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# Sacpa

Safeguarding and Child Protection Association

## News

- [News](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/news/) - The latest news from SACPA.
- [KCSIE update for England](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/07/07/kcsie-update-for-england/) - KCSIE 2026 has arrived. The Department for Education has published the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026 Consultation Response, confirming a number of important changes ahead of implementation in September 2026. It is important to note that the draft KCSIE 2026 has been published for information only to support schools and colleges in preparing for
- [BSA Group announces rebrand](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/07/01/bsa-group-announces-rebrand/) - BSA Group, which comprises several associations and subsidiaries including SACPA, has announced a new trading name of Abitas Group. The new name is accompanied by an updated mission statement: “Supporting young people, adults and organisations to be safe, well and included.” And a new address: 50 Princes Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1RJ. “Our new identity as Abitas Group better represents who we are
- [Preparing Students for Life Beyond School #ad](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/06/29/preparing-students-for-life-beyond-school-ad/) - Recently I was catching up with a previous client, a student, and they wanted to write a case study for VIPMind ENGLAND ® training on how it had set them up to overcome challenges and, not be labelled. Here is a short extract from it: “Everyone reacts to stressful and anxious moments in different ways
- [Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026: What It Means for Every Sector](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/06/04/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-act-2026-what-it-means-for-every-sector/) - The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 marks a significant step forward in how services work together to protect and support children. While much of the public conversation focuses on schools or social care, the reality is that this legislation touches every sector that interacts with children and families. At its core, the Act is
- [Modern slavery and safeguarding risks: strengthening identification, prevention and response](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/05/29/modern-slavery-and-safeguarding-risks-strengthening-identification-prevention-and-response/) - Modern slavery remains one of the most complex and under‑identified safeguarding challenges facing organisations across the UK. Despite increased awareness, exploitation continues across communities, workplaces and supply chains, often hidden in plain sight. For safeguarding professionals, the challenge is not just understanding what modern slavery is but recognising how it presents in real‑world contexts and
- [The Harrowing True Story Behind The Crash](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/05/19/the-harrowing-true-story-behind-the-crash/) - In the early morning of July 31, 2022, 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla drove her boyfriend, 20-year-old Dominic Russo, and his friend, 19-year-old Davion Flanagan, home from a high school graduation party. Then the unthinkable happened: after turning down a long stretch of a quiet residential road in Strongsville, Ohio, Shirilla accelerated her Toyota Camry to 100
- [Aberdeen social care worker convicted of embezzling over £16,000 from vulnerable adult struck off](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/05/18/aberdeen-social-care-worker-convicted-of-embezzling-over-16000-from-vulnerable-adult-struck-off/) - An Aberdeen social care worker who was convicted of embezzling over £16,000 has been struck off by the care watchdog. Gail Mackie was convicted of her offending, which occurred over a two-year period between November 1, 2021 and October 31, 2023, at the Sheriff Court on October 14, 2025. The offences were said to have occurred across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and ended up with
- [Man who violently shook baby girl jailed for attempted murder](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/05/18/man-who-violently-shook-baby-girl-jailed-for-attempted-murder/) - A man who tried to murder a baby girl by violently shaking her has been jailed for 11 years. Joshua Coates' attack on the four-month-old child caused her to suffer a widespread brain injury. Sentencing him at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday, Judge Lord Young told him: "You also inflicted bruising and abrasions to her
- [Supporting Students Through Pressure and Change #ad](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/05/11/supporting-students-through-pressure-and-change/) - Speaking recently at the HEIDA Annual Health & Wellbeing Conference concerns were raised regarding modern students not having the skills to face a wide range of pressures; from academic expectations and social media influences, to future career uncertainty and personal challenges. Boarding schools have always played an important role in helping young people develop
- [Tackling child poverty requires urgent investment in adult services](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/04/29/tackling-child-poverty-requires-urgent-investment-in-adult-services/) - Parties challenged on how they will meet child poverty targets A Scottish counselling charity has called on parties ahead of the Scottish elections to recognise a fundamental truth - that child poverty cannot be reduced without directly addressing the pressures facing parents, carers and guardians. While political debate continues across issues such as healthcare, social
- [More evidence of child grooming across Scotland with 'crime clusters' in seven council areas](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/04/29/more-evidence-of-child-grooming-across-scotland-with-crime-clusters-in-seven-council-areas/) - The latest report from Scotland's child protection register show that 23 red flags were raised for cases of child sexual exploitation (CSE) last year. This form of abuse is more commonly known as child grooming and it is recorded separately to both sexual abuse and criminal exploitation of children. The Scottish Government statistics show that 2,087 children were on
- [Getting ahead of the DfE guidance with BoardingSafe #ad](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/04/21/getting-ahead-of-the-dfe-guidance-with-boardingsafe/) - How are you planning to manage personal devices from September? Time is ticking and seems to disappear during term-time. For boarding schools, the nature of residential settings means managing phones in loco parentis requires innovative solutions to remove distraction. To help meet the updated DfE guidance, BoardingSafe provides specific support for pupils to manage screen
- [Supporting Girls Through Exam Season: Comfort, Rest and Confidence #ad](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/04/20/supporting-girls-through-exam-season-comfort-rest-and-confidence-ad/) - As the academic year moves into the spring months, many schools begin preparing students for exams and important assessments. For girls in boarding schools, this period often brings a combination of determination, focus and natural nervousness. While academic preparation is at the forefront, maintaining wellbeing during this busy time is just as important. Periods of
- [BSA Group expands safeguarding support for members](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/04/17/bsa-group-welcomes-the-athena-programme/) - Specialist safeguarding consultancy and training provider The Athena Programme has become part of BSA Group. Founded by Dr Sarah Carlick, The Athena Programme supports a wide range of UK customers through a team of expert associates and staff. Through The Athena Programme, BSA Group will extend its safeguarding training and consultancy for members. The Athena
- ["Disgrace!" Youth suicide campaigners blast mental health wait times as SNP Government misses targets](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/04/10/disgrace-youth-suicide-campaigners-blast-mental-health-wait-times-as-snp-government-misses-targets/) - Youth suicide campaigners have branded mental health waiting times for kids a "disgrace" after shock new figures revealed young people have been left waiting more than 4.5 million days for treatment in Scotland. Parents who have tragically lost children who have taken their own lives said the delays are leaving vulnerable youngsters without help for months –
- [Teachers' union warns of 'masculinity crisis brewing' in schools](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/04/07/teachers-union-warns-of-masculinity-crisis-brewing-in-schools/) - Source: Teachers union warns of 'masculinity crisis' brewing in schools - BBC News A teaching union has warned that a "masculinity crisis is brewing" in UK schools after almost a quarter of female teachers it surveyed reported that they have been subject to misogynistic abuse from a pupil in the last year. It is the
- [Hundreds of my abusers are still out there, says victim as grooming inquiry launched](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/04/07/hundreds-of-my-abusers-are-still-out-there-says-victim-as-grooming-inquiry-launched/) - Penny was just 12 when she was groomed by several men of Pakistani heritage. She told the BBC how the men initially won over her affection by showering her with expensive gifts. But within weeks, she said they turned violent and abusive. "I was covered in very deep cigarette burns, which actually burned through my
- [Nine in ten adults concerned about risk of child abuse in Scotland](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/04/07/nine-in-ten-adults-concerned-about-risk-of-child-abuse-in-scotland/) - Almost nine in ten adults in Scotland are concerned about the risk of abuse and neglect facing children, according to a new survey. The poll, carried out by the NSPCC, found 87% of adults are worried about the issue, although 86% of those who expressed an opinion believe it can be prevented. Research by Savanta,
- [Free Breakfast Clubs from April 2026: Putting Safeguarding, Care and Children First](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/03/25/free-breakfast-clubs-from-april-2026-putting-safeguarding-care-and-children-first/) - The Department for Education’s national rollout of free breakfast clubs from April 2026 represents a significant policy shift with far-reaching implications for children, families and school communities. But this initiative is about far more than food. It is fundamentally about safeguarding, early help, and creating protective environments where children feel safe, seen and supported from
- [My phone contents were shared with the police colleague I accused of rape](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/03/20/my-phone-contents-were-shared-with-the-police-colleague-i-accused-of-rape/) - A detective has told how she was left traumatised after Police Scotland shared the contents of her phone with a colleague she alleged raped her. Det Con Lianne Gilbert made domestic abuse allegations, including serious sexual assault, against another officer in 2020. But when a misconduct inquiry took place two years later, it emerged data
- [Working together to safeguard children 2026 – a shift in practice, not just policy](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/03/19/working-together-to-safeguard-children-2026-a-shift-in-practice-not-just-policy/) - The updated Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance, published March 18 2026, signals a decisive move towards a more proactive, integrated, child-centred, reflective and accountable safeguarding system. At its core, the message is clear: safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility – and it must be child-centred, collaborative, and impact-driven. What’s new and strengthened? A major shift towards a
- [Three charged with modern slavery offences and six children saved from clutches of County Lines gangs](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/03/18/three-charged-with-modern-slavery-offences-and-six-children-saved-from-clutches-of-county-lines-gangs/) - Three modern slavery charges linked to the trafficking of a child to sell drugs have been secured as part of a week-long British Transport Police (BTP) County Lines Taskforce operation. The Taskforce protected more than 20 people, including two 11-year-olds, made over 60 arrests and seized numerous weapons and drugs across the country. Additionally, 11
- ['Why we want child abuse nursery held accountable'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/03/18/why-we-want-child-abuse-nursery-held-accountable/) - A group of parents whose children attended a nursery where abuse was carried out say the council's unwillingness to investigate is "rubbing salt into an open wound". Last month, Vincent Chan was jailed for 18 years after admitting 56 sexual offences, including abusing children at the Bright Horizons nursery in north-west London. A letter seen
- [11% Surge in Child Abuse Cases Linked to Tech‑Enabled Exploitation](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/03/18/11-surge-in-child-abuse-cases-linked-to-tech-enabled-exploitation/) - Online platforms continue to be a significant enabler of child abuse, with grooming and extortion prevalent. Police Scotland has reported an increase in child sex abuse crimes up 11%, with more than 828 logged offences in 2024/ 2025. Data showed that between April 1st 2024 and March 31st 2025 there were 36,829 recorded offences of
- [Parent and child outcomes before and after the expansion of funded ELC in Scotland](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/03/18/parent-and-child-outcomes-before-and-after-the-expansion-of-funded-elc-in-scotland/) - Background From August 2021 the entitlement to funded early learning and childcare (ELC) in Scotland increased from 600 to 1140 hours per year for all three- and four-year-olds and for eligible two-year-olds. This means families can access up to 30 hours of funded ELC per week in term time, or around 22 hours spread across
- [How a charity founded by farmers' wives helps children in the Borders](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/03/18/how-a-charity-founded-by-farmers-wives-helps-children-in-the-borders/) - A charity founded by farmers' wives in the 1960s to protect vulnerable children is celebrating its 60th birthday by appealing for more people to support it. The Borders Children's Charity (BCC), external now distributes about £90,000 of aid annually to families who find themselves in dire circumstances. Linda Runciman, who chairs the group, said demand for help
- [Small Comforts, Big Confidence: Supporting Girls Through Busy School Terms #ad](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/03/12/small-comforts-big-confidence-supporting-girls-through-busy-school-terms-ad/) - By March, the rhythm of the school year is fully underway. Academic schedules are busy, extracurricular activities are in full swing, and boarding houses are alive with the daily energy of student life. For many girls, this period of the term brings both excitement and pressure as they balance schoolwork, friendships and personal routines. Amid
- [Being the Voice for all children: Why Early Years Educators Are Critical Safeguarding Advocates for Non-Mobile, Non-Verbal Children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/02/16/being-the-voice-for-all-children-why-early-years-educators-are-critical-safeguarding-advocates-for-non-mobile-non-verbal-children/) - In early years, there is statutory guidance to set out the standards for care and education for all children and whilst safeguarding will have the same statutory expectations it should be seen, not as a duty but as a moral responsibility. For babies and children who are non-mobile or non-verbal, that responsibility becomes even more
- [Scottish Child Law Centre reports rise in enquiries about protection of women and children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/02/18/scottish-child-law-centre-reports-rise-in-enquiries-about-protection-of-women-and-children/) - Ahead of the Scottish Child Law Centre officially launching its Govanhill community clinic, the charity has reported a rise in enquiries relating to the protection of children and women across its advice services. The centre’s national advice service has seen a sharp increase in child protection enquiries and is concerned about gaps in the system
- [Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) consultation](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/02/12/keeping-children-safe-in-education-kcsie/) - The Government is launching a 10-week public consultation on proposed changes to its Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) statutory guidance, with responses open until April 22, 2026. KCSIE is the core safeguarding document that all schools and colleges in England must follow when carrying out their legal duties to protect and promote the welfare
- ['No way out': Child homelessness hits record levels as Scotland's housing crisis deepens](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/02/10/no-way-out-child-homelessness-hits-record-levels-as-scotlands-housing-crisis-deepens/) - Words by Scotland Reporter Vanessa Taaffe and Scotland Producer Stephanie Docherty Danielle Quigley and her six children are homeless. "I'm on a mattress on the floor. It's the only solution I could come to. What else can you do?" she told ITV News. "It's just such a stress. You're sitting here at the mercy of
- ['Our daughter's cancer symptoms were dismissed because she was a child'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/02/06/our-daughters-cancer-symptoms-were-dismissed-because-she-was-a-child/) - Isla Sneddon, a 17-year-old from Airdrie, died from breast cancer in March 2025, just six months after diagnosis. Her parents, Mark and Michelle Sneddon, say their daughter’s life could have been saved if she had been treated with the same urgency as an adult. Isla first reported a breast lump to her GP in July
- [Safeguarding](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/02/04/safeguarding/) - Ministers push for special needs overhaul The Guardian Ministers are actively lobbying Labour MPs regarding an overhaul of special educational needs (SEND) provisions, amid warnings from opposition members against cost-saving measures. The proposed changes would raise the qualifications for children in England to receive an education, health and care plan (EHCP), limiting access mainly to
- [Make sure pupils don't ever use phones at school, Phillipson tells teachers](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/02/04/make-sure-pupils-dont-ever-use-phones-at-school-phillipson-tells-teachers/) - Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said all schools in England should be phone-free for the entire school day under strengthened government guidance. Phones should not be used in lessons, breaks or lunchtime, and Ofsted will inspect how schools enforce policies. Staff are also advised not to use phones in front of pupils. While some unions
- [Beginning the Year With Confidence: Helping Girls Settle Back at School #ad](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/01/26/beginning-the-year-with-confidence-helping-girls-settle-back-at-school/) - The return to school in January brings a gentle mix of excitement and adjustment. Students arrive carrying stories from the holidays, new energy, and sometimes a little tiredness after travel and a change of routine. It’s a moment of settling back into shared spaces, reconnecting with friends, and rediscovering the comforting rhythm of boarding life.
- [SACPA statement on new protections against cyberflashing](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2026/01/08/sacpa-statement-on-new-protections-against-cyberflashing/) - SACPA welcomes today’s strengthening of the Online Safety Act to make cyberflashing a ‘priority offence'. In December 2025, the Government published its strategy to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG). As part of this, tech firms will be held accountable for failing to prevent cyberflashing under the Online Safety Act as of today (January
- [AWARD WINNER SPOTLIGHT: National Volunteer Police Cadets](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/12/16/award-winner-spotlight-national-volunteer-police-cadets/) - Winner of the of the Outstanding Commitment to Safeguarding Award 2025 “It was a privilege to receive SACPA’s ‘Outstanding Contribution to Safeguarding Award’ at the Annual Safeguarding Conference in November. The award recognises our dedicated work embedding national youth safeguarding standards across every region that runs a police cadet programme. Safeguarding, protecting and promoting young
- [Is your school, charity or organisation in survival mode?](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/12/12/is-your-school-charity-or-organisation-in-survival-mode/) - By Dr Mariya Ali Every day, child protection professionals walk into work carrying a weight that is rarely acknowledged. They listen to disclosures of abuse, make decisions that can alter the course of a child’s life, and shoulder the emotional residue of trauma that is often too distressing for most people to hear. Yet despite
- [A Festive Season With La Suzy: Helping Girls Travel, Rest and Celebrate With Ease #ad](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/12/09/a-festive-season-with-la-suzy-helping-girls-travel-rest-and-celebrate-with-ease-ad/) - As the holiday season approaches, girls across boarding schools begin looking forward to a familiar and comforting ritual: going home. The excitement of reuniting with family, decorating the house, sharing meals and enjoying festive traditions brings a welcome break from busy school life. Yet the change in routine—travel, new sleeping arrangements, packed family schedules—can sometimes
- [Raised by a woman who refused silence](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/11/27/raised-by-a-woman-who-refused-silence-the-story-behind-why-i-drive-the-way-i-do/) - A few days ago, I was driving with my mother seated beside me. We were chatting casually when a speed breaker appeared out of nowhere. Instinctively, as I hit the brakes, my hand reached across my mother’s chest, the way many of us do to protect our co-passenger from leaning forward abruptly. My mother looked
- [BBC reports 'Culture of indifference towards safeguarding' at Belfast church](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/12/03/bbc-reports-culture-of-indifference-towards-safeguarding-at-belfast-church/) - A safeguarding investigation into Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle, one of Northern Ireland’s largest churches, has identified what it describes as “a culture of indifference towards safeguarding”. The report, carried out by Pastor Nigel Elliott of the Elim Church, examined an alleged incident of inappropriate behaviour by a senior church leader, referred to as “WMT4”, as well
- [Are some pupils slipping through your digital safety net unnoticed? #ad](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/12/01/are-some-pupils-slipping-through-your-digital-safety-net-unnoticed-ad/) - Image: SM DigitalSafety Arabella Northey, Partnerships Manager at Seqrd Technology, explains how SchoolsMobile have developed their anonymised Student Data Analytics report to tighten your digital safety net. You think you have all bases covered and then another digital challenge emerges. According to previous Ofcom research, 12% of students attempt to circumvent online protection measures – and this
- [AWARD WINNER SPOTLIGHT: Liverpool Football Club](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/11/28/award-winner-spotlight-liverpool-football-club/) - Winner of the International Safeguarding Award 2025 Liverpool FC International Academies provide more than 12,000 young players across five continents the opportunity to develop on and off the pitch under the guidance of LFC-trained coaching staff. With more than 600 adult coaches and staff operating across diverse languages, cultures and local safeguarding systems, creating consistent,
- [Cultural shifts and social assertion beyond the #MeToo movement](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/11/18/cultural-shifts-and-social-assertion-beyond-the-metoo-movement/) - Artwork title: Rape By Dr Mariya Ali Sipping my latte, my gaze wanders towards the fireplace. The flames licking the logs occasionally spit sparks. It warms my heart and brings a feeling of safety. But fire doesn’t mean safety to everyone. There is a duality to fire. It symbolises energy, power, passion, action, sensuality, creativity, authority, consumption, etc. I am a painter who has painted fire
- [Supporting Girls Through the Winter Term: How La Suzy’s Period Bed Mat Helps Schools Care with Confidence #ad](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/11/18/supporting-girls-through-the-winter-term-how-la-suzys-period-bed-mat-helps-schools-care-with-confidence/) - As the winter term settles in and daylight hours shorten, many boarding houses notice a familiar pattern: girls begin to feel the seasonal shift in their overall wellbeing. Colder temperatures, increased academic pressure and darker evenings can all influence how students experience their menstrual cycle. For some, this time of year brings intensified cramps, heightened
- [AWARD WINNER SPOTLIGHT: Busy Bees Day Nurseries](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/11/13/award-winner-spotlight-busy-bees-day-nurseries/) - Winner of the Safeguarding Inclusion Award 2025 “We are delighted that Busy Bees has won the Safeguarding and Child Protection Association (SACPA) Award for Safeguarding Inclusion. This award was the perfect end to an inspiring and thought-provoking conference, filled with insights from exceptional speakers in the field of safeguarding. At Busy Bees, safeguarding our children, teams,
- [SACPA announces winners of the Annual Safeguarding Awards 2025](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/11/05/sacpa-announces-winners-of-the-annual-safeguarding-awards-2025/) - The Safeguarding and Child Protection Association (SACPA) is proud to announce the winners of the Annual Safeguarding Awards 2025, revealed from a shortlist of fifteen finalists on November 5 during the Annual Safeguarding Conference at Broadway House, London. Now in its fourth year, SACPA’s annual awards celebrate outstanding individuals, teams, and organisations who have demonstrated
- [DBS campaign to raise awareness of legal duty to refer among faith organisations](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/10/27/dbs-campaign-to-raise-awareness-of-legal-duty-to-refer-among-faith-organisations/) - The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has introduced a national campaign to raise awareness of the legal duty for organisations to submit referrals when individuals involved in regulated activity pose a safeguarding risk. The initiative is initially focused on the South East of England, with a specific emphasis on faith-based organisations, where in recent years
- [UK government to launch consultation on Liberty Protection Safeguards in 2026](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/10/29/uk-government-to-launch-consultation-on-liberty-protection-safeguards-in-2026/) - The UK government will launch a consultation in 2026 on the proposed Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS), designed to improve safeguarding measures for people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions about their care. The initiative aims to simplify existing procedures, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance support for families, carers, and health professionals. The current
- [Inclusion and safeguarding practitioners call for the UK Government to put survivors first](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/10/22/inclusion-and-safeguarding-practitioners-call-for-the-uk-government-to-put-survivors-first/) - The directors of IELA and SACPA are today calling for the Government to appoint a suitable, trauma-informed, and impartial chair to lead the forthcoming inquiry into grooming gangs in the UK. Survivors of grooming and exploitation have repeatedly shown extraordinary courage in coming forward to share their experiences. Any inquiry into these systemic failures must
- [Can You Teach Digital Wisdom Alongside Academic Excellence? #Ad](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/10/16/can-you-teach-digital-wisdom-alongside-academic-excellence-ad/) - Arabella Northey, Partnerships Manager at Seqrd Technology, explains why removing student's devices does not always eliminate the original problem. Health Professionals for Safer Screens have revealed troubling statistics: over 96% of students cannot focus for even one hour without checking their phone, and 41% of teenagers lose more than 8 hours daily to screens. While
- [Haven Hall launches ACEs awareness courses for schools to enhance safeguarding and student outcomes #ad](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/10/09/haven-hall-launches-aces-awareness-courses-for-schools-to-enhance-safeguarding-and-student-outcomes-ad/) - Haven Hall Training is proud to announce the launch of its comprehensive Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) training programmes for schools, including boarding schools and educational institutions worldwide. These courses aim to equip educators and staff with the knowledge and practical skills needed to identify and support children affected by trauma. Research shows that ACEs —
- [Fiji Launches First National Child Safeguarding Policy to Enhance Child Safety](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/10/09/fiji-launches-first-national-child-safeguarding-policy-to-enhance-child-safety/) - Fiji has introduced its first National Child Safeguarding Policy, marking a significant step forward in protecting children across all areas of society. Fiji’s Health Minister, Dr Atonio Lalabalavu, announced that the Ministry of Health will strengthen child protection within its services by improving staff training, establishing clear reporting and referral systems, and deepening collaboration with
- [Disappointment and frustration over the postponement of a Child Practice Review report into former headteacher’s misconduct. ](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/10/09/disappointment-and-frustration-over-the-postponement-of-a-child-practice-review-report-into-former-headteachers-misconduct/) - Gwynedd Council has voiced disappointment and frustration over the postponement of a Child Practice Review report into former headteacher Neil Foden’s misconduct. Gwynedd Council has expressed frustration over the delay in publishing a key Child Practice Review into the case of former headteacher Neil Foden, who was jailed for abusing pupils. The council said it
- [Children as young as 4 carrying knives says BBC](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/10/09/children-as-young-as-4-carrying-knives-says-bbc/) - A BBC investigation found more than 1,300 knife-related offences in schools and sixth-form colleges across England and Wales in 2024, including cases involving children as young as four. Freedom of Information (FOI) data from police forces reveals cases involving children as young as four, and a total of 1,304 knife or sharp-object offences in schools
- [Welsh Government undertaking a review of safeguarding processes](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/10/08/welsh-government-undertaking-a-review-of-safeguarding-processes/) - The Welsh Government is undertaking a comprehensive review and reform of safeguarding processes in Wales, creating a new unified system to streamline learning, oversight, and accountability across agencies. The initiative centres on the Single Unified Safeguarding Review (SUSR), designed to replace multiple, overlapping reviews (such as child protection reviews, adult protection reviews, and domestic homicide
- [MATs worried about condition of school estates](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/10/08/mats-worried-about-condition-of-school-estates/) - Multi-academy trust (MAT) leaders have raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of school buildings due to stretched funding. A new report by the Queen Street Group (QSG), shared by TES magazine, highlights that many school buildings are now classed as “beyond life”, with a growing number requiring urgent repair to remain safe. For safeguarding leads,
- [West Mercia Police’s safeguarding response judged inadequate](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/10/01/west-mercia-polices-safeguarding-response-judged-inadequate/) - His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has judged West Mercia Police’s safeguarding response as “inadequate”. The inspectorate issued an accelerated cause of concern after finding the force had failed to improve how it manages safeguarding referrals, despite earlier recommendations. Backlogs in processing referrals have grown significantly, from 1,023 cases in
- [New guidance to improve safety in parks for girls](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/10/01/new-guidance-to-improve-safety-in-parks-for-girls/) - The Green Flag Award has launched the second edition of its Safer Parks: Improving Access for Women and Girls guidance, a comprehensive resource designed to make public spaces safer and more inclusive. Women are three times more likely to feel unsafe in parks, highlighting the urgent need for change. This updated guidance, created in collaboration
- [Rethinking the LADO Role: Calls for Independence to Strengthen Child Safeguarding](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/10/01/rethinking-the-lado-role-calls-for-independence-to-strengthen-child-safeguarding/) - In a recent article, Community Care reports that the Children’s Commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, has called for the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) role to be detached from local government to enhance accountability and protection of children. Community Care The full article can be read here: https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/09/29/lado-role-should-be-removed-from-local-government-says-childrens-commissioner/ According to the article: Inconsistent handling
- [Rethinking “Safety Tools” for Teens: What New Research Reveals](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/10/01/rethinking-safety-tools-for-teens-what-new-research-reveals/) - Recent independent findings call into question how effective social-media “safety” features really are for teen users (BBC News) — see the full article here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce32w7we01eo Using simulated accounts, researchers tested dozens of Instagram safety tools and found many of them to be ineffective or non-existent in critical moments. Key Findings: A large number of claimed
- [BSA Group announces new Chair](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/09/26/bsa-group-announces-new-chair/) - Boarding and safeguarding specialist BSA Group has announced Neil Mahapatra as its new Chair from November 1, 2025. Neil is the founder / CEO of EV Charging Business Zapgo, and a founder / Partner at Kingsley Capital Partners in London, which creates new businesses in growing markets. A former music scholar and house captain at
- [AI innovation must serve humanity, not undermine it, cautions UN](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/09/25/innovation-must-serve-humanity-not-undermine-it-cautions-un/) - At its 10005th meeting on September 24, 2025, the UN Security Council held an open debate on the opportunities and dangers posed by artificial intelligence (AI). Secretary-General António Guterres described AI as a "double-edged sword": it can strengthen prevention efforts, anticipate crises, and aid peacebuilding, but without safeguards it risks weaponisation, disinformation, and destabilisation. He
- [Rise in AI-generated child sexual abuse images](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/09/22/rise-in-ai-generated-child-sexual-abuse-images/) - Analysts at the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) have discovered AI-generated child sexual abuse images linked to a chatbot on the open web. Between June and August 2025, the IWF recorded 17 such incidents. Although the site advertises free trial chats before offering paid subscriptions, its darker functions include previews of chatbot personas tied to abusive
- [Safeguarding implications of the Technology Prosperity Deal](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/09/18/safeguarding-implications-of-the-technology-prosperity-deal/) - The Technology Prosperity Deal between the United States and the United Kingdom, announced today, sets out a strategic framework for collaboration in science and technology. The non-binding MOU outlines joint ambitions in AI and innovation, emphasising the development of shared infrastructure and regulatory alignment. This raises safeguarding considerations. Large-scale AI and biotechnology datasets may involve
- [First Period and Beyond: New Free Webinar Empowers Girls to Take Control of Their Menstrual Health #ad](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/09/16/first-period-and-beyond-new-free-webinar-empowers-girls-to-take-control-of-their-menstrual-health-ad/) - From overnight trips to PE days, school life doesn’t pause for periods. Yet for many girls, their first few years of menstruation are marked by confusion, leaks, and silence. That’s where a new free webinar —First Period and Beyond—is stepping in to offer support, clarity and confidence. Created by the team behind La Suzy, the reusable
- [Where's the Gap in Your Digital Safety Net? #ad](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/09/11/wheres-the-gap-in-your-digital-safety-net-ad/) - Arabella Northey, Partnerships Manager at Seqrd Technology, explains why boarding schools can rely on innovative technology to manage student's devices. Your school's firewall works perfectly while students are on school grounds. What happens when personal devices leave your secure network? The moment students walk out of the metaphorical school gates they are potentially exposed to
- [Faster support for child exploitation victims](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/09/03/faster-support-for-child-exploitation-victims/) - Child victims of exploitation and human trafficking will now receive specialist help sooner, as 8 new areas join the pilot scheme. Decision times cut from 471 days to just 101 days — giving children quicker access to the support they need. Read the full article here.
- [Children Living in “Dickensian” Poverty, Warns Commissioner](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/08/27/children-living-in-dickensian-poverty-warns-commissioner/) - England’s Children’s Commissioner has warned that some children are growing up in shocking conditions – from going hungry to living with rats – and urged the government to scrap the two-child benefit cap. The report calls for urgent action to ensure no child in 2025 is left without basics like food, heating, safe housing and
- [Inquiry Claims Child Sexual Exploitation in 85 UK Local Authorities](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/08/27/inquiry-claims-child-sexual-exploitation-in-85-uk-local-authorities/) - A private investigation has reported evidence of child sexual exploitation in 85 areas across the UK, including historic cases. Survivors, families and whistleblowers have come forward, but questions remain over methodology and safeguarding. Following IICSA’s warning of an “epidemic” of abuse, campaigners stress action is needed now to protect children. Read the full article here.
- [Government urged to block children from using VPNs to bypass age verification on porn sites](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/08/20/government-urged-to-block-children-from-using-vpns-to-bypass-age-verification-on-porn-sites/) - The Children’s Commissioner is urging the government to close the VPN loophole that lets children dodge porn site age checks. A new report shows rising numbers of young people are being exposed — often by accident. Read the full article here.
- [SACPA welcomes new director](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/08/18/sacpa-welcomes-new-director/) - SACPA has appointed a new Director, Dr Mariya Ali. Mariya is an internationally recognised expert in child protection, with extensive experience in social work, research, and policy making. She served as the Deputy Minister for Health and Family in the Maldives from 2009 – 2011, holding the portfolio of gender and social services. She was
- [Charity reports nearly 50% increase in contacts to NSPCC about children’s welfare in sports settings](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/08/12/charity-reports-nearly-50-increase-in-contacts-to-nspcc-about-childrens-welfare-in-sports-settings/) - A children’s charity says calls to a helpline over concerns about young people’s welfare in sports clubs have risen by nearly 50% in the past year. It added that the increase “may indicate a rise in child abuse within sports settings,” while noting that adult survivors have also come forward to report historic abuse to
- [New figures show that 400 children in the UK fall victim to online grooming every week](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/08/12/new-figures-show-that-400-children-in-the-uk-fall-victim-to-online-grooming-every-week/) - Major tech firms, including social media giants Snapchat and Facebook, reported over 9,600 incidents of adults grooming children in the UK in just six months last year. The NSPCC called the figures “shocking,” equating to around 400 cases each week. Law enforcement bodies such as the FBI and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) have
- [Concerns Raised Over AI Firm’s Trial of Two Virtual ‘Companions’ — a Flirtatious Persona and an Insulting Panda](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/08/11/concerns-raised-over-ai-firms-trial-of-two-virtual-companions-a-flirtatious-persona-and-an-insulting-panda/) - After Grok referred to itself as "MechaHitler" and propagated antisemitic statements, X CEO Elon Musk is now attempting to attract users to the xAI product through animated, AI-powered “companions” featuring a flirty anime character and a provocative red panda. The newly introduced "companions" are called Ani, an anime girl who promises to make users’ lives
- [Managing pupil’s personal devices shouldn’t be a minefield #ad](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/07/29/managing-pupils-personal-devices-shouldnt-be-a-minefield-ad/) - Arabella Northey, Partnerships Manager at Seqrd Technology, explains why boarding schools can rely on innovative technology to manage student's devices. The DfE’s guidance for boarding schools makes it clear that schools must protect students from harmful online content on devices, but also ensure they have regular opportunities to speak with their parents. Sometimes it feels
- [Summer screen time surge sparks safety concerns for children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/07/23/summer-screen-time-surge-sparks-safety-concerns-for-children/) - UK counter-terrorism agencies are warning parents that children may be more vulnerable to online radicalisation and harmful influences during the summer holidays. They urge families to stay aware of what their children are accessing online and to have open conversations about digital safety. Read the full article here.
- [Deepfake Pornography: A Growing Concern for Sexual Safety in Schools](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/06/25/deepfake-pornography-a-growing-concern-for-sexual-safety-in-schools/) - Deepfakes — AI-generated pictures, videos, or audio clips that look or sound real — are increasingly being used in harmful ways. While it is illegal to create or share sexually explicit images of children, including deepfakes, the technology behind them remains legal and easily accessible. An expert on online misogyny has warned MPs that sharing
- [Rise in violent crime among younger children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/06/25/rise-in-violent-crime-among-younger-children/) - A growing share of violent crime suspects in London are children aged 10 to 14, outpacing other youth age groups, according to a new report. Met Police data shows that in 2023, 7,512 children in this age bracket were suspected of violent offences, including knife-related crimes — a 38% increase compared to 2020. Read the
- [Supporting Girls at Night: How La Suzy Is Changing Menstrual Care in Schools and at Home #advert](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/06/17/supporting-girls-at-night-how-la-suzy-is-changing-menstrual-care-in-schools-and-at-home-advert/) - As schools deepen their focus on whole-child wellbeing, a new area of support is gaining attention: night-time menstrual care. For many girls—whether they board or go home each evening—managing periods overnight can be a quiet source of stress. Stained sheets, disrupted sleep, and embarrassment are common, particularly during early puberty when cycles can be irregular and
- [One in six pupils in the UK are missing school due to financial hardship](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/05/29/one-in-six-pupils-in-the-uk-are-missing-school-due-to-financial-hardship/) - According to a new report from the Child Poverty Action Group, about one in six secondary school students in the UK have missed classes because their families couldn’t afford it. Around one in four pupils who receive free school meals miss school due to financial difficulties. Campaigners are urging the UK government to scrap the
- [Helping Girls Sleep, Study, and Shine – La Suzy’s Wellness Period Bed Mat Empowers Teens at School, Home and Travel #advert](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/05/15/helping-girls-sleep-study-and-shine-la-suzys-wellness-period-bed-mat-empowers-teens-at-school-home-and-travel-advert/) - Periods should never be a source of shame—but for many school-aged girls, the fear of leaking through clothing or bedding can impact their confidence, attendance, and wellbeing. That’s the problem La Suzy, a newly launched UK wellness brand, is tackling head-on with its innovative reusable period bed mat. Founder Pam, a chemical engineer and mum,
- [A watchdog warns AI-generated child abuse images are now far more lifelike](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/04/24/a-watchdog-warns-ai-generated-child-abuse-images-are-now-far-more-lifelike/) - An online safety watchdog has warned that AI-generated images of child sexual abuse are becoming much more lifelike and convincing. Read more on this here.
- [Teachers may no longer be required to report certain cases of underage sexual activity](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/04/17/teachers-may-no-longer-be-required-to-report-certain-cases-of-underage-sexual-activity/) - Under a new clause in the Crime and Policing Bill, teachers in the UK may no longer be legally required to report consensual sexual activity between teenagers under 16, as long as specific conditions are met. Click here to find out more.
- [Meta increases restrictions for teen users on Facebook and Messenger](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/04/11/meta-increases-restrictions-for-teen-users-on-facebook-and-messenger/) - Meta is extending its Teen Accounts system—designed to provide an age-appropriate experience for users under 18—to Facebook and Messenger. This system automatically applies stricter settings for younger teens, limiting certain features by default. Parental approval will now be required for activities like live streaming or disabling image protections in messages. Click here to read more.
- [Online safety platform creator was coerced into sending graphic photos age 13 and still battling online abuse at 22](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/04/08/online-safety-platform-creator-was-coerced-into-sending-graphic-photos-age-13-and-still-battling-online-abuse-at-22/) - The Behind Our Screens website invites teenagers to share anonymous testimonials after sharing her own story, which inspired the platform. Click here to read more.
- [Experts claim that Roblox's safety shortcomings put children at risk](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/04/07/experts-claim-that-robloxs-safety-shortcomings-put-children-at-risk/) - Experts warn that the new safety features introduced on the popular children’s gaming platform Roblox to tackle harmful content are insufficient. Roblox, the UK’s most popular gaming platform for children aged eight to 12, introduced these parental control measures following concerns that children were being exposed to inappropriate material. Click here to read more.
- [The alarming increase in violent incidents within UK classrooms](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/04/03/the-alarming-increase-in-violent-incidents-within-uk-classrooms/) - A startling new report reveals that nearly 100,000 violent incidents have occurred in British classrooms over the past three years. Police records show cases of primary school children as young as seven carrying knives into lessons, while teenagers have been caught planning to poison or abduct their classmates. Read more on this here.
- [Doctors call for an end to outdated smacking as a form of punishment](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/04/01/doctors-call-for-an-end-to-outdated-smacking-as-a-form-of-punishment/) - The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is calling on politicians to support a change to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would eliminate the "reasonable punishment" defence for smacking, currently allowed under the Children Act 2004. To read more, click here.
- [Additional funding allows child protection pilot scheme to continue](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/03/19/more-funding-extends-child-protection-pilot-scheme/) - Walsall and Wolverhampton councils will continue collaborating with the government on a pilot initiative aimed at strengthening child protection. They are among 10 areas in England testing the Families First for Children (FFC) programme, which was launched following a significant child care review in 2022 and investigations into the tragic deaths of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and
- [SACPA welcomes government's reforms to support victims of child sexual abuse](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/02/06/sacpa-welcomes-governments-reforms-to-support-victims-of-child-sexual-abuse/) - SACPA welcomes the UK Government’s announcement of significant reforms aimed at improving support for victims of child sexual abuse. These measures, which respond to key recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), mark a crucial step in strengthening the rights and protections of survivors. Key aspects of the reforms include: Removal of
- [Mandatory Abuse Reporting (England)](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2025/01/07/mandatory-abuse-reporting-england/) - Yesterday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated her intention to make it mandatory to report child sexual abuse, with professional and criminal sanctions for failing to report or covering up such abuse. Read her full statement here. SACPA and the wider BSA Group, which includes the Boarding Schools' Association (BSA), support any measures that will keep
- [Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/12/17/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill/) - Today the UK government introduces its landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. The bill proposes a range of measures with £50m of funding that focus on children’s education and safeguarding. The debate is sure to be lively over the next few months and SACPA will keep safeguarding practitioners and leaders up to date with the
- [Internet Safety Tips for Children in Schools](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/12/04/internet-safety-tips-for-children-in-schools/) - Source: (9) Internet Safety Tips for Children in Schools | LinkedIn The internet is a powerful tool, but ensuring children’s safety online is a critical responsibility for teachers. Open conversations about internet safety equip children with the knowledge to navigate risks independently. Use educational applications for safe learning but also teach real-world internet skills like
- [Safeguarding Policies for Children’s Activity Providers](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/12/04/safeguarding-policies-for-childrens-activity-providers/) - Source: (9) Safeguarding Policies for Children’s Activity Providers | LinkedIn Safeguarding is essential for anyone running children’s activities like baby yoga, messy play, or sports. A strong safeguarding policy protects children, your team, and your business. Start by understanding legal requirements like the Children Act and ensuring all staff have DBS checks. Identify risks in
- [Safeguarding Children in Day Care Services](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/12/04/safeguarding-children-in-day-care-services/) - Source: (9) Safeguarding Children in Day Care Services | LinkedIn Safeguarding in daycare services ensures the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable adults through robust policies, vigilant practices, and collaborative efforts. Key stakeholders, including daycare staff, parents, local authorities, and safeguarding boards, share the responsibility of creating a safe environment. Providers must comply with
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – November 1, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/11/01/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-november-1-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Enhancing Adult Safeguarding Processes: The Indispensable Benefits of Introducing Quality Assurance Officers](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/10/31/enhancing-adult-safeguarding-processes-the-indispensable-benefits-of-introducing-quality-assurance-officers/) - Source: (20) Enhancing Adult Safeguarding Processes: The Indispensable Benefits of Introducing Quality Assurance Officers | LinkedIn Introducing Quality Assurance Officers into adult safeguarding strengthens adherence to standards, enhances policies, and promotes accountability through audits. These officers also advance staff skills with training, ensure secure data management, support continuous improvement, and facilitate interagency collaboration for a
- [Return to Safeguarding](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/10/31/return-to-safeguarding/) - Source: (20) Return to Safeguarding | LinkedIn A returning social worker at Oxfordshire County Council, passionate about safeguarding, shares their journey from community social work back to a supportive and skilled team, where they were encouraged to step up into a practice supervisor role. Highlighting the fulfilling work of empowering individuals to live independently with
- [Safeguarding: A Shared Responsibility for Volunteers and Vulnerable Adults](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/10/31/safeguarding-a-shared-responsibility-for-volunteers-and-vulnerable-adults/) - Source: (20) Safeguarding: A Shared Responsibility for Volunteers and Vulnerable Adults | LinkedIn Aneeta Prem MBE, CEO of TNA UK, highlights safeguarding as a commitment that goes beyond legal requirements, fostering trust, emotional support, and privacy protection for individuals with trigeminal neuralgia and the volunteers who serve them. Click here to read more.
- [Safeguarding Children’s Rights in the UAE: An Overview of Federal Law on Child Protection (Wadeema’s Law)](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/10/24/safeguarding-childrens-rights-in-the-uae-an-overview-of-federal-law-on-child-protection-wadeemas-law/) - Source: (23) Safeguarding Children’s Rights in the UAE: An Overview of Federal Law on Child Protection (Wadeema’s Law) | LinkedIn Wadeema’s Law, or Federal Law No. 3 of 2016, is a vital child protection law in the UAE, named after a tragic case of abuse. It guarantees children's rights to life, education, healthcare, and protection
- [The Shocking Surge in Child Radicalisation: A Practical Guide for Parents and Schools to Safeguard Children and Teens.](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/10/24/the-shocking-surge-in-child-radicalisation-a-practical-guide-for-parents-and-schools-to-safeguard-children-and-teens/) - Source: (23) The Shocking Surge in Child Radicalisation: A Practical Guide for Parents and Schools to Safeguard Children and Teens. | LinkedIn MI5's Ken McCallum warns of a "staggering" rise in children being investigated for terrorism in the UK, with online right-wing extremism drawing them in through "canny" memes, highlighting the growing threat of radicalisation
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – October 18, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/10/18/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-october-18-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [5 Key Considerations When Working with Children Affected by Domestic Abuse](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/10/18/5-key-considerations-when-working-with-children-affected-by-domestic-abuse-2/) - Source: (19) 5 Key Considerations When Working with Children Affected by Domestic Abuse | LinkedIn Supporting children affected by domestic abuse requires trauma-informed care, early intervention, and well-equipped staff to foster healing and long-term well-being. Click here to read more.
- [Digital Seatbelts: Safeguarding Families in the Age of Technology](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/10/18/digital-seatbelts-safeguarding-families-in-the-age-of-technology/) - Source: (19) Digital Seatbelts: Safeguarding Families in the Age of Technology | LinkedIn "Digital seatbelts," like parental controls, open communication, and device-free zones, are essential safeguards to protect children from the risks of unrestrained access to technology in today's fast-paced digital world. Click here to read more
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – October 4, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/10/04/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-october-4-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [5 Key Considerations When Working with Children Affected by Domestic Abuse](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/10/04/5-key-considerations-when-working-with-children-affected-by-domestic-abuse/) - Source: 5 Key Considerations When Working with Children Affected by Domestic Abuse | LinkedIn Supporting children affected by domestic abuse requires trauma-informed care, early intervention, specialized training for staff, and the use of data to ensure effective and individualized support in Local Authorities and children’s homes. Click here to read more.
- [Safeguarding Nonverbal Children: Giving Every Child A Voice](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/10/04/safeguarding-nonverbal-children-giving-every-child-a-voice/) - Source: Safeguarding Nonverbal Children: Giving Every Child A Voice | LinkedIn Supporting nonverbal children in safeguarding requires tailored communication tools, such as feelings charts, sign language, and visual symbols, to ensure every child can disclose potential abuse or neglect, especially those with SEND. Click here to read more.
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – September 20, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/09/20/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-september-20-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Incorporating the International Safeguards for Children In Sport in the YPI](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/09/19/incorporating-the-international-safeguards-for-children-in-sport-in-the-ypi/) - Source: (14) Incorporating the International Safeguards for Children In Sport in the YPI | LinkedIn On #SafeSportDay, Maitrayana highlights its commitment to child safety in sports by integrating the 8 International Safeguards for Children in Sport. The organization ensures a safe environment through clear policies, structured procedures, trained staff, risk minimization, behavioral guidelines, collaboration with
- [Alexa says hi – Should children have access to virtual assistants?](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/09/19/alexa-says-hi-should-children-have-access-to-virtual-assistants/) - Source: (14) Alexa says hi – Should children have access to virtual assistants? | LinkedIn The article explores the growing role of virtual assistants (VAs) in homes and their impact on parenting, especially regarding child safeguarding. It highlights the educational benefits of VAs, such as fostering curiosity and reducing screen time, but also raises concerns
- [Do you know how to respond when a concern is raised?](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/09/19/do-you-know-how-to-respond-when-a-concern-is-raised-2/) - Source: (14) Do you know how to respond when a concern is raised? | LinkedIn The article emphasizes the critical responsibility of Out of School Settings (OOSS) in safeguarding children. It discusses the importance of clear referral routes for reporting concerns promptly, robust safeguarding policies and procedures, and actionable steps to ensure child protection. Key
- [Safeguarding jobs round up - September 13, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/09/13/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-september-13-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Cybersecurity Awareness: Safeguarding Your Business in the Digital Age](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/09/11/cybersecurity-awareness-safeguarding-your-business-in-the-digital-age/) - Source: (15) Cybersecurity Awareness: Safeguarding Your Business in the Digital Age | LinkedIn In an increasingly interconnected world, businesses face a growing array of cybersecurity threats such as ransomware, phishing, and state-sponsored attacks. To safeguard their data, organizations must adopt best practices, invest in cybersecurity awareness programs, and ensure leadership takes an active role in
- [Safeguarding Our Children in the Digital Age](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/09/11/safeguarding-our-children-in-the-digital-age/) - Source: (15) Safeguarding Our Children in the Digital Age | LinkedIn Lawmakers in the US and globally recognise the urgent need for legislation to protect children on digital platforms, akin to past efforts in road safety. Proposed laws focus on age restrictions and data protection, yet effectiveness hinges on whether they empower parents with practical
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – August 30, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/08/30/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-august-30-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – August 16, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/08/16/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-august-16-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Launching a new national standard for safeguarding](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/08/15/launching-a-new-national-standard-for-safeguarding/) - Source: Launching a new national standard for safeguarding - Save the Children UK SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY The aim of the new British Standard 25800, “Safeguarding: Guidance for Organizations”, is to equip anyone with the knowledge and information to get started on preventing harmful situations from occurring. The Standard fully embraces the idea that awareness raising
- [Safeguarding The Safeguarder](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/08/15/safeguarding-the-safeguarder/) - Source: (1) Safeguarding The Safeguarder | LinkedIn Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults : A Legal Imperative in Every Sphere Safeguarding has long been seen as a cornerstone of mental health and social care, but this narrow focus overlooks a critical truth: safeguarding must extend to every social and professional interaction. The CWS Method's preventive mental health paradigm
- [How Wigan Council’s new way of working is supporting Children’s Social Workers](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/07/31/how-wigan-councils-new-way-of-working-is-supporting-childrens-social-workers/) - Source: (24) How Wigan Council’s new way of working is supporting Children’s Social Workers | LinkedIn By Sandie Hayes, Practice Director for Children’s Social Care at Wigan Council Children’s social work is a rewarding career which makes a huge difference to the lives of young people and their families. At Wigan Council we also recognise
- [Safeguarding Lessons: A Key Frontier in Donor and Funder Investment Strategies](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/07/31/safeguarding-lessons-a-key-frontier-in-donor-and-funder-investment-strategies/) - Source: (24) Safeguarding Lessons: A Key Frontier in Donor and Funder Investment Strategies | LinkedIn As we prepare for the #Paris2024 Olympic Games, recognizing the heightened importance of #safeguarding is vital, not just in sports but across all organizations. Drawing on lessons from two landmark UK sports safeguarding reviews, we see a clear trend: ignoring
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – July 5, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/07/05/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-july-5-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Cyber Secure Summer: Safeguarding Seniors from Cybercrime](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/07/04/cyber-secure-summer-safeguarding-seniors-from-cybercrime/) - Source: (9) Cyber Secure Summer: Safeguarding Seniors from Cybercrime | LinkedIn As July heats up, it's the perfect time to focus on more than just vacations and outdoor activities. This month, I'm excited to launch an important initiative – Cyber Secure Summer: Safeguarding Seniors from Cybercrime. With the digital world expanding so quickly, it's more
- [Summary of Jon Trew’s Key Learning from Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel: 2022-2023 2-Minute Read](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/07/04/summary-of-jon-trews-key-learning-from-child-safeguarding-practice-review-panel-2022-2023-2-minute-read/) - Source: (9) Summary of Jon Trew’s Key Learning from Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel: 2022-2023 2-Minute Read | LinkedIn The Review identifies key themes from individual reviews, including: The risk of abuse and neglect being overlooked when the focus is primarily on a child's health condition The prevalence of children with complex mental health needs
- [Do you know how to respond when a concern is raised?](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/06/27/do-you-know-how-to-respond-when-a-concern-is-raised/) - Source: (8) Do you know how to respond when a concern is raised? | LinkedIn Safeguarding the well-being of children in Out of School Settings (OOSS) is a critical responsibility for all providers. Whether you manage an after-school club, a summer camp, or a weekend activity centre, having clear, effective policies and procedures for reporting
- [Safeguarding Our Workplaces: The 2023 Worker Protection Act Against Sexual Harassment](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/06/27/safeguarding-our-workplaces-the-2023-worker-protection-act-against-sexual-harassment/) - Source: (8) Safeguarding Our Workplaces: The 2023 Worker Protection Act Against Sexual Harassment | LinkedIn “The system is broken but passing my bill is a massive step towards fixing it.”- WeraHobhouse, Member of Parliament for Bath At the end of 2023, after years of lobbying by stakeholders, and led by Wera Hobhouse, MP, the UK
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – June 21, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/06/21/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-june-21-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Away day trips and fixtures – safeguarding considerations](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/06/20/away-day-trips-and-fixtures-safeguarding-considerations/) - Source: (17) Away day trips and fixtures – safeguarding considerations | LinkedIn Travelling to away fixtures can be a regular activity for many clubs and teams. Trips may vary from short journeys across town to play another local team, to overnight stays, or even events overseas. This article outlines a number of safeguarding considerations when
- [Safeguarding Week in Yorkshire: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Protections](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/06/20/safeguarding-week-in-yorkshire-raising-awareness-and-strengthening-protections/) - Source: (17) Safeguarding Week in Yorkshire: Raising Awareness and Strengthening Protections | LinkedIn With many Safeguarding Children Partnerships and Safeguarding Adult Boards in Yorkshire organising their Annual Safeguarding Week, it is an ideal time to highlight the importance of safeguarding and how organisations can play a pivotal role in protecting vulnerable children, young people, and
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – June 14, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/06/14/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-june-14-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Safeguarding children is the responsibility of every business.](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/06/14/safeguarding-children-is-the-responsibility-of-every-business-2/) - Source: (20) Safeguarding children is the responsibility of every business. | LinkedIn Here's why incorporating a focus on safeguarding children into your business practices is absolutely crucial: Ethical responsibility: businesses have a moral obligation to protect the rights and wellbeing of children and young people Risk mitigation: neglecting child safeguarding can lead to significant legal,
- [Consent vs coercion in child protection](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/06/14/consent-vs-coercion-in-child-protection/) - Source: (20) Consent vs coercion in child protection | LinkedIn Hi friend, Let's talk about consent. Specifically how we seek consent to see children when we are the allocated social worker. Direct work is a huge topic (listen to me talk about this with the very wise Rich Devine)but before we even think about direct
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – June 7, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/06/07/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-june-7-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [The emotional impact of working in safeguarding](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/06/06/the-emotional-impact-of-working-in-safeguarding/) - Source: (5) The emotional impact of working in safeguarding | LinkedIn This week is #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, mental health is one of the most important foundations for a healthy and long life, as plenty of us know, working in safeguarding can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be challenging. Responding to safeguarding concerns often involves listening
- [A Right to Warn: Safeguarding Our AI Future with Whistleblower Protections](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/06/06/a-right-to-warn-safeguarding-our-ai-future-with-whistleblower-protections/) - Source: (5) A Right to Warn: Safeguarding Our AI Future with Whistleblower Protect The recent publication of the 'Right to Warn AI' petition marks a significant milestone in the ongoing discourse surrounding artificial intelligence safety. Current and former employees from leading AI labs, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind, have come forward to advocate for
- [ADHD: does medication work?](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/06/03/adhd-does-medication-work/) - Source: ADHD: does medication work? (msn.com) The NHS is not coping with ADHD. The numbers of people queueing up to be diagnosed surged during and after the Covid pandemic, and have become so large that waiting times stretch to years. NHS England knows it has a problem: in March it announced it is launching
- [Safeguarding children is the responsibility of every business.](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/05/31/safeguarding-children-is-the-responsibility-of-every-business/) - Source: (7) Safeguarding children is the responsibility of every business. | LinkedIn Here's why incorporating a focus on safeguarding children into your business practices is absolutely crucial: Ethical responsibility: businesses have a moral obligation to protect the rights and wellbeing of children and young people Risk mitigation: neglecting child safeguarding can lead to significant legal,
- [Safeguarding in Out of School Settings and Activities](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/05/31/safeguarding-in-out-of-school-settings-and-activities/) - Source: (7) Safeguarding in Out of School Settings and Activities | LinkedIn The Unseen Gap Many parents and guardians breathe a sigh of relief when the school day starts – their child is safe and supervised. But what about the outside of school? When children are enrolled in after-school clubs, sports teams or private tuition
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – May 31, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/05/31/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-may-31-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Age limits on sex education could see children turn to ‘less reliable sources’](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/05/22/age-limits-on-sex-education-could-see-children-turn-to-less-reliable-sources/) - Age limits on when sex education can be taught could risk children seeking information from “less reliable sources”, a school leaders’ union has warned. Schools in England are set to be told not to teach children sex education until pupils are aged nine and over, with explicit conversations delayed until they are aged 13, reports suggest. The
- [Safeguarding panel calls for register of home-educated children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/05/22/safeguarding-panel-calls-for-register-of-home-educated-children/) - An expert child safeguarding panel has joined calls for a statutory register of children who are electively home educated. The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel looked at 27 incidents involving 41 children whose parents had chosen to educate them at home and who were subjected to sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect in 2020 and 2021. Six of
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – May 3, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/05/03/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-may-3-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Safeguard Students Online with a Robust Online Filtering Strategy](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/05/02/safeguard-students-online-with-a-robust-online-filtering-strategy/) - Source: (19) Safeguard Students Online with a Robust Online Filtering Strategy | LinkedIn For UK schools, providing a safe, connected environment for students extends beyond the classroom. Managing expansive networks, servers, and devices across campuses and dorms brings unique IT challenges. As a leading education IT networking and cybersecurity provider, Switchshop offers solutions purposely designed
- [Why the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead must be standalone](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/05/02/why-the-role-of-the-designated-safeguarding-lead-must-be-standalone/) - Source: (19) Why the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead must be standalone | LinkedIn Keeping Children Safe in Education (‘KCSiE’)2021 states at Para 11: “The designated safeguarding lead (and any deputies) are most likely to have a complete safeguarding picture and be the most appropriate person to advise on the response to safeguarding concerns”, but with the safeguarding
- [Police and partners work with local businesses to tackle child exploitation in the city centre](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/05/01/police-and-partners-work-with-local-businesses-to-tackle-child-exploitation-in-the-city-centre/) - The more you share with us, the more children we can help.’ Greater Manchester Police and partners are working with local businesses to spot the signs of exploitation and encourage reporting so that officers can safeguard vulnerable people at the earliest opportunity. Child protection is one of the most complex areas of policing, owing to many
- [Training Spotlight: Early years students use VR to hone safeguarding skills](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/05/01/training-spotlight-early-years-students-use-vr-to-hone-safeguarding-skills/) - We believe that extended reality technologies have matured to the point where they are ready to take their place in the educator’s toolkit. Where virtual reality (VR) technology excels is in bridging theory and practice: for example, practising unsafe skills in a safe environment; “hands-on” learning where that is otherwise impractical; or exploration and familiarisation
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – April 26, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/04/26/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-april-26-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Witnessing Poor Practise in Early Years: A guide to safeguarding children's well-being](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/04/25/witnessing-poor-practise-in-early-years-a-guide-to-safeguarding-childrens-well-being/) - Source: (10) Witnessing Poor Practise in Early Years: A guide to safeguarding children's well-being | LinkedIn At The Early Years Company, we are deeply saddened by the tragic news of a baby girl's passing due to neglect at the hands of those entrusted with her care. Our hearts ache for the precious life lost
- [Age Verification and Validation: The Path Forward to Safeguarding Children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/04/25/age-verification-and-validation-the-path-forward-to-safeguarding-children-2/) - Source: (10) Age Verification and Validation: The Path Forward to Safeguarding Children | LinkedIn In the whirlwind of the digital age, one of our biggest priorities is ensuring our kids can explore the vast online universe safely. The internet is a double-edged sword, offering boundless knowledge and opportunities and exposing young ones to content they're
- [Teachers voice fears over surge in home-schooled children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/04/24/teachers-voice-fears-over-surge-in-home-schooled-children/) - School leaders have sounded a warning over the number of children being home schooled saying many are not getting a proper education. London headteachers are doing “everything they can” to prevent children who are persistently absent from being taken out of school permanently to be home educated, they said. It comes as the number of children being home schooled in England
- [Plans to strengthen safeguarding rules in the EYFS out for consultation](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/04/24/plans-to-strengthen-safeguarding-rules-in-the-eyfs-out-for-consultation/) - Plans to ensure individuals working in early years settings have reference checks, and new requirements to follow up if a child is absent from nursery for a prolonged period of time, are some of the measures set out in a new early years safeguarding consultation. The Department for Education said the consultation aims to strengthen
- [Bringing safeguarding into the digital era](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/04/18/bringing-safeguarding-into-the-digital-era-2/) - Source: (13) Bringing safeguarding into the digital era | LinkedIn In the digital era that we now live in, we can no longer think of internet safety or e-safety as a separate entity when safeguarding children and young people. In fact, if someone tries to tell you of the importance of “e-safety” in the traditional
- [Safeguarding Every Mile: The Crucial Elements of a Journey Management Plan](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/04/18/safeguarding-every-mile-the-crucial-elements-of-a-journey-management-plan/) - Source: (13) Safeguarding Every Mile: The Crucial Elements of a Journey Management Plan | LinkedIn In an age where travel is indispensable for both personal and professional endeavours, the importance of ensuring safety during every leg of a journey cannot be overstated. Crafting a robust journey management plan is not merely prudent—it's essential for mitigating
- [Government to make all police carry out Plymouth safeguarding children scheme](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/04/17/government-to-make-all-police-carry-out-plymouth-safeguarding-children-scheme/) - he Government is set to make a Plymouth-born child-safeguarding scheme a statutory requirement of all police forces across England and Wales. As part of a series of amendments to the Victims and Prisoners Bill which are being tabled by the Government, the Operation Encompass scheme - currently being performed by 43 police forces across the
- [More areas trial new child protection project](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/04/17/more-areas-trial-new-child-protection-project/) - Seven more areas in England have been selected to trial a programme to improve child protection. The Families First for Children (FFC) scheme was launched in three areas in 2023 after after a major child care review in 2022 and reports into the murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson in 2020. The government said the £45m programme would make sure
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – April 12, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/04/12/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-april-12-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Bringing safeguarding into the digital era](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/04/11/bringing-safeguarding-into-the-digital-era/) - Source: (15) Bringing safeguarding into the digital era | LinkedIn In the digital era that we now live in, we can no longer think of internet safety or e-safety as a separate entity when safeguarding children and young people. In fact, if someone tries to tell you of the importance of “e-safety” in the traditional
- [Age Verification and Validation: The Path Forward to Safeguarding Children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/04/11/age-verification-and-validation-the-path-forward-to-safeguarding-children/) - Source: (15) Age Verification and Validation: The Path Forward to Safeguarding Children | LinkedIn In the whirlwind of the digital age, one of our biggest priorities is ensuring our kids can explore the vast online universe safely. The internet is a double-edged sword, offering boundless knowledge and opportunities and exposing young ones to content they're
- [Probe after vulnerable Lancashire pupils left on school buses](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/03/28/probe-after-vulnerable-lancashire-pupils-left-on-school-buses/) - Source: Probe after vulnerable Lancashire pupils left on school buses - BBC News An investigation is under way after several vulnerable children were found onboard specialist school buses after the vehicles returned to their depots. Lancashire County Council is looking into three incidents in which pupils were overlooked after all other passengers had been dropped
- [School makes U-turn on fasting pupils policy](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/03/28/school-makes-u-turn-on-fasting-pupils-policy/) - Source: School finds solution for fasting pupils after criticism - BBC News A primary school criticised for asking fasting pupils to spend their lunch break at home has made a U-turn on its policy. The Beeches Primary School in Peterborough said that about 30 Muslim children in years 5 and 6 were observing the Ramadan fasts, during
- [Rise in pupils self-harming since Covid](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/03/22/rise-in-pupils-self-harming-since-covid/) - A secondary school says asking children if they are self-harming has become "common" since the Covid pandemic. School leaders and mental health workers say they have seen increases in anxiety, self-harm and eating disorders among children. The number of pupils now marked as persistently absent from class has also doubled in Welsh secondary schools. The Welsh
- [Cyber-flashing convict is first to be jailed under new law](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/03/22/cyber-flashing-convict-is-first-to-be-jailed-under-new-law/) - A convicted paedophile who sent a picture of his erect penis to a 15-year-old girl has become the first person to be jailed for cyber-flashing in England and Wales. Registered sex offender Nicholas Hawkes, 39, of Basildon, Essex, also sent unsolicited photos to a woman. The woman took screenshots of the WhatsApp image sent on
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – March 22, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/03/22/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-march-22-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Autistic pupils in England denied right to education as absenteeism surges, says charity](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/03/15/autistic-pupils-in-england-denied-right-to-education-as-absenteeism-surges-says-charity/) - Autistic pupils are being denied their basic right to education, a leading charity has warned, as figures reveal the number persistently off school has increased by 166% in four years. The research shows that more than a quarter of autistic children in England – 51,000 out of about 200,000 children – are persistently absent, meaning
- [Doncaster school checking on absent pupils' bins, cars and post](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/03/15/doncaster-school-checking-on-absent-pupils-bins-cars-and-post/) - A secondary school is monitoring families' bins, cars and post to crack down on unauthorised pupil absences. Astrea Academy Woodfields in Doncaster is checking driveways, boiler flues and lights to see if people are home or away on holiday. Principal David Scales said the visits were conducted out of safety concerns for absent children. The
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – March 15, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/03/15/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-march-15-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [The Imperative of Safeguarding Children’s Rights: A Closer Look at the Children Act 2004](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/13/the-imperative-of-safeguarding-childrens-rights-a-closer-look-at-the-children-act-2004/) - Children, the world’s most vulnerable population, deserve care, protection, and a nurturing environment for their holistic development. Recognizing this, various nations have established laws to safeguard and promote children’s welfare. A prime example is the United Kingdom’s Children Act 2004, a legislation dedicated to ensuring children’s well-being in diverse settings such as family, education, and
- [Paedophiles using open source AI to create child sexual abuse content, says watchdog](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/15/paedophiles-using-open-source-ai-to-create-child-sexual-abuse-content-says-watchdog/) - People sharing on dark web how to modify software on their computers to manipulate photos of children, says IWF Freely available artificial intelligence software is being used by paedophiles to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM), according to a safety watchdog, with offenders discussing how to manipulate photos of celebrity children or known victims to
- [Parents use children's shoes in Merseyside council protest](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/29/parents-use-childrens-shoes-in-merseyside-council-protest/) - Parents laid children's footwear outside a council meeting in a protest at a local authority they say could not "walk a mile in their shoes". The Voice of the Families group staged the protest outside a Sefton Council meeting in Southport following negative experiences of the authority's children's services. The area's children's services is currently
- [Joe Swash: Teenagers leaving care almost ‘set up for failure’](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/13/joe-swash-teenagers-leaving-care-almost-set-up-for-failure/) - Joe Swash's mother is a foster carer and the TV star has developed a strong bond with his foster sibling, Daniel, who the celebrity says will always be in their family. But for some young people who have been in care, support can drop away when they reach 18 and leave the care system. "Daniel
- [Government to review case for powers of entry for social workers in adult safeguarding cases](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/22/government-to-review-case-for-powers-of-entry-for-social-workers-in-adult-safeguarding-cases-2/) - Review finds practitioners often lack tools to protect people from being abused at home by those providing care, reopening debate over powers of entry, which were rejected by government during Care Act's passage The government is reviewing the case for giving social workers in England powers of entry in adult safeguarding cases. It made the
- [Safeguarding recommendations made after tragic murder of Grace Thorpe at hands of mum's evil partner](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/26/safeguarding-recommendations-made-after-tragic-murder-of-grace-thorpe-at-hands-of-mums-evil-partner/) - Recommendations on safeguarding and domestic abuse have been made following the horrific murder of beautiful toddler Grace Thorpe. It was the man she called 'daddy', child killer Adam Jackson, who brutally attacked the defenceless two year old. The then 27-year-old murderer - who was Grace's mum's partner - inflicted injuries likened to those seen in
- [Project to help kids who experience abuse and violence set to open](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/30/project-to-help-kids-who-experience-abuse-and-violence-set-to-open/) - SCOTLAND'S first Bairns Hoose to help children who have experienced abuse and violence has opened, bringing a number of support services under one roof. It will offer a single-location alternative to courts, social work offices and police stations in the west of Scotland, bringing together child protection, health, justice and therapeutic support. Based on the "Barnahus" model,
- [Authorities to consider past Aboriginal mistreatment in child protection cases under newly passed Victorian bill](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/02/authorities-to-consider-past-aboriginal-mistreatment-in-child-protection-cases-under-newly-passed-victorian-bill/) - An Australian-first bill aimed at reducing the disproportionate number of Indigenous children entering care in Victoria has passed parliament. The bill, which will allow organisations such as the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency to investigate child protection cases and connect families with support before a court order is made, was passed in the state’s upper house on Thursday with
- [Inquiry into deaths of Polmont prisoners Katie Allan and William Lindsay](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/05/inquiry-into-deaths-of-polmont-prisoners-katie-allan-and-william-lindsay/) - Katie, who was 21, and William, 16, died in separate incidents within months of each other in 2018. The long-awaited inquiry is to be announced later this week. Their families said they were frustrated they had to wait five years for an inquiry. They said that after so many years they were still waiting for
- [App supporting child protection work wins Scotland-wide award](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/28/app-supporting-child-protection-work-wins-scotland-wide-award/) - App supporting child protection work wins Scotland-wide award 23 March 2023 An app developed at the University of Strathclyde, which was designed to support global child protection work during the COVID-19 pandemic, has won a Scotland-wide award. The COVID 4P (Protection, Provision, Participation, Prevention) Log was named the winner in the Making A Social Difference category of
- [In one of London's most dangerous areas, being in the wrong place at the wrong time can be deadly](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/10/in-one-of-londons-most-dangerous-areas-being-in-the-wrong-place-at-the-wrong-time-can-be-deadly/) - In Croydon, local services have been decimated. The local council has declared that it is effectively bankrupt. And it is where children carry knives. "Jaden" was stabbed a couple of weeks ago while walking the streets of Croydon, south London. Luckily for him, it wasn't serious. But a week later, he was arrested for carrying
- [Coaches banned from weighing gymnasts in new safeguarding rules](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/12/07/coaches-banned-from-weighing-gymnasts-in-new-safeguarding-rules/) - Coaches have been banned from weighing gymnasts and must allow toilet and hydration breaks under new safe sport rules issued by British Gymnastics. The new policy comes almost 18 months after the independent Whyte review heavily criticised British Gymnastics for presiding over a culture where young gymnasts were starved, body shamed and abused in a system
- [London: More teenagers killed in 2023 than 2022](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/12/london-more-teenagers-killed-in-2023-than-2022/) - More teenage homicides were recorded in London last year than in 2022 after 21 teenagers were killed. Of those who died, 18 teenagers were stabbed, two were shot and one was killed after his moped was hit by a car. The number is up on 2022, when 14 teenage homicides were recorded, but lower than
- [Teachers in England left to support at-risk children after social services cuts](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/25/teachers-in-england-left-to-support-at-risk-children-after-social-services-cuts-2/) - Increasing numbers of children suffering from domestic abuse, serious neglect and homelessness are being refused help from over-stretched social services, schools across England have told the Observer. Child protection cases that would automatically have prompted intervention from social workers a few years ago are now routinely being passed back to schools to deal with themselves. The
- [How equipped is children’s social work for digital safeguarding?](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/16/how-equipped-is-childrens-social-work-for-digital-safeguarding/) - Many think digital safeguarding is about staying safe online but it means much more. Our work seeks to develop innovative ways in which children and young people can digitally and safely self-refer to children’s social care, allowing them to communicate harms and experiences in real time. Such a digital front door would support frontline practitioners
- [Think only naive young women get their drinks spiked – think again](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/26/think-only-naive-young-women-get-their-drinks-spiked-think-again/) - There are 12 hours of my life that have always remained a total mystery. What began as dinner and a couple of drinks with a friend ended in my coming-to on the street in London, utterly filthy, bruised and with my eyes like saucers, with no memory of how I got there. After a passer-by
- [Banning phones will not make children safer](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/28/banning-phones-will-not-make-children-safer/) - We are all aware that mobile phones with access to the internet are now used by most children and young people. However, whether children are on or offline they participate in risk-taking behaviours to experiment and to establish their self-identity especially through the adolescent years. In light of recent high-profile murder cases where young people’s
- ["UK's online safety law does not protect our children", says mum of murdered Cheshire teenager](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/16/uks-online-safety-law-does-not-protect-our-children-says-mum-of-murdered-cheshire-teenager/) - The mum of murdered Cheshire teenager Brianna Ghey has said a law aimed at protecting young people online is not fit for purpose. Esther Ghey is campaigning for mobile phone companies to take more responsibility for safeguarding children against the risks of accessing harmful content. Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe were both 15 when they
- [Tips to safeguarding children from smartphones](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/21/tips-to-safeguarding-children-from-smartphones/) - LBAWABA - Protecting children from smartphones is crucial for safeguarding their well-being in the vast realms of the internet. American company "Apple" provides robust data protection and privacy options through its "iPhone" devices, along with educational materials to help parents and children understand online safety. The company regularly sends security updates to its devices, ensuring
- [Family anger after no censure over Polmont prison deaths](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/14/family-anger-after-no-censure-over-polmont-prison-deaths/) - The family of a woman who took her own life while serving a jail term have spoken of their upset that no official censure will be given to the Scottish Prison Service. Katie Allan, 21, died in Polmont young offenders institution while serving a sentence for a drunk hit-and-run crash. Last year her parents were
- [UKHSA launches TV and radio adverts to persuade parents to get children immunised](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/03/04/ukhsa-launches-tv-and-radio-adverts-to-persuade-parents-to-get-children-immunised/) - Parents who haven’t had their children immunised against infections such as measles and whooping cough are to be the target of a new NHS campaign from this week. In video adverts set to appear across television, radio and the internet children’s voices will be heard saying “If we're not vaccinated, we're not protected." Health officials
- [Crimes involving child abuse imagery are up by a quarter in UK, says NSPCC](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/03/04/crimes-involving-child-abuse-imagery-are-up-by-a-quarter-in-uk-says-nspcc/) - Crimes involving child abuse imagery (CAI) have risen by a quarter in the past year, according to figures collated by the NSPCC. Nearly half of those incidents where the platform was recorded occurred on Snapchat, while Meta’s family of apps, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, covered another 26%. The figures, logged from freedom of information requests filed
- [Two new charities should oversee safeguarding in Church of England – report](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/28/two-new-charities-should-oversee-safeguarding-in-church-of-england-report/) - Two new independent charities should be set up to deliver and oversee safeguarding in the Church of England, a report has recommended. The report, authored by Professor Alexis Jay, states that current safeguarding is “flawed” and “cannot be sufficiently improved” while it remains within Church oversight. It recommends that an independent body should oversee the establishment of
- [Hollie Gazzard murder: School workshops 'saving lives'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/26/hollie-gazzard-murder-school-workshops-saving-lives/) - A man whose daughter was murdered by her abusive ex-boyfriend a decade ago says teaching teenagers about coercive control is saving lives. Hollie Gazzard, 20, was stabbed by Asher Maslin while working at a Gloucester hairdressing salon in 2014. The trust set up in her name now runs workshops in schools to highlight what coercive behaviour and
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – February 23, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/23/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-february-23-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Mandatory reporting duty introduced for child sex abuse disclosures](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/22/mandatory-reporting-duty-introduced-for-child-sex-abuse-disclosures/) - Teachers and healthcare workers in England and Wales will be legally required to report cases of child sexual abuse under Government plans. People with childcare responsibilities in regulated sectors could be barred from working with children again if they fail to report a disclosure. The new mandatory reporting duty was announced on Wednesday. It also means that anyone who
- [Taunts, bullying… then groping: how sexual assaults are increasing in schools](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/22/taunts-bullying-then-groping-how-sexual-assaults-are-increasing-in-schools/) - Billy (not real name) is now being home-schooled after bullying turned into physical violence. Starting secondary school had not been easy for Billy (not his real name). What started as verbal taunts from one boy soon saw him become the target of a group of four boys. Bullying became physical violence. Yet the abuse got even worse,
- [EU opens investigation into TikTok over online content and child safeguarding](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/21/eu-opens-investigation-into-tiktok-over-online-content-and-child-safeguarding/) - EU has launched a formal investigation into whether TikTok has broken online content rules including the safeguarding of children. The European Commission said it had opened official proceedings against the Chinese-owned short video platform over potential breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA). It said the investigation was looking at areas including protection of minors, maintaining records of
- [The UK moves another step closer to banning phones in schools](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/19/the-uk-moves-another-step-closer-to-banning-phones-in-schools/) - Mobile phone ownership has become standard for people of most ages, and, while there's a convenience argument, experts and regulators alike have expressed concerns about children's well-being and distraction while learning. To that end, the UK government has become the latest to announce guidance for banning the use of phones during school. It follows other European
- [EU launches probe into TikTok over child protection](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/19/eu-launches-probe-into-tiktok-over-child-protection/) - The EU on Monday announced a formal investigation into TikTok over alleged breaches of its obligations to protect minors online, under a landmark new law on policing digital content. It is the second probe into a major online platform since Brussels introduced the Digital Services Act (DSA), after targeting tech billionaire Elon Musk's X in
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – February 16, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/16/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-february-16-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [‘None of Mia’s tormentors apologised for bullying’ says father](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/15/none-of-mias-tormentors-apologised-for-bullying-says-father/) - Mia Janin was targeted by boys nicknamed the ‘Suicide Squad’ and was the third pupil at her school in five years to take her own life. The father of a schoolgirl who took her own life after being targeted by bullies at school has said that none of her tormentors has apologised to him. Mariano
- [Alfie Steele: More than 60 calls for help before boy's murder](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/15/alfie-steele-more-than-60-calls-for-help-before-boys-murder-2/) - More than 60 calls were made to police and social services before a nine-year-old boy was killed by his mum and her partner, a BBC investigation has found. Alfie Steele died after "sadistic" punishments including beatings and being held under bath water at his home in Droitwich, Worcestershire, in 2021. A safeguarding report published on
- [Gillian Keegan: I'm confident of 15 hours of free childcare by April](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/05/gillian-keegan-im-confident-of-15-hours-of-free-childcare-by-april/) - The education secretary has said she is "confident" free childcare for two-year-olds in England will be ready in time for its April rollout. Gillian Keegan told the BBC she would "deliver" the pledge for 15 hours per week free childcare to working parents. She initially said she was "pretty confident" of delivering the hours, but
- [MP backs Brianna Ghey mum's call for social media safeguarding](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/05/mp-backs-brianna-ghey-mums-call-for-social-media-safeguarding/) - Parents cannot be expected to monitor what their children are doing online 24/7, an MP has warned as she backed a campaign by Brianna Ghey's mum. Esther Ghey has called for the government to stop children having access to social media apps. Charlotte Nichols, Warrington North MP, said a balance needed to be struck as
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – February 2, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/02/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-february-2-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Alfie Steele: More than 60 calls for help before boy's murder](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/01/alfie-steele-more-than-60-calls-for-help-before-boys-murder/) - More than 60 calls were made to police and social services before a nine-year-old boy was killed by his mum and her partner, a BBC investigation has found. Alfie Steele died after "sadistic" punishments including beatings and being held under bath water at his home in Droitwich, Worcestershire, in 2021. A safeguarding report published on
- [Austerity contributing to rise in children in care - head of Family Court](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/02/01/austerity-contributing-to-rise-in-children-in-care-head-of-family-court/) - Austerity has contributed to a rise in the number of children in care, the most senior judge in the family courts has told the BBC. Sir Andrew McFarlane said cuts to local authorities have left social workers with fewer options to help families. They often lack the resources to do anything other than go to
- [Criminal offences for cyberflashing and epilepsy-trolling take effect](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/31/criminal-offences-for-cyberflashing-and-epilepsy-trolling-take-effect/) - New offences introduced to criminalise cyberflashing and epilepsy-trolling are among those taking effect on Wednesday, with online abusers now facing prosecution for such acts. The new offences have come into effect as part of the Online Safety Act, which gained Royal Assent late last year, and means criminals face up to five years in prison
- [Safeguarding in 2024: Identifying new priorities](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/31/safeguarding-in-2024-identifying-new-priorities/) - Reflecting upon safeguarding and child protection contexts this past year has presented a range of emerging themes. While challenges concerning risks to children prevail, inconsistent or poor engagement between early years leaders and social care remains a key feature. We have also seen an increasing amount of identified risks to children from within the workforce
- [Airedale Hospital garden aims to boost patient mental health](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/29/airedale-hospital-garden-aims-to-boost-patient-mental-health/) - A sensory and edible garden has opened at a West Yorkshire hospital aiming to boost the mood and wellbeing of mental health patients. The area was created by occupational therapist Beth Chesworth at Airedale Hospital in Steeton. She received funding from Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust's innovation development programme, which encourages staff to come
- [Unprecedented demand for ADHD assessments - trust](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/29/unprecedented-demand-for-adhd-assessments-trust/) - Unprecedented demand for ADHD assessments in Worcestershire means people are waiting years to get support. Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust said the county’s Community Paediatrics service faced an “unsustainable pressure” in referrals. Nine-year-old Corey has an ADHD diagnosis and his family said medication had helped him at school. But they say they have
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – January 26, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/26/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-january-26-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Check if your child is up to date with NHS vaccinations - full list of jabs and when to have them](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/22/check-if-your-child-is-up-to-date-with-nhs-vaccinations-full-list-of-jabs-and-when-to-have-them/) - Vaccines provide the best protection against many common but potentially serious illnesses, the NHS says. However, over the past decade, fewer children are getting routine vaccines, putting them at risk of serious disease. If your child is up to date with their NHS vaccination schedule, they will already be protected against diseases like whooping cough, measles, mumps
- [Teachers in England left to support at-risk children after social services cuts](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/22/teachers-in-england-left-to-support-at-risk-children-after-social-services-cuts/) - Increasing numbers of children suffering from domestic abuse, serious neglect and homelessness are being refused help from over-stretched social services, schools across England have told the Observer. Child protection cases that would automatically have prompted intervention from social workers a few years ago are now routinely being passed back to schools to deal with themselves. The
- [Children left 'at mercy' of Rochdale grooming gangs and dozens of men still pose potential risk - report](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/19/children-left-at-mercy-of-rochdale-grooming-gangs-and-dozens-of-men-still-pose-potential-risk-report/) - Girls were left "at the mercy" of paedophile grooming gangs for years in Rochdale because of an "inadequate" response by police and council bosses, a new report has found. The damning 173-page report into Operation Span - Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) much-criticised investigation into the grooming allegations in Rochdale - also identified 96 men still
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – January 19, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/19/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-january-19-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Children face multiple safeguarding risks at out-of-school settings in England](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/17/children-face-multiple-safeguarding-risks-at-out-of-school-settings-in-england-2/) - A government report has identified multiple safeguarding risks at “out-of-school settings” (OOSS), which include sports clubs, tuition centres and uniformed youth groups attended by millions of children across England every week, prompting calls for better oversight of the sector. Some children were judged to be in “immediate danger” due to unsafe premises, unchecked staff and inappropriate practices,
- [Anglia Ruskin University team to study young carers and their duties](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/15/anglia-ruskin-university-team-to-study-young-carers-and-their-duties/) - Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) are to investigate how caring duties affect the education and wellbeing of young carers. The university, which has campuses in Cambridge, Chelmsford and Peterborough, has secured £300,000 for the project. Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show about one in 10 people aged between 16 and 30 provide informal
- [Police left children at mercy of grooming gangs in Rochdale, review finds](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/15/police-left-children-at-mercy-of-grooming-gangs-in-rochdale-review-finds/) - Girls were "left at the mercy" of paedophile grooming gangs for years because of failings by senior police and council bosses, a report has said. The review covers 2004 to 2013 and sets out a series of failed investigations by Greater Manchester Police (GMP). It also highlights the apparent local authority indifference to the plight of hundreds
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – January 12, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/12/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-january-12-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Vicious AI chatbots reach a new, merciless low – we must protect our children from them](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/12/vicious-ai-chatbots-reach-a-new-merciless-low-we-must-protect-our-children-from-them/) - Action is urgently needed or we may see more teenagers like Molly Russell taking their own life after being bombarded by malicious conten Imagine if your 15-year-old admitted to feeling depressed on an online chat, only to receive the following response: “Boo-hoo, cry me a river.” Imagine if that same teen went a step further
- [Parents urged to check children are vaccinated as measles cases rise across Bedfordshire](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/08/parents-urged-to-check-children-are-vaccinated-as-measles-cases-rise-across-bedfordshire/) - Parents are being reminded to get their children vaccinated following a rise in cases of measles across the county. The disease is so infectious that doctors have warned as many as nine out of 10 unvaccinated children would be susceptible to measles if a single classmate brought it into their learning environment. Vaccination rates in some
- [NSPCC launches Partners in Business fundraising campaign](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/08/nspcc-launches-partners-in-business-fundraising-campaign/) - THE NSPCC aims to help children and young people, and to protect them from abuse and neglect. We want to help everyone gain the confidence to recognise when something is wrong and the knowledge to do something about it. Of course, it’s an incredible challenge, and requires support. Because the charity relies on donations and
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – January 5, 2024](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/05/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-january-5-2024/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [West Yorkshire Police called to 104 reports of weapons in schools](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/04/west-yorkshire-police-called-to-104-reports-of-weapons-in-schools/) - Police were called to more than 100 reports of young people in possession of weapons at schools in West Yorkshire in the past year. The youngest suspect was aged seven, according to data from West Yorkshire Police following a Freedom of Information request. The majority of incidents involved knives or other blades. West Yorkshire deputy
- [SNP urged to follow English example and fit defibrillators in all schools](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/04/snp-urged-to-follow-english-example-and-fit-defibrillators-in-all-schools/) - UK Government installed 20,000 of life-saving apparatus in a year while 4 in 10 Scottish schools are without one The SNP has been urged to provide state-funded schools with a defibrillator after it emerged more than 1,000 of them do not have the potentially life-saving device. The UK Government completed a roll out of 20,000
- [Scottish Government sets up mental health commission to support LGBT youth](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/04/scottish-government-sets-up-mental-health-commission-to-support-lgbt-youth/) - A commission is to be set up in a bid to boost mental health among LGBTQI children and young people. The Scottish Government is providing LGBT Youth Scotland with £50,000 to help establish a Mental Health LGBT Youth Commission. The move comes amid concerns LGBTQI+ youngsters can face what are described as “significant health inequalities” and
- [Hampshire County Council praises robust safeguarding work](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2024/01/03/hampshire-county-council-praises-robust-safeguarding-work/) - During a Hampshire County Council cabinet meeting on Tuesday, December 12, annual safeguarding reports for children's services and adults' health and care. The reports highlighted that whilst demand for social care continues to increase year on year, the response to the safeguarding of vulnerable individuals has been robust. Council leader, Cllr Rob Humby said: “On the
- [Attainment gap for older pupils highest on record, report finds](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/12/18/attainment-gap-for-older-pupils-highest-on-record-report-finds/) - The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a wider attainment gap between poorer pupils and their more affluent peers, with 16- to 19-year-olds worst affected, a report from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) has found. The gap for disadvantaged students at the end of 16 to 19 study is the widest its been since the EPI’s
- [Sussex police increase safeguarding visits as domestic abuse victims most vulnerable over Christmas](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/12/18/sussex-police-increase-safeguarding-visits-as-domestic-abuse-victims-most-vulnerable-over-christmas/) - A police force will be carrying out discreet safeguarding visits over the festive season when victims of domestic abuse are at their most vulnerable. Sussex Police is increasing its engagement with high-risk victims and perpetrators as statistics show domestic violence increases over the Christmas period. The force's Complex Domestic Abuse and Stalking Unit (CDASU) will
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – December 15, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/12/15/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-december-15-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Guidance for Parents and Carers](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/12/15/guidance-for-parents-and-carers/) - Parents and carers are key when it comes to safeguarding in football. Understanding the role you can play, how and with whom to raise a concern you may have – and how to report it – they’re all crucial. These and many other topics are covered on the short, free online ‘Safeguarding Awareness for Parents/Carers’
- [Undercover police reveal 10 out of 14 Leeds hotels and taxis fail to report child sexual exploitation ‘red flags’](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/12/15/undercover-police-reveal-10-out-of-14-leeds-hotels-and-taxis-fail-to-report-child-sexual-exploitation-red-flags/) - Undercover police reveal 10 out of 14 Leeds hotels and taxis fail to report child sexual exploitation ‘red flags’ A multi-agency operation has taken place to test the level of training and awareness in the hotel and private hire economies. The collaboration with officers from Leeds District Safeguarding’s Child Vulnerability and Exploitation Team working with
- [High rate of UK teens skipping meals because of poverty, survey suggests](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/12/11/high-rate-of-uk-teens-skipping-meals-because-of-poverty-survey-suggests/) - Teenagers in the UK are skipping more meals because of poverty than in many other Western European countries, a survey suggests. In the UK, 11% of pupils told the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) survey they missed a meal at least once a week. The average across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- [NSPCC calls on Government to speed up child protection reform pledge](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/12/11/nspcc-calls-on-government-to-speed-up-child-protection-reform-pledge/) - EVERY year, the NSPCC collates the number of child cruelty and neglect offences recorded by police forces across England. Latest figures show the number of reported cases of children subjected to these offences by adults have doubled since 2017/18, with 29,422 child cruelty offences recorded in 2022/23. For many forces, including West Yorkshire, the increase is
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – December 8 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/12/08/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-december-8-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Red flags in child safeguarding](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/12/07/red-flags-in-child-safeguarding/) - What is child safeguarding? The NSPCC defines safeguarding as ‘action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm’. Child protection is part of safeguarding practice and refers to activity undertaken to protect children who are likely to suffer or are already suffering harm. Safeguarding is about preventing harm, while child protection
- [Pornography websites will have to check users’ ages, under draft guidelines](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/12/07/pornography-websites-will-have-to-check-users-ages-under-draft-guidelines/) - Ofcom proposals will require online providers to seek proof of being over 18 to stop children accessing content Online pornography sites will be required to use age-checking measures to ensure users are over 18, under new guidelines. Communications watchdog Ofcom has launched a consultation under the Online Safety Act to stop children from accessing websites that display
- [Record numbers of children being home schooled](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/12/07/record-numbers-of-children-being-home-schooled/) - The number of children being home educated has increased dramatically in the last five years. In the area covered by Devon County Council, a record number of 2,951 children were being home educated in the 2022/23 academic year - an extra 449 on the previous academic year. One parent told the BBC the Covid-19 pandemic,
- [Paris Hilton reveals she is working with the British government on new child protection laws after her own ordeal at 'troubled teen' bootcamp where she was abused](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/12/04/paris-hilton-reveals-she-is-working-with-the-british-government-on-new-child-protection-laws-after-her-own-ordeal-at-troubled-teen-bootcamp-where-she-was-abused/) - Paris Hilton has revealed she is working with the British government to advocate for change on legislation to protect vulnerable children after she was abused at a 'troubled teen' bootcamp. Opening up in an honest first person piece, the celebrity claimed she was marked as a 'problem to fix' in her youth and one day bundled onto a
- [Thousands of UK young people caught watching online child abuse images](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/12/04/thousands-of-uk-young-people-caught-watching-online-child-abuse-images/) - Several thousand young people are being caught each year sharing or watching indecent images of children – including child abuse material – a Guardian investigation has revealed. Figures obtained through freedom of information (FoI) requests to police forces across England, Wales and Northern Ireland show that in some regions the majority of people identified by police
- [UK school pupils ‘using AI to create indecent imagery of other children’](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/27/uk-school-pupils-using-ai-to-create-indecent-imagery-of-other-children/) - Children in British schools are using artificial intelligence (AI) to make indecent images of other children, a group of experts on child abuse and technology has warned. They said that a number of schools were reporting for the first time that pupils were using AI-generating technology to create images of children that legally constituted child
- [Scouts fees rise to fund new safeguarding team](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/27/scouts-fees-rise-to-fund-new-safeguarding-team/) - The Scout Association is overhauling its safeguarding procedures following a campaign by abuse survivors - with a membership fee rise to cover the costs. A new inspection team will check if UK Scout groups are following national policies, while an independent panel of abuse survivors will make sure victims get the right support and counselling.
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – November 24, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/24/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-november-24-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Lincolnshire Police deploys AI for child safeguarding](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/24/lincolnshire-police-deploys-ai-for-child-safeguarding/) - Lincolnshire Police has deployed an AI application to support the identification of vulnerable children. It has announced its adoption the CESIUM system, following its collaboration with AI company Trilateral Research in the design and validation of the software. Trilateral research said the application has already reportedly been used to identify 16 vulnerable children. It has
- [Safeguarding children requires creating a culture where people can report concerns - expert](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/24/safeguarding-children-requires-creating-a-culture-where-people-can-report-concerns-expert/) - Existing legislation already quite strong, former senior garda said, but poor practice cannot be tolerated A safeguarding consultant has said it was important to make people feel comfortable with reporting any concerns about child safety, in the wake of the jailing of swimming coach Matthew Coward (32) for sexual exploitation. Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland,
- [Senior Tory MP criticises government’s refusal to back new sex education strategy aimed at boys](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/23/senior-tory-mp-criticises-governments-refusal-to-back-new-sex-education-strategy-aimed-at-boys/) - A senior Tory MP has criticised the government for refusing to commit to a new sex education strategy for boys which aims tackle sexual harassment and gender-based violence. The Women and Equalities Committee called for proposals to be rolled out in schools, which would focus on engaging boys in relationships and sex education lessons. It also suggested that relationships, sex
- [Calls for child sunbed ban](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/23/calls-for-child-sunbed-ban/) - Health experts have called for a ban on under-16s using sunbeds. They claim it would save lives as skin cancer rates soar amid a fashion for all-year tans. The disease is twice as common in teenagers and children as 20 years ago and they are most vulnerable to the ultraviolet rays emitted by the beds.
- [Rangers Charity Foundation announces donation to UNICEF UK Children’s Emergency Fund](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/20/rangers-charity-foundation-announces-donation-to-unicef-uk-childrens-emergency-fund/) - This World Children’s Day, Rangers Charity Foundation is pledging donation this season of £25,000 to UNICEF UK’s Children’s Emergency Fund to help provide rapid assistance to children and their families around the world. In recent months, the Children’s Emergency Fund was used by UNICEF to help children and families affected by the earthquake in Morocco
- [Why I refuse to give my son, 10, a mobile phone: Ex-primary school teacher says devices are unsafe for children as data reveals more than half of all nine-year-olds now have one](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/20/why-i-refuse-to-give-my-son-10-a-mobile-phone-ex-primary-school-teacher-says-devices-are-unsafe-for-children-as-data-reveals-more-than-half-of-all-nine-year-olds-now-have-one/) - A mother has revealed why her son is banned from having a phone - as figures show more than half of all ten-year-olds in Britain now have one. Ex-primary school teacher Kam Chauhan, 43, from Milton Keynes, said she would fear for her son's safety online if he had a phone and said she has heard
- [New online safety plans to end ‘stranger danger’ for children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/17/new-online-safety-plans-to-end-stranger-danger-for-children/) - Strangers are to be barred from sending messages to children on social media under plans by Ofcom to protect young people online. In an exclusive article for the Telegraph, Melanie Dawes, the chief executive of the regulator, said that teenagers were routinely receiving unwanted approaches from strangers that put them at risk of being groomed by sexual
- [Child safeguarding transformed for police with ‘game-changing’ Artificial Intelligence](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/17/child-safeguarding-transformed-for-police-with-game-changing-artificial-intelligence/) - Artificial intelligence (AI) software which can identify vulnerable children months before they might be at risk is now in use by Lincolnshire Police. This cutting-edge approach to child safeguarding is thanks to new ethically designed technology to identify Lincolnshire’s most vulnerable children – and the county’s police force claims it means they will be better
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – November 17, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/17/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-november-17-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Government research reports 1 in 5 secondary pupils have been bullied in the past 12 months](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/16/government-research-reports-1-in-5-secondary-pupils-have-been-bullied-in-the-past-12-months/) - In March, the Department for Education in England published a report on the November 2021 - January 2022 findings from their Parent, Pupil and Learner Panel omnibus survey. The survey collects views and experiences of parents of pupils in years 1 to 11, school pupils in years 7-13, and 16 to 18 learners in further education classroom settings.
- [Schools ‘having hard time dealing with aftermath of lockdowns’](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/16/schools-having-hard-time-dealing-with-aftermath-of-lockdowns/) - Schools dealing with the harm caused by Covid-19 lockdowns feel it is “unfair” to be held to account publicly, the head of Ofsted has suggested. Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector of schools in England, recognised there has been a “surge of discontent” about the education watchdog this year. Speaking to MPs, Ms Spielman said a lot of people “resent
- [Safeguarding Week coming up](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/15/safeguarding-week-coming-up/) - The Islands first ever joint Adult’s and Children’s Safeguarding Week will run from November 20 to 24. Hosted by The Isle of Man Safeguarding Board, professionals will have the opportunity to learn more about the services and support available on the Island. There will also be an online campaign to raise awareness of safeguarding issues
- [Lessons learned over knife crime and youth violence at first safeguarding fayre staged by Arnewood School in New Milton](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/13/lessons-learned-over-knife-crime-and-youth-violence-at-first-safeguarding-fayre-staged-by-arnewood-school-in-new-milton/) - A PLAY and interactive stalls helped raise awareness among a New Milton school’s pupils around issues including knife crime and youth violence. Arnewood School recently hosted the safeguarding fair, attended by all of its youngsters, along with those from sister school Eaglewood, as part of Hampshire Safeguarding Children Week. The event, in the Gore Road
- [Facebook 'prioritising profit over child safety' with encryption plans](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/13/facebook-prioritising-profit-over-child-safety-with-encryption-plans/) - Child protection experts have fiercely criticised social media giant Meta over its plans for end-to-end encryption, accusing the tech firm of prioritising profit over children’s safety. Simon Bailey, a former police chief constable who was the national lead for child protection at the National Police Chiefs’ Council, accused Meta of a “complete loss of social
- [World Athletics Safeguarding Essentials training course released in seven languages](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/10/world-athletics-safeguarding-essentials-training-course-released-in-seven-languages/) - World Athletics has produced a Safeguarding Essentials training course for everyone involved in athletics. Available on the World Athletics e-learning platform in seven languages, it is a basic awareness course explaining why safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. The release of the Safeguarding Essentials training course follows the launch of the World Athletics Safeguarding Policy in 2021
- [10 Tips For Safeguarding Your Business In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/10/10-tips-for-safeguarding-your-business-in-the-age-of-artificial-intelligence/) - Christopher Prewitt is CTO at Inversion6, responsible for helping develop security-related products and services for customers. Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly infiltrated our daily lives and the business landscape, revolutionizing the way we consume and interact with information. Machine learning algorithms, natural language processing and deep learning models enable AI systems to analyze vast amounts of
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – November 10, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/10/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-november-10-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Dozens of children under ten hospitalised for vaping](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/10/dozens-of-children-under-ten-hospitalised-for-vaping/) - There have been a big rise in hospital admissions linked to vaping for children under the age of ten since the start of last year, figures show. NHS hospital admissions for “vaping-related disorders” have tripled in two years across all age groups, with more than 1,000 admissions since the start of 2020. Since the start
- [Thames Valley Police criticised over child neglect probes](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/09/thames-valley-police-criticised-over-child-neglect-probes/) - A police force is not effectively investigating child neglect and abuse cases, the police watchdog has said. His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has published its report into Thames Valley Police. It said the force was "letting down children" in too many cases. Half of the investigations examined were rated
- [Four red flag signs your child is being bullied, and what you can do](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/09/four-red-flag-signs-your-child-is-being-bullied-and-what-you-can-do/) - Finding out your child is being bullied is a distressing experience, and it can often be difficult for parents to determine the best course of action to help solve the issue. A study found that almost one in five children experienced some form of online bullying over a 12 month period, whilst another study found
- [PFCC urges public to keep children safe on dark roads](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/06/pfcc-urges-public-to-keep-children-safe-on-dark-roads/) - PFCC, Peter McCall, urges parents to keep themselves and their children visible when they are near and on the roads this winter. Many of Cumbria’s rural roads do not have streetlights, reducing the visibility for drivers and pedestrians. It can be difficult for drivers to spot other road users when driving on dark roads, which
- [NSPCC warns of rise in sextortion of children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/06/nspcc-warns-of-rise-in-sextortion-of-children/) - THE internet has made life a lot easier in many ways. We can keep in touch with friends and family, join meetings remotely, and access information at the touch of a button. For children and young people the internet has been a lifeline in recent years, enabling them to stay in contact with friends and
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – November 3, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/03/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-november-3-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [WhatsApp AI generates stickers of gun-wielding children from ‘Palestine’ prompts](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/03/whatsapp-ai-generates-stickers-of-gun-wielding-children-from-palestine-prompts/) - WhatsApp’s AI sticker generator has been found to create images of a young boy and a man with guns when given Palestine-related prompts – while a search for ‘Israel army’ returned pictures of soldiers smiling and praying. An investigation by the Guardian revealed the prompts returned the same results for a number of different users. Searches by the paper
- [Number of Nottinghamshire children needing more support or protection has gone up](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/03/number-of-nottinghamshire-children-needing-more-support-or-protection-has-gone-up/) - It comes as the Local Government Association (LGA) said greater funding for children's services and councils is needed to meet the high demand for families needing support. Figures from the Department of Education (DfE) show there were 4,417 children assessed as needing help and protection because of risks to their development or health in Nottinghamshire as of March 31
- [Social media companies ‘will check children’s ages like shops check ID for alcohol’](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/02/social-media-companies-will-check-childrens-ages-like-shops-check-id-for-alcohol/) - Michelle Donelan, the Digital Secretary, says enforcing age limits will be 'front and centre' of the new Online Safety Act. Teenagers will have to prove they are over 13 to be on social media in the same way that supermarkets demand ID checks to buy alcohol, says the Digital Secretary. In an exclusive interview with
- [Online Safety Bill: divisive internet rules become law](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/02/online-safety-bill-divisive-internet-rules-become-law/) - After years of debate, the government's controversial Online Safety Bill, which aims to make the internet safer for children, has become law. It seeks to force tech firms to take more responsibility for the content on their platforms. Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said it "ensures the online safety of British society not only now, but
- [Thai cave rescue: Duangphet Phromthep killed himself at school in UK](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/02/thai-cave-rescue-duangphet-phromthep-killed-himself-at-school-in-uk/) - The captain of the Thai football team trapped in a cave for several days in 2018, took his own life while at school in the UK, a coroner has ruled. Duangphet Phromthep was found unconscious at Brooke House College in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, on 12 February. He died two days later at Kettering General Hospital. Following an inquest
- [Safeguarding messages delivered to Telford students in touring theatre show](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/01/safeguarding-messages-delivered-to-telford-students-in-touring-theatre-show/) - The topics of grooming, bullying and mental health were a few of the difficult topics explored with Telford College students with a visit from a touring theatre company. Loudmouth specialises in creating shows for students which explore topics such as relationships, sex education and health. Caroline Welson, BeSafe manager and deputy designated safeguarding lead for
- [Child protection enquiry total hits new annual high but proportion finding abuse continues to shrink](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/11/01/child-protection-enquiry-total-hits-new-annual-high-but-proportion-finding-abuse-continues-to-shrink/) - The number of annual child protection enquiries has hit a new high but the proportion of those finding abuse or neglect has continued to fall, official figures show. Directors warned that the 3.5% hike in the number of section 47 enquiries, from 2021-22 to 2022-23, reflected the erosion of preventive services on the back of
- [FIFA's first safeguarding course graduates more than 100 participants from member federations](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/30/fifas-first-safeguarding-course-graduates-more-than-100-participants-from-member-federations/) - A FIFA program aimed at helping to prevent abuse and misconduct in soccer through education has graduated its first class even as a number of high-profile scandals continue to mar the sport. The 111 graduates of the two-year course included participants from 70 member federations around the world. “Our mandate is to protect everyone in
- [Child asylum seekers in UK forced to share hotel rooms with adults](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/30/child-asylum-seekers-in-uk-forced-to-share-hotel-rooms-with-adults/) - Child asylum seekers are being forced to share hotel rooms with adults, as the Home Office’s new hotel “maximisation” programme begins doubling the capacity of refugee hotels by putting two strangers in roomsspaces that were previously single occupancy, a charity has warned. The Refugee Council has warned that frequent misclassification of child refugees as adults
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – October 27, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/27/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-october-27-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Parents should have right to know what children are taught at school, say senior lawyers](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/26/parents-should-have-right-to-know-what-children-are-taught-at-school-say-senior-lawyers/) - Proposed legislation would give online access to almost all teaching materials, amid fears on content such as transgender issues. Parents should have a legal right to know what their children are being taught at school, senior lawyers have said. In a new report, the Society of Conservative Lawyers has proposed legislation that would give parents
- [Child sex abuse victims 'let down' by government says inquiry chair](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/26/child-sex-abuse-victims-let-down-by-government-says-inquiry-chair/) - The chairwoman of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has said victims have been "let down" by the government. Prof Alexis Jay completed the inquiry into the failure of institutions to protect children in care from sexual abuse and exploitation a year ago. The government accepted the need for action on 19 of
- [Probation's 51 failures contributed to 'monster' killing mum and three children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/23/probations-51-failures-contributed-to-monster-killing-mum-and-three-children/) - A series of ‘very stark’ failures by the Probation Service contributed to the brutal murders of a mother and three children, a coroner ruled. Damian Bendall, 33, murdered his pregnant partner Terri Harris, 35, her children – Lacey, 11, and John Paul, 13, and Lacey’s friend, Connie, 11, in the horrific killing two years ago. However,
- [FASANOC stages safeguarding workshop for "more inclusive sporting environment"](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/23/fasanoc-stages-safeguarding-workshop-for-more-inclusive-sporting-environment/) - A regional safeguarding skills-building workshop held in Nadi created what a Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) have described as "a powerful blueprint for creating a safer, more inclusive sporting environment." The three-day workshop brought together participants from across the Pacific region who engaged in discussions, practical training sessions and the sharing
- [The 1 Technique That Can Help Parents Keep Kids Safe – Even When You're Apart](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/20/the-1-technique-that-can-help-parents-keep-kids-safe-even-when-youre-apart/) - As children grow up and gain more independence, it can be hard for parents to let go. But let’s be real, you can’t be with your child every waking breath – and nor would they want you to be. So, how can you keep them safe as they begin to figure out life for themselves and distance
- [From Grief To Action: Safeguarding Our Schools For The Future](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/20/from-grief-to-action-safeguarding-our-schools-for-the-future/) - The tragic school shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, took six lives, including three children under 10. The fact that the shooter was a former student with a detailed plan, besides other shocking details, underscores the urgent need for change. Instead of just expressing grief, let’s transform it into meaningful action to make our
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – October 20, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/20/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-october-20-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Pupil absence 60pc higher than pre-pandemic levels](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/19/pupil-absence-60pc-higher-than-pre-pandemic-levels/) - Official figures reveal one in 50 pupils in state schools in England was absent without permission in first month of new school term. Pupil absences are more than 60 per cent higher than before the pandemic, despite the Education Secretary’s plea for children to return to school. One in 50 pupils in state schools in England
- [‘Out of sight, out of mind’: The rise of unregistered alternative provision](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/19/out-of-sight-out-of-mind-the-rise-of-unregistered-alternative-provision/) - Thousands of children are being educated in unregistered alternative provision where teachers require neither qualifications nor criminal record checks. A Schools Week investigation has found children as young as five are increasingly sent to these unregulated institutions, which are not inspected by Ofsted or properly overseen by local authorities. Provision ranges from online tutoring to horse therapy
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – October 13, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/13/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-october-13-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Children aged seven using social media regularly](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/13/children-aged-seven-using-social-media-regularly/) - Children as young as seven and eight are using social media regularly, according to a major survey in Wales. Responses from more than 32,000 children, aged seven to 11, suggested almost half used social media sites or apps a few times a week or every day. Parents said striking a balance between embracing the benefits
- [Kids teaching seniors about online safety](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/13/kids-teaching-seniors-about-online-safety/) - Calling all children and young people! Do you have a grandparent or older person in your life? Usually learning from your elders is the norm, but in this instance, it's time for role reversal. You have a role in teaching seniors how to stay safe online. ABC Breakfast Host Adam Shirley spoke to Catherine Adcock, from the
- [Review finds safeguarding failures over Sussex killing of man by girl, 14](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/13/review-finds-safeguarding-failures-over-sussex-killing-of-man-by-girl-14/) - An inquiry into the circumstances leading to the manslaughter of a 24-year-old man by a 14-year-old girl has found “a failure of the system as a whole” to protect her and her victim. The child safeguarding practice review by Birmingham and West Sussex authorities found that the systems put in place to help the child
- [Gillian Keegan refuses to rule out future lockdown-style school closures](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/12/gillian-keegan-refuses-to-rule-out-future-lockdown-style-school-closures/) - Education Secretary responds to criticism by Sir Iain Duncan Smith during Tory conference of ‘terrible’ pandemic experiment. The Education Secretary has said she cannot rule out pandemic-style school closures in the future. Gillian Keegan refused to take class lockdowns off the table after Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, said that they were
- [Error to open pubs not schools, Covid inquiry told](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/12/error-to-open-pubs-not-schools-covid-inquiry-told/) - It was a "terrible mistake" to open pubs while keeping schools shut during the pandemic, an inquiry has heard. Anne Longfield, who was the children's commissioner for England during Covid, was giving evidence to the second round of public hearings. Politicians should ensure children's needs are never overlooked again in future emergencies, she said. She
- [Snapchat: Snap AI chatbot 'may risk children's privacy'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/11/snapchat-snap-ai-chatbot-may-risk-childrens-privacy/) - Source: BBC News Snapchat has been accused of a "worrying failure" to assess the potential privacy risks its AI chatbot poses to users - especially children - by the UK's data watchdog. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) warned it could close down the My AI feature in the UK after a "preliminary investigation". The US
- [Inside the deadly instant loan app scam that blackmails with nudes](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/11/inside-the-deadly-instant-loan-app-scam-that-blackmails-with-nudes/) - Source: BBC News A blackmail scam is using instant loan apps to entrap and humiliate people across India and other countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. At least 60 Indians have killed themselves after being abused and threatened. A​ BBC undercover investigation has exposed those profiting from this deadly scam in India and China.
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – October 6, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/06/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-october-6-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [How to keep children safe around mobile phones as schools could ban them](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/06/how-to-keep-children-safe-around-mobile-phones-as-schools-could-ban-them/) - Ever since mobile phones were invented, parents have grappled with questions around what the right age to give a child a mobile phone is, and what limits should be applied. But, as technology continues to put the internet literally at our fingertips, children have never been so exposed to screens and scrolling. Determining when a child is
- [Safeguarding review launched after death of Sara Sharif](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/06/safeguarding-review-launched-after-death-of-sara-sharif/) - Review will examine whether more could have been done to prevent death of 10-year-old, with relatives accused of her murder. A safeguarding review has been announced into the case of Sara Sharif and whether more could have been done to prevent the 10-year-old’s death. Police found Sara dead under a blanket in her bunk bed
- [Lockdown harm to children was preventable, Government told](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/05/lockdown-harm-to-children-was-preventable-government-told/) - Report by leading campaigners argues worst impacts could have been avoided if ministers had considered rights of the young. The harm caused to children by lockdown was preventable, leading charities and experts will tell the Government in a damning report. The Children’s Rights Organisations alliance says social distancing and the closure of schools and playgrounds during the Covid pandemic
- [Homeless teens 'tricked away from care by councils to save money'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/05/homeless-teens-tricked-away-from-care-by-councils-to-save-money/) - Thousands of homeless teenagers have been steered away from going into care and into cheaper hostel accommodation, a child advocacy charity has said. Coram Voice says it believes thousands of vulnerable 16 and 17-year-olds had not been looked after in accordance with appropriate child-protection laws. One London teenager said that - with hindsight - she
- [NSPCC launches Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/02/nspcc-launches-keeping-your-child-safe-in-sport-week/) - SPORT can be a fantastic unifier, bringing people together with a love of their team, their sport and ideally by mutual respect. It can also be a fantastic way to help children build confidence and forge friendships while having fun and potentially training for a future career. But not every experience at a sport or
- [Shouting at children can be as damaging as physical or sexual abuse, study says](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/10/02/shouting-at-children-can-be-as-damaging-as-physical-or-sexual-abuse-study-says/) - Parents who shout at their children or call them “stupid” are leaving their offspring at greater risk of self-harm, drug use and ending up in jail, new research claims. Talking harshly to children should be recognised as a form of abuse because of the huge damage it does, experts say. The authors of a new study into
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – September 29, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/29/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-september-29-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Sport England launches £15m safeguarding network for children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/29/sport-england-launches-15m-safeguarding-network-for-children/) - Sport England is to invest £15m in a “gamechanging” network of 59 professional safeguarding officers to protect children and young people across sport, the Guardian can reveal. The news, which will be officially announced on Wednesday, follows horrific stories of abuse in gymnastics and multiple other sports, as well as widespread concerns that complaints were
- [Secret police system in Bristol schools monitoring and profiling children and families](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/28/secret-police-system-in-bristol-schools-monitoring-and-profiling-children-and-families/) - Bristol schools using secret database called ‘Think Family Education’ to monitor and profile schoolchildren More than 100 Bristol primary and secondary schools are using a secret database called the ‘Think Family Education application’ to monitor and profile schoolchildren as young as four, as well as their families. The Think Family Education application is used in secret, without
- [High cost of childcare in UK makes low-income parents resort to food banks](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/28/high-cost-of-childcare-in-uk-makes-low-income-parents-resort-to-food-banks/) - Low-income parents and those on universal credit are resorting to using food banks as a result of the high costs of childcare, according to a landmark UK survey shared with the Guardian. As MPs debated the cost and availability of childcare in parliament on Monday, and echoed parents’ call for an independent review, more evidence emerged
- [Covid and teacher strikes ‘made skipping school socially acceptable’](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/28/covid-and-teacher-strikes-made-skipping-school-socially-acceptable/) - Parents no longer believe that school is necessary every day as teacher strikes and Covid have caused a “seismic shift” in attitudes, research suggests. Significant numbers are taking their children on holiday during term time and now see such breaks as socially acceptable. There are growing concerns about the increasing number of children missing school
- [Heartbreaking signs that show your child is being bullied at school and what you should do](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/25/heartbreaking-signs-that-show-your-child-is-being-bullied-at-school-and-what-you-should-do/) - Bullying can happen anywhere – at school or online - and it's important for parents to know how to spot signs that their child might be suffering. Whether it's name calling, hitting, pushing, spreading rumours or making threats, children can be both physically and emotionally affected by bullying. The torment can take place in school
- [Children as young as FIVE are bringing knives into school as police reveal almost 500 kids under 11 were caught with a weapon in last four years](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/25/children-as-young-as-five-are-bringing-knives-into-school-as-police-reveal-almost-500-kids-under-11-were-caught-with-a-weapon-in-last-four-years/) - Children as young as five years old are being caught with knives in schools in what one charity boss has labelled a 'cancer that is spreading' across the country. Freedom of Information requests made to police forces across England and Wales revealed that almost 500 kids aged under 11 were found with bladed articles in the
- [Controversial safeguarding app has ‘protected hundreds of Bristol children’](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/22/controversial-safeguarding-app-has-protected-hundreds-of-bristol-children/) - Avon & Somerset Police and Bristol City Council have defended a safeguarding app which they say has 'helped protect hundreds' of children. An app and database collates information on risks to vulnerable children and young people to help teachers spot early warning signs. Campaigners have criticised the Think Family Database and associated app, claiming it could
- ['An attack on their autonomy’ or safeguarding kids?: What happened at '1 Million March' and counter-protests across Canada](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/22/an-attack-on-their-autonomy-or-safeguarding-kids-what-happened-at-1-million-march-and-counter-protests-across-canada/) - LGBTQ2S+ advocates say the demonstrations are a violation of human rights, targeting queer and trans students Hundreds of demonstrators across Canada took to the streets to protest LGBTQ2S+ inclusive education in school curriculums and they were met with thousands of counter-protesters advocating for the rights of queer people. Organized by “Hands Off Our Children” and
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – September 22, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/22/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-september-22-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Raac: Keegan says some pupils prefer temporary classrooms](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/21/raac-keegan-says-some-pupils-prefer-temporary-classrooms/) - Downing Street has defended Education Secretary Gillian Keegan after she said some pupils in schools with crumbling concrete preferred temporary classrooms. Rishi Sunak's spokesman said she was "reflecting a conversation" with children, and had his full confidence. New figures show 174 schools in England have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac). Temporary classrooms are among the
- [Share information to protect children and young people at risk, urges UK Information Commissioner](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/21/share-information-to-protect-children-and-young-people-at-risk-urges-uk-information-commissioner/) - Organisations will not get in trouble if they share information to protect children and young people at risk of serious harm, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has promised. This message comes as the ICO publishes new guidance to address concerns from organisations and frontline workers that may be scared to share information for fear of falling
- [Thousands of safeguarding concerns raised about vulnerable adults in Oxfordshire](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/21/thousands-of-safeguarding-concerns-raised-about-vulnerable-adults-in-oxfordshire/) - There were thousands of safeguarding concerns raised about vulnerable adults in Oxfordshire last year, new figures show. NHS figures show 6,770 concerns of suspected abuse were made about adults with care and support needs in Oxfordshire in the year to March – an increase from 5,935 the year before. Across England, there were nearly 588,000
- [Online Safety Bill: Crackdown on harmful social media content agreed](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/19/online-safety-bill-crackdown-on-harmful-social-media-content-agreed/) - Source: BBC News Peers have passed a controversial new law aimed at making social media firms more responsible for users' safety on their platforms. The Online Safety Bill has taken years to agree and will force firms to remove illegal content and protect children from some legal but harmful material. Children's charity the NSPCC said
- [Free gym memberships set up for Swindon children in need](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/18/free-gym-memberships-set-up-for-swindon-children-in-need/) - VULNERABLE children at risk of substance abuse are set to receive a free six-month gym membership. Swindon Borough Council has teamed up with Wiltshire Police and leisure operator GLL to provide the six-month free benefit to 400 children The Council’s Youth Justice Service successfully applied for £20,000 from Wiltshire Police’s Drug Forfeiture Fund and has worked
- [Sexual abuse campaigners urge tech firms to protect children on social media platforms](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/18/sexual-abuse-campaigners-urge-tech-firms-to-protect-children-on-social-media-platforms/) - A coalition of more than 100 sexual abuse survivors, families and child safety experts have written to the heads of major tech platforms demanding they take urgent action to ensure their services are safe for children. The letter has been sent to executives including Mark Zuckerberg at Meta, Evan Spiegel at Snap, Meredith Whittaker at Signal
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – September 15, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/15/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-september-15-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Make Protection A Habit - Why safeguarding your future should come naturally like a habit](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/15/make-protection-a-habit-why-safeguarding-your-future-should-come-naturally-like-a-habit/) - In the fast-paced world we live in, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily hustle and forget about safeguarding our future. However, ensuring financial security for yourself and your loved ones is a habit that should come as naturally as any other routine in your life. If you can prioritise your health and
- [Honour-based abuse: Government rejects calls for legal definition](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/15/honour-based-abuse-government-rejects-calls-for-legal-definition/) - Source: BBC News The government has rejected calls for a legal definition of honour-based abuse. The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) recommended the definition in its report into honour-based abuse in July. On Friday, the government responded by saying it already has a working definition used by the Home Office and the Crown Prosecution Service
- [National alert system could highlight new methods of suicide to schools and universities](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/14/national-alert-system-could-highlight-new-methods-of-suicide-to-schools-and-universities-2/) - A national alert system could be implemented to highlight new methods of suicide to schools, universities and charities, according to a new government document. Teaching suicide prevention in schools and better support for middle-aged men could also form part of plans to bring down suicide rates in England. Ministers have pledged to reduce suicide rates
- [Unions say hundreds more schools could have Raac](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/14/unions-say-hundreds-more-schools-could-have-raac/) - Education unions say "hundreds more" schools in England could be affected by crumbling concrete than the Department for Education's current list of 147. It "does not appear to reflect the full extent of the problem" and must be updated "to eliminate misunderstanding of the scale of the problem", they say. The DfE said the list included
- [Suella Braverman pushes for ban on 'terrorising' XL Bully dogs after girl mauled](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/11/suella-braverman-pushes-for-ban-on-terrorising-xl-bully-dogs-after-girl-mauled/) - The Home Secretary has thrown her weight behind a ban of controversial XL bully dogs saying the breed is “terrorising our communities”, after an 11-year-old girl became the latest victim of an attack. Suella Braverman is pushing for an end to the dog roaming Britain’s streets, arguing they are a "clear and lethal danger", particularly to
- [Swifter action needed on child protection, expert warns](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/11/swifter-action-needed-on-child-protection-expert-warns/) - The author of a government commissioned report into child protection commissioned has expressed disappointment that it has not led to further action. The study said many children were not being picked up by child protection services despite the fact that they were known to be at risk of abuse. Last November's Brock report called for,
- [Self-harm among pupils a growing concern - governors](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/11/self-harm-among-pupils-a-growing-concern-governors-2/) - Source: BBC News An increase in concerns over pupils self-harming has been reported by school governing boards in England. More than half of boards, trustees and academy committee members surveyed also noted a rise in safeguarding concerns. The study by the National Governance Association (NGA) comes amid growing disquiet over child welfare since the beginning
- [National alert system could highlight new methods of suicide to schools and universities](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/11/national-alert-system-could-highlight-new-methods-of-suicide-to-schools-and-universities/) - Source: Sky News A national alert system could be implemented to highlight new methods of suicide to schools, universities and charities, according to a new government document. Teaching suicide prevention in schools and better support for middle-aged men could also form part of plans to bring down suicide rates in England. Ministers have pledged to
- [Sex offenders are using virtual reality to ‘groom and abuse children’](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/08/sex-offenders-are-using-virtual-reality-to-groom-and-abuse-children/) - Offenders are using virtual reality (VR) to groom and sexually abuse children, as well as share illegal images of abuse, according to new research from the NSPCC. A report commissioned by the children’s charity on VR and immersive technologies said the online spaces at the heart of the technology are being used by offenders to not
- [Self-harm among pupils a growing concern - governors](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/08/self-harm-among-pupils-a-growing-concern-governors/) - An increase in concerns over pupils self-harming has been reported by school governing boards in England. More than half of boards, trustees and academy committee members surveyed also noted a rise in safeguarding concerns. The study by the National Governance Association (NGA) comes amid growing disquiet over child welfare since the beginning of the Covid
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – September 8, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/08/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-september-8-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Safety warning after rescue of children on paddleboards](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/08/safety-warning-after-rescue-of-children-on-paddleboards/) - Coastguards have warned beachgoers to take extra care after six children on paddleboards were airlifted to safety. The group were reported missing in Leasowe Bay, Merseyside and found about 700 metres offshore, the Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team said. They were flown back to their parents before being checked by lifeguards. In a social media post,
- [Singapore Aquatics rolls out initiatives to tackle misconduct, promote safe sporting environment](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/08/singapore-aquatics-rolls-out-initiatives-to-tackle-misconduct-promote-safe-sporting-environment/) - The governing body has launched a pool of initiatives, including a mandatory course for all certified coaches on how to conduct their lessons in a manner that is safe from abuse, violence and harassment. SINGAPORE: Singapore Aquatics receives about 10 reports of alleged misconduct yearly. To tackle this issue, the association has launched a pool
- [Sextortion on Snapchat is not the end of my world, says victim](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/08/sextortion-on-snapchat-is-not-the-end-of-my-world-says-victim/) - Source: BBC News What started off as a bit of flirting on Snapchat ended in an ultimatum for Nathan McErlean - either he could pay thousands of pounds or explicit photos of him would be shared on social media. He became a victim of sextortion, a form of blackmail where people are persuaded to send
- [Wandsworth prison life: Decay, drugs and drudgery](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/08/wandsworth-prison-life-decay-drugs-and-drudgery/) - Source: BBC News It has been described as a "dystopian Fawlty Towers" and a "powder keg" waiting to explode, with inmates packed in cramped cells, watched over by a demoralised and threadbare staff. Daniel Khalife's escape from Wandsworth prison came as little surprise to both former inmates and staff alike. Morale is low in a
- [Family courts: 'We kidnapped our kids from abusive dads and fled the UK’](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/05/family-courts-we-kidnapped-our-kids-from-abusive-dads-and-fled-the-uk/) - Source: BBC News A growing number of women who say their children were handed to abusive partners by England and Wales' family courts have abducted them and fled to Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus. The BBC spoke to six of them to investigate some of their stories. "I'm told there is an arrest warrant out for me.
- [Antony: Brazil drop Manchester United winger after abuse allegations](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/05/antony-brazil-drop-manchester-united-winger-after-abuse-allegations/) - Source: BBC News Brazil have dropped Manchester United winger Antony following allegations of abuse by his former girlfriend. The Brazilian football federation said the 23-year-old had been withdrawn from the squad after "facts became public" that "need to be investigated". Brazilian news outlet UOL published allegations made by Antony's ex-partner on Monday. Police in Sao
- [Amber Gibson's brother jailed for life for killing teenager](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/04/amber-gibsons-brother-jailed-for-life-for-killing-teenager/) - A man who sexually assaulted and murdered his 16-year-old sister in a park in Hamilton has been jailed for a minimum of 22 years. Amber Gibson's body was found in Cadzow Glen on 28 November 2021, two days after she was last seen. Connor Gibson, 20, strangled Amber then got rid of his clothes and
- [Warning children will go hungry amid Scottish Government U-turn on free breakfast pledge](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/04/warning-children-will-go-hungry-amid-scottish-government-u-turn-on-free-breakfast-pledge/) - MINISTERS were blasted last night for failing on a pledge to provide free breakfasts for schoolkids. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has hinted some pupils may not qualify for the freebie meals, angering campaigners. And the Scottish Government is facing pressure on the issue ahead of parly’s return and Humza Yousaf’s first Programme for Government policy showcase on Tuesday.
- [Parents warned over ‘tracker hack’ that lets cybercriminals stalk your children – check common gadget for danger sign](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/01/parents-warned-over-tracker-hack-that-lets-cybercriminals-stalk-your-children-check-common-gadget-for-danger-sign/) - PARENTS have been warned about cybercriminals who may try to track their children's location. A lot of parents will give their children a wearable tracker to locate their whereabouts. You might think this is keeping your child safe, however, cybercriminals can hack these devices. In a blog post, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky elaborated on the potential dangers
- [Mitigating cyber risks in sports events: Safeguarding both data and fans](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/09/01/mitigating-cyber-risks-in-sports-events-safeguarding-both-data-and-fans/) - During major sports events like the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the Winter Olympics, the risk of cyber threats is elevated. Malicious actors are drawn to valuable athlete data, including achievements, competitive advantages, and personal information, making it a prime target. In the context of high-profile sports events like the FIFA World Cup Qatar
- [Police officers to face quicker sackings for gross misconduct in England and Wales](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/31/police-officers-to-face-quicker-sackings-for-gross-misconduct-in-england-and-wales/) - Source: BBC News Police officers guilty of gross misconduct in England and Wales will face automatic sackings, the government has announced. The change follows high-profile cases of officers committing rape and murder. The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, called the changes "a return to kangaroo courts". Under the new system, chief constables
- [Child victims to get support through justice system at first Bairns Hoose](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/30/child-victims-to-get-support-through-justice-system-at-first-bairns-hoose/) - Child victims of violence and abuse will be given support at Scotland’s first “Bairns Hoose” which could save them going to courts and police stations to give evidence. They will be able to get all the protection, care, justice, and recovery support they need under one roof at the facility, which opened in the west of
- [Rape survivors 'battered and bruised' by justice system](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/30/rape-survivors-battered-and-bruised-by-justice-system/) - Source: BBC News Three women who were raped by the same man say their experience of the justice system was so damaging they would think twice about reporting an attack again. Jennifer McCann, Hannah McLaughlan and Hannah Reid say they have been left "battered and bruised" by the process. They waived their anonymity after Logan
- [Excluded pupils in West Midlands at risk of criminal exploitation](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/29/excluded-pupils-in-west-midlands-at-risk-of-criminal-exploitation/) - Source: BBC News Hundreds of vulnerable pupils known to be targets for criminal gangs are being excluded from schools in the West Midlands. New figures compiled by the BBC's File on 4 programme show there were about 550 exclusions of children deemed at risk of criminal exploitation in the region between 2021 and 2023. They
- [Luis Rubiales: Hermoso kiss 'shows why women don't report abuse'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/29/luis-rubiales-hermoso-kiss-shows-why-women-dont-report-abuse/) - Source: BBC News It has been a tumultuous week for women's football, as it deals with the aftermath of Luis Rubiales kissing Spanish national star Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the Women's World Cup final. The row over the Spanish football president's actions, broadcast and seen by millions, has spilled over well beyond Spain
- ['Sara Sharif was let down by people meant to protect her': Campaigner warns authorities are guilty of a 'catastrophic' safeguarding failure after it emerged ten-year-old was on social services' radar before she was murdered](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/22/sara-sharif-was-let-down-by-people-meant-to-protect-her-campaigner-warns-authorities-are-guilty-of-a-catastrophic-safeguarding-failure-after-it-emerged-ten-year-old-was-on-social-services-r/) - A campaigner for children in care has accused the authorities of a 'catastrophic' safeguarding failure after the local council admitted Sara Sharif was known to them before she was found dead at her home in Woking. The death of the ten-year-old girl, who was 'on the radar', has sparked an international manhunt as detectives leading a murder inquiry
- [Workplace sexual-harassment clampdown for doctors](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/22/workplace-sexual-harassment-clampdown-for-doctors/) - Source: BBC News Conduct guidelines for UK doctors are being updated to spell out what constitutes workplace sexual harassment, amid concerns abuse is going unchallenged. The General Medical Council, which regulates doctors to ensure they are safe and fit to care for patients, says it is adopting a zero-tolerance policy. The new advice explains it is
- [Lucy Letby: NHS managers must be held to account, whistleblower doctor says](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/22/lucy-letby-nhs-managers-must-be-held-to-account-whistleblower-doctor-says/) - Source: BBC News Hospital managers should be regulated in a similar way to doctors and nurses, the senior doctor who first raised concerns about Lucy Letby has said. Dr Stephen Brearey was the lead consultant on the neonatal unit where serial killer Letby worked and raised the alarm in October 2015. He told BBC Radio
- [Sara Sharif, 10, was 'known to authorities' before her death - as police continue hunt for father](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/21/sara-sharif-10-was-known-to-authorities-before-her-death-as-police-continue-hunt-for-father/) - Sara Sharif - the 10-year-old girl found dead at her home in Woking - was previously known to authorities, Surrey County Council has said. Sara was found dead on 10 August, with a post-mortem revealing she had "suffered multiple and extensive injuries", which were "likely to have been caused over a sustained and extended period
- [Let childminders work in own homes, landlords urged](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/21/let-childminders-work-in-own-homes-landlords-urged/) - Childminders should be allowed to work from their rented homes to boost childcare availability for families, the government has said. Children's Minister Claire Coutinho has written to housing associations, social landlords and developers in England to urge them to review restrictive clauses in tenant contracts. But the Early Years Alliance said this would make only
- [Doctors trip could keep children safe on social media; study](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/18/doctors-trip-could-keep-children-safe-on-social-media-study/) - (WTVO) — A new study showed that a visit to the doctor might be able to keep children safe on social media. Researchers found that doctors having a five-minute conversation with their youth patients about social media safety resulted in more kids having follow up conversations with their parents. That led to kids checking or
- [Red flags warning issued on what parents should look out for to keep their children safe online](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/18/red-flags-warning-issued-on-what-parents-should-look-out-for-to-keep-their-children-safe-online/) - While the UK patiently awaits the Government's Online Safety Bill to come to fruition, tens of thousands of grooming crimes have been recorded by police. The Bill was initially due to be rolled out this autumn, but has encountered a number of delays and amendments since it was proposed in the form of legislation. Now,
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – August 18, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/18/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-august-18-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [The Green Belt has a crucial role to play in safeguarding our future - The Yorkshire Post says](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/17/the-green-belt-has-a-crucial-role-to-play-in-safeguarding-our-future-the-yorkshire-post-says/) - With Britain in the midst of a housing crisis, decades in the making, there are some who see development on Green Belt land as the answer. But that not only destroys a crucial part of our ecosystem but also fails to address the desperate need for affordable housing. A new report from countryside charity CPRE
- [World Athletics introduces new athletes' representatives licensing system and safeguarding reforms](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/17/world-athletics-introduces-new-athletes-representatives-licensing-system-and-safeguarding-reforms/) - World Athletics' Council has approved a centralised licensing system including eligibility criteria for athletes' representatives and new safeguarding rules at its meeting before the World Athletics Championships here. Authorised athletes' representatives can assist their peers in negotiating relevant matters and subject applicants to vetting by a new Athletes' Representatives Panel and an exam covering areas
- [Grooming cases at record high amid online safety laws delay](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/16/grooming-cases-at-record-high-amid-online-safety-laws-delay/) - Source: BBC News Tens of thousands of online grooming crimes have been recorded during the wait for updated online safety laws. Campaigners are urging tech companies and MPs to back the Online Safety Bill and are calling for no more hold-ups. The bill, which aims to crack down on illegal content, has faced repeated delays
- [County partners praised for 'collective commitment' to safeguarding children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/15/county-partners-praised-for-collective-commitment-to-safeguarding-children/) - Source: theforestreview.co.uk THE multi-agency response to safeguarding children across Gloucestershire has been praised in a report following a wide-ranging inspection of services. Inspectors from Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) conducted a Joint Targeted Area Inspection of the county council, police and NHS
- [World Athletics adopts new rules for Athletes' Representatives and Safeguarding](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/15/world-athletics-adopts-new-rules-for-athletes-representatives-and-safeguarding/) - Source: worldathletics.org Safeguarding The World Athletics Council has approved new Safeguarding Rules to guard against abuse, harassment or exploitation by World Athletics officials or which may occur at a World Athletics Series event or Congress. In exceptional cases, these rules will also apply to MF officials. These new Rules give World Athletics the power to
- [Adopted children's names were disclosed on Scotland's People website](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/14/adopted-childrens-names-were-disclosed-on-scotlands-people-website/) - The names of thousands of people adopted as children were available on a genealogy website, it has emerged. Safety and privacy fears were raised after a mother found details of adoptions dating back more than 100 years on the Scotland's People site. It is operated by National Records of Scotland (NRS), an official arm of
- [Child protection support to crack down on abuse in schools](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/14/child-protection-support-to-crack-down-on-abuse-in-schools/) - With the start of a new school year, a child protection charity is offering its services to educate the children in Oxfordshire about abuse. The National Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) helps to protect children from abuse nationwide. The charity is seeking volunteers for a new programme beginning this September which
- [Government urged to protect children from domestic abuse during holidays](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/11/government-urged-to-protect-children-from-domestic-abuse-during-holidays/) - Children's charity NSPCC is calling on the government to provide support for children suffering abuse during the school holidays. Domestic abuse of children increases during holidays as children spend more time at home. From 2022 to 2023 the NSPCC helpline handled the highest number of domestic abuse contacts in the summer period from July to
- [Safeguarding – What areas should leaders prioritise in 2023/24?](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/11/safeguarding-what-areas-should-leaders-prioritise-in-2023-24/) - Ann Marie Christian highlights the safeguarding developments and priorities that school leaders should heed over the coming academic year… Some years ago, safeguarding arrangements within schools became an important part of Ofsted’s inspection framework. Part of my role involves visiting schools across the world and inland UK to carry out reviews and audits of schools’
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – August 11, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/11/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-august-11-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Below Deck Down Under: Jason Chambers addresses sexual misconduct row](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/11/below-deck-down-under-jason-chambers-addresses-sexual-misconduct-row/) - Source: BBC News Captain Jason Chambers from Australian reality series Below Deck Down Under has addressed sexual misconduct on the show's set. He thanked the production crew for "breaking the fourth wall and stepping in" during two incidents during filming for the new series. Two cast members were seen making unwanted sexual advances in recent
- [Secondary school absence continues to grow in wake of lockdown](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/11/secondary-school-absence-continues-to-grow-in-wake-of-lockdown/) - Source: Daily Telegraph Record proportion of pupils missed at least a month of school in last academic year, according to Telegraph analysis. Secondary school pupils are increasingly missing from the classroom as the legacy of lockdown impacts a generation of children. A record proportion of secondary pupils missed at least a month of school in the last academic year,
- [Serious harms in care report to remain unpublished](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/10/serious-harms-in-care-report-to-remain-unpublished/) - The national statutory body for child safeguarding has refused to publish a report which analysed 48 separate incidents where children in care died or were seriously harmed (see its headline findings below). Thirty organisations, including Article 39, wrote to the Chair of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel at the end of April, requesting that
- [NSPCC concerned over impact of coercive and controlling behaviour on children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/10/nspcc-concerned-over-impact-of-coercive-and-controlling-behaviour-on-children/) - The charity said some forms of abuse, such as coercive control, can sometimes be overlooked or minimised. A charity has warned about risks facing some young people over the summer holidays as it revealed it had almost 1,400 reports to its helpline about the impact of coercive and controlling behaviour on children last year. The
- [Staffordshire Police told it still needs to improve safeguarding for children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/09/staffordshire-police-told-it-still-needs-to-improve-safeguarding-for-children/) - Staffordshire Police still needs to do more to protect children, according to a report published on Friday. His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) visited in March. It said the force needed to improve the quality of its child protection investigations, such as its response to children reported missing from home.
- [Government to review case for powers of entry for social workers in adult safeguarding cases](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/09/government-to-review-case-for-powers-of-entry-for-social-workers-in-adult-safeguarding-cases/) - The government is reviewing the case for giving social workers in England powers of entry in adult safeguarding cases. It made the pledge after a review it conducted found practitioners “often [lacked] the necessary tools and resources” to protect people with care needs who were experiencing, or at risk of, abuse from those caring for them. Social
- [Baby monitors and smart speakers enabling abuse, say MPs](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/07/baby-monitors-and-smart-speakers-enabling-abuse-say-mps/) - Fitness trackers, home security systems and baby monitors are among the devices that MPs warn are enabling the growing issue of tech-enabled domestic abuse. The Culture, Media and Sport Committee says there are on average nine such "smart" products in UK homes. It found they were being used to "monitor, harass, coerce and control" victims
- [NSPCC and gas distribution networks partner up for safeguarding training](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/07/nspcc-and-gas-distribution-networks-partner-up-for-safeguarding-training/) - A new partnership between the NSPCC and Britain’s four Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs) will deliver vital safeguarding training to more than 18,000 workers across England, Scotland and Wales ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ Half a million children suffer abuse and neglect a year in the UK, and almost 60,000 calls were made to the NSPCC Helpline last year from
- [Former dancers have initiated legal action against Lizzo, reminding us arts workers deserve the same workplace protections as any other industry](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/07/former-dancers-have-initiated-legal-action-against-lizzo-reminding-us-arts-workers-deserve-the-same-workplace-protections-as-any-other-industry/) - Source: The Conversation Last month, multi-Grammy winner Lizzo graced stadiums across Australia with her electrifying performances. Glowing five-star reviews celebrated Lizzo, the stage name of Melissa Viviane Jefferson, for attracting audiences of that are inclusive and celebrate love. Over the past three years, Lizzo has shifted from cult performer to a global icon with her
- [Safeguarding jobs round up - August 4, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/04/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-august-4-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Why language matters: how the label ‘older boyfriend’ can mask child sexual exploitation](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/02/why-language-matters-how-the-label-older-boyfriend-can-mask-child-sexual-exploitation/) - The teenage years can be a time of big changes, confusion, experimentation, and growing independence. It’s also a time when some teenagers start being interested in romantic and sexual relationships. Although this is a natural part of growing up, there are situations where an age difference or power imbalance within a relationship should be a warning sign
- [Podcast: An introduction to Report Remove, an online self-reporting tool for young people](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/02/podcast-an-introduction-to-report-remove-an-online-self-reporting-tool-for-young-people/) - Learn more about how to incorporate the tool into your safeguarding response to incidents of sharing nudes Report Remove is an online tool that under-18s can use to report sexual images or videos of themselves that have been shared online, to see if they can be removed from the internet. Developed by experts from Childline
- [Housing asylum-seeking children in hotels 'safeguarding catastrophe', court told](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/02/housing-asylum-seeking-children-in-hotels-safeguarding-catastrophe-court-told/) - Housing children seeking asylum in hotels is a "safeguarding catastrophe" that has had "dangerous" consequences, the High Court has heard. The charity Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT) is bringing legal action against the Home Office over the practice of housing unaccompanied youngsters in Home Office hotels, claiming the arrangements are unlawful and "not fit
- [Alexis Jay warns she will quit C of E safeguarding role if there is interference](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/08/02/alexis-jay-warns-she-will-quit-c-of-e-safeguarding-role-if-there-is-interference/) - The former chair of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA) has warned she will quit a new role to develop independent safeguarding structures for the Church of England if there is any attempted interference. The archbishops of Canterbury and York have hired Prof Alexis Jay after weeks of turmoil within the C of E over
- ['Routine' housing of child asylum seekers in hotels unlawful, High Court rules](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/31/routine-housing-of-child-asylum-seekers-in-hotels-unlawful-high-court-rules/) - The "routine" housing of unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels is unlawful, the High Court has ruled. The charity Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT) brought legal action against the Home Office over the practice. The High Court said children could be placed in hotels for "very short periods in true emergency situations" but not
- [Child abuse survivor who saw grandfather jailed speaks out - as recorded cases hit new high](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/31/child-abuse-survivor-who-saw-grandfather-jailed-speaks-out-as-recorded-cases-hit-new-high/) - A teenager who helped jail her paternal grandfather after he sexually abused her as a small child is speaking out to "take away the shame" for survivors like her. Poppy hopes her story will change attitudes and help others. The 18-year-old has set aside her right to anonymity because she believes "if people can see
- [Gas engineers to be trained to spot signs of child abuse on call outs](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/31/gas-engineers-to-be-trained-to-spot-signs-of-child-abuse-on-call-outs/) - A leading child protection charity has joined forces with gas distribution networks to train workers to spot signs of child abuse and neglect during home visits. The NSPCC’s It’s Your Call project will see the charity train more than 18,000 workers across the country to help them identify signs of abuse. Half a million children
- [Findings of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry will be key to whether 'mandatory reporting' is introduced](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/31/findings-of-the-scottish-child-abuse-inquiry-will-be-key-to-whether-mandatory-reporting-is-introduced/) - On the face of it, introducing mandatory reporting for child sexual abuse seems obvious. After all, how could anyone be against alerting the authorities to such horrific crimes against vulnerable children? Well, some say there are actually good reasons not to go down the route of making it a criminal offence for teachers, doctors and
- [Engineers and gas employees trained to spot signs of abuse on home visits](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/28/engineers-and-gas-employees-trained-to-spot-signs-of-abuse-on-home-visits/) - Thousands of engineers and gas employees are to be given training to recognise signs of abuse and neglect so they can identify children at risk while they are working. More than 18,000 workers across England, Scotland and Wales will be given safeguarding training in a new partnership between the NSPCC and Britain’s four Gas Distribution
- [Safeguarding donation value for faith-based organisations](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/28/safeguarding-donation-value-for-faith-based-organisations/) - FAITH-based organisations have historically relied heavily on cash donations from worshippers and while a proportion of regular attendees and community members have transitioned to direct debits and standing orders, the decline in cash usage has devastated overall contributions, especially at weddings, funerals and external fundraising events. But given the risk of cash donations to theft,
- [Safeguarding job round up – July 28, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/28/safeguarding-job-round-up-july-28-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- ['Wake-up call' as report lays bare devastating impact of poverty on health in County Durham and Tees Valley](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/27/wake-up-call-as-report-lays-bare-devastating-impact-of-poverty-on-health-in-county-durham-and-tees-valley/) - A shocking new report has laid bare how children in County Durham and the Tees Valley are much more likely to be admitted to A&E, child poverty rates have rocketed and almost a quarter of people in County Durham are living with serious and chronic illnesses. The report - County Durham and Tees Valley: Health, Wealth and
- [More at-risk students to benefit from uplift scheme](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/27/more-at-risk-students-to-benefit-from-uplift-scheme/) - About 13,000 students will benefit when the scheme is expanded, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday. It is part of efforts aimed at closing the gaps that children from disadvantaged homes may face. The scheme by the Ministry of Education (MOE), known as the Uplift Enhanced School Resourcing programme, has been piloted in 23
- [All state schools in England to have defibrillator after work of Oliver King Foundation](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/27/all-state-schools-in-england-to-have-defibrillator-after-work-of-oliver-king-foundation/) - All state schools in England now have access to a potentially life-saving defibrillator, thanks to a campaign by a bereaved dad. Oliver King, 12, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at school during a swimming lesson in Liverpool in 2011. The schoolboy had an unknown but treatable condition called Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS), which kills
- [Safeguarding news round-up - July 27, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/27/safeguarding-news-round-up-july-27-2023/) - Safeguarding A weekly media round-up of news, views and comment Wednesday, 26th July 2023 SAFEGUARDING Keegan admits transgender guidance for schools delayed Gillian Keegan has admitted that transgender guidance for schools will take a “little bit longer” following reports the Attorney General and Government lawyers said plans to strengthen guidance would
- [SAFEGUARDING IN THE DIGITAL WORLD](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/26/safeguarding-in-the-digital-world/) - Play safe - Online At the FA our approach to safeguarding – and our responsibility to keep children safe – applies to the online environment as much as to the offline world. We know that teams, clubs, and leagues really benefit from online and digital technology. Whether communicating team results or a change of venue,
- [AI could worsen epidemic of child sexual abuse, warns UK crime agency](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/24/ai-could-worsen-epidemic-of-child-sexual-abuse-warns-uk-crime-agency/) - Artificial intelligence could further fuel an epidemic of child sexual abuse, Britain’s top law enforcement agency has warned, as it said that one in every 50 men pose a risk to children. The National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates that up to 830,000 adults – 1.6% of the adult population – represent some degree of sexual danger to
- [Snapchat: Does app give drug gangs access to teenagers?](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/24/snapchat-does-app-give-drug-gangs-access-to-teenagers/) - Minutes after opening a Snapchat account pretending to be a 15-year-old girl, I'm amazed at what I see. Drugs seem to be readily available - just a couple of clicks away. I thought this world was hidden and hard to access, but it is so easy to find. I've gone undercover online to investigate how
- [Safeguarding job round up - July 21, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/21/safeguarding-job-round-up-july-21-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Why Searching ‘Chicken Soup’ On Facebook Returns Child Abuse Warning](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/21/why-searching-chicken-soup-on-facebook-returns-child-abuse-warning/) - Facebook users have discovered that searching the phrase ‘chicken soup’ in the search bar results in a warning message about child abuse – but why? Meta has very strict rules on what can be posted and does not allow any content or activity that sexually exploits or endangers children on the social media platform. ‘Chicken soup’ on Facebook returns
- [Online predators: Tips to protect your kids from unsafe interactions](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/21/online-predators-tips-to-protect-your-kids-from-unsafe-interactions/) - Numerous social media and online communication websites allows today's children to communicate with friends and family anywhere in the world. But the platforms aren't risk-free, as criminals often use them to target children. This week, for instance, Volusia sheriff’s detectives arrested a 29-year-old man for twice having sex with a 12-year-old girl. The man used Wink Mobile
- [Sharing safeguarding knowledge among Team Up partners](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/20/sharing-safeguarding-knowledge-among-team-up-partners/) - Team Up sport for development partners from eight countries have been attending a series of workshops covering key safeguarding concepts applicable to both their Team Up-supported programs, and their sports organisations more broadly. In line with Team’ Up’s second end-of-program outcome – sport organisations are safe, inclusive and accessible – the primary objective of the safeguarding workshops
- [FIFA and Team Up to offer unpredicted safeguarding support](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/20/fifa-and-team-up-to-offer-unprecedented-safeguarding-support/) - In line with FIFA’s commitment to ensuring safe sporting environments for all players, at every level of the game, and as part of broader efforts to protect human rights, further groundbreaking steps have been taken to enhance the safeguarding program throughout the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023. Football’s global governing body
- [U.S. Soccer council calls on Congress for SafeSport changes](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/20/u-s-soccer-council-calls-on-congress-for-safesport-changes/) - AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- The Center for SafeSport's policies put athletes in harm's way, the U.S. Soccer Athletes Council said Wednesday, calling on Congress to take action. In a letter sent to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, the Athletes Council -- which represents the interests of athletes within the U.S. Soccer Federation
- [AI and Privacy Risks: Safeguarding Your Data in an Automated World](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/20/ai-and-privacy-risks-safeguarding-your-data-in-an-automated-world/) - Look around you; the environment is abuzz with AI and its near-miraculous possibilities. AI or Artificial Intelligence enables a computer or machine to reason, learn, and act intelligently, like a human. Indeed, ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies are spreading in almost every industry—from healthcare, banking, and manufacturing to the creative arts and consumer software.
- [Safeguarding in ‘crisis’ in Church of England, says archbishop of York](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/20/safeguarding-in-crisis-in-church-of-england-says-archbishop-of-york-2/) - Stephen Cottrell tells General Synod ‘mistakes have been made’, while sacked safeguarding board member says ‘we did our job too well’ The archbishop of York has said there is a “crisis of safeguarding” within the Church of England after its executive disbanded an independent body on abuse. Stephen Cottrell told the C of E’s ruling
- [Safeguarding news round up - July 19, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/19/safeguarding-news-round-up-july-19-2023/) - SAFEGUARDING Report reveals failures in legal representation for children Children caught in the criminal justice system face a "lottery" in the quality of the lawyer representing them, according a report arguing that children "are being failed" by lawyers who lack the knowledge and skills to act in their best interest. The Youth Justice Legal Centre
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – July 14, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/14/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-july-14-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Safeguarding news round up - July 14, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/14/safeguarding-news-round-up-july-14-2023/) - Overspends on children's services 'unsustainable' Analysis by the County Councils Network (CCN) has found that sharp increases in the number of vulnerable children needing care have led to multi-million pound budget overspends at 30 of 36 county councils - with a total overspend of £316m. The number of children seeking support rose by 16,030 between
- [Troubling times for those waiting for speech and language therapy in Scotland](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/14/troubling-times-for-those-waiting-for-speech-and-language-therapy-in-scotland/) - The RCSLT Scotland team have been listening to the concerns of members and engaging with politicians and key decision makers about these important issues. Head of RCSLT Scotland, Glenn Carter, was recently featured on BBC Scotland to highlight the problems in children’s services. The piece featured Suzy Paine, mother to 5-year-old Isabella who has a speech disorder and
- [No care places left for most vulnerable children in England, MPs told](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/13/no-care-places-left-for-most-vulnerable-children-in-england-mps-told/) - Hundreds of vulnerable children will be in illegal accommodation this winter because there are no places for them in children's homes, care providers say. In March, the government extended a ban on unregulated homes to children in care aged 16 and 17, following BBC investigations. The BBC found some had been forced to live in
- [How you can keep your child safe online this summer](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/13/how-you-can-keep-your-child-safe-online-this-summer/) - WITH the summer holidays just around the corner, Wrexham Council has shared a number of ways you can guarentee your child's online safety on those not-so-sunny days. Get Safe Online has issued some timely tips for parents and carers to help children enjoy a safe and confident experience online. Children are more likely to be
- [Ofsted and BASW raise safeguarding concerns over allowing non-social workers to hold child in need cases](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/13/ofsted-and-basw-raise-safeguarding-concerns-over-allowing-non-social-workers-to-hold-child-in-need-cases/) - Removal of requirement for social workers to carry out assessments under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 sparks concerns over quality of practice and children's safety Transferring child in need cases to non-social workers may undermine the quality of practice and increase risks to children, Ofsted and the British Association of Social Workers (BASW)
- [Safeguarding in ‘crisis’ in Church of England, says archbishop of York](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/12/safeguarding-in-crisis-in-church-of-england-says-archbishop-of-york/) - The archbishop of York has said there is a “crisis of safeguarding” within the Church of England after its executive disbanded an independent body on abuse. Stephen Cottrell told the C of E’s ruling body, the General Synod, on Sunday that “mistakes have been made” and that Jesus would be weeping at the events of
- [Queensland to review allegations of the neglect of children in residential care](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/12/queensland-to-review-allegations-of-the-neglect-of-children-in-residential-care/) - Child safety minister Craig Crawford says frontline staff, experts and advocates will inform review The residential care system housing Queensland’s most vulnerable children will undergo a review as the government responds to reports of abuse and neglect. The state’s child safety minister, Craig Crawford, ordered the wide-ranging review on Monday and said it would canvass
- [BBC SEX PROBE Top BBC star who ‘paid child for sex pictures’ could be charged by cops and face years in prison, expert says](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/10/bbc-sex-probe-top-bbc-star-who-paid-child-for-sex-pictures-could-be-charged-by-cops-and-face-years-in-prison-expert-says/) - The well-known presenter allegedly gave the teen more than £35,000 for sordid images in a scandal that has rocked the national broadcaster. The Sun exclusively revealed that the star was taken off air, and that the child's mum saw images of him sitting on his sofa in his underpants. Now Nazir Afzal, the former Chief Crown Prosecutor who led the prosecution in
- [What age a child can stay at home alone in the UK? NSPCC advises](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/10/what-age-a-child-can-stay-at-home-alone-in-the-uk-nspcc-advises/) - The summer holidays can present a challenge for parents as they grapple with the rising cost of living and the never-ending demands of childcare. The child protection charity has answered some parents' and carers' burning questions including what ages it would not recommend leaving without adult supervision for long periods of time. The NSPCC has also issued advice
- [Think child – safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/07/think-child-safeguarding-children-is-everyones-responsibility/) - Child abuse and exploitation can happen to any child, anywhere. We know through research from the NSPCC that half a million children a year suffer abuse in the UK*. We have dedicated teams who are committed to identifying and protecting children and young people at risk and seeking out those that cause them harm, whether
- [Pony Club: Horse riding teacher swore at children, probe finds](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/07/pony-club-horse-riding-teacher-swore-at-children-probe-finds/) - Parents complained to the Pony Club over the alleged actions of a worker at the Wheatland Hunt branch in Shropshire. A meeting concluded the use of inappropriate language was upheld, and the instructor is understood to remain in their role. One complainant told the BBC they did not feel they had been listened to. The
- [Cradley Heath nursery shuts suddenly over safeguarding concerns](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/07/cradley-heath-nursery-shuts-suddenly-over-safeguarding-concerns/) - A nursery has been forced to closed suddenly due to safeguarding concerns. Tick Tock Day Nursery in Old Hill, Cradley Heath, which has about 140 children on its roll, had its Ofsted registration suspended last week. The watchdog said the nursery's registration was suspended after it received concerns of a safeguarding nature. The nursery has
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – July 7, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/07/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-july-7-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [A crisis is looming for U.S. colleges — and not just because of the pandemic](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/06/a-crisis-is-looming-for-u-s-colleges-and-not-just-because-of-the-pandemic/) - More than 500 colleges and universities show warning signs of financial stress in at least two areas, The Hechinger Report's analysis found. This article about college financial health was produced in partnership with The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. This is part 1 of the Colleges in Crisis series. Dozens
- [Britain tightens planned tech law to stop children viewing porn](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/06/britain-tightens-planned-tech-law-to-stop-children-viewing-porn/) - LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - Britain said on Friday it had tightened protections in its Online Safety Bill that will prevent children from viewing pornography in an update to long-delayed legislation that is being closely watched by the tech industry. Under the government's latest amendments after debates in parliament, Britain will set higher standards for
- [Home Office admits it is illegally housing unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/06/home-office-admits-it-is-illegally-housing-unaccompanied-child-asylum-seekers-in-hotels/) - The Home Office has admitted that housing unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels is illegal but has no concrete plans to end the practice, a watchdog has revealed. Official documents show that the government identified over a year ago that the policy amounted to the creation of unregulated children’s homes, which ministers banned in February 2021. An entry on
- [OnlyFans account billboards in London streets spark complaints](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/05/onlyfans-account-billboards-in-london-streets-spark-complaints/) - Source: BBC News Billboards advertising a woman's explicit OnlyFans account have sparked complaints to the advertising watchdog. The adverts, showing model Eliza Rose Watson in underwear, have appeared in Harrow and Edgware in north-west London and Lambeth in south-west London. One of the adverts in Harrow has been spray-painted over, with the words "keep porn
- [Westminster: House of Commons culture still 'predatory', say staff](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/05/westminster-house-of-commons-culture-still-predatory-say-staff/) - Source: BBC News A "predatory culture" still exists around the House of Commons, with inappropriate flirting and sexual misconduct still prevalent, staff say. Six members of staff told BBC Newsnight that abuses of power by male MPs and senior staffers remained common, and a new complaints process was too slow. One woman said she was
- [Sex education must engage boys to tackle harassment - MPs](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/05/sex-education-must-engage-boys-to-tackle-harassment-mps/) - Source: BBC News Sex education lessons must engage boys and young men in order to tackle "a scourge" of sexual harassment and violence in schools, according to a group of MPs. The inquiry by the Women and Equalities Committee heard relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) was "less applicable" to boys than to girls. It
- [Children should be taught about healthy relationships, report says](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/04/children-should-be-taught-about-healthy-relationships-report-says/) - Source: BBC News Children should be taught about "healthy, respectful relationships" from a young age. That is one of the key actions in a new Stormont framework on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG). It also said young people should be involved in developing new relationships and sex education (RSE) for schools. Northern Ireland
- [Forces failing women over police sex misconduct claims, BBC finds](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/04/forces-failing-women-over-police-sex-misconduct-claims-bbc-finds/) - Source: BBC News Police forces are failing vulnerable women who say they have been sexually exploited by officers, the BBC has learned. One woman says a detective pursued a sexual relationship in texts and repeatedly visited her home. Evidence has been deleted in "botched" inquiries and out of 500 allegations of officers abusing their position,
- [Festival drug testing: Legal action threatened over safety tests](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/07/03/festival-drug-testing-legal-action-threatened-over-safety-tests/) - Source: BBC News A festival boss has formally threatened legal action against the government over drug checking at festivals. Parklife founder Sacha Lord has written to Home Secretary Suella Braverman urging her to allow on-site testing in "pop-up labs" to go ahead. He says festivals had been doing this for at least 10 years until last month,
- [Surge in prison officer absences due to mental health reasons](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/30/surge-in-prison-officer-absences-due-to-mental-health-reasons/) - Source: BBC News The number of prison officers in England and Wales who took sick days for mental health reasons nearly doubled over five years. Staff taking time off rose from 1,456 in 2016/17 to 2,879 in 2021/22, Ministry of Justice data obtained by BBC Radio Kent shows. The Prison Officers' Association (POA) says long
- [‘His safe space is at home’: parents on why their children are absent from school](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/30/his-safe-space-is-at-home-parents-on-why-their-children-are-absent-from-school/) - After councils England cited a shortfall in mental health support as a factor in reduced attendance, parents describe their struggles. About 18 months ago, Jane’s 13-year-old daughter Anna* was referred to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) after her GP said she was exhibiting clear symptoms of stress and anxiety. But as another school
- [Paedophiles are using AI to create and sell life-like child sexual abuse images, shocking report reveals](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/30/paedophiles-are-using-ai-to-create-and-sell-life-like-child-sexual-abuse-images-shocking-report-reveals/) - A shocking investigation suggests AI is being used to make child abuse imagery These images are then being traded and sold on the Japanese site of Pixiv In UK law, AI-generated child abuse imagery is treated the same as real images Paedophiles are using artificial intelligence (AI) to create life-like child sexual abuse images, a new
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – June 30, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/30/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-june-30-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Safeguarding should matter to Ofsted as much as to schools](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/29/safeguarding-should-matter-to-ofsted-as-much-as-to-schools/) - This week’s announcement doesn’t inspire confidence that Ofsted and the DfE get the impact accountability is having on headteachers, say Jon Chaloner and Duncan Spalding. With both main parties’ general election campaigns centred on five key priorities, the Headteachers’ Roundtable sets out their own five urgent concerns for education. Read each in turn this half term, and
- [Child safety: Inconsistencies in safeguarding - review](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/29/child-safety-inconsistencies-in-safeguarding-review/) - There are inconsistencies in child safeguarding in Wales, the care inspectorate has said. There were 32 reviews in progress in May about children who died or were seriously hurt due to abuse or neglect. Care Inspectorate Wales' (CIW) interim review into child protection, coming after several deaths in England and Wales, said it was "generally good".
- [Kevin Doxey: 'Why did nobody stop our abusive teaching assistant?'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/29/kevin-doxey-why-did-nobody-stop-our-abusive-teaching-assistant/) - Source: BBC News A former teaching assistant described by a judge as a "persistent sexual predator" has been jailed - five years after two of his victims complained. In the meantime he targeted another pupil, who tried to kill herself because of what happened. So why wasn't Kevin Doxey stopped sooner? "One of the uniformed
- [One in 10 GCSE-year pupils absent from English schools each day](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/29/one-in-10-gcse-year-pupils-absent-from-english-schools-each-day/) - Source: The Guardian Exclusive: Extraordinary levels of absence fuelled by anxiety, illness and cost of living crisis. One in 10 GCSE-year pupils have been absent from school in England each day this year, up 70% since before the Covid pandemic, a Guardian investigation has found. Thousands more teenagers are attending school only part-time as anxiety, illness and
- [The new 'revenge porn' law in force from today - and it could see you jailed for six months](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/28/the-new-revenge-porn-law-in-force-from-today-and-it-could-see-you-jailed-for-six-months/) - Anew law was launched today, June 27, with the aim of cracking down on so-called revenge porn and "bringing cowards to justice". Criminals sharing intimate images without consent now face six months in prison for the 'vile' offence. Revenge porn was criminalised in 2015 but until now prosecutors had to prove there was an intention
- [It’s not just cricket – discrimination is rife, from Westminster to rowing and rugby](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/28/its-not-just-cricket-discrimination-is-rife-from-westminster-to-rowing-and-rugby/) - Racism, sexism and classism | Rwanda asylum costs | Shopping trolley heart checks | Glutton-free? | Sinatra’s funeral songs. The report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (Icec) has clarified the unholy trinity of racism, sexism and class in the sport (Report, 27 June). Isn’t it time for a similar investigation into Westminster
- [Chance of success in English cricket depends on size of your parents’ wallet](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/28/chance-of-success-in-english-cricket-depends-on-size-of-your-parents-wallet/) - To be observed by a coach, £75, with another £20 to participate in trials. To play in a festival, £455. Up to £3,000 more to go on a tour. These are the hidden costs of breaking into a boys’ county academy, documented in the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket’s report. Sixteen of the 18
- [Illegal trade in AI child sex abuse images exposed](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/28/illegal-trade-in-ai-child-sex-abuse-images-exposed/) - Source: BBC News Paedophiles are using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create and sell life-like child sexual abuse material, the BBC has found. Some are accessing the images by paying subscriptions to accounts on mainstream content-sharing sites such as Patreon. Patreon said it had a "zero tolerance" policy about such imagery on its site. The
- [Lewis Capaldi announces he needs a mental health break after Glastonbury](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/27/lewis-capaldi-announces-he-needs-a-mental-health-break-after-glastonbury/) - Lewis Capaldi has said he may not perform for the rest of the year, following a rapturously-received Glastonbury performance – his first show in nearly a month, after he took a break for mental health reasons. The Scottish-born singer cancelled all of his commitments earlier this month, saying he was “struggling” following the release of
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – June 23, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/23/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-june-23-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [I'm a cybersecurity expert - here's how I keep my children safe online](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/22/im-a-cybersecurity-expert-heres-how-i-keep-my-children-safe-online/) - Popular online services harvest huge amounts of data from children who might be unaware of what they are giving away, warns Tom Gaffney, Cybersecurity expert at F-Secure. Tom Gaffney said that social media or gaming sites often scan everything from a user's contact list to hard drives connected to their computer - and that criminals
- [How schools are allowing kids to identify as cats, horses and dinosaurs](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/22/how-schools-are-allowing-kids-to-identify-as-cats-horses-and-dinosaurs/) - Schools are allowing children to identify as cats, horses and dinosaurs - and teachers are 'failing to question them', it was claimed today. There was widespread outrage earlier this week when a 13-year-old girl was branded 'despicable' by her teacher for rejecting her classmate's claim that she identified as a cat. Now further stories are emerging
- [Make all roads near schools 20mph 'to save lives', say safety campaigners](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/22/make-all-roads-near-schools-20mph-to-save-lives-say-safety-campaigners/) - All roads near schools should have a 20mph speed limit to reduce child deaths, says a safety charity. There were 2,456 children under 16 seriously hurt or killed on Britain's roads last year - and many councils have already imposed 20mph zones near schools. But Brake said two-thirds of parents reported that some roads near
- [School Streets to treble in north London borough](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/22/school-streets-to-treble-in-north-london-borough/) - The number of School Streets in a north London borough will almost treble in the next three years. Haringey councillors approved plans for 38 new zones at a meeting on 13 June, meaning most vehicles will be banned on streets outside those schools during drop-off and pick-up times. It will bring the total number of
- [Andrew Tate charged with rape and human trafficking](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/20/andrew-tate-charged-with-rape-and-human-trafficking/) - Source: BBC News Controversial influencer Andrew Tate has been charged in Romania with rape, human trafficking and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women. His brother Tristan and two associates have also been charged. All have denied the allegations. The Tate brothers were first arrested at their Bucharest home in December. In March,
- [Taiwan kindergarten druggings spark alarm among island's parents](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/20/taiwan-kindergarten-druggings-spark-alarm-among-islands-parents/) - Source: BBC News Investigations into the drugging of preschool children in Taiwan have sparked widespread alarm on the island. Teachers at a kindergarten in New Taipei City have been accused of sedating students with cough syrups containing drugs like phenobarbital and benzodiazepines. Police have been investigating for weeks and say it's not clear why the
- [Former Disney Channel star Christy Carlson Romano wants 'more protection' for child actors](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/19/former-disney-channel-star-christy-carlson-romano-wants-more-protection-for-child-actors/) - Christy Carlson Romano wants "more protection" for child stars. The 39-year-old actress found fame as a teenager starring alongside Shia LaBeouf on Disney Channel sitcom 'Even Stevens' before going on to voice the title role in the action series 'Kim Possible' for the network and was left "very trigged" by recent comments made by fellow
- [NI special school nurseries at risk of closure](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/19/ni-special-school-nurseries-at-risk-of-closure/) - The Education Authority (EA) is considering closing a number of nurseries in special schools, BBC News NI understands. The authority is considering the move as it has to increase the number of Primary One pupils some schools can take. In a statement, a spokesperson for the EA said it was facing "an extremely challenging situation".
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – June 16, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/16/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-june-16-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle: Whistleblower does not regret raising concerns](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/15/bishop-of-hexham-and-newcastle-whistleblower-does-not-regret-raising-concerns/) - A woman whose concerns about a grooming priest were ignored by a Roman Catholic bishop said she feels vindicated for informing his superiors about him. Bishop Robert Byrne was heavily criticised for promoting Canon Michael McCoy despite safeguarding concerns. Angie Richardson quit as a safeguarding coordinator for Hexham and Newcastle diocese over the bishop's behaviour.
- [Scouts: Millions paid out over UK abuse in last 10 years, say lawyers](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/15/scouts-millions-paid-out-over-uk-abuse-in-last-10-years-say-lawyers/) - Millions of pounds have been paid out in the last ten years to people who were abused in the Scouts, lawyers say. BBC File on 4 contacted 13 law firms who specialise in child abuse claims, and data from the eight that responded revealed more than £6m had been paid out in compensation in the
- [Safeguarding children needs proper resources](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/14/safeguarding-children-needs-proper-resources-2/) - While services designed to protect Arthur Labinjo-Hughes were involved with the family, we do not know yet what could have been done differently to prevent his death; that is the subject for a learning review. I am not condoning poor practice; we must recognise and address this. However, we should appreciate the context: the system
- [Ex-footballer Garry O'Connor teams up with charity The Destiny Project](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/14/ex-footballer-garry-oconnor-teams-up-with-charity-the-destiny-project/) - A PRESTONPANS-BASED charity has launched its own football team to help tackle mental health issues through the power of sport. The Destiny Project is a children’s mental health charity that provides support and advocacy, with the aim of promoting the health and wellbeing of children and young people from all backgrounds. The group is channelling
- [Snapchat is becoming ‘gossip’ site for teenage gang sex and violence, investigation finds](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/14/snapchat-is-becoming-gossip-site-for-teenage-gang-sex-and-violence-investigation-finds/) - Source: Daily Telegraph The social media app is being used to film and broadcast assaults, raids of people’s homes and sexual abuse. Snapchat is putting children at risk by becoming the go-to “gossip” site for teenage gang sex and violence, an investigation has found. The messaging app - widely used by children as young as
- [Soft-touch justice strikes again as 'abhorrent' female sex offender released from prison after just 18 months](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/14/soft-touch-justice-strikes-again-as-abhorrent-female-sex-offender-released-from-prison-after-just-18-months/) - Campaigners have blasted the Scottish Government's soft-touch justice after a woman who subjected two young children to horrific sexual abuse was released from prison this week. Susan Abbott abused the boy and girl and beat them after getting drunk on Buckfast and vodka while looking after them. The abuse started when the boy was just
- [Gledfield Primary teacher facing watchdog probe accused of failing to act on 'multiple child protection concerns'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/14/gledfield-primary-teacher-facing-watchdog-probe-accused-of-failing-to-act-on-multiple-child-protection-concerns/) - A HIGHLAND teacher is to face 10 days of hearings at the General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTCS) amid allegations a teacher failed “to act upon multiple child protection concerns.” The GTCS convened the fitness to teach hearings to determine if the Highland Council teacher failed to protect pupils from bullying, intimidation, humiliation and physical
- [Police advice to keep your children safe online](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/13/police-advice-to-keep-your-children-safe-online/) - Greater Manchester Police, in conjunction with the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT), has issued advice for parents, guardians and carers to keep their children safe when online. Learning how to maintain a balance between the potential good and harm that the internet offers to your child involves maintaining a careful balance between preventing them from
- [Ofsted announces plans to reinspect schools with ‘ineffective’ safeguarding](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/13/ofsted-announces-plans-to-reinspect-schools-with-ineffective-safeguarding/) - Schools that have been graded “inadequate” by Ofsted due to concerns over safeguarding will be reinspected within three months of the initial visit, the inspectorate has announced as part of a series of changes to its work. The changes, which come in response to the suicide of head teacher Ruth Perry after her school received an “inadequate”
- [Stoke-on-Trent: Murder arrest as children, 11 and 7, die at home](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/12/stoke-on-trent-murder-arrest-as-children-11-and-7-die-at-home/) - A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after two children died at a home in Stoke-on-Trent. The boy, 11, and girl, seven, were found injured and died at the scene. Police discovered the children when they visited the house after first being called to the stabbing of a man at a car wash
- [Microsoft to pay $20m for child privacy violations](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/12/microsoft-to-pay-20m-for-child-privacy-violations/) - Microsoft will pay $20m (£16m) to US federal regulators after it was found to have illegally collected data on children who had started Xbox accounts. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reached a settlement with the company on Monday, which also includes increased protections for child gamers. Among other violations, the FTC found that Microsoft failed
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – June 9, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/09/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-june-9-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- ['I teach primary school pupils about the harms of drugs'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/08/i-teach-primary-school-pupils-about-the-harms-of-drugs/) - Drug harm reduction education needs to be given to primary school children, a charity has said. With You Redcar and Cleveland has provided drug and alcohol education to "more than a dozen" North East schools. Child exploitation lead Gill Collier said some secondary school pupils report having used drugs aged 10 or 11. She said
- [Steep rise in North East child poverty levels](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/08/steep-rise-in-north-east-child-poverty-levels/) - Child poverty across the North East of England has climbed more than 34% since 2014/15, new research suggests. Research from Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition found that 51,000 more children are now living in poverty in the region. The North East has seen the steepest rise in levels of poverty in the
- [Celtic Boys Club: Scottish Government rules OUT public inquiry after ninth conviction of perv connected to club](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/07/celtic-boys-club-scottish-government-rules-out-public-inquiry-after-ninth-conviction-of-perv-connected-to-club/) - The Scottish Government has said it will not launch an inquiry into the Celtic Boys Club abuse scandal despite calls for an independent review. It has also ruled out looking at bringing the victims into the scope of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, originally launched to address the historic abuse of children in care homes. Fresh
- [Final four members of ‘depraved’ 21-person child sex abuse ring jailed](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/05/final-four-members-of-depraved-21-person-child-sex-abuse-ring-jailed/) - The last four people who were part of a 21-person child sex abuse ring have now been put behind bars. The 'depraved' case, which has been the largest sexual abuse investigation ever conducted in the West Midlands, has seen three trials take place over 18 months. Now, Operation Satchel has finally been wrapped up, with Matthew
- [Gambling and gaming: A joint home-school response](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/05/gambling-and-gaming-a-joint-home-school-response/) - The convergence of gaming and gambling is creating a dangerous and slippery slope for young people. Charlotte Aynsley looks at the problem, the government response thus far, and how schools and families might respond It is not often talked about, but gambling addiction is a major issue in the UK. Last year, YouGov research estimated
- [Why computer-generated child abuse is the next crime wave waiting to happen](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/05/why-computer-generated-child-abuse-is-the-next-crime-wave-waiting-to-happen/) - Browse through the public image library of Openjourney, an artificial intelligence tool used to create computer-generated art, and you will find an impressive collage of hyper-realistic portraits, vivid science-fiction scenes and atmospheric landscapes. The free software is one of a spate of AI programs to have exploded in use in recent months, allowing users to
- [How To Keep Your Child Safe In Online Gaming](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/05/how-to-keep-your-child-safe-in-online-gaming/) - Child’s safety on online games begins at home, and should start at an early stage. This requires an intention to understand the online gaming space as well as the urgency to foster a safe online gaming environment for your child. Why Kids Become Addicted to Playing Online Games? Online gaming is not only a form
- [Transforming children’s experiences of the justice system](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/05/transforming-childrens-experiences-of-the-justice-system/) - New test sites for ‘Bairns’ Hoose’ to be set up. Children and young people in the justice system will soon be able to benefit from coordinated, comprehensive support under one roof thanks to a £6 million investment in setting up Bairns' Hoose test sites. A key action from The Promise, the creation of Bairns’ Hoose
- [Teenage asylum seeker goes missing after being brought to Angus under Home Office scheme](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/05/teenage-asylum-seeker-goes-missing-after-being-brought-to-angus-under-home-office-scheme/) - The youngster was one of seven living locally under a Home Office scheme to protect children from falling into the hands of traffickers. Council officials say the project has been working well and the other youngsters are settled in the area. But they do not know where the teenager – who was over 16 –
- [Parents outline ‘woeful’ mental health support for students at UK universities](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/02/parents-outline-woeful-mental-health-support-for-students-at-uk-universities/) - Source: The Guardian Survey follows petition demanding legislation for a statutory duty of care in higher education. Students who are struggling with their mental health can wait a whole academic year to receive help from university counselling services, while others are allowed only six sessions for their entire degree, according to a new survey. Parents who
- [Andrew Tate BBC interview: Influencer challenged on misogyny and rape allegations](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/02/andrew-tate-bbc-interview-influencer-challenged-on-misogyny-and-rape-allegations/) - Source: BBC News Andrew Tate has denied fuelling a culture of misogyny and defended his reputation in a combative interview with the BBC. When the BBC put a range of allegations to him - including specific accusations of rape, human trafficking and exploiting women, for which he is being investigated by Romanian prosecutors - he dismissed
- [Mental health services that fail to improve could be shut, says watchdog](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/02/mental-health-services-that-fail-to-improve-could-be-shut-says-watchdog/) - Source: BBC News Failing mental health services that do not improve, whether run by private firms or the NHS, could be shut, a Care Quality Commission chief has said. It follows the watchdog judging as "inadequate" three child wards at the Priory Group's biggest hospital. The wards at Cheadle Royal, near Manchester, "did not always
- [Government children's care strategy unambitious and too slow to deliver reform for children and families – Lords Committee](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/01/government-childrens-care-strategy-unambitious-and-too-slow-to-deliver-reform-for-children-and-families-lords-committee/) - The Government’s Strategy to reform children’s social care – "Stable Homes, Built on Love has the right approach to tackle the issues with children’s social care, but falls short in delivering the radical reset that is needed." The Strategy lacks the scale, ambition, funding and pace to realise any immediate benefit. Most children, families and
- [Met Police misreports intimate searches of children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/06/01/met-police-misreports-intimate-searches-of-children-2/) - The Met has admitted it misreported the number of intimate searches that were carried out on children. In 2021, the Met Police carried out 269 "More Thorough Searches that expose Intimate Parts" on children. It previously reported the number as 99. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said last month the Met had "misused" the power. "Each
- [Metropolitan Police: Move to attend fewer mental health calls sparks alarm](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/30/metropolitan-police-move-to-attend-fewer-mental-health-calls-sparks-alarm/) - Source: BBC News The Met Police's plan to stop attending emergency mental health incidents is "potentially alarming", a former inspector of constabulary has said. From September, officers will only attend mental health 999 calls where there is an "immediate threat to life". Zoe Billingham, who was previously Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – May 26, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/26/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-may-26-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Met Police misreports intimate searches of children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/25/met-police-misreports-intimate-searches-of-children/) - Source: BBC News The Met has admitted it misreported the number of intimate searches that were carried out on children. In 2021, the Met Police carried out 269 "More Thorough Searches that expose Intimate Parts" on children. It previously reported the number as 99. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said last month the Met had "misused"
- [Young mental health patients 'at risk' in child wards](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/25/young-mental-health-patients-at-risk-in-child-wards/) - Source: BBC News A safety investigation has warned that young people with complex mental health needs are being put at significant risk, by being placed on general children's wards in England. The findings come from the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB). BBC News recently highlighted the plight of a 16-year-old autistic girl, who spent several
- [How Tina Turner 'broke the silence' on domestic abuse](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/25/how-tina-turner-broke-the-silence-on-domestic-abuse/) - Source: BBC News When Tina Turner first spoke out about the violence she endured during her marriage to Ike Turner, it was an act of bravery to expose herself so publicly. "I was insanely afraid of that man," she told People magazine in 1981, revealing the painful reality behind the hugely successful musical duo. Tina's
- [Scottish teacher unable to hold baby after being attacked by pupil in classroom](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/24/scottish-teacher-unable-to-hold-baby-after-being-attacked-by-pupil-in-classroom/) - A Scottish teacher who was attacked by a pupil in the classroom has said how the ordeal had left him with life altering disability that means he is unable to hold his newborn baby. The primary school teacher says that despite such incidents taking place, teachers across the country are scared to report aggressive assaults due to a “toxic
- [Court papers show how killer parents won back their baby](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/24/court-papers-show-how-killer-parents-won-back-their-baby/) - Source: BBC News Key documents which led to a court agreeing to return a 10-month-old boy to his parents, who then murdered him, have been obtained by the BBC. Finley Boden was killed on Christmas Day 2020, 39 days after he was returned to their care. He had 130 injuries. The papers from the family
- [New bid to trace 'ghost children' missing from class](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/22/new-bid-to-trace-ghost-children-missing-from-class/) - Councils would be forced to keep a register of all home-schooled kids under a proposed law to stop tens of thousands of "ghost children" falling through the cracks. Tory MP Flick Drummond is pushing for a legal duty on local authorities to keep a record of all youngsters who are not in school amid fears
- [Scheme to help children affected by domestic violence rolled out](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/22/scheme-to-help-children-affected-by-domestic-violence-rolled-out/) - A safeguarding scheme designed to support young people affected by domestic violence and abuse in the home has been rolled out to all schools across the North. Since Operation Encompass, a partnership between the PSNI, the Education Authority and education providers began, there have been 3,160 referrals made by police to the designated teachers. It
- [YouTube’s Algorithmic Recommendations: Safeguarding Children From Inappropriate Content](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/19/youtubes-algorithmic-recommendations-safeguarding-children-from-inappropriate-content/) - YouTube, as a dominant online platform, plays a significant role in shaping the digital experiences of millions, including children. However, concerns have been raised regarding the impact of YouTube’s algorithmic recommendations, which have allegedly been leading children to inappropriate gun-related content. This report examines the issue, shedding light on the challenges faced and proposing potential solutions
- [The 'ghost children': Thousands are missing school - and COVID made the problem worse](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/19/the-ghost-children-thousands-are-missing-school-and-covid-made-the-problem-worse/) - Thousands of children are not attending school and the problem has been made worse by the pandemic, according to official figures. Numbers just released by the Department for Education show that school absence remains at crisis levels and there are now calls for ministers to take urgent action. In Autumn 2022, 125,222 pupils were away
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – May 19, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/19/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-may-19-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Social media firms set to be penalised for misogynistic abuse online](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/18/social-media-firms-set-to-be-penalised-for-misogynistic-abuse-online/) - Cross-party group in Lords proposes legally-enforced code of practice that could mean bosses are jailed Misogynistic abuse online is set to be banned under plans drawn up by peers. A cross-party group of lords led by Baroness Morgan, the former culture secretary, is proposing a new legally-enforced code of practice that would require social media firms to
- [Poor housing a growing barrier to school attendance in England, charity reveals](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/18/poor-housing-a-growing-barrier-to-school-attendance-in-england-charity-reveals/) - Exclusive: School-Home Support finds proportion of children citing such concerns has risen 73% year on year Insecure, unsuitable and poor-quality housing is increasingly a barrier to children going to school, according to an education charity that works with persistently absent pupils and their families to improve school attendance in England. School-Home Support (SHS), which tries to
- [Children as young as 12 CAN consent to puberty blockers, Scottish watchdog tells childcare workers: Whistleblower blasts guidance as 'a significant failure of safeguarding'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/15/children-as-young-as-12-can-consent-to-puberty-blockers-scottish-watchdog-tells-childcare-workers-whistleblower-blasts-guidance-as-a-significant-failure-of-safeguarding/) - New guidance in Scotland claims children as young as 12 can come out as trans It states they should access puberty blockers and be referred to specialist clinic Scotland's social care watchdog has said children as young as 12 should be allowed to consent to trans-affirming medical care - including puberty blockers. The advice doled
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – May 12, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/12/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-may-12-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Police recruits with links to domestic abuse and sex offenders ‘still being appointed’](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/11/police-recruits-with-links-to-domestic-abuse-and-sex-offenders-still-being-appointed/) - Source: The Guardian England and Wales watchdog says vetting processes inadequate in 13 cases over two-month period, despite overhaul. Police officers with links to organised crime, sex offenders and domestic abuse have made it through vetting procedures in recent months despite an overhaul of the process following the murder of Sarah Everard, according to the police watchdog
- [Former Mermaids trustee gives trans advice to private school headteachers](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/11/former-mermaids-trustee-gives-trans-advice-to-private-school-headteachers/) - Headteachers of prestigious private schools have been given advice on how to support pupils with gender dysphoria from a trans activist and former trustee of Mermaids. The Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, which is a leading body of headteachers of elite UK private schools, held a closed event for its spring conference including a speech from Bobbi Pickard,
- [Children should be able to see counsellors outside of school, report says](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/11/children-should-be-able-to-see-counsellors-outside-of-school-report-says/) - Youngsters should be able to see counsellors outside of school hours and during the holidays, a first-of-its-kind investigation has said, as a way to help combat mental health issues. The recommendation was part of a report by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, which had a panel of young advisers use the office’s powers
- [Children's commissioner: Pornography affecting 8-year-olds' behaviour](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/10/childrens-commissioner-pornography-affecting-8-year-olds-behaviour/) - Source: BBC News The behaviour of children as young as eight is being affected by them viewing pornography, the children's commissioner for England has said. "Children are seeing pornography too young - most of them by the age of 13 but [some are] seeing it at eight or nine," Dame Rachel De Souza said. Most
- [E Jean Carroll: Jury finds Trump sexually abused writer in NY department store](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/10/e-jean-carroll-jury-finds-trump-sexually-abused-writer-in-ny-department-store/) - Source: BBC News A jury in a civil case has found former President Donald Trump sexually abused a magazine columnist in a New York department store in the 1990s. But Mr Trump was found not liable for raping E Jean Carroll in the dressing room of Bergdorf Goodman. The jury also found Mr Trump liable
- [Safeguarding agencies failed Down's Syndrome woman, 24, who was found starved to death in her filthy bedroom by her abusive mother after years of neglect, report finds](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/09/safeguarding-agencies-failed-downs-syndrome-woman-24-who-was-found-starved-to-death-in-her-filthy-bedroom-by-her-abusive-mother-after-years-of-neglect-report-finds/) - A young woman with Down's Syndrome who was found starved to death by her mother after years of neglect was failed by safeguarding agencies, a damning report has found. Debbie Leitch, 24, was left 'unsupported, invisible, and isolated' in the care of her evil mother Elaine Clarke. The disabled young woman weighed just 3st 10lbs when she
- [Warning as Roblox chatrooms 'promoting suicide to child gamers'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/09/warning-as-roblox-chatrooms-promoting-suicide-to-child-gamers/) - A number of chatrooms on popular kids' game Roblox are promoting "suicide" to young users, it has been claimed. The online gaming platform lets players program games and play existing ones, with around 45 per cent of users reportedly being aged 12 and under. However online safety experts have warned some chatrooms which promote themes of "depression"
- [Ipswich ACYCLE project to support children seeking long term funding](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/09/ipswich-acycle-project-to-support-children-seeking-long-term-funding/) - Source: BBC News A club that aims to improve the outcomes and self-esteem of children has secured short-term funding after fears it would close last January. ACYCLE - African and Caribbean Youth Creative Learning Experience - supports five to 11-year-olds living in Ipswich. A new programme to prevent youngsters from becoming vulnerable to negative influences
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – May 5, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/05/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-may-5-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Parents not reporting missing children due to low trust in police, report warns](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/02/parents-not-reporting-missing-children-due-to-low-trust-in-police-report-warns/) - Low trust and confidence in the Police means some parents may be reluctant to report their children missing, the force has been told. Just weeks after Baroness Casey’s damning review – which found institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia at Scotland Yard – warned that the Met was “still not gripping child protection”, a new City Hall report highlights fears that these failings are
- [Glasgow police promise 'we will listen' to child abuse victims in wake of Celtic Boys Club pervert conviction](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/05/02/glasgow-police-promise-we-will-listen-to-child-abuse-victims-in-wake-of-celtic-boys-club-pervert-conviction/) - Glasgow police promise 'we will listen' to child abuse victims in wake of Celtic Boys Club pervert conviction The force hopes that Jim Torbett's teenage victim gets some 'closure' after the 75-year-old pervert was yesterday jailed for another three years for offences committed between 1967 and 1968. Police Scotland has promised "we will listen"
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – April 28, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/28/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-april-28-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Whorlton Hall: Four guilty of ill-treating hospital patients](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/28/whorlton-hall-four-guilty-of-ill-treating-hospital-patients/) - Source: BBC News Four carers have been found guilty of ill-treating patients at a secure hospital, following a BBC Panorama investigation. Nine former staff at Whorlton Hall, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, had faced a total of 27 charges. Five of those on trial have been cleared. Jurors heard vulnerable patients were mocked and treated
- [Wikipedia will not perform Online Safety Bill age checks](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/28/wikipedia-will-not-perform-online-safety-bill-age-checks/) - Source: BBC News Wikipedia will not comply with any age checks required under the Online Safety Bill, its foundation says. Rebecca MacKinnon, of the Wikimedia Foundation, which supports the website, says it would "violate our commitment to collect minimal data about readers and contributors". A senior figure in Wikimedia UK fears the site could be blocked as
- [Gambling white paper: Gamblers losing £1,000 a day to face checks](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/27/gambling-white-paper-gamblers-losing-1000-a-day-to-face-checks/) - Source: BBC News Gamblers who are losing £1,000 a day are expected to face checks as part of new, tougher gambling regulations. Sources say these will kick in when a gambler loses £1,000 in 24 hours, or £2,000 over 90 days. How these will be carried out is as yet unclear. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer,
- [Lasting impact after predator teaching assistant sent 'sex questionnaire' to underage girls](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/24/lasting-impact-after-predator-teaching-assistant-sent-sex-questionnaire-to-underage-girls/) - ITV News Central correspondent Nancy Cole reports on the lasting impact a teaching assistant who preyed on teenage girls with sexually explicit messages left. The victims of a teaching assistant who preyed on teenage girls with sexually explicit messages have said the harm he caused will impact their lives forever. One victim said she took an
- [New data shows levels of safeguarding referrals to teachers in region](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/24/new-data-shows-levels-of-safeguarding-referrals-to-teachers-in-region/) - The NSPCC has revealed results from a joint UK-wide survey with the teaching union NASUWT, which highlights the essential role that schools play in safeguarding children and the concerning landscape of abuse and neglect. More than 600 teachers were surveyed in the West Midlands, and 94 per cent of those who shared an opinion said
- [Child sexual abuse: what the data tells us about perpetrators and victims](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/21/child-sexual-abuse-what-the-data-tells-us-about-perpetrators-and-victims/) - Danny Taggart, Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, University of Essex and Susanna Alyce, PhD Candidate, School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex. The government has announced plans to make it a crime not to report child abuse. As part of this, the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has vowed to “stamp out” grooming gangs who perpetuate child
- [‘Outdated’ law on social care for disabled children will be reviewed](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/21/outdated-law-on-social-care-for-disabled-children-will-be-reviewed/) - Government invites Law Commission to examine how legislative 'patchwork' affects access to support for children and their parents, with a view to making system fairer and more effective. The ‘outdated’ legal framework on social care for disabled children in England will be reviewed with a view to making it fairer and more effective. The Department
- [Dalry: Police escort man from house after crowd gathers outside home](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/21/dalry-police-escort-man-from-house-after-crowd-gathers-outside-home/) - A MAN has been led away by police from a house in Dalry after a crowd gathered outside a property in the town. The man was seen being escorted from the property on Wenesday, April 19. It is understood that the crowd gathered outside the property in a protest organised by neighbours in an
- [Raoul Moat - where are the survivors, victim's families, and his own children 13 years after crime spree](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/21/raoul-moat-where-are-the-survivors-victims-families-and-his-own-children-13-years-after-crime-spree/) - ITV viewers have been gripped by the edge-of-your-seat drama The Hunt for Raoul Moat based on the real life story. The dramatised version has now concluded in the show's tense finale, but the real-life rampage left its mark on victims for years to come. The events began on July 3, 2010, when in a jealousy-fuelled Moat hunted down and
- [Pupil absence in schools in England](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/21/pupil-absence-in-schools-in-england/) - This release looks at pupil absence across the 2021/22 academic year, including by reason and school types. Data is given on pupil absences as well as where a pupil was recorded as not attending in circumstances relating to coronavirus (Code X). Where a pupil was not attending in these circumstances, schools were expected to provide
- [Stop ‘warehousing’ children in custody, ministers told](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/21/stop-warehousing-children-in-custody-ministers-told/) - Ministers must stop “warehousing” children in custody, says the Children’s Commissioner, as figures revealed record numbers are being detained on remand. Dame Rachel de Souza said young offenders and suspects must be treated as children “first and foremost”, not as criminals who faced being denied regular contacts with their family, access to education and a safe rather than violent
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – April 21, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/21/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-april-21-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Second woman claims she was raped by colleagues while working at CBI](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/21/second-woman-claims-she-was-raped-by-colleagues-while-working-at-cbi/) - Source: The Guardian Exclusive: Another female employee complained she was stalked by a male colleague in 2018 at the business lobbying group. A woman has alleged that she was raped by two male colleagues when she worked at the Confederation of British Industry. The woman told the Guardian the incident took place when she was
- [TikTok’s Algorithm Keeps Pushing Suicide to Vulnerable Kids](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/21/tiktoks-algorithm-keeps-pushing-suicide-to-vulnerable-kids/) - Source: Bloomberg UK The superpopular app can serve up a stream of anxiety and despair to teens. TikTok says it’s making improvements but now faces a flood of lawsuits after multiple deaths.
- [Urgent calls for reform after horrific abuse of young people at private care homes](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/20/urgent-calls-for-reform-after-horrific-abuse-of-young-people-at-private-care-homes/) - Source: The Guardian Child safeguarding practice review panel says harm was result of day-to-day failures and oversight. The government’s child safeguarding advisers have urged major reforms to protect severely disabled young people in residential care after “horrific and shocking” abuse revelations at a string of homes run by a private operator. The child safeguarding practice
- [‘I was born from rape - but I won’t let it define me’](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/19/i-was-born-from-rape-but-i-wont-let-it-define-me/) - Source: BBC News Children conceived as a result of rape will soon be recognised as victims of crime in England and Wales, the government says. Here, people share their stories of being born to mothers who were raped - and explain why they refuse to let the past dictate their lives. Dear Tas, You are
- [6,500 rape and sex attacks – including gang rape and child assault – in hospitals in the last three years](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/17/6500-rape-and-sex-attacks-including-gang-rape-and-child-assault-in-hospitals-in-the-last-three-years/) - A new report has laid bare the horrific sexual abuse that has taken place inside hospitals over the last three years. More than 6,000 sexual attacks were reported, new figures from the Women’s Rights Network (WRN) have shown. Some of the horrific crimes faced by patients, staff and visitors include gang rapes and assaults on
- [Changes are being made to support child abuse victims says PCC](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/17/changes-are-being-made-to-support-child-abuse-victims-says-pcc/) - Shropshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) says West Mercia Police are making the "right improvements" to tackle the "evil" of child sexual exploitation. John Campion says he has been reassured that changes are being made to support victims in the county following the latest accountability meeting between the PCC and the force's Chief Constable. The
- [Uganda's failure to jail child rapists as teen pregnancies soar](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/17/ugandas-failure-to-jail-child-rapists-as-teen-pregnancies-soar/) - Source: BBC News The shocking rise of sexual abuse of young girls in northern Uganda was revealed when it was reported that in the wake of the pandemic there was a more than four-fold increase in those aged 10-14 becoming pregnant. BBC Africa Eye has been looking at why perpetrators are getting away with the
- [One in five British children have a phone by age four](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/17/one-in-five-british-children-have-a-phone-by-age-four/) - Source: The Times One in five three and four-year-olds in the UK have their own mobile phone, according to Ofcom research. By the age of nine, half of children own a mobile and by twelve nearly all children use one, the regulator’s Children and parents: media use and attitudes report revealed. This acceleration coincides with the move
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – April 14, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/14/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-april-14-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Assaults, neglect and a Taser revealed in ‘deeply shocking’ BBC care home investigation](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/14/assaults-neglect-and-a-taser-revealed-in-deeply-shocking-bbc-care-home-investigation/) - Source: BBC News A company which ran children's homes where residents were systemically abused also failed to prevent adults being harmed, BBC News has learned. An investigation found 99 cases of abuse at a Doncaster home for vulnerable adults in 2010. One worker even ordered a Taser to use there. The care home company -
- [Misogyny rife in RAF boys' club, sex assault victim says](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/14/misogyny-rife-in-raf-boys-club-sex-assault-victim-says/) - Source: BBC News The RAF is a "boys' club" where sexual harassment, misogyny and homophobia are rife, says a female ex-corporal who was sexually assaulted while serving. Sam, not her real name, says she suffered "vile misogyny, homophobia and sexual abuse" while in the force. She left after being sexually assaulted by a male colleague
- [A&E staff in England struggling to spot abuse cases in infants, says watchdog](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/13/ae-staff-in-england-struggling-to-spot-abuse-cases-in-infants-says-watchdog/) - Staff in hospital emergency departments in England are struggling to spot when infants are being physically abused by their parents, raising the risk of further harm, an investigation has found. Clinicians often do not know what to do if they are concerned that a child’s injuries are not accidental because there is no guidance, according
- [More than 1m children growing up in poverty under two-child benefits limit](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/13/more-than-1m-children-growing-up-in-poverty-under-two-child-benefits-limit/) - he two-child limit for UK benefits is now affecting 1.5 million children, with more than a million of them growing up in poverty, a campaign group has said in a report into what it termed “this nastiest of policies”. The cumulative impact of the limit, which means that parents cannot claim child tax credit or universal credit
- [Social workers at breaking point with half at risk of quitting, warns UNISON](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/13/social-workers-at-breaking-point-with-half-at-risk-of-quitting-warns-unison/) - Excessive workloads, high stress levels and low morale are rife among social workers who are at breaking point, according to a new report published today (Monday) by UNISON. The report – Social work and the impact of the Covid pandemic – is based on a survey of nearly 3,000 social workers across the UK. It sheds light
- [Gerard Depardieu: French actor faces new sexual assault allegations](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/12/gerard-depardieu-french-actor-faces-new-sexual-assault-allegations/) - Source: BBC News Actor Gerard Depardieu has been accused of sexual assault or harassment by 13 women, according to an investigation by French news website Mediapart. The women claim the star groped them, put his hands in their underwear and made obscene remarks, the site said. The incidents are alleged to have happened over the
- [Government rejects call to ban smacking in England](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/12/government-rejects-call-to-ban-smacking-in-england/) - Source: BBC News The government has rejected calls to ban physical punishment of children in England, saying they are already protected in law. In Wales, Scotland and Jersey any type of corporal punishment, including smacking, hitting, slapping, and shaking is illegal. The NSPCC and Barnardo's say England must follow suit. The government has argued parents
- [Calls for Wales child services review in the wake of 2 year-old Lola James murder](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/11/calls-for-wales-child-services-review-in-the-wake-of-2-year-old-lola-james-murder/) - Kyle Bevan, the boyfriend of Lola’s mother Sinead James was found guilty of the murder of two-year-old Lola this week. Sinead James was also found guilty of causing or allowing her death. Children’s charity NSPCC has called for a review into agency child practices following Lola’s death, to determine whether more could have been done to save
- [Man murdered pregnant wife by pushing her off Arthur's Seat](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/11/man-murdered-pregnant-wife-by-pushing-her-off-arthurs-seat/) - A man has been jailed for a minimum of 20 years for killing his pregnant wife by pushing her 50ft off a cliff edge at an Edinburgh beauty spot. Kashif Anwar, 29, killed 31-year-old Fawziyah Javed when she plunged from a rocky outcrop on Arthur's Seat during a holiday in September 2021. As she lay
- [Britain’s care homes crisis: children sent to live hundreds of miles away](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/06/britains-care-homes-crisis-children-sent-to-live-hundreds-of-miles-away/) - Some of Britain’s most vulnerable children are being moved to care homes more than 300 miles away from the neighbourhoods they grew up in, according to an Observer investigation revealing a “national scandal”. The shocking figures make clear for the first time the scale of the crisis that has long worried child welfare experts. They show dozens
- [Register of homeschooled children in England to be created amid concerns about rise in pupils not in school](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/06/register-of-homeschooled-children-in-england-to-be-created-amid-concerns-about-rise-in-pupils-not-in-school/) - Concerns have been raised that in some cases children are being denied an education, or ending up in illegal unregistered schools prone to radicalisation A register of children not in school will be created to keep track of homeschooled children in England, the Government has announced. The Department for Education said it would bring forward legislation for the long-promised
- [Britain’s care homes crisis: children sent to live hundreds of miles away](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/05/9585/) - Source: The Guardian Observer investigation uncovers the scale of the crisis in a system where the most vulnerable ‘will continue to be put at risk’ Some of Britain’s most vulnerable children are being moved to care homes more than 300 miles away from the neighbourhoods they grew up in, according to an Observer investigation revealing a “national
- [Police ‘take up to 18 months’ to make arrests in online child sexual abuse cases](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/05/police-take-up-to-18-months-to-make-arrests-in-online-child-sexual-abuse-cases/) - Source: The Guardian Poor investigative practices and unacceptable delays leave children vulnerable, official report finds. Police can take up to 18 months to make an arrest after becoming aware that a child is at risk of online sexual abuse, an official report has concluded. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS)
- [Community sentence for teenage rapist 'extraordinary'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/04/community-sentence-for-teenage-rapist-extraordinary/) - Source: BBC News A community sentence handed down to a man who raped a 13-year-old schoolgirl when he was 17 has been described as "extraordinary" by a leading KC. Sean Hogg, now 21, attacked the girl in Dalkeith Country Park, Midlothian, on various occasions in 2018. Judge Lord Lake said that if the offence had
- [Grooming gangs and ethnicity: What does the evidence say?](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/04/grooming-gangs-and-ethnicity-what-does-the-evidence-say/) - Source: BBC News The prime minister says victims of grooming gangs have been ignored because of political correctness. In plans announced on Monday, the government pledged more data on the make-up of grooming gangs, including ethnicity, to help ensure suspects "cannot hide behind cultural sensitivities as a way to evade justice". It comes as Home Secretary
- [TikTok fined £12.7m by the UK's data watchdog for failing to protect the privacy of children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/04/tiktok-fined-12-7m-by-the-uks-data-watchdog-for-failing-to-protect-the-privacy-of-children/) - Source: BBC News TikTok has been fined £12.7m by the UK's data watchdog for failing to protect the privacy of children. It estimated TikTok allowed up to 1.4 million UK children aged under 13 to use the platform in 2020. The video-sharing site used the data of children of this age without parental consent, according
- ['I donated 30 million period products so nobody would suffer period poverty like I did'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/04/i-donated-30-million-period-products-so-nobody-would-suffer-period-poverty-like-i-did/) - Period poverty is an issue faced by one in eight people in Britain, as menstrual products cost money that families who are struggling to pay bills cannot always afford. Scotland has already introduced the Period Products Act which provides free tampons and pads to anyone who needs them but the rest of the UK is yet to
- [Timothy Schofield found guilty of sexually abusing boy](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/03/timothy-schofield-found-guilty-of-sexually-abusing-boy/) - Source: BBC News The brother of television presenter Phillip Schofield has been found guilty of sexually abusing a boy. Timothy Schofield, 54, from Bath denied 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019. Schofield, who was a civilian worker for Avon and Somerset Police at the time of the offences, was
- [CBI business group faces new sexual misconduct claims](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/03/cbi-business-group-faces-new-sexual-misconduct-claims/) - Source: BBC News An investigation into sexual misconduct at one of Britain's biggest business lobby groups has been widened after new allegations have emerged. The Confederation of British Industry is at the centre of claims published by the Guardian, detailing alleged misconduct by individuals. Law firm Fox Williams is overseeing the expanded investigation. "The CBI has
- [Malka Leifer: former headmistress guilty of Australia child sex abuse](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/03/malka-leifer-former-headmistress-guilty-of-australia-child-sex-abuse/) - Source: BBC News An Israeli former headteacher has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two teenage students at an ultra-Orthodox Jewish girls school in Australia. The jury in Melbourne found Malka Leifer had raped and indecently assaulted sisters Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper between 2003 and 2007. But it found her not guilty of abusing
- [Child predators not from ‘one background’, home secretary warned](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/03/child-predators-not-from-one-background-home-secretary-warned/) - Source: The Independent The home secretary claims British-Pakistani men are a major source of concern Suella Braverman has been warned that sexual predators do not just come from “one background” and that a focus solely on race could create new “blind spots” when tackling child abuse. The warning from the National Society for the Prevention of
- [Reporting suspected sexual abuse to be mandatory for those working with children in England](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/03/reporting-suspected-sexual-abuse-to-be-mandatory-for-those-working-with-children-in-england/) - Source: The Guardian Law must be strengthened, says home secretary, so professionals like teachers and carers face ‘full force of law’ if they fail in their duty to protect. The home secretary is to spell out new requirements for people working with children in England to report signs or suspicions of sexual abuse. The government
- [Rishi Sunak to set out grooming gangs taskforce plan](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/04/03/rishi-sunak-to-set-out-grooming-gangs-taskforce-plan/) - Source: BBC News Plans for a police taskforce to help officers tackle grooming gangs will be set out by the prime minister later. Specialist officers will be sent to help local forces with their investigations, the government said. It also promised better ethnicity data to help ensure abusers "cannot evade justice because of cultural sensitivities".
- [Rosie Duffield: Schools are failing in their duty to protect gender-distressed children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/31/rosie-duffield-schools-are-failing-in-their-duty-to-protect-gender-distressed-children/) - It is universally accepted that safeguarding is fundamental to a responsible society. These principles are well-established, enshrined in law, and applicable to all organisations and functions relating to children. There is never a good reason why safeguarding should be compromised, especially within school, where children spend the majority of their time outside of the home
- [Scottish badminton star sent vile death and rape threats by gamblers who lost money](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/31/scottish-badminton-star-sent-vile-death-and-rape-threats-by-gamblers-who-lost-money/) - Scots badminton talent Kirsty Gilmour has been on the receiving end of a vile death and rape threat after losing a match, she revealed. The Olympic star was sent the malicious communication on her Instagram account after losing out to Gregoria Mariska Tunjung at the Swiss Open last week. Opening up on the incident, the 29-year-old told
- [Shouting at young children increases their risk of mental health problems by 50pc, study finds](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/31/shouting-at-young-children-increases-their-risk-of-mental-health-problems-by-50pc-study-finds/) - The adage “spare the rod, spoil the child” has been deemed inappropriate for decades, but a new study has shown just how damaging a harsh upbringing really can be. Physically punishing youngsters, regularly shouting at them or isolating them, increases the risk of developing lasting mental health problems by nearly 50 per cent, Cambridge University
- [Majority of public want children in England to have same protection from assault as adults](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/31/majority-of-public-want-children-in-england-to-have-same-protection-from-assault-as-adults/) - We’re calling on the Westminster Government to give children in England equal protection from assault by scrapping the defence of ‘reasonable chastisement’. Our call to action comes on the one-year anniversary of the introduction of equal protection in Wales, which made any type of corporal punishment, including smacking, hitting, slapping, and shaking, illegal. Wales and
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – March 31, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/31/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-march-31-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Somerset woman forcibly adopted calls for government apology](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/30/somerset-woman-forcibly-adopted-calls-for-government-apology/) - A woman who was forcibly adopted at seven days old in 1971 has asked the government for an apology. Vicki Fielder from Over Stowey, Somerset, says her mother was forced to give her up because she was unmarried. An estimated 250,000 women were affected by the practice of of forced adoptions in Britain in the 1950s, 60s
- [I lost my son to a gambling addiction. Firms must change, not pay fines that are dwarfed by profits](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/30/i-lost-my-son-to-a-gambling-addiction-firms-must-change-not-pay-fines-that-are-dwarfed-by-profits/) - Source: The Guardian My wonderful son Jack took his life in 2017 after he had been drawn into a gambling addiction. Soon afterwards, I visited William Hill’s London office with my husband, Charles. We were more naive back then; they’d just admitted shortcomings and we wanted to warn people and thought they would listen. Jack had started
- [Children’s advocate needed in Online Safety Bill, charities urge](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/29/childrens-advocate-needed-in-online-safety-bill-charities-urge/) - Youngsters need an independent online advocate who would act like a consumer watchdog to promote and protect their interests, five of Britain's leading children's charities have urged the Government. They are backing a cross-party amendment to the Online Safety Bill led by Tory peer Baroness Newlove, the former victims’ commissioner and deputy speaker of the House of
- [Chilling map shows England and Wales areas police most likely to strip search children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/29/chilling-map-shows-england-and-wales-areas-police-most-likely-to-strip-search-children/) - Almost 3,000 children in England and Wales have been strip-searched by police in the past four years - a quarter of whom were aged between 10 and 15. A report by the Children’s Commissioner for England found widespread non-compliance guidelines in place to protect children during strip searches. Yet, the numbers show that over half were conducted
- [I’ve seen abusers use family courts to control and torment victims – but change is coming](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/29/ive-seen-abusers-use-family-courts-to-control-and-torment-victims-but-change-is-coming/) - Source: The Guardian A pilot scheme is inviting journalists into England and Wales’s most private courtrooms. This can expose those who use litigation as a weapon Charlotte Proudman is a barrister specialising in violence against women and girls What happens in the family courts stays in the family courts. That has been my experience over
- [NHS treating hundreds of children as young as 13 for gaming disorders](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/29/nhs-treating-hundreds-of-children-as-young-as-13-for-gaming-disorders/) - Source: Sky News The number of people playing video games increased massively during pandemic lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 - but so did the risk of addiction. Campaigners have previously warned about the dangers of certain modern gaming tropes, such as the loot boxes seen in titles like FIFA. Hundreds of children are being treated
- [NSPCC play to keep York children safe online to be performed](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/28/nspcc-play-to-keep-york-children-safe-online-to-be-performed-2/) - Hundreds of school children in York are to see a newly commissioned play as part of an online safety campaign. The Net tells the story of a young girl who shares images on social platforms which are inappropriate for her age. The NSPCC, which helped create the campaign, said children aged under 11 had received
- [Liverpool pupils help shape strategy to end street harassment](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/28/liverpool-pupils-help-shape-strategy-to-end-street-harassment-2/) - A group of teenagers have shared their experiences of street harassment to help shape a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls in Liverpool. Year 11 pupils at St Julie's Catholic High School in Woolton told how they had been subjected to cat-calling and snide comments from a young age. Mayor Joanne Anderson has launched
- [Scottish paedophile jailed for directing Philippines child abuse](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/28/scottish-paedophile-jailed-for-directing-philippines-child-abuse/) - A paedophile who directed sex attacks on girls in the Philippines from his home in the Scottish Highlands has been jailed for 12 years. Gary Campbell, 59, paid for abuse to be carried out by adults as he watched and recorded it on the internet from his home in Lochinver in Sutherland. Campbell's youngest victim
- [Renton flat fire murder victim named as police probe shocking attack on vulnerable man Police are treating the death as suspicious as they launch murder probe into his death](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/28/renton-flat-fire-murder-victim-named-as-police-probe-shocking-attack-on-vulnerable-man-police-are-treating-the-death-as-suspicious-as-they-launch-murder-probe-into-his-death/) - Police Scotland have named the man who was found dead in a blazing flat in West Dunbartonshire as 40-year-old Charles Wilson. Detectives are investigating claims that his killers set light to the flat in Tontine Park, Renton, in an attempt to cover up his murder. Known as Chic to neighbours, he was said to be a
- [NSPCC play to keep York children safe online to be performed](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/27/nspcc-play-to-keep-york-children-safe-online-to-be-performed/) - Source: BBC News Hundreds of school children in York are to see a newly commissioned play as part of an online safety campaign. The Net tells the story of a young girl who shares images on social platforms which are inappropriate for her age. The NSPCC, which helped create the campaign, said children aged under
- [Utah is first US state to limit teen social media access](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/27/utah-is-first-us-state-to-limit-teen-social-media-access/) - Source: BBC News Utah has become the first US state to require social media firms get parental consent for children to use their apps and verify users are at least 18. The governor said he signed the two sweeping measures to protect young people in the state. The bills will give parents full access to
- [Police strip-searched children as young as eight](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/27/police-strip-searched-children-as-young-as-eight/) - Source: BBC News Children as young as eight are being strip-searched by the police, according to a report showing "deeply concerning" and "widespread" failures. It also found some children were strip-searched in the back of police vans, in schools and outside fast-food outlets. The report by Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza showed 2,847 children
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – March 24, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/24/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-march-24-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Self-harm hospital admissions up 22% for children aged eight to 17](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/23/self-harm-hospital-admissions-up-22-for-children-aged-eight-to-17/) - Source: BBC News Self-harm hospital admissions for children aged eight to 17 in the UK jumped 22% in one year. The age group is now the largest for self-harm admissions, with all others seeing a drop, according to NHS data. Charities say early access to support is vital, but high thresholds and long waiting lists
- [‘Ghost children’ of pandemic have given up going to school](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/23/ghost-children-of-pandemic-have-given-up-going-to-school/) - Source: The Times More than 140,000 children were “severely absent” from school last summer, a report has found, warning that children are at risk of “disengaging with education entirely”. The report by the Centre for Social Justice, the centre-right think tank, found that rising levels of anxiety meant that many children feared going to lessons,
- [Liverpool pupils help shape strategy to end street harassment](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/23/liverpool-pupils-help-shape-strategy-to-end-street-harassment/) - Source: BBC News A group of teenagers have shared their experiences of street harassment to help shape a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls in Liverpool. Year 11 pupils at St Julie's Catholic High School in Woolton told how they had been subjected to cat-calling and snide comments from a young age. Mayor
- [Terri White: How I fear for the 'ghost children' missing from school](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/22/terri-white-how-i-fear-for-the-ghost-children-missing-from-school/) - Source: BBC News More than 140,000 schoolchildren in England were officially "severely absent" in the summer term of 2022, according to official Department of Education figures - and the number of these pupils, missing at least 50% of classes, is growing. They are away from school for a variety of reasons - including anxiety and
- [West Lane Hospital: Mental health care 'chaotic and unsafe'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/22/west-lane-hospital-mental-health-care-chaotic-and-unsafe/) - Source: BBC News A mental health unit criticised over the deaths of three teenagers was "chaotic and unsafe", a report found. An independent inquiry found "excessive and inappropriate" restraint was used at Middlesbrough's West Lane Hospital. The report also found self-harm was "facilitated" with staff told not to intervene unless it could be fatal, while
- [Met Police: Women and children failed by 'boys' club', review finds](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/21/met-police-women-and-children-failed-by-boys-club-review-finds/) - Women and children have been failed by the Metropolitan Police, with racism, misogyny, and homophobia at the heart of the force, a blistering review says. Baroness Casey says a "boys' club" culture is rife and the force could be dismantled if it does not improve. Her year-long review condemns systemic failures, painting a picture of
- [Parents of special needs children 'face fight for support'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/21/parents-of-special-needs-children-face-fight-for-support-2/) - Some parents have said they face a "fight from day one" to get Education Authority (EA) support for children with special educational needs (SEN). BBC News NI has learned the EA has conceded about two-thirds of cases brought to an independent tribunal by parents of children with SEN. The information came in a response to
- ['I did not send my child to university to die'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/20/i-did-not-send-my-child-to-university-to-die/) - Source: BBC News University of Edinburgh student Romy Ulvestad died at her parents' London home four days after her 21st birthday. She had killed herself after staff failed to provide additional support, despite repeated warnings that she was struggling with her mental health. Now her mother is adding her support to a campaign for the
- [Andrew Tate: Group trying ‘different approach’ with teenagers](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/20/andrew-tate-group-trying-different-approach-with-teenagers/) - Source: BBC News A group says a "different approach" is needed to tackle conversations about controversial influencer Andrew Tate with teenagers. Bold Voices goes into schools and colleges delivering workshops to tackle gender-based inequality and violence. Founder Natasha Eeles says her team has noticed male teenagers struggling to name positive male mentors. She said simply
- [Safety pin: A tiny tool Indian women use to fight sexual harassment](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/20/safety-pin-a-tiny-tool-indian-women-use-to-fight-sexual-harassment/) - Source: BBC News Almost every woman in India has a story of sexual harassment that took place in crowded public spaces - when someone fondled her breasts or pinched her bottom, elbowed her in the chest or rubbed himself against her. To hit back at their predators, women used whatever they had - for instance,
- [Met officers investigated for sexual misconduct working as normal](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/20/met-officers-investigated-for-sexual-misconduct-working-as-normal/) - Source: BBC News More than 100 Metropolitan Police officers being investigated for sexual misconduct are currently working without restrictions, figures reveal. The Liberal Democrats have found that as of 3 February, more than a quarter of 548 officers being investigated for domestic abuse and sexual misconduct were working as normal. The party said the figures
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – March 17, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/17/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-march-17-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [Midlothian nursery worker pulled toddler's hair and said 'it's not nice is it'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/15/midlothian-nursery-worker-pulled-toddlers-hair-and-said-its-not-nice-is-it/) - A Midlothian nursery support worker pulled a toddler's hair and said "it's not nice, is it?" Fiona Laidlaw has been given a 12-month warning on her registration following a hearing with the Scottish Social Services Council. The Dalkeith child day care support worker, in October 2022, pulled a child's hair after saying: "you wouldn't like it if I pulled
- [Abuse victim speaks out amid calls for action](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/15/abuse-victim-speaks-out-amid-calls-for-action/) - She was sexually abused by a relative and let down by those who should have been caring for her and nurturing her through life. Dragged into the care system and having to give evidence about her traumatic and terrifying abuse as a teenager, makes it even more remarkable that the 26-year-old victim will today speak
- [Ben Nelson-Roux: 12 agencies couldn’t stop drug dealers destroying my boy](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/15/ben-nelson-roux-12-agencies-couldnt-stop-drug-dealers-destroying-my-boy/) - Source: The Times Ben Nelson-Roux was only a year out of primary school when a man approached him in a park near his school in Harrogate and offered him drugs. Four years later, aged 16, he was found dead by his mother in a hostel for the homeless, having been manipulated and exploited by dealers
- [Sex education review announced after MPs raise concerns](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/14/sex-education-review-announced-after-mps-raise-concerns/) - Source: BBC News The government will review how sex education is taught in schools in England following concerns that children are being exposed to "inappropriate" content. Rishi Sunak said the review will ensure schools are not teaching "contested content" in Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE). The Department for Education (DfE) will carry out the
- [Gary Glitter: Paedophile former pop star recalled to prison](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/14/gary-glitter-paedophile-former-pop-star-recalled-to-prison/) - Source: BBC News Disgraced former pop star Gary Glitter has been recalled to prison after breaching his licence conditions, the Probation Service has said. The singer, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was freed in February after serving half his 16-year jail term for sexually abusing three schoolgirls. His recall comes just over a month
- [Childcare: I'll cut costs to boost workforce, says Chancellor Jeremy Hunt](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/14/childcare-ill-cut-costs-to-boost-workforce-says-chancellor-jeremy-hunt/) - The chancellor has vowed to help reduce the cost of childcare at Wednesday's Budget as part of a wider drive to help people into work. Jeremy Hunt told the BBC that costs were stopping some parents taking a job, and the government could make a "big difference" to reduce them. He said further support would
- [Police drop most complaints of officer violence against women, figures show](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/14/police-drop-most-complaints-of-officer-violence-against-women-figures-show/) - Source: BBC News Complaints about police officers' treatment of women are highly unlikely to result in action, according to new police data for England and Wales. The National Police Chiefs' Council says nine in 10 completed complaints were dropped in a six month period. It comes as the former wife of a West Yorkshire Police
- [Parents of special needs children 'face fight for support'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/14/parents-of-special-needs-children-face-fight-for-support/) - Some parents have said they face a "fight from day one" to get Education Authority (EA) support for children with special educational needs (SEN). BBC News NI has learned the EA has conceded about two-thirds of cases brought to an independent tribunal by parents of children with SEN. The information came in a response to
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – March 10, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/10/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-march-10-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [University of Oxford bans intimate staff-student relationships](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/10/university-of-oxford-bans-intimate-staff-student-relationships/) - Source: BBC News The University of Oxford has banned intimate relationships between members of staff and their students. The institution will introduce the new rule from 17 April after the previous policy of "strongly discouraging" relations was reviewed. Staff will also be urged not to form any other close personal associations which could be deemed
- [Sex education review is ‘politically motivated’, say teaching unions](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/09/sex-education-review-is-politically-motivated-say-teaching-unions/) - Source: The Guardian Teaching unions have criticised a “politically motivated” review of the way sex education is taught in schools, after Conservative MPs voiced concern that children were being exposed to “graphic” material including “lessons on oral sex”. Rishi Sunak has asked the Department for Education to “ensure schools are not teaching inappropriate or contested
- [Firearms officer ‘secretly filmed sex and shared video with colleagues’](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/09/firearms-officer-secretly-filmed-sex-and-shared-video-with-colleagues/) - Course: The Guardian A firearms officer who allegedly secretly filmed himself having sex with two women before sharing the footage online with his colleagues is under criminal investigation, it has been reported. The West Midlands police officer was said to have filmed the encounters at a Christmas party without the women’s knowledge before sending the
- [Survivors of vile Bonhill rapist are hailed for their bravery in speaking out](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/08/survivors-of-vile-bonhill-rapist-are-hailed-for-their-bravery-in-speaking-out/) - Three rape survivors who waived their right to anonymity to send a united message to their attacker in the Lennox have been hailed for their bravery. Danielle Barr, Alexandra Bhengu-Smith and Violet Fox told vile rapist Paul Callanin ‘you didn’t win’ after the 35-year-old from Bonhill was found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow
- [Minister condemns death threats against pupils who damaged Koran](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/07/minister-condemns-death-threats-against-pupils-who-damaged-koran/) - Rishi Sunak is considering launching an urgent review of “age-inappropriate” sex education materials in schools, The Telegraph understands. The Prime Minister has told multiple colleagues that he is alarmed about the content of Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) lessons taught in classrooms across the country. This week, he was presented with a dossier of evidence by MPs showing that
- [Hasidic boys’ schools leave Jewish pupils barely able to read or write English](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/07/hasidic-boys-schools-leave-jewish-pupils-barely-able-to-read-or-write-english/) - Investigation reveals loophole that condemns thousands of north London teenagers to remain in secluded ultra-Orthodox world. Source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hasidic-boys-school-abuse-uk-jewish-education-investigation-london-2023-qx385fx52
- [Safeguarding jobs round up – March 3, 2023](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/03/safeguarding-jobs-round-up-march-3-2023/) - Welcome to this week’s jobs round-up, where you can view some of the job vacancies currently available in the world of safeguarding. Below are a selection of jobs which will soon be closing for applications – click on the individual links for more information or to complete an application. For a full list of vacancies,
- [TikTok is setting a 60-minute daily screen time limit for users who are aged under 18](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/03/tiktok-is-setting-a-60-minute-daily-screen-time-limit-for-users-who-are-aged-under-18/) - Source: BBC News TikTok is setting a 60-minute daily screen time limit for users who are aged under 18. If young people hit the new limit, they will have to enter a passcode to continue to use the service that day. But they will be able to opt out of the new measure, which TikTok
- ['I was radicalised by the far right aged 15'](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/2023/03/03/i-was-radicalised-by-the-far-right-aged-15/) - Source: BBC News A former right-wing extremist has described how he was radicalised as a 15-year-old boy in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing. John said he wanted to speak out as a way of warning other young people, particularly about the dangers posed online. "It was unbelievably easy as a young teenager to

## Pages

- [sacpa](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/) - The Safeguarding and Child Protection Association (SACPA) champions excellence in safeguarding and child protection.
- [sacpa](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/) - The Safeguarding and Child Protection Association (SACPA) champions excellence in safeguarding and child protection.
- [sacpa](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/) - The Safeguarding and Child Protection Association (SACPA) champions excellence in safeguarding and child protection.
- [sacpa](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/) - The Safeguarding and Child Protection Association (SACPA) champions excellence in safeguarding and child protection.
- [SACPA team](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/sacpa-team/) - Sacpa staff and advisory board comprise professionals passionate about safeguarding and child protection for everyone.
- [Webinar archive](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/cpdandevents/webinar-series/) - Find out more about Sacpa webinars and request recordings here.
- [Our work](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/our-work/) - All organisations, within and outside of the UK, understand they have a responsibility to protect children and vulnerable adults with whom they come into contact.
- [Contact Us](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/contact-us/) - You will find our relevant contact information here.
- [Sacpa Journal](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/sacpa-journal/) - We're delighted to share that the June 2026 edition of the SACPA Journal is now available to access via the member area. This issue brings together expert insights and fresh perspectives on the safeguarding issues shaping our work today, with the aim of informing, challenging and inspiring practice. Happy reading!
- [Data Protection and Privacy Policy](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/privacy-and-gdpr-notices/) - You will find our Privacy & GDPR notices here.
- [Accredited Training](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/accredited-training-2/) - Your pathway to professional development… Our accredited training programme is kindly sponsored by Witley Jones. The BSA’s programme of professional development and training is the most comprehensive CPD package offered to staff in boarding schools. It includes a series of professional practice Certificate courses specifically designed to meet the practical needs of boarding staff and provide
- [Sacpa Certified Supplier Scheme](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/our-work/sacpa-certified-supplier-scheme/) - Certified Suppliers have demonstrated commitment to providing the highest levels of service and support to the safeguarding sector.
- [Violence Against Women and Girls: SACPA Member Survey](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/violence-against-women-and-girls-sacpa-member-survey/) - Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name * processes needs of Job title *Name of school / college *Email *How do you include Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in your teacher training?Is VAWG taught and addressed within PHSE or RSHE or extra-curricular activities?Do you have processes in place for spotting early
- [Blogs](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/blog-2/) - SACPA blogs coming soon...
- [Blog](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/blog/)
- [SACPA Annual Safeguarding Awards](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/sacpa-safeguarding-awards/) - To achieve safeguarding excellence, a person or organisation must continue to develop their practice beyond compliance to ever changing guidelines.
- [Safeguarding and Child Protection Advisory Board](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/sacpa-team/executive-committee/) - Sacpa Executive Committee are a team of professionals passionate about safeguarding and child protection for everyone.
- [SACPA Accredited Training](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/accredited-training/) - The SACPA Advanced Certificate in Child Safeguarding Practice is a certificate programme for safeguarding managers.
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/privacy-policy/) - When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection.
- [Cookie Policy](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/cookie-policy/) - This site uses cookies - small text files that are placed on your machine to help the site provide a better user experience.
- [Membership fees](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/membership/membership-fees/) - Membership fees for the safeguarding and child protection association
- [Equity, inclusion and diversity](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/our-work/inclusion-and-diversity/) - We are committed to fostering an anti-discriminatory and inclusive culture.
- [Sacpa Academy](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/sacpa-academy/) - At SACPA we recognise and value the importance of continued learning for safeguarding practitioners at all levels.
- [Region](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/our-work/region/) - Regions we cover at SACPA.
- [Job board](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/job-board/) - Our latest list of jobs can be found here.
- [CPD & events](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/cpdandevents/) - Find out more about our safeguarding and child protection CPD and events here.
- [Safeguarding supervision](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/cpdandevents/safeguarding-supervision/) - Supervision aims to provide a safe, reflective and scheduled setting which provides a confidential and supportive opportunity.
- [Membership](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/membership/) - SACPA represents any organisation, associations, agency or individuals involved safeguarding and welfare of children and adults at risk in the UK and overseas.
- [Safeguarding](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/raise-a-concern/) - What to do if you have a concern about a child, young person or adult; if you have a concern about an individual’s physical, sexual or emotional well-being read the advice here.
- [Advice & guidance](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/adviceandguidance/) - Sacpa provides free advice and guidance service to members using a network of professionals to deliver expert safeguarding and child protection support.
- [Types of abuse](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/raise-a-concern/types-of-abuse/) - Children and adults may be affected by harm or abuse, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender or religion.
- [Advice & Guidance](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/our-work/advice-guidance/) - If you would like some advice or guidance regarding the protection of a child, you can find out more here.
- [Sector](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/our-work/sector/) - Sectors here at SACPA.

## Categories

- [News](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/category/news/)
- [Certified Supplier](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/category/certified-supplier/)
- [Blogs](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/category/blog/)

## Tags

- [cpd](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/cpd/)
- [training](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/training/)
- [conference](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/conference/)
- [child protection](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/child-protection/)
- [sacpa](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/sacpa/)
- [safeguarding](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/safeguarding/)
- [online](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/online/)
- [webinar](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/webinar/)
- [forum](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/forum/)
- [onlinesafety](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/onlinesafety/)
- [digitalliteracy](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/digitalliteracy/)
- [supervision](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/supervision/)
- [gaming](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/gaming/)
- [drugs](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/drugs/)
- [alcohol](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/alcohol/)
- [risk](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/risk/)
- [no](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/no/)
- [international](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/international/)
- [schools](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/schools/)
- [students](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/students/)
- [dsl training](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/dsl-training/)
- [annual safeguarding training](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/annual-safeguarding-training/)
- [KCSIE](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/kcsie/)
- [working together to safeguard children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/working-together-to-safeguard-children/)
- [saferrecruitment](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/saferrecruitment/)
- [safer recruitment](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/safer-recruitment/)
- [socialmedia](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/socialmedia/)
- [language](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/language/)
- [countylines](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/countylines/)
- [exploitation](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/exploitation/)
- [dsl](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/dsl/)
- [dso](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/dso/)
- [rights](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/rights/)
- [abuse](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/abuse/)
- [domestic abuse](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/domestic-abuse/)
- [iicsa](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/iicsa/)
- [send](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/send/)
- [sen](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/sen/)
- [child abuse](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/child-abuse/)
- [everyone's invited](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/everyones-invited/)
- [rape culture](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/rape-culture/)
- [lowlevelconcerns](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/lowlevelconcerns/)
- [iwf](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/iwf/)
- [grooming](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/grooming/)
- [sexual abuse](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/sexual-abuse/)
- [review](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/review/)
- [adults at risk](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/adults-at-risk/)
- [safeguarding in sports](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/safeguarding-in-sports/)
- [coercivecontrol](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/coercivecontrol/)
- [hollieguard](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/hollieguard/)
- [DfE](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/dfe/)
- [education](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/education/)
- [CSE](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/cse/)
- [reporting](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/reporting/)
- [culturalcompetence](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/culturalcompetence/)
- [culture](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/culture/)
- [positiveoutcomes](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/positiveoutcomes/)
- [identity](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/identity/)
- [mentalhealth](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/mentalhealth/)
- [anxiety](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/anxiety/)
- [selfharm](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/selfharm/)
- [eatingdisorders](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/eatingdisorders/)
- [suicide](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/suicide/)
- [riskassessments](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/riskassessments/)
- [CSA](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/csa/)
- [riskassessment](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/riskassessment/)
- [policy](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/policy/)
- [procedure](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/procedure/)
- [audit](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/audit/)
- [YoungMinds](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/youngminds/)
- [disclosure](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/disclosure/)
- [positionoftrust](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/positionoftrust/)
- [LADO](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/lado/)
- [multiagencyworking](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/multiagencyworking/)
- [partnerships](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/partnerships/)
- [behaviour](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/behaviour/)
- [reasonableadjustment](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/reasonableadjustment/)
- [defensibledecisions](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/defensibledecisions/)
- [EqualityAct](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/equalityact/)
- [allegations](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/allegations/)
- [concerns](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/concerns/)
- [volunteers](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/volunteers/)
- [defensibledecisons](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/defensibledecisons/)
- [records](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/records/)
- [intervention](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/intervention/)
- [strategy](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/strategy/)
- [professionalboundaries](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/professionalboundaries/)
- [dbs](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/dbs/)
- [dbs checks](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/dbs-checks/)
- [Radicalisation](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/radicalisation/)
- [E-safety](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/e-safety/)
- [risk assessment](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/risk-assessment/)
- [Single Central Register](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/single-central-register/)
- [Sextortion](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/sextortion/)
- [Compliance](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/compliance/)
- [Wellbeing](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/wellbeing/)
- [Behaviour and Practices](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/behaviour-and-practices/)
- [Education and Training](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/education-and-training/)
- [online safety](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/online-safety/)
- [knife crime](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/knife-crime/)
- [school safety](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/school-safety/)
- [child practice review](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/child-practice-review/)
- [child safety](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/child-safety/)
- [child safeguarding policy](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/child-safeguarding-policy/)
- [fiji government](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/fiji-government/)
- [vulnerable children](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/vulnerable-children/)
- [church](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/church/)
- [Modern slavery](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/tag/modern-slavery/)

## Event Categories

- [Conference](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/events/category/conference/)
- [Webinar](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/events/category/webinar/)
- [Seminar](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/events/category/seminar/)
- [CPD](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/events/category/cpd/)
- [Accredited Training](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/events/category/accredited-training/)
- [Coffee Morning Forum](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/events/category/coffee-morning-forum/)
- [Training](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/events/category/training/)
- [Certificate](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/events/category/certificate/)
- [Briefing](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/events/category/briefing/)
- [Forum](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/events/category/forum/)
- [In-person](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/events/category/in-person/)
- [Online](https://www.sacpa.org.uk/events/category/online/)