Professionals
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:-
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
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.
Graded Care Profile 2
Neglect is the most common form of abuse and an adverse childhood experience. We know that children who experience Neglect may go onto experience long term negative effects on their health, well-being and life opportunities. We want to improve outcomes for children experiencing Neglect in Thurrock by intervening as early as possible.
As part of our approach to working with children and families, the NSPCC's Graded Care Profile 2 is being introduced across the wider Partnership.
What is the Graded Care Profile 2 tool?
Thurrock is using the NSPCC's Graded Care Profile 2 (GCP2) as a tool for assessing the ability of parents/carers to meet children's needs. The GCP2 is an evidence-based assessment tool that measure the quality of care provided to an individual child over a specific period of time. It is designed as an objective tool which focuses on measuring the quality of care received by the child. The tool is child-focused as it specifically addresses whether or not the child's developmental needs in each area are being met, to what extent and whether this is consistent.
How can it be used?
The tool can assist you to understand the willingness and ability of the parent/carer to meet the child’s developmental needs. Within the Graded Care Profile 2 there are five grades of care on a scale from positive to negative. The tool uses a scaling measurement of the level of care between 1 (best) or 5 (worst) and this scaling is based on direct observation of the extent to which the needs of a child are currently being met. The scoring applies to the areas of care that relating to particular developmental needs of children based on Maslow’s principles:-
- Physical care
- Care of safety
- Emotional care (love and belong), and
- Developmental care (care of esteem)
It is widely recognised that the level of care provided by parents to children can fluctuate over time. Therefore, this tool is useful as it can measure parenting at a specific time and then can be reviewed to ascertain whether there has been any changes over time.
The GCP2 tool was intended to be a helpful tool when assessing neglect and helps to promote resilience within families by focusing on the 'instinctive parenting strength' within the social-environmental context as well as seeking the family's own understanding of how the child's needs are being met.
Can you use this tool?
In order to carry out Graded Care Profile 2 assessments, you are required to attend a full day of training, which is being offered as two half day sessions. There will be a number of sessions provided in Thurrock to train practitioners to use this assessment tool, to better understand and respond to children who are experiencing Neglect. These are currently being organised and further information will be added to the website shortly.
Useful Documents
Below are some different guidance documents which you may find useful:-
We also have a video introducing GCP2 to agencies:-
Graded Care Profile 2 Tools
If you have undertaken the GCP2 training, the GCP2 tools are below:-
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
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
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.
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
Online Exploitation
Access to technology by children has facilitated instant connectivity and accessibility, children are able to communicate freely with people they would not usually interact with. Research into online exploitation of children has indicated that children are less likely to disclose being harmed online so harm online is often discovered accidentally by parents/carers or through notifications by the Police. Also, exploitation online does not always follow familiar models of child exploitation so can be more difficult to detect by professionals.
Perpetrators can use social media apps and online games to identify young people whom they seek to groom. Children can be groomed online without ever meeting the perpetrator face to face, perpetrators online can be known to use persuasive language to arrange meeting the young person quickly. GPS technology can be use to pinpoint (within a few meters) where a photo was taken - possibly revealing a victim's location easily. They can be coerced to post sexual images of themselves, or peers, online or via their mobile phone. Then they have no control over these images which can lead to heightened trauma for the victim as there is a visual record of the abuse and they experience repeat victimisation with each viewing of their abuse. Perpetrators can use these images as a bargaining tool with subsequent threats and coercion to engage in further sexual activity and sharing of images.
Some of the methods of online exploitation of young people include:-
- Harassment and bullying through text messaging.
- Purchasing mobile phones for victims and sharing their numbers among group or gang members.
- Randomly contacting children via social networking sites.
- Using 'friends' lists on networking sites of known victims to target children and young people.
- Viewing extremely or violent pornography and discussing it during sexual assaults.
- Posting images of victims with rival gang members to invite a sexual assault as punishment.
- Filming and distributing incidents of rape.
- Contacting and grooming children and young people through online gaming sites.
Access the campaign materials for the parents, Did you Know Campaign
Exploring a young person's online world
Most young people use digital technology on a regular basis, moving between their online and offline words seamlessly. Professionals should be aware that digital technology is an integral part of young people's lives and influential in the formation of their identify and relationships with others. Therefore, exploring a young person's online network and how they choose who, and who not, to interact with is essential in effective safeguarding.
The PCFSW Digital Research & Practice Development Project (May 2020) has some practitioner guidance on how to explore a young person's online activity to determine the aspects that may enhance their resilience or may be a risk to their safety and wellbeing. This offers fourth dimension to the DoH Assessment Framework to include digital citizenship and digital risks.
Young people's use of various social media apps can change rapidly. The NPSCC provides up to date information and guidance about popular social networks, apps and games young people are currently using.
Online Safeguarding - The Dark Web - The Children's Society briefing explains what the dark web is, why young people may be accessing it and what to do if you have concerns.
Grooming of Children online
The grooming of children online aims to develop a 'special' relationship with the child so they lower their inhibitions. However, online grooming can often take the form of the perpetrator adopting a false identity in order to groom the child more quickly and arrange an offline meeting to carry out a contact sexual offence. During the grooming process online, the perpetrator will try to find out as much about the victim as possible in order to determine the likelihood of the child telling others.
They may then try to isolate the child from these protective networks through threats or bribes. This process involves removing the child's inhibitions to sexual activity by exposing them to child sexual abuse images. Repeated exposure aims to de-sensitise the child to sexual activity between adults and children and distort their understanding of social norms. May children can feel less inhibited in their online worlds and find themselves caught in a trap of being 'duped' into saying or doing something they later feel ashamed about. This sense of same further silences child victims who feel unable to speak out about the abuse they experienced.
Breck's Last Game explains how online gaming can be used to groom and exploit young people.
Youth-Produced Sexual Imagery
This includes photographs, videos or live streaming. Young people may be coerced by adults or peers to share sexual images of themselves or pass on images sent to them. These are criminal offences, even if the image is of the young person themselves. 'Making' of indecent images including opening, accessing, downloading or storing online content. 'Sharing' includes sending an email, offering a fail to a sharing platform or uploading to a site others have access to. This guidance for young people explains the legal framework around this issue in more detail.
Childline's Zipit app, uses humour to help teenagers to help teenagers deal with unwanted requests for sexual images of themselves. The free app offers young people a gallery of images and animations which they can send in response to requests for sexual pictures and to deal with difficult sexting situations.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying can be defined as "The use of Information Communication Technology, particularly mobile phones and the internet to deliberately hurt or upset someone" (Department for Children, Schools & Families, 2007). Cyberbullying is a form of bullying with 12% of young people being affected by this. There is guidance for schools and an online PSHE toolkit.
Bullying Online is an online help and advice service combatting all forms of bullying. Recognising that many young people that have lost friends through being bullied in the real world may turn to the internet to make new friends, the 'Staying safe in cyberspace' section gives tips for staying safe in chat rooms. There is also a section on mobile phone bullying, giving tips on how to protect yourself, and information on how the law can help. The site provides information for pupils, teachers and parents.
Useful Links
Online Sexual Harm Reduction Guide - NWG and Marie Collins Foundation
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.
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 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.
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.
Prevent and Radicilisation
Radicalisation and Extremism
Children may be at risk from exposure to materials or influences that support or endorse terrorism and extremism.
Local Authorities and other public bodies, including (but not restricted too) schools, the police and health services, have a legal duty to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and to provide support via the Channel programme to people who are at risk of being drawn into terrorism.
The risks posed to young people by extremism are now included within the criteria for determining whether children and young people are in need of early help, specialist support or protection.
Resources:-
Report terrorist information, pictures or videos you have found on the internet
Home Office UK threat level
Essex Police - Advice and Guidance
Home Office Prevent Strategy
Channel Guidance
Prevent Duty Guidance
ACT Early
Free Training
The Home Office offer a free E-Learning Prevent training programme - this can be accessed by clicking here
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.
THURROCK LSCP LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT FRAMEWORK
Thurrock LSCP have refreshed their Learning and Improvement Framework for 2021. A copy of this can be found by clicking here
THIRD PARTY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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
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
SETDAB Stalking
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
SET DAB are currently offering Unmasking Stalking: Stalking Awareness Sessions. The audience for this is front line workers and managers - those who are working with families and perpetrators affected by domestic abuse.
The session will cover:-
- Defining Stalking and statistics
- Links with Femicide
- Criminalisation and Legislation
- Difference between Stalking and Coercive Control
- Typologies
- Case Study Video
- Joining the dots
- Behaviours
- Victim's voice/trauma
- Barriers for victims
- S-DASH
- Advice for victims/survivors
Learning Outcomes:-
- Improve awareness and understanding around stalking
- Improve confidence in identifying and responding effectively to stalking at the earliest opportunity across agencies.
- Improve knowledge of services available
- For learning to be applied to practice within organisations
This session is available virtually as detailed below. Please click on the date that you would like to attend to book:-
More information can also be found on the SETDAB website.
SET Procedures
SET Child Protection Procedures - updates May 2022
The SET (Southend, Essex and Thurrock) Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures have been updated to reflect current practice and changes in legislation. The main changes to note are the following:-
- Procedures updated in line with changes to Working Together 2018 (updated Dec 2020).
- Part A, Chapter 7 - Allegations against people who work with children, has been updated in line with Working Together and Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021.
- Part B, Chapter 19 - Perplexing Presentations and Fabricated or Induced Illness, has been re-written in line with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health guidance.
- Part B, Chapter 24 - Safeguarding Children from Exploitation, has been updated and links added to the SET Child Exploitation Partnership Pathway.
Whilst these are the main points, there is also a full list of changes with page numbers, should you require this which can be found here. The full set procedures are available here.
When do the updated procedures come into effect?
The new procedures come into effect from Wednesday 4th May. Can we please ask you to disregard any previous versions you may have saved.
We encourage all professionals or volunteers working with children and young people to familiarise themselves with the updated content, it is important to be comfortable with following the processes and understand what actions you need to take in various situations.
These procedures are a reference document, and we expect that you will refer to specific sections, rather than read it cover-to-cover.
If you would like to discuss the procedures in more detail, we suggest talking to your line manager in the first instance.
Signs of Safety
THE SIGNS OF SAFETY (SOS) APPROACH
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.
SOS FRAMEWORK
- What’s working well?
- What are we worried about?
- What needs to happen?
Safety/Wellbeing Scale – After completing what is working well, what we are worried about and what needs to happen, family members and agencies are asked on a scale of 0 to 10, where they rate the situation right now.
Danger/Worries Statements & Safety/Wellbeing Goals - These are compiled with agencies and families to clearly state what the current risks are and what it will look like for the children to be safe. They are used to help shift thinking from the future we worry about to the future we want to create
CORE PRINCIPLES
Signs of Safety is much more than a three column map. Signs of Safety for Thurrock means:
- we listen to what the children say
- we place high value on the quality of relationships we have with, families, carers and each other
- we think critically and never assume we have all the answers
- we work with families collaboratively to help them find their own solutions
- we use plain language that families can readily understand
- we balance optimism with curiosity so that we assess risk rigorously
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
We use Signs of Safety to help children and young people talk about things that go well in their family as well as things that worry them. We try to use different methods to help children tell us how we can keep them safe
Delivering Signs of Safety in Thurrock means driving continuous improvement in four key themes:
- Leadership: Modelling behaviours; "Inquire before require"; appreciative inquiry; driving change
- Learning: Formal, self-directed and collaborative learning experiences; tools for reflective practice; group supervision; audit; multiagency
- Organisational alignment: Recording, processes and policies align to SOS ethos, principles and disciplines; targeted work based on data/audit/feedback
- Meaningful measures: Data, QA, feedback from staff, children and families
Children and families say: We will know that we have fully embedded Signs of Safety in Thurrock when:
They are getting the right help at the right time
- They understand why services are involved and find them helpful
- Involvement of their own network in plans ensures changes made are maintained through long-standing support
Practitioners say:
They are undertaking direct work that empowers families to keep children safe and well looked after
- Only the right children are taken into care and where this is necessary the outcomes for children are good
- They have the right working conditions that means they have time to do good quality work with children, parents/carers and their support network
For more information
https://www.signsofsafety.net/
Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board (SETDAB)
The Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board (SETDAB) is made up of representatives from agencies and organisations working to join up and better facilitate Southend, Essex and Thurrock's vision to work together to enable everyone to live a life free from all forms of domestic abuse.
For more information or to sign up for SETDAB's newsletter, please click on the link below:-
https://setdab.org/about-us/
Staff Consultation Surveys
We are committed to ensuring that your voice is heard and captured within the work of the Partnership. Currently we are in the process of reviewing our priorities for 2022-2024 and we would like to hear from you.
Please use the link below to give us your views
Thurrock LSCP Staff Consultation - Priorities for 2022-2024
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.
Online Child Exploitation
This section is aimed at parents/carers. If you are a professional or someone working with children and families please click here. If you are a young person please click here
Online Child Exploitation is a growing issue, highlighted even more in recent months during the COVID-19 lockdown period. The internet and social media has become so integral to our daily lives, as we socialise and work online. For children, the internet has become the new classroom and playground. Sadly there are people out there that take advantage of this.
The resources and information on this page aim to help you understand the way your children view the digital work. A work that, to them, is being more and more their reality.
It is important to remember that the victim, the child, is NEVER to blame. Victims are always the victims. Online groomers can be very persuasive and children should never be made to feel they did anything to encourage their exploitation. The best response an adult can provide a child who has been a victim of online exploitation is to comfort them, be supportive and help them address the issues they have encountered.
And of course, it is not just about when things go wrong. You can help your child to stay safe by creating an environment in which they feel able to speak openly about concerns they may have. You can do this my making good internet habits a part of your daily lives by limiting screen time, no devices at dinnertime/bedtime and by taking an active interest in the games that they are playing.
Take a listen to this podcast by The 2 Johns - a general overview of the internet, how we view it, and how our young people are growing up in a world of social media influences.
With thanks to everyone involved in creating materials for this campaign:-
Parents of young children and pre-schoolers
You do not need to talk to your pre-schooler about online safety yet, right? Wrong. If you treat online safety just as you would treat road safety, then talking about safe internet use becomes the norm and not something that they feel needs to be hidden as they get older.
This podcast from The 2 Johns talks about how pre-schoolers and young people view the work through the lens of the internet. There are useful tops about how to develop a health curiosity in children about what they see and do on the internet.
Parents of pre-teens
Parents Did you Know ... the number of children exploited online doubles between the ages of 11 and 12 years old. This means those at the end of primary school, about to enter secondary school are particularly at risk, especially as it is a time when some children begin to enter the world of social media.
The brain development they are going through at this age makes it hard for them to make decisions or plan ahead. They lack the ability to fully understand consequences, or view, anything from someone else's perspective. They get an increased drive for risk taking and trying out new things. They are super sensitive to social status and so they start craving peer approval.
These podcasts by The Children's Society talk about this in more detail and about the ways parents can help their child navigate their confusing time in their lives. Podcast Transcript
Online Gaming
Parents Did you Know .... the security settings of off game chats are often not as good as those built into the game. Discord is a chat forum used by a lot of gamers and it's important to be aware that strangers can contact your child especially on public or large servers and send inappropriate, mean or sexual content. Find out more about Discord and how to keep your child safe. This video by James Pearson, Violence and Vulnerability Unit is all about gaming. He discusses why parents need to be aware of their child's chat can filter out of the game and onto other platforms and what they need to be discussing with their children to keep their online gaming an enjoyable experience.
Perpetrators are increasingly targeting children and young people via online gaming sites, pretending to be someone who they are not. This can often lead to bullying, grooming and sexual exploitation. The Breck Foundation is a self-funding charity, raising awareness of playing safe whilst on the internet.
CEOP's Thinkuknow has launched Band Runner, an interactive game for 8-10 year olds to help build their knowledge, confidence and skills to stay safe from risks they might encounter online. The game is hosted on the area for 8-10 year olds on the Thinkuknow website.
Internet Matters Online Gaming - The Basics
Inappropriate images/sexting
There is no 'usual' stereotype, any young person could send a nude picture, even your child. Make sure they understand that it is illegal to send nudes, even of themselves. And if it happens, try to understand whether there is peer pressure or grooming involved.
Taking, making, sharing and possessing indecent images and pseudo-photographs (an image made by computer graphics, which appears to be a photograph) of people under 18 is illegal. It does not matter how old they look, looking at indecent images of under 18s is illegal.
The Home Office has published guidance to help young people understand the law on making and sharing indecent images of people under 18 years-old. There are also short films that demonstrate the serious harm that viewing indecent images of children can cause, including the Is She Legal? video.
This podcast by The 2 Johns looks at why and how young people are drawn into taking and sharing inappropriate images. They discuss how both parents and young people may be feeling and how to have an empathetic conversation with your child, as well as practical advice on getting photos removed.
Case Study: Sharing Sexual Imagery Online - A Carers Story
Say no to nudes!
Childline's Zipit App, uses humour to help teenagers deal with unwanted requests for sexual images of themselves. The free app offers young people a gallery of images and animations which they can send in response to requests for sexual pictures and to deal with difficult sexting situations.
Videos and livestreams
Houseparty exploded in popularity during lock-down, but did you know this is not automatically set to private? That means anyone could video call your child without them having to accept. Make sure your child knows to change their privacy settings. Find out more about Houseparty safety on NetAware.
Livestreaming is becoming a very popular way for young people to broadcast themselves on many different apps, to communicate with their friends or wider community. just as their favorite celebrities and Vloggers do. Make sure your children understand the risks of livestreaming:-
- They cannot be edited.
- You cannot erase what people have already seen
- Personal information might be given away by things said during the stream, things shown on camera or even in the background.
- Livestreams can be recorded by others, who can then keep a copy even after the stream has ended or expired.
Find out more about livestreaming and staying safe
Online Bullying
This online bullying podcast looks at the pressure from social media and the impact this has on young people. The 2 Johns talk about how parents can create a relationship with their child that encourages them to tell them about these issues and the support available. Parents, Did You Know ... just under half of those being investigated for exploiting others online are children and most are the same age as the victim. If you are worried your child might have been a victim there is more information on how to get help on our bullying page.
All About Apps
With children spending more and more time online over the last few months, there has been an explosion in popularity of certain apps and games. TikTok has soared in popularity in recent months, with many celebrities getting involved with dances and challenges. If your child is using the app, make sure you know the risks involved and how to change privacy settings to private.
NSPCC's NetAware has lots of information on how to make your child's social media secure and a detailed description of the most popular apps, sites and games. This printable guide from the Children's Society also has a list of the most popular sites and apps.
Conversation Starters
"What's your favorite game? Can I play?"
"Can you show me your favorite TikTok dance/YouTube video?"
"Have you got online friends? How do you know who they are?"
"What do you think is ok for a child your age to be going?" (So they feel involved in the decision making)
Showing an interest in your child's online life will help them feel they are able to come to you with any concerns they may have.
NSPCC - Talking about online safety
Safer Internet - Talking about online safety
Parental Controls and security settings
Parents and carers should be ensuring the settings of apps and online games that their children use are set to private, with location settings turned off, to restrict the ways in which they could potentially be targeted by perpetrators. Many apps are public facing automatically, and have to be manually set to 'private'.
You can use parental controls to help you block or filter the content your child sees when searching online. Parental controls are also available to help you to:-
- plan what time of day your child can go online and how long for
- stop them from downloading apps they are too young for
- manage the content different members of the family can see
It is important to bear in mind that children and young people can potentially have access to the internet anywhere, not just at home. There are wifi hotspots, internet cafes, friends houses and of course mobile data available 24/7. So, whilst parental controls are useful, the most important thing you can do is have an open and inquisitive relationship with your child about their online interests.
Criminal Exploitation
Criminal Exploitation
Criminal Exploitation included gang crime and county lines. A gang may claim control over territory in a community, and engaging either individually or collectively in violent behaviour or other types of criminal activity. County lines is when gangs and organised crime networks groom and exploit children to sell drugs. They may make them travel across counties, and they use dedicated mobile phone 'lines' to supply drugs. Young people who are being criminally exploited often use public transport (train, buses and taxis) to get around. Read more below about our campaign to raise awareness of safeguarding on public transport.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Young People on Public Transport (Operation Henderson Campaign)
Operation Henderson, is a joint initiative being run by the Thurrock Local Safeguarding Children Partnership, Essex Safeguarding Children Board, Southend Safeguarding Children Partnership, British Transport Police, Essex Police, the Violence and Vulnerability Unit, Rail Operators, local councils and The Children's Society. It aims to raise awareness of the vulnerability of young people to exploitation and abuse at stations and transport networks in parts of Essex.
Research and local data have shown transport networks are used by vulnerable young people who may be at risk of exploitation, criminal exploitation and trafficking. Young people often gravitate towards stations because they are traditionally busy, anonymous places that also provide some form of shelter and access to food and drinks. A young person may use a station or form of public transport in an attempt to disappear. Bus and rail networks can also be used by offenders to traffic young people for the purpose of sexual and criminal exploitation.
Despite local restrictions, research has shown that young people vulnerable to exploitation are just as likely to be using trains, buses and taxis as they were prior to COVID. A young person travelling on their own during a lockdown is in fact an indicator of potential abuse. They may be unable to stop, for fear of punishment from their exploiters, and during a lockdown less people travelling means young people and their exploiters can travel around unchecked.
Spot the signs of exploitation
- Children who are alone and look frightened and maybe have no tickets or money to pay the fare
- Children/adults who look frightened in the company of other children or adults
- Children travelling along at night
- Those who do not look comfortable with adults they are travelling with
- Allows others to speak for them when addressed directly
- Those under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Children in school uniform during the school day
- Their physical appearance may show signs of injury, malnourishment and maybe unkempt
- They might seem unfamiliar with the local area, or not have a local accent
- They could be travelling during school hours or unusual hours (early in the morning, late at night)
- Are they travelling the same route on a regular basis (once or twice a week)?
- They could be receiving excessive texts or phone calls
- Are they deliberately avoiding authority figures such as police officers or railway staff?
- Some may be with older individuals who are purchasing tickets for them or giving them money for tickets.
Campaign Resources
Report Concerns
The Police - If you have intelligence or wish to report concerns please call 101. If you think a child or young person is in immediate danger always call 999.
British Transport Police can be contacted by phone on 0800 40 50 40 or members of the public can report a crime or an incident that occurred on your train via text on 61016.
Crimestoppers - You can report concerns anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Further Resources
Look Closer Campaign - a joint initiative with The Children's Society and British Transport Police encouraging members of the public to learn the signs of child exploitation and understand how to report it if worried.
Useful Links for Parents, Carers and Guardians
Please check out the links below which you may find of use:-
Parent/Guardian Online Radicalisation Information and Support
Sexual Abuse Online - How can I help my child?
Bullying
Is your child being bullied?
Children who are being bullied often find it very difficult to tell anyone, because they believe things will get worse if the child doing the bullying finds out. They can feel ashamed and embarrassed about what is happening and this is what the bully relies on.
There are three widely acknowledged means of bullying:-
- Direct physical bullying - pushing, hitting, punching or kicking
- Direct verbal bullying - yelling abuse at another, name-calling, insulting someone or using verbal threats
- Indirect bullying - this can also be known as social bullying or relational bullying. This could be things like spreading rumors, social exclusion or disclosing another's secret to a third party.
Cyberbullying - this when a person or group or people uses the internet, mobile phones, online games or any other kind of digital technology to threaten, tease, upset or humiliate someone else. You can report any online abuse through the CEOP Website or by clicking on the icon below:-
Further Support and Information
Safe to Play - Safeguarding Children in Sport and Physical Activities
The Safe to Play national campaign is being piloted in Thurrock to focus attention on the vital importance of safeguarding in sports clubs and physical activity providers.
Sports and other physical activities offer great ways for children and young people to develop their skills and confidence as well as having fun, but it comes as quite a surprise to many parents and carers that some may not actually be regulated.
There have been a number of instances, nationally and locally, where inappropriate behaviour and abuse has been perpetrated by adults in a position of trust within the area of sport.
We know that there are many sports clubs and physical activity providers that do provide an excellent service to children and young people and adhere to safeguarding guidelines. We want to see all providers across the sporting spectrum making
safeguarding a priority, particularly with the increasing local and national media coverage of children being exploited and abused within this field. Thurrock Local Safeguarding Childrens Partnership (LSCP) is committed to protecting children and young people from abuse and exploitation in all its forms, especially through sport and physical activity. The LSCP is launching the ‘Safe to Play’ campaign in partnership with The National Working Group (NWG). There are three main aims of the campaign:
- To help and support parents and carers in taking a proactive role in researching the sports or physical activity that they consider for their child,
- To support children in raising their awareness of safeguarding, keeping themselves safe and who they can contact of they are concerned
- To focus on the responsibilities of the sports clubs or physical activity provider and promote the importance of safeguarding as a priority of all sports clubs and physical activity provider Keeping children’s safety and wellbeing needs at the forefront of everything they do.
What should parents ask providers:
- Can I stay to observe the sessions?
- Where can I access a copy of your Safeguarding Policy?
- Do coaches / sport trainers have an up to date Police Check?
- Where can I access a copy of your Health and Safety Policy?
- What emergency procedures do you have in place? Suggestion: A bit confusing as to what emergency procedures – perhaps make clearer.
- Where can I access a copy of your Code of Conduct for Staff, Volunteers and Children?
- Are all staff and volunteers trained in Safeguarding and First Aid?
- Who do I speak to if I have any Safeguarding concerns?
- Do you have a Safeguarding page on your website, leaflet, or information sheet that I can access?
For further guidance see the Safe After School - Parents Leaflet and the Parent Questions.
What should providers do?
Providers of sport and physical activity should have the relevant safeguarding procedures in place and be able to answer parent’s questions regarding their child's safety even if they are not regulated, to help protect themselves and their business. They should be transparent in sharing this information to parents and make the information readily available to view.
High quality clubs and organisations will always welcome questions about their activities, the safety of their environment and the care of children and young people.
We will be delivering a variety of training sessions to providers and raising awareness workshops with parents and carers. We will also be asking schools to raise awareness with parents and carers in the form of information leaflets for parents to refer to when considering sending their child or young person to an activity. For further guidance see the Safe After School - provider booklet under 'Downloads'.
We would like to thank Rochdale Council LADO for sharing their materials with us in support of raising safeguarding awareness to parents, children and improving practice within the sporting industry.
Children & Young People
Welcome to our page of information and advice for young people in Thurrock
The content will include links to usefull sites, information that can either be printed of or downloaded to your computer. In time we hope to be able to prive APPS that you can add to your mobile phones and devices.
We would welcome feedback from young people in Thurrock. So if you know of any information that you think would be helpful for young people to be aware of.......Let us know and we will try and include on this page.
http://thisisabuse.direct.gov.uk/ A useful site with advice, guidance, how to spot the signs of abuse. Worth a look.
LSCB Blog - Have your say
Help us keep you safe
Feb 19, 2016
We really need your help. Us adults want to do the right thing, but are not always aware of whats happening out there and whats trending and whats "In" or "out". Thats where you can help.
The BIG Question: What can be done to make you feel safer in Thurrock. Over to you........
Whats the number one website being used?
Whats your favourite App?
4-7 Years
The internet can be an exciting place to learn and have fun, but sometimes you may see something that makes you feel worried or sad. If that happens, tell an adult you trust and they can help. This could be:-
- Your mum, dad or carer
- Another family member
- Your teacher or another adult at your school
- Another grown up who looks after you
8-10 Years
Playing games, chatting, and sharing photos and videos can be fun.
If you ever feel worried, upset or scared about something that happens online, tell an adult you trust. They will be able to help you. Whatever happened, it's not your fault.
Click on each button below for advice about safe ways to game, chat and share online. – Coming Soon!
11-13 Years
Lets keep the internet fun? Get advice about keeping yourself and your friends safe.
Online Child Exploitation
ONLINE EXPLOITATION CAMPAIGN
STAYING SAFE ONLINE
As technology improves, there are lots of exciting opportunities, but of course risks too. Educating yourself, keeping up to date on security and staying aware of privacy issues can help you keep clear of online exploitation, abuse or bullying. Some of the risky things you may come across online are:
- Bullying by peers and people you might consider 'friends'
- Seeing inappropriate or harmful content (e.g. rude or extremely violent pictures)Involvement in illegal or inappropriate content (e.g. posting sexual pictures)
- Posting personal information that can identify and locate you offline
- Being persuaded to do illegal or inappropriate things through contact with strangers
- Seeing information and talking with others online who encourage self-harm
- Seeing racist or hate material
- Glorifying activities such as drug use or excessive drinking
- Physical harm to young people in making video content, such as doing stunts and other risky activities
- Being encouraged to leave or run away from home by someone you met online
I'm worried about exploitation
Exploitation is never your fault
Even if you went along with things at first. Abusers are very clever in the way they manipulate young people.
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a type of sexual abuse, when you are made or tricked into doing something sexual sometimes receiving something in return like love, affection, money, drugs or alcohol.
Need help or more information:-
- Faceup2it - information and advice about CSE for young people, developed by young people.
- Disrespect Nobody - campaign about health relationships and respect.
- Barnardos - Real Love Rocks - raising awareness around Child Sexual Exploitation and what a health and safe relationship is.
Criminal Exploitation
Criminal Exploitation includes gang crime and county lines. A gang may claim control over territory in a community, and engaging either individually or collectively in violent behaviour or other types of criminal activity.
County lines is when gangs and organised crime networks groom and exploit children to sell drugs. They may make you travel across counties, and they use dedicated mobile phone 'lines' to supply drugs.
If you have become involved in a gang, are being pressurised to engage in county lines activity and want help to get out of that lifestyle, the website below can offer support. You can report exploitation (of yourself or a friend) to the Police on 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. If you are on a train or in a station you can text British Transport Police on 61016.
Need help or more information:-
Trafficking/Modern Slavery
Trafficking is where children and young people are tricked, forced or persuaded to leave their homes and are moved or transported and then exploited, forced to work or sold.
It can happen to anyone. You could only be taken next door or down the road - it's still classed as trafficking.
Need help or more information?
- Modern Slavery helpline - You can call the 24/7 Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 for free support. They will offer you advice on your situation and on your options for getting out, if you want to.
- Advice for Young People - A leaflet produced by the NSPCC Child Trafficking Advice Centre (CTAC) Young People's Advisory Group
Online Exploitation
Being aware of the risk of technology, social media and the internet can play a massive part in helping you stay safe and avoid online exploitation, abuse or bullying. Check out our staying safe online page for information on privacy settings, what to do if you receive indecent images and how to game online safely.
Need help or more information?
Indecent Images - Know the Law
Taking, making, sharing and possessing indecent images and pseudo-photographs of people under 18 is illegal. It does not matter how old they look, looking at indecent images of under 18s is illegal. Remember, those images are of real children and young people, and viewing them causes further harm. The Home Office has published guidance to help young people understand the law on making and sharing indecent images of people under 18 years old.
Is she Legal? - Video
What should you do if you come across indecent images?
If you stumble across indecent images of children under 18 online, you can help by reporting it to the Internet Watch Foundation.
Consent
Consent means agreeing to do something. When it comes to sex, this means someone agreeing to take part in a sexual activity. Any sort of sexual contact without consent is illegal whatever the age of the people involved. If someone does not give consent and a person still engages in a sexual act with them, this is sexual assault or rape.
For more information on consent - click here
Say no to nudes
If you have ever been asked to send photos of yourself that you are not comfortable with, and you do not know how to respond, there is a greet new app to help. Zipit has a load of images and animations which you can send in response to deal with a situation before it gets out of hand, and it stops you being put in an awkward position. Check out Molly's video on how to handle the pressure of being asked for nudes.
Where can I get help?
Bullying
Bullying can have a massive impact on your mental health, both now and in the future. It does not matter if you are being bullied at school, at home, or online, bullying can mess with your head. But you are not alone and you deserve support.
Click on the links below for further help and support:-
Learning & Development
Thurrock LSCP Training Provision
Please note that currently all face to face training remains postponed for the foreseeable future.
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.
We are currently running our courses virtually - please visit our 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 Learning and Development Events Charging Policy. 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 Learning Reviews will continue to be offered free of charge.
Full information of all training programmes and charges applicable can be found on our Training pages.
We have also refreshed our Learning and Improvement Framework, this is available by clicking here
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 Events 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
Training Surveys
Please can we ask that you complete the below evaluation survey for the training course that you have attended. You will have been sent a link along with a password to access the training course.
Inter-Agency Child Protection Training - 30th September and 1st October 2021 - Follow Up Feedback
Trauma Informed Practice - 6th October 2021 - Follow Up Feedback
Trauma Informed Practice - 9th November 2021 - Follow Up Feedback
Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the LSCP Business Team.
Staff Consultation Survey - LSCP Priorities for 2022-2024
Child Exploitation Training
Child Exploitation E-Learning
In partnership with Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit and the Southend and Essex Boards, we have launched a new e-learning package to support anyone who would like to improve their knowledge and understanding of exploitation.
The e-learning package is free to access for those working or volunteering in Thurrock, Southend and Essex and includes three modules that cover exploitation awareness, child exploitation and adult exploitation.
The purpose of the e-learning package is to raise awareness about all types of exploitation and to help people recognise the potential signs of exploitation, covering aspects such as grooming, adolescent brain development, modern day slavery and contextual safeguarding.
To undertake this free course, please click here
Please note that you will need to register to be able to access the e-learning training.
SET Partnership Child Exploitation Pathway
The SET Partnership Child Exploitation Pathway has been developed to support those working with, and identifying, individuals at risk of serious violence or exploitation. The pathway compliments the e-learning package (detailed above) and will give Practitioners the tools they need to identify factors that could indicate exploitation and to make decisions regarding referrals where child exploitation is suspected.
The tool gives a pathway indicator for each local area which sets out appropriate courses of action for those needing support. It will be used within statutory agencies as a universal pathway which means there is a consistent tool across the whole of Essex which all workers will use.
Learning from Practice Reviews
Following the publication of SCR Sam and Kyle, SCR Frankie and Learning Practice Review Leo, Thurrock LSCP are please to provide practitioners with an overview of the learning gathered during these reviews.
A podcast has been prepared, delivered by Kevin Ball, providing you with an overview of the three cases and also highlighting some common themes across all three.
Reference is made to many additional resources during the podcast and we have tried to provide the links to these below:-
We hope that you find these resources helpful and encourage you to share this within your Team Meetings. Can we please just ask that you undertake the below survey, providing us with feedback on how you used the resources etc - this should only take a few minutes.
Feedback survey
Signs of Safety Conference 2021 - Building Better Connections
To book, please click on the link below.
Please note - Whilst this conference is free to attending, in line with Thurrock LSCP Charging Policy, failure to attend without five working days notice will result in a £50 non attendance fee.
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.
16 Days of Action Events
16 days of action starts on the 25th November 2021. As part of this Thurrock Community Safety Partnership have organised a series of events for professionals and members of the community across Thurrock, details of these events and how you can be involved are below:-
Domestic Abuse and Stalking Awareness Training
One session is being run during the 16 days. This is being held virtually on the 1st December and more information or the booking link can be found by clicking here
Sexual Violence Awareness Training - Challenging Myths, Changing Attitudes
This session is being run over two half days and delegates will need to attend both days. The course is taking place virtually on the 8th and 9th December and more information or the booking link can be found by clicking here.
SERICC Professional Virtual Open Day - MS Teams
SERICC, the Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service, provides services for victims/survivors of all forms of sexual violence across the South and West of Essex. The Virtual Open Day gives Thurrock professionals an opportunity to talk to a staff member from each of SERICC's teams. The SERICC staff will provide an overview of each team's work and there will be time for you to ask any questions you may have. Staff will also explain the importance of Synergy (the Partnership of Essex Rape Crisis Centres) and talk attendees through the process of making a referral or sharing the website resources with someone who might benefit - please note that this event will be recorded.
This event will be taking place on Thursday 25th November from 10.00.
If you are interested in registering an interest to attend this event, please click here. The link to access the event will be sent through closer to the date.
Campaigns
Online Safety
Did you know a child could be recruited to a gang from hundreds of miles away? More and more often young people are being groomed remotely to carry out ‘jobs’ in their community, for their exploiters who live on the other side of the country.
How have exploitation methods changed/become more hidden?
- Girls report finding it easier to travel around the county as they are challenged less than boys.
- Possible increased use of taxis/private hire vehicles by children being exploited.
- More exploitation happening at private addresses and unused business premises.
- Social media has replaced face to face interaction. Young people are craving to connect with others and unfortunately, this can lead to grooming.
It is important to remember that the victim, the child, is NEVER to blame. Online groomers can be very persuasive and children should never be made to feel they did anything to encourage their exploitation. The best response an adult can provide a child who has been a victim of online exploitation is to comfort them, be supportive and help them address the issues they have encountered.
And of course, it's not just about when things go wrong. You can help your child to stay safe by creating an environment in which they feel able to speak openly about concerns they may have. You can do this by making good internet habits a part of your daily lives by limiting screen time, no devices at dinnertime/bedtime and by taking an active interest in the games they're playing and their social media influences.
Thanks to everyone involved in creating resources for this campaign.
Parents of young children and pre-schoolers
You do not need to talk to your pre-schooler about online safety yet, right? Wrong. If you treat online safety just as you would treat road safety, then talking about safe internet use becomes the norm and not something that they feel needs to be hidden as they get older. So if they are worried about something they have seen online they can feel confident in talking to an adult about their concerns.
Short animation for parents and childcare providers
Young people - how to help a friend
Podcast for parents and carers
Parents of pre-teens
Did You Know... the number of children exploited online doubles between the ages of 11 and 12 years old? This means that those at the end of primary school, about to enter secondary school, are particularly at risk, especially as it is a time when some children begin to enter the world of social media. The brain development they are going through at this age makes it hard for them to make decisions or plan ahead. They get an increased drive for risk taking and trying out new things. They are super sensitive to social status and so they start craving peer approval.
Podcast by Barnardos CARE
Online Gaming
Did You Know... the security settings of off game chats are often not as good as those built into the game. Discord is a chat forum used by a lot of gamers and it is important to be aware that strangers can contact your child especially on public or large servers and send inappropriate, mean or sexual content. Find out more about Discord and how to keep your child safe. This video by James Pearson, Violence and Vulnerability Unit is all about gaming. He discusses why parents need to be aware that their child's chat can filter out of the game and onto other platforms and what they need to be discussing with their children to keep their online gaming an enjoyable experience.
Perpetrators are increasingly targeting children and young people via online gaming sites, pretending to be someone who they are not. This can often lead to bullying, grooming and sexual exploitation. The Breck Foundation is a self-funding charity, raising awareness of playing safe whilst using the internet. CEOP's Thinkuknow has launched Band Runner, an interactive game for 8-10 year olds to help build their knowledge, confidence and skills to stay safe from risks they might encounter online. The game is hosted on the area for 8-10 year olds on the Thinkuknow website. Internet Matters - Online Gaming (The Basics)
Sending nudes
There is no 'usual' stereotype, any young person could send a nude pic - even your child. Make sure they understand that it is illegal to send nudes, even of themselves. And if it happens, try to understand whether there is peer pressure or grooming involved. Taking, making, sharing and possessing indecent images and pseudo-photographs (an image made by computer graphics, which appears to be a photograph) of people under 18 is illegal. It does not matter how old they look, looking at indecent images of under 18s is illegal.
This podcast by The 2 Johns looks at why and how young people are drawn into taking and sharing inappropriate images. They discuss how both parents and young people may be feeling and how to have an empathetic conversation with your child, as well as practical advice on getting photos removed.
Childline's Zipit app, uses humour to help teenagers deal with unwanted requests for sexual images of themselves. The free app offers young people a gallery of images and animations which they can send in response to requests for sexual pictures and to deal with difficult sexting situations.
Sexting advice for parents - how to have those important conversations with children.
Videos and livestreams
Houseparty exploded in popularity during lockdown, but did you know is not automatically set to private? That means anyone could video call your child without them having to accept. Make sure your child knows to change their privacy settings. Find out more about Houseparty safety on NetAware. Livestreaming is becoming a very popular way for young people to broadcast themselves on many different apps, to communicate with their friends or wider community, just as their favourite celebrities and Vloggers do. Make sure your children understand the risks of livestreaming:-
- They cannot be edited
- You cannot erase what people have already seen
- Personal information might be given away by things said during the stream, things shown on camera or even in the background
- Livestreams can be recorded by others, who can then keep a copy even after the stream has ended or expired.
Find out more about livestreaming and staying safe
Making new technology safe - Violence and Vulnerability Unit
Online Bullying
Did You Know... just under half of those being investigated for exploiting other online, are children and most are the same age as the victim. If you are worried your child might have been a victim there is more information on how to get help on our bullying page.
Our online bullying podcast looks at the pressure from social media and the impact on young people. The 2 Johns talk about how parents can create a relationship with their child that encourages them to tell them about these issues and the support available.
Fake content
Deepfakes are swiftly proving the old age adage that "seeing is believing" is no longer necessarily true. They can put inflammatory words into the mouths of politicians and transplant Hollywood A-listers into X-rated movies. But more recently, deepfakes are moving beyond the celebrity bubble into the lives of ordinary members of the public - fuelling offences such as revenge porn and extortion.
National Online Safety have some useful guidance for parents about Deepfakes and online safety in general.
All About Apps
With children spending more and more time online over the last few months, there has been an explosion in popularity of certain apps and games. TikTok has soared in popularity in recent months, with many celebrities getting involved with dances and challenges. If your child using the App, make sure you know the risks involved and how to change privacy settings to private. NSPCC's NetAware has lots of information on how to make your child's social media secure and a detailed description of the most popular apps, sites and games. This printable guide from The Children's Society also has a list of the most popular sites and apps.
Conversation Starters
- "What's your favorite game? Can I play?"
- "Can you show me your favourite TikTok dance/YouTube video?"
- "Have you got online friends? How do you know who they are?"
Showing an interest in your child's online life will help them feel they are able to come to you with any concerns them may have.
NSPCC - Talking about online safety
Safer Internet - Talking about online safety
Parental controls and security settings
Parents and carers should be ensuring the settings of the apps and online games that their children use are set to private, with location setting turned off, to restrict the ways in which they could potentially be targeted by perpetrators. Many apps are public facing automatically, and have to be manually set to 'private'. You can use parental controls to help you block or filter the content your child sees when searching online. Parental controls are also available to help you to:
- plan what time of day your child can go online and how for
- stop them from downloading apps they are too young for
- manage the content different members of the family can see
It is important to bear in mind that children and young people can potentially have access to the internet anywhere, not just at home. There are wifi hotspots, internet cafes, friends houses and of course mobile data is available 24/7. So whilst parental controls are useful, the most important thing you can do is have an open and inquisitive relationship with your child about their online interests.
Find out more about setting up Parental Controls
Reporting Concerns
You can report online abuse through the Child Exploitation and Online Exploitation Protection Centre (CEOP) website or the Internet Watch Foundation. Or report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
If you are concerned about a child in Thurrock, call 01375 652802 or 01375 372468 (out of hours).
If you are concerned about a child in Essex, call Children & Families Hub (Social Care): 0345 603 7627 or 0345 606 1212 (out of hours).
If you are concerned about a child in Southend, call 01702 215007 or 0345 606 1212 (out of hours).
If a child is in immediate danger, dial 999 and ask to speak to Police.
Useful Links for Parents
Useful Links for Young People
Useful Links for Professionals