley will be delivering a session on Exploitation and transition in adulthood.
Afternoon Session
This will be tailored to the needs to Thurrock and more information will be available shortly.
Additional Information:-
- There will be no charge for attending this conference however, failure to attend without 48 hours notice will result in a £50 non attendance fee. Full details of our charges are set out in the LSCP Charging and Guidelines Policy.
- Participants are expected to attend for the whole day.
- Places will be allocated to ensure a variety of agencies are able to attend, if you have applied to attend this Conference, you will receive confirmation from the LSCP Business Team. Could we please ask that if you are not in receipt of this, that you DO NOT attend.
- A light lunch will be provided, therefore could you please indicate any dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Declaration:-
By submitting your application form, you are agreeing to the below:-
- I confirm that I work with the Young People (up to the age of 25) within Thurrock
- I will take all necessary steps to ensure that the learning outcomes are reinforced in the workplace.
- My Line Manager has agreed to me attending this Conference.
- I agree to complete post-course feedback at the end of the Conference and will complete the follow up survey six weeks later. I am aware that failure to complete either of these feedbacks will result in notification to my manager and I will not receive my Certificate of Attendance.
- I understand that places will be allocated by Thurrock Safeguarding Children Partnership.
- I understand that my details may be securely and confidentially retained by Thurrock Safeguarding Children Partnership for statistical and information purposes only.
- As this Conference is free, I agree to reimburse Thurrock Safeguarding Children Partnership for late cancellation or non-attendance, without 48 hours notice.
To register to attend this conference, please click here
Data Protection
In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018. the information provided on this form will be held for the purposes of training and development. This information will be stored securely in electronic format and any original hard copies disposed of as confidential waste. The information will be processed by members of the LSCP Business Team and will be kept in accordance with retention policies. It may be shared with other LSCP members for the purposes of audit and scrutiny.
Virtual Trauma Informed Practice Training
As part of the Virtual Trauma Informed Practice Training, please find below the handouts, presentations and videos that you require. Each presentation is password protected and if you have booked onto this training, you should have recieved the password from the LSCP Business Team. If you are not in receipt of this, please contact interagencytraining@thurrock.gov.uk
Course Handout - This provides an overview of how this training will run along with the links to the videos, additional reading and articles to download. Please note that for ease, we have added the video and article links below the presentation for each session. Each PowerPoint presentation includes a video link from the trainer to assist with your learning.
Session 1 - PowerPoint Presentation
Presentation 1
Session 2 - PowerPoint Presentation
Session 3 - Powerpoint Presentation
Session 4 - PowerPoint Presentation
Signs of Safety Conference - Working Positively with Young People
SIGNS OF SAFETY - WORKING POSITIVELY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
FREE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE - WEDNESDAY 21ST OCTOBER
09.30 TILL 12.15
With presentations from
Dez Holmes - Research in Practice
Risk Resilience and Relationships: redesigning our approach to working with adolescents
Thurrock Young Voices
Nothing about us without us
Thurrock LSCP are pleased to offer the opportunity to attend a virtual conference focusing on working positively with young people using Signs of Safety.
This will include:-
- Key Note Speaker - Dez Holmes - Director Research in Practice
- Presentation from Wendy Hill, SOS Consultant
- Presentation from Thurrock Young Voices
- The opportunity for practitioners to feed into the next steps for Thurrock
The conference will be held via Microsoft Teams and starts at 09.30, however, we do ask that you sign in early so that we can ensure a prompt start.
Further information will be available shortly.
To book your space, please click here and complete the online booking form.
DATA PROTECTION
In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018, the information provided on this form will be held for the purposes of training and development. This information will be stored securely in electronic format and any original hard copies disposed of as confidential waste. The information will be processed by members of the LSCP Business Team and will be kept in accordance with retention policies. It may be shared with other LSCP members for the purposes of audit and scrutiny.