Safeguarding

Have you visited the updated Children's Safeguarding Assurance Partnership (CSAP) website? This has moved from the original place that was known as Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board. There is a wealth of information that can support you in safeguarding children and young people in Lancashire. For example, 7 minute briefings, learning and development opportunities as well as local updates and resources.

The CSAP website is aimed at providers in the localities of Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire. As a provider you are responsible for keeping your knowledge of how to keep children safe as up to date as possible. The CSAP website offers you that central hub to access this information at your fingertips.

The website can be shared far and wide to ensure any staff members you may have are keeping up to date. Consider using aspects of the website such as the e-learning section as part of your whole team continuous professional development or as part of the induction process.

Remember, all this information is local to your area and therefore relevant to the children and young people you welcome to your setting. All these resources are free.

Find everything you need here on the new Children's Safeguarding Assurance Partnership website.

Designated Lead Practitioners/Managers must contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) when they receive an allegation or concern about a person who works with children.

On 6 September 2021 Early Help Assessment replaced the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) across Lancashire.

Early Help Assessment e-learning is available to access via Astute e-learning.

The Children and Family Wellbeing Service (CFW) offers early help and support to children, young people age 0-19+yrs (0 - 25yrs for SEND) and their families across Lancashire. The service responds as early as possible when a child, young person, or family needs support.

The focus of the service is to provide support at level 2 or 3 on the Continuum of Need and is for those who have complex or intensive needs where we consider the provision of early help will make a positive difference.

CFW practitioners are able to offer practical support on a whole range of issues which may be affecting individuals or the family. Support is generally offered through a network of neighbourhood centres as well as in the community or in the family home. They also work with children, young people, parents (and parents to be) through group programmes, activities, and drop-in support.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are stressful or traumatic events that happen in childhood and can affect people as adults. They include events that affect a child or young person directly, such as abuse or neglect. ACEs also include things that affect children indirectly through the environment they live in. This could be living with a parent or caregiver who has poor mental health, where there is domestic abuse, or where parents have divorced or separated. ACEs can be single events, long-term or repeated experiences.

The Little Book of Adverse Childhood Experiences

A small group of front-line practitioners have developed Little Book of ACEs (PDF 1.02MB) to inform practitioners about what ACEs are, what their immediate effects are and how they can affect children in the short-term and throughout their lives.  The resource offers some case study examples and discusses a number of different methods developed to manage the effects of ACEs and to prevent them occurring in the first place.

The impact of Covid-19 and adverse childhood experiences (ACES)

According to a research article conducted by Children in Need. Covid-19 has had an impact on our children and has been recognised as an Adverse Childhood Experience for all children.

Eight impact themes were reported:

1. Isolation: children and families missed personal connections, relationships and support from trusted adults and peers outside the home.
2. Increased emotional wellbeing and mental health challenges: the pandemic impacted on existing mental health and new issues emerged for children and their parents. Anxiety, fear and stress are particular concerns.
3. Pressure on family relationships: families were under pressure, from difficulties coping with stress and worry to crisis. Conflict and difficult relationships increased, whilst respite for children and parents reduced.
4. Increased exposure to harm: children faced increased risks both within families and outside the home, e.g. with increased time online and being unable to access safe spaces.
5. Basic needs were harder to meet: children and families faced hunger and increased financial hardship. Digital access became a basic need in lockdown.
6. Reduced access to education & activities: children lacked the stimulation, development opportunities, structure & positive engagement these can bring.
7. Risks to physical wellbeing: children’s physical wellbeing was at risk through reduced nutrition or physical activity for fitness and for those with health conditions, from the pandemic itself.
8. Concern for the future: children, young people and families are concerned for the future, such as education transitions, loss of jobs or risks to job prospects and financial status.

For further information on ACEs see the Children's Safeguarding Assurance Partnership website.