Author: Sean Jones (Page 7 of 8)

Topics for this month:

E-Safety in Social Media Apps

With the school holidays now in full flow, young people may find themselves more engaged with social media and discovering new apps that are appearing on the market. Liverpool Safeguarding Children’s Partnership maintain a library of apps that children and young people may come into contact with. It is not a list of ‘dangerous’, ‘bad’ or ‘apps to avoid’, but contains details of apps and websites that been encountered within exploitation investigations or through research that have been used by victims and offenders.

LSCP have shared this library with us which currently details 207 apps and it can be viewed here: https://tinyurl.com/yykffweo

A safety alert has also been issued over the rise in popularity of a new app called Likee. Likee is a short video creation platform where users can be creative, share videos, add music, and use filters. The app uses levels to encourage users to earn more XP (experience points), which are earned by opening Likee every day, watching/posting videos, fan growth and sending/receiving gifts.

The risks associated with this type of app include:

• There are no age restrictions when signing up to the app.
• The app can feature inappropriate content, including suggestive language & violence.
• You CANNOT make an account private. 
• In the safety settings ‘hide location’ & ‘hide my videos in nearby’ are automatically set to public by default.
• Likee has substandard reporting functions – Users can report videos but there is no function to report a live stream or another user.
• There’s scope for grooming, coercion and abuse through its gifting feature.
• As per other live streaming/video platforms, viewers can manipulate the actions of users by gifting.

The general guidance for parents, carers and those working with young people around social media apps are:

• Have open and honest conversations with children and young people in your care about not sharing personal information online.
• Check that young people know how to turn off location settings and configure safety settings on the apps they use.
• Check that they only engage with other people they know online.
• Check that they understand what they should do if they see something online that upsets or worries them.
• If you are concerned about an app your child is using, download it and use it yourself, or use it together to get a feel for it.

Help keep parents engaged in online safety over the summer – THINKUKNOW resources and information

Gaming – What parents need to know:

Many children and young people will be spending time gaming over the summer holidays. This article explores the different elements of gaming with a particular focus on how it can be used by offenders, but focusing on what parents can do to support their child while gaming.

Click here for more information

Sharing pictures of your child online:

For many children online life begins before birth, when their excited parents-to-be post ultrasound images on social media.  A recent report by Ofcom stated that 42% of parents share photos of their children online, with half of these parents posting photos at least once a month. Lots of parents love sharing photos of their children with friends and family, particularly when they are on holiday or starting a new school year. 42% of young people reported that their parents had done this without asking for their permission.

The article below helps parents to protect their child while staying social.

Click here for more information

Keeping your under 5s safe online:

Statistics released by Ofcom show that over 50% of children aged 3-4 go online for nearly 8 hours a week, and 1 in 5 children aged  3-4 have their own tablet. Whether it’s watching videos, playing games on their devices or talking to Alexa – today’s under 5s are spending more time online. In this article we look at the benefits of children accessing the internet, and share advice about how parents can make sure their child has a safe experience online.

Click here for more information on keeping your under 5s safe

Live streaming: responding to the risks:

Many children enjoy live streaming as it can be used to showcase talent, develop communication skills and create identity. Our article helps parents to understand why children love it, what the risks can be, and how they can help their child stay safe if they are live streaming.

Click here for more information on live steam risks

Using parental controls:

Controls can either be for a device like a games console, or for a network such as your home broadband. The way to access device controls can vary according to the manufacturer.   They can offer varying types of protection, from filtering out adult content from search results to preventing your child from buying things when playing games. Parental controls are a great tool for helping to protect children but should not replace open and honest conversations with children about their life online.

Click here for more information on parental controls

NSPCC Training – Child Sexual Exploitation
What is Child Sexual Exploitation?

CSE is a type of sexual abuse, when a child or young person is being exploited they are given things like gifts, money, status and affection in exchange for sexual activities. Children and young people are often tricked into believing they are in a loving and consensual relationship, this is called ‘grooming’ and they may trust their abuser and not understand that they are being abused and exploited. Children and young people can be trafficked into and around the country, forced to take part in sexual activities often with more than one person. Anybody can be a perpetrator of CSE, no matter their age, gender or race, sometimes these abusers use violence and intimidation to frighten and force a child or young person, making them feel as if they have no choice.

Indicators and signs of CSE in children and young people

• Having money, clothing, items that cannot or won’t be explained
• Being secretive and distancing away from family members
• Physical injuries such as bruising and bleeding
• Sharp mood swings, emotionally volatile
• Inappropriate sexual language and behaviour
• Alcohol and drug misuse
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Pregnancy

Recognising CSE in children and young people

• Staying out late or overnight
• Changes in character, appearance or personal hygiene
• Having older partners, or new friends of an older age group
• Involved in criminal activities such as shoplifting or anti-social behaviour
• Involved in a gang
• Missing from School or College

There are different types of exploitation:

Criminal, sexual, domestic, formed labour and organ harvesting (kidney most popular)

Statistics show London has the highest number of CSE trafficking referral cases in the country, Liverpool is reported to have the 2^nd most number of these cases. Almost half of all reports were direct to the police with the majority of third party referrals coming from social services. Peer on peer offending accounts for 34% of CSE offences, and 64% on average are involving young women. For further information you can visit the NSPCC website below:

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/child-sexual-exploitation

NHS sets out ‘care for young carers’ offer in GP surgeries

NHS England has outlined a series of practical plans and actions designed to help young carers who may be ‘hidden’, unpaid and under the age of 16.  Family doctors across the country can now volunteer to offer a new package of services for children and young adults who perform an informal caring role for a family member. This includes priority appointments for carers, home visits, additional mental health checks, and ‘double appointments’ for the carer and those they provide care for.

Research from Barnardo’s and Carers Trust has highlighted a host of challenges young people face in juggling their caring role with their education and own health, with up to 40% experiencing mental health problems. For the full article, please visit: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2019/06/nhs-sets-out-care-for-young-carers-offer-in-gp-surgeries/

Topics for this month:

Plastic Free July – Join millions of people reducing their plastic waste!

Plastic is forever. Every bit of plastic that has ever been created still exists, including the small amount that has been destroyed and has become toxic. Plastic is a material that the earth cannot digest.

‘Plastic Free July’ is a campaign that is led by the Plastic Free Foundation. Are you willing to take on the ‘plastic free July’ challenge?

Last year, Plastic Free July participants:

• Reduced their household waste on average by 76kg per household per year (7.6%)
• Cut their use of recyclables (disposable packaging) on average by 28kg per household per year (5.6%)
• Contributed to a total saving of 490 million kg of plastic waste each year

By completing the simple form online, you will receive tips and tricks from the Plastic Free Foundation through weekly emails during the month to help you to stay motivated during the challenge! Join 120 million participants worldwide to make a difference and be part of the solution. Please visit for more information: https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/get-involved/

We have also attached 4 posters that you can share with others to encourage them to take part in the challenge, which focus on: reusing food containers, bags and cups; as well as refusing plastic straws.

Click here for the poster on Plastic containers

Click here for the poster on Plastic Straws

Click here for the poster on Reusable cups

Click here for the poster on Plastic bags

First Aid – Useful information

First aid is the help given to someone who is injured or ill, to keep them safe until they can get more advanced medical treatment by seeing a doctor, health professional or go to hospital. The aims of first aid are to:

• preserve life
• prevent illness or injury from becoming worse
• if possible, relieve pain
• promote recovery and protect unconscious

Qualities that make a good first aider

• Keeping your cool, ideal first aiders do not panic in an emergency situation
• Excellent decision makers, quick in action and response
• Re-assuring with good communication skills
• Kind and comforting

Does first aid CPR give oxygen to the brain?

CPR is the only way to sustain the supply of oxygen as it directly compresses and expands the heart, forcing blood through blood vessels just to deliver it to the brain. According to 2014 data, nearly 45 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims survived when bystander CPR was administered.

St John Ambulance Key Statistics

In 2018, St John Ambulance directly trained 379,000 people in first aid, giving the skills and confidence needed to intervene in a first aid emergency. During 2018, they also treated 91,000 people, mostly at events when providing First Aid.

They have created a new package of first aid videos for parents, in line with babies’ development stages that you may find useful: sja.org.uk/parentsfirstaid and you can also get your free first aid pocket sized guide which gives you essential baby first aid advice: https://email.sja.org.uk/sjalz//WebCapture.aspx?pID=5066&t=0

Free First Aid App!
If you want first aid knowledge at your fingertips then their free first aid app provides advice on the go. The app is available for AndroidTM, BlackBerry© and iPhone© mobile device users, and provides easy to follow advice on a range of first aid scenarios, from minor injuries to major emergencies. The app also covers easy to follow advice on a range of first aid scenarios, including CPR , diabetic emergencies, choking and allergic reactions.

Visit the following link for more information:https://www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-advice/free-mobile-first-aid-app.aspx

Festival Safe website

Although Glastonbury, perhaps the biggest music festival, has now passed there will be many more festivals over the next couple of months including Boomtown, Camp Bestival, NASS and Reading and Leeds. Many teenagers will be attending their first big festival this summer and whilst personal safety might not be immediately on their mind, the Festival Safe website offers lots of very good information for first timers and hardened veterans. This excellent resource includes information about the fun side, but also about alcohol and drugs, crime, what to do in an emergency and how to stay sexually safe.

The website can be found here: https://www.festivalsafe.com/

Stay safe abroad this summer

A new video titled Stay Safe Abroad: Advice to Holidaymakers has been shared by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office.

Whilst the chances of being involved in a terror attack remain low, holidaymakers travelling abroad this summer are being urged to watch a new video designed to help keep them safe in the event of an incident. Counter Terrorism Policing – in association with the Foreign Office and ABTA – The Travel Association – have launched this four minute film outlining what to do if caught up in an attack.

The video can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/stay-safe-abroad-this-summer

Free online training with Future Learn

Future Learn have a number of free online training courses that you can access to develop your CPD. Please visit the links below to learn about:

• Young People and their Mental Health – https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/young-people-mental-health
• Understanding Autism – https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/autism

Topics for this month:

Knife crime in the UK – 100 fatal stabbings so far in 2019

The BBC published a report last month on Knife crime in the UK to highlight the 100 fatal stabbings of 2019. The report is extremely concerning and highlights that of the 100 fatal stabbings so far this year, 30 were in London, 10 in Greater Manchester, 8 in the West Midlands, 2 in Merseyside (St Helens and Toxteth) and 1 in Warrington, Cheshire. Of the report, 17 victims were female, whilst 83 were male. Charges were brought in 86 cases, whilst 10 arrests were made without any charges and 4 had no charges or arrests linked to them. 

Access the full report by visiting: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48186035

Knife crime in England and Wales rose to record levels in 2017-18 with the number of fatal stabbings the highest since Home Office records began in 1946.

It is imperative that we talk to young people about the dangers and consequences of carrying weapons. The Home Office has launched a #knifefree campaign and have a website dedicated to this issue. Please visit https://www.knifefree.co.uk/ for more information.

The website is very informative and stresses the risks that individuals put on themselves when deciding to carry a weapon. There is also information surrounding myths and facts, help and support and real life stories about those affected by knife crime. Included on the website, is also a section that encourages young people to find new ways of socialising and this is segregated into the different locations and what is going on in those areas: Birmingham, Brighton, Cardiff, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, and also Nationwide.

Please access the link below to see what is happening in those specific areas, which can shared with young people: https://www.knifefree.co.uk/get-inspired/

Virtual College – How to spot the signs of child abuse and neglect

The latest campaign from Virtual College focuses on safeguarding in the education sector. As teachers/trainers are often the first to spot the signs of abuse and neglect, it is important to know what to look out for. Child cruelty and neglect offences in the UK have doubled over the past five years and there were 16,939 child cruelty and neglect offences recorded by police in 2017-18, up from 7,965 in 2012-13 NSPCC. We have attached the guidance on how to spot signs of child abuse and neglect, as well as important facts and statistics to be aware of.

Click here for  How to Spot the Signs of Child Abuse and Neglect – Virtual College

Click here for the Child Abuse and Neglect Infographic

Gaming Disorders

Gaming Disorder has been added to the World Health Organisation’s classification of diseases; note this is a ‘disorder’, not an addiction. The clinical conditions say that: ‘Gaming disorder is characterised by a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour…” manifested by:

• “impaired control over gaming”
• “increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities”
• “continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.”

More information around this can be found at: https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/guidance/what-you-need-to-know-about-who-gaming-disorder/

Keeping children safe in education

It is important that everyone in an education setting, including visitors, volunteers and staff understand their role in safeguarding children and young people. Each person needs to have read and understood Keeping Children Safe in Education Part One. The poster attached will help you to remember the key points and we have also attached the part one guidance.

Click here for the Keeping Children Safe in Education -Key Points Poster 2019

Click here for the Keeping Children Safe in Education 2018 Part One

Please note, the poster has been designed with schools in mind so may refer to ‘head teacher / teachers’.

Reporting safeguarding concerns

If you have any concerns or are suspicious about a learner’s safety, wellbeing or situation, it is important to report your concern to JTM’s Safeguarding team as soon as possible. We have a logging a concern form which must be completed detailing all factual information, which is then passed onto the designated safeguarding lead which is recorded and monitored.

The step by step logging a concern investigation process is as follows:

• Remain calm and reassure the person that they have done the right thing by speaking up
• Listen carefully and give the person time to speak freely, don’t ask leading questions  
• Explain that only the professionals who need to know will be informed, but never promise confidentiality
• Act immediately, and do not try to address the issue yourself
• Write a statement, giving as much detail as possible; date & time, what was said, how you acted, any names / parties mentioned
• Report to your lead Safeguarding Officer. It is the duty of anyone working with children and young people to report disclosure or harm
• Remember that it is not for you to decide whether or not a suspicion or claim is true; all instances must be taken seriously
• By logging the concern you are seeking support to protect individuals from harm and risk

Click here for the  Reporting process

Topics for this month:

Mental Health Awareness Week: 13^th-19^th May
The Mental Health Foundation is the UK’s charity for everyone’s mental health. Last year the Mental Health Foundation found that 30% of all adults have felt so stressed about their body image and appearance that they felt overwhelmed and unable to cope. Body image issues can affect everyone at any age and directly impact on your mental health. As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, the Mental Health Foundation will be publishing the results of a UK-wide survey on body image and mental health and look at body image issues across a lifetime – including how it affects children and young people, adults and people in later life.

How to get involved!

• Talk about mental health on social media by using the hashtags #BeBodyKind and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, as well as the info graphics that are available for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week/resources/social-media
• Wear a green ribbon which is the international symbol for mental health awareness
• Help spread the word with posters available online, as well as mental health booklets https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week/resources
  Click here for the mental Health Awareness support pack
  Click here for the Myths and Facts about Mental Health
  

Did you know?

• 50% of mental health problems are established by the age of 14, and 75% by the age of 24
• 300,000 people a year leave the workplace because of mental health problems
• Depression affects around 22% of men and 28% of women aged 65 years and over

What is mindfulness and how can mindfulness help me?

More than ever, people are talking about mindfulness, but what is it and how could it help you?

Mindfulness can help you manage your wellbeing and mental health and it can enable you to:

✓ feel less overwhelmed

✓ improve your sleep quality

✓ positively change the way you think and feel about your experiences (especially stressful experiences)

✓ increase your ability to manage difficult situations

✓ make wiser choices

✓ reduce levels of anxiety

✓ reduce levels of depression

✓ reduce levels of stress

✓ reduce the amount you go over things in your mind

✓ have greater self-compassion

Mindfulness is not nonsense or silly, nor is it a passing fad – but it does take effort and work to develop mindfulness skills and time to practice them. The scientific evidence and clinical research that underpins mindfulness is strong and growing. It shows positive effects on several aspects of whole-person health, including the mind, the brain, the body and behaviour, as well as a person’s relationships with others.

Please visit https://bemindful.co.uk/ where you can find out more information about mindfulness, access online resources, and undertake a free stress test.

Online Fraud

Whilst we often highlight the importance of children and young people keeping themselves safe online through privacy settings, it is important that we raise awareness of online fraud and common scams that are being used. Online fraud is becoming increasingly common and sophisticated scams are taking thousands of pounds from innocent people.

Please see below 3 links that cover:

• Fake NatWest text messages which are appearing in message threads https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/alert/fake-natwest-text-messages-appearing-in-message-threads
• Phone scams: Financial Fraud Action UK https://www.financialfraudaction.org.uk/consumer/advice/phone-scams/
• Fraudsters targeting online gamers https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/alert/fraudsters-targeting-online-gamers

Samaritans and Social Media Giants in Communication

Representatives from social media giants Facebook, Google, Snapchat and Instagram have been summoned by the Government to meet with Samaritans this month over plans to rid the internet of content promoting self-harm videos and suicide.  The social media companies and the Government have been under pressure to act following the death of 14-year-old Molly Russell in 2017 when the schoolgirl’s family found material relating to depression and suicide when they looked at her Instagram account following her death.

In a statement, a spokesman for Facebook, which also owns Instagram, said: “The safety of people, especially young people, using our platforms is our top priority and we are continually investing in ways to ensure everyone on Facebook and Instagram has a positive experience”. “Most recently, as part of an ongoing review with experts, we have updated our policies around suicide, self-harm and eating disorder content so that more will be removed”.

“We also continue to invest in our team of 30,000 people working in safety and security, as well as technology, to tackle harmful content. We support the new initiative from the Government and the Samaritans, and look forward to our ongoing work with industry to find more ways to keep people safe online”.

For more information on the Samaritans and support they offer, please access: https://www.samaritans.org/wales/how-we-can-help/support-and-information/

Additional Resources

Attached to this bulletin are two different posters that staff, learners and employers can benefit from which cover British Values and also, Self-Harm. Click here for Self Harm poster
Click here for British Values poster

The team attended a training session delivered by Liverpool Children’s Safeguarding Board and CAMHS on ‘Awareness of Young People and Self-harm’, and the leaflet includes the main topics and discussions that took place during the training.

For more information on CAMHS and the support they provide, please visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/mental-health-services/child-and-adolescent-mental-health-services-camhs/

In this blog post we take a look at apprenticeships in numbers and see how business can benefit from them. You can find out were we got these from at the bottom of this blog post.

Most businesses aren’t aware that for apprentices they have under the age of 25 they don’t have to pay employer national insurance contributions.

With over 300+ apprenticeship standards to chose from there is plenty of choice which allows you to pick something to meet your needs.

With over 96% of employers using apprenticeships say their business has benefited so why not take on an apprentice to see how your company will benefit.

With 83% of employers using apprenticeships say they rely on them to provide skilled workers for the future. Why not get an apprentice to benefit your company for the future

With 80% of employers using apprentices saying that they have noticed a reduce in staff turnover. Why not get an apprentice if you are worried about an ageing workforce.

Employers that have hired an apprentice have said that they have noticed an increase in overall production. Why not get an apprentice if you want to boost your companies overall productivity.

59% of employers using apprentices say that training is more cost effective then hiring Skilled staff. So if you are looking to benefit your company for the future while saving money then hiring an apprenticeship is the answer for you.

Business saw a 20% improvement in staff retention by taking on apprentices which lead to a saving of £2,500 per person in recruitment costs.

Employers noticed when hiring an apprentice they were saving £400 a month on office costs. The Strategic Development Network have found business that have taken on an apprentice have seen a reduction in office costs.

According to the Strategic Development Network business could see an increase of £90,000 added to their bottom line through better productivity

A study found that the average value of economic output produced by an apprentice in England studying Business Admin was £24,780 and was a whopping £36,205 for Team leadership and management.

A study found that the average value of economic output produced by an apprentice in England studying Customer Service was £20,817 and the study also found that childcare apprentices produced £18,005 of economic output on average.

A study found the average annual organisational net benefit for hiring a business admin apprentice in England was £9,721; for a childcare apprentice it was £4,097 and for a customer service apprentice it was £5,039.

We’ve found these numbers from across the web but you can find these statistics and more from the employers apprenticeship toolkit produced by the Humber LEP as well as a study carried out on the benefits of apprenticeships undertaken by Cebr on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency. You can find these two documents here and here

Finally, if these numbers have convinced you of the benefits of taking on an apprentice, get in touch on 0151 336 9340 or info@jarvis-eu.com and a member of the team will help you through the apprenticeship process. Or you can find out more about our apprenticeships at
http://jarvis-eu.com/

Topics for this month:

Stress Awareness Month – April 2019
Stress Awareness Month has been held every April, since 1992 to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic. According to the Mental Health Foundation, 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year, they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.

What can you do for Stress Awareness Month?

• Talk about stress and its effects – work together to reduce the stigma that is associated with stress by talking about the topic openly and freely with friends, family and colleagues.
• Share your coping mechanisms – if something has worked for you, why not share it. It might benefit someone you care about and in the meantime it might help you take your focus off your own challenges.
• Be nice to those who are stressed and anxious – we are all undoubtedly going to experience stress and anxiety in our lifetime so treat others going through it with compassion and empathy.
• Look after yourself – we all need to think more about self–care. Take time out of your day to relax or do something that you enjoy. Don’t forget to exercise and eat well, even when you feel too stressed.

Mental Health Toolkit for Employers

There has been a lot written about how to tackle ill mental health and promote wellbeing in the workplace. Business in the community has partnered with Public Health England to produce a free, online toolkit, to help every organisation support the mental health and wellbeing of its employees.

Click here for more information;

E Safety Cards for Social Media

We have attached a number of e-safety cards produced by Ineqe to raise awareness of how young people can keep themselves safe online. The cards focus on a number of social media platforms such as: YouTube; Whatsapp; Instagram; Facebook; Twitter; Twitch; TickTok; Snapchat; and Kik, and outline the different privacy settings that can be set so that young people only talk to those that they know and trust.

Click here for more information;

Click here for more information;

Click here for more information;

Click here for more information;

Click here for more information;

Click here for more information;

Click here for more information;

Click here for information;

Helpline for Grief and Bereavement

Grief Encounter is one of the UK’s leading bereaved child charities, providing free, pioneering services and support to bereaved children, young people and their families.

On average one child in every classroom will experience the death of a parent or sibling before they reach 16 years of age; 44,000 dependent children bereaved a year. Adolescent grief has a devastating impact that can last for life, with research showing links to mental health issues, social and behavioural problems and more.

Grief Encounter offers a flexible and accessible service, which aims to professionally care and respond to bereaved children, young people and their families via counselling, group activities, family fun days, residential camps and interactive online services.

Phone: 0808 802 0111 (Free to call; Monday – Friday 9am – 9pm)
Email: grieftalk@griefencounter.org.uk
Website: https://www.griefencounter.org.uk/

ConnectFutures

ConnectFutures are an organisation that provides independent expertise on radicalisation, extremism, terrorism and violence. They have produced an insightful short video telling the story of the Woolwich boys – a largely Somali-led south London street gang involved in county lines drug distribution. In 2015, police monitoring criminal gang activity first became aware of a possible radicalisation crossover after 20 members and associates of the Woolwich Boys were known to have travelled to Syria.

Watch the video: https://www.connectfutures.org/new-film-woolwich-boys-gangs-extremism-september-2017/
For further information about ConnectedFutures, please visit their website: https://www.connectfutures.org/

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), is when a person can have lots of energy and find it difficult to concentrate and learn. It can also be hard to control speech and actions, for example talking too much, being restless and doing things on impulse without thinking first.

ADHD is the most common behavioural disorder in children and young people, symptoms usually become noticeable between the ages of 3 and 7.We don’t know what causes ADHD but experts think it runs in families, it could also be caused by an imbalance in brain chemicals. A related condition, ADD (attention deficit disorder) has similar symptoms, but there is less hyperactivity and the main problem is difficulty concentrating.

What to do about ADHD: Take the first step

If you feel a learner is struggling with ADHD encourage them to talk to someone they are comfortable with and trust, for example a Tutor, relative, counsellor or friend.

Support is available from their GP, who may offer to refer the child or young person to the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). There is no set test for ADHD instead they can talk to an expert i.e. a psychiatrist or specialist paediatrician to find out the best way to help.

Treating ADHD

Medication, behavioural therapy, counselling, family meetings and special educational support can all help children and young people with ADHD.   

Young people can be given medication, children under 5 should not be given ADHD medication. Psychological therapy can also be offered on a one-to-one basis, older children may be offered group sessions to help with their social skills and behaviour.

For more information, please access: https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/conditions/adhd-and-mental-health/

Topics for this month:

MOMO – Online Safety
Momo is a sinister ‘challenge’ that has been around for some time. It has recently resurfaced and once again has come to the attention of schools and children across the country. Dubbed the ‘suicide killer game’, Momo has been heavily linked with apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and most recently YouTube Kids. The scary doll-like figure reportedly sends graphic violent images and asks users to partake in dangerous challenges like waking up at random hours and has even been associated with self-harm.

The National Online Safety organisation have provided a list of ‘top tips for parents’ to help prevent children in their care being affected by Momo:

1. Tell them it’s not real
2. Be present whilst children in your care are online
3. Talk regularly with your children about their online activities to encourage confidence in discussing any issue or concerns they may have
4. Utilise device settings and parental controls
5. Make sure you talk to children about how they shouldn’t succumb to peer pressure and do anything they are uncomfortable with

For further support parents and carers can speak to their child’s safeguarding officer at school. It is also important for children to know where they can seek help if they have seen something distressing and who their trusted adults are. Counsellors at ChildLine can also be reached on 0800 1111.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month – March 2019

Every year 7,300 women in the UK are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and just one in five women in the UK are able to name bloating as a symptom of ovarian cancer.

Other symptoms can include:

• Persistent bloating – not bloating that comes and goes
• Feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite
• Pelvic or abdominal pain (that’s your tummy and below)
• Urinary symptoms (needing to wee more urgently or more often than usual)

Occasionally there can be other symptoms such as:

• Changes in bowel habits
• Extreme fatigue (feeling very tired)
• Unexplained weight loss

It is important that we raise awareness of Ovarian Cancer so that symptoms are identified as early as possible and appointments for GPs can be arranged quickly. The leaflet covers the symptoms leaflet that we would like you to circulate. More information can be found at: https://www.targetovariancancer.org.uk/information-and-support/what-ovarian-cancer/ovarian-cancer-symptoms

Click here for more information;

Child Exploitation Awareness

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is when an adult coerces or gives a child something in exchange for allowing sexual acts to be performed by or on them. This could be in person, online or on camera.

CSE can be very hard to spot. Sometimes young people themselves don’t realise what is happening. They may believe they are in a loving relationship. They may believe what they’re being asked to do is ‘normal’. If they do realise they are being abused, they may feel trapped. They may feel unable to tell anyone what is going on.

Every 3 minutes a child runs away from home or care and each year 100,000 children go missing in the UK. These children are at risk of sexual exploitation, involvement in crime, substance misuse and homelessness. But many children show signs long before they leave, and it is possible to spot these signs and act.

Included are useful awareness resources of CSE, published by Catch 22:

• Prevent a young person going missing – spot the signs
• CSE – Think boys! 1 in 3 victims of CSE is a boy
• Positive relationships break – the CSE cycle
• Child Criminal Exploitation – How gangs recruit and coerce young people
• Push and pull factors – What causes a child to go missing
• Different dangers, same signs

More information can be found via https://www.catch-22.org.uk/news/spot-the-signs-cse-awareness-poster-hub/?mc_cid=44cbca3415&mc_eid=d2a4253130

Jessie and Friends

For the first time, the National Crime Agency is engaging with children as young as four in a bid to help protect them online as the number of global child sexual abuse referrals has rocketed.

Parents, carers and teachers can use Jessie & Friends – a fun, friendly and age-appropriate education resource based on a three-episode series of animations – to help to keep 4-7 year olds safe online.

The aim of Jessie and Friends is to provide protective education to children before they begin to encounter such risks online, making children less likely to become victims and less likely to be targeted by high-risk offenders. Engaging activities, designed for classroom use, support children to recognise manipulative strategies in online chat – just like those typically used by offenders to groom children.

Crucially, Jessie & Friends helps children learn to ask a trusted adult for help whenever they feel worried.

The Jessie & Friends resources can be accessed via https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/jessie-and-friends

Did you know?…

According to a recent Ofcom report, 19% of 3-4 year olds and 43% of 5-7 year olds have access to their own tablets, and 52% of 3-4 year olds and 82% of 5-7 year olds go online for an average of nine hours or more each week. Therefore, experts at the National Crime Agency are encouraging adults to start the dialogue about online safety with children as young as 4.

Topics for this month:

National Heart Month
The British Heart Foundation has long since made February, National Heart Month in the UK. There are many different heart conditions and problems, which together, are called heart disease.  This includes: angina; heart attack; heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms – as well as many other conditions including congenital heart disease and inherited heart conditions.  There are over two and a half million people in the UK living with coronary heart disease (CHD) and it causes over 82,000 deaths annually.

There are several aspects a person can influence such as managing diet, keeping fit, and watching their blood pressure are just a few important factors.  The British Heart Foundation’s webpage has information about heart diseases and ways in which you can beat them.  Healthy Performance are trying to encourage employers to raise awareness of the dangers of heart disease to their employees.  The most effective way is via onsite checks which cover blood pressure and total cholesterol checks.  You can get more information by visiting https://www.healthyperformance.co.uk/national-heart-month

The Education Support Partnership

The Education Support Partnership is the UK’s only charity providing mental health and wellbeing support services to all education and training staff and organisations. The organisation offers telephone support and counselling, email support and live chat, training and development, information and advice, and even grants.

There are many stresses on those who work in education and training – a challenging student, stress & depression, personal financial worries and so many more. That’s why the Partnership offers free, confidential help and support, no matter what the problem. Trained counsellors listen without judgement. No issue is too big or too small.

Free Helpline: 08000 562 561 (24 hours)
Website: https://www.educationsupportpartnership.org.uk/

Safeguarding Children and Protecting Professionals in Early Years Settings

The government have published new guidance on 4^th February 2019, aimed at professionals working in EYFS settings. There are two versions, one for practitioners and one for managers. Please access the links below for further information:

For Practitioners
Safeguarding children and protecting professionals in early years settings: online safety guidance for practitioners
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-children-and-protecting-professionals-in-early-years-settings-online-safety-considerations/safeguarding-children-and-protecting-professionals-in-early-years-settings-online-safety-guidance-for-practitioners

For Managers
Safeguarding children and protecting professionals in early years settings: online safety considerations for managers
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-children-and-protecting-professionals-in-early-years-settings-online-safety-considerations/safeguarding-children-and-protecting-professionals-in-early-years-settings-online-safety-considerations-for-managers

Promoting Sustainable Living

WWF is the world’s leading independent conservation organisation and their mission is to create a world where people and wildlife can thrive together. It is important that we take necessary steps to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible to make a real change in contributing to sustainable living. The WWF have an Environmental Footprint Calculator that calculates your carbon footprint using a series of questions about your day to day living habits.

We think this is an excellent tool to use to raise awareness of your carbon footprint and the small changes that you can make to improve and reduce your impact.

The questionnaire can be accessed here: https://footprint.wwf.org.uk/?_ga=2.54581163.101542398.1550231536-1907968609.1550231536#/

Did you know?…

Eight million tonnes of plastic is dumped into the sea every year. See below ten tips on how to reduce your plastic footprint:

1. Fix your caffeine fix – Carry a reusable cup or flask.
2. Bring your own bottle – Plastic bottles are one of the most frequently found items on ‘beach cleans’.
3. Say no to plastic cutlery – By reusing plastic cutlery or using a compostable alternative, each person could personally save 466 items of unnecessary plastic every year.
4. Plastic straws – Plastic straws and stirrers can take up to 200 years to decompose. Opt in for paper straws, or ditch them all together!
5. Stop using cling film – Cling film cannot be recycled, unlike foil. Make the swap!
6. Teabags – Use loose leaf tea with a tea strainer instead of teabags that are sealed with plastic.
7. Ditch chewing gum – Britons are the second biggest consumers of chewing gum in the world. Chewing gum is made from plastic and can be swapped for plastic free alternatives such as Chewsy.
8. Glitter – Glitter is made from plastic of such a small size it’s lethal to our oceans. There are many eco-friendly biodegradable glitters available!
9. Milk – Consider getting your milk delivered in glass bottles which are reused and recycled instead of the plastic containers in the shops.
10. Wine – Choose wine bottles with natural cork stoppers instead of plastic stoppers or metal screw caps.

Topics for this month:

Change4Life Campaign by Public Health England

Change 4 Life Campaign was launched on 2^nd January 2019, as new figures show that children have already exceeded the maximum recommended sugar intake for an 18 year old, by the time they have reached their 10^th birthday.

To help parents/carers and young people manage this, Change4Life is encouraging them to ‘Make a swap when you next shop’. Making simple everyday swaps can reduce children’s sugar intake from some products such as: yoghurts; drinks; breakfast cereals, by half- whilst giving them healthier versions of the foods and drinks they enjoy.

Please access the following link for more information:

https://www.nhs.uk/change4life/food-facts/sugar/sugar-swaps-for-kids

Autism ‘Attention Card’

By registering for an Attention card, your details are red flagged to say that you have a person with you with autism, which means that if you are in a difficult situation or an accident, responding officers will know that appropriate support will need to be put in place for that individual. The card is incredibly beneficial to children, teenagers and adults and is completely free.

The Attention Card confirms ‘The person you have with you will have a medical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition’. They should be treated as a vulnerable person and PACE 1984 guidelines should be followed. When you apply for an Attention Card you are given the option for the applicant’s difficulties to be recorded onto Cheshire or Merseyside Police’s intelligence system. This means that in an emergency, irrespective of whether they are carrying the card or Autism Code Keyring, the issues they have will be acknowledged, and appropriate support given.

For more information about the Attention Card, and access to the application forms, please follow the link below:

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week
Cervical Cancer Prevention Week will be taking place from today, 21^st – 27^th January 2019. 2 women lose their lives every day to cervical cancer, whilst 9 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every day. It has been highlighted that 75% of cervical cancers can be prevented by cervical screening.

It is important that all women and people with a cervix know how cervical cancer can be prevented. This means:

• Attending cervical screening when invited
• Knowing the symptoms of cervical cancer and seeking medical advice if experiencing any
• Taking up the HPV vaccination if aged 11-18
• Knowing where to find support and further information

For detailed information, please visit: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/get-involved/campaign/cervical-cancer-prevention-week

Safer Internet Day

Safer Internet Day will take place on Tuesday 5^th February 2019. Please have a look at the posters and resources to see how you can get involved in Safer Internet Day, take part in a range of social media activities, information on handling disclosures etc.

The NSPCC’s Net Aware website provides handy guides and risk ratings for parents and carers on some of the most popular online gaming and social media apps that young people may be using.

Fortnite: https://www.net-aware.org.uk/news/fortnite-all-you-need-know/

Minecraft: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/minecraft-a-parents-guide/

FIFA: https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/fifa-football/

Grand Theft Auto: https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/grand-theft-auto-san-andreas/

Risk ratings for popular social media apps: https://www.net-aware.org.uk/networks/

Click here for more information;

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Did you know?…

Technology is continuously expanding, and in every 60 seconds…

• 168 million emails are sent
• 694,445 search queries are made with Google
• 11,000 iPhone applications are downloaded
• 320+ new Twitter accounts are set up
• 98,300 tweets are published
• 370,000 voice calls are made on Skype
• 100+ new LinkedIn accounts are set up

https://www.foundationonline.org.uk

Topics for this month:

Protecting Children from Criminal Exploitation, Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery

In the spring of 2018, Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation examined ‘the multi-agency response to child exploitation and children missing from home, care or education’, looking specifically at the criminal exploitation of children.

This report sets out the inspection findings and is a useful read for schools working in higher risk areas. You can download the report here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/756031/Protecting_children_from_criminal_exploitation_human_trafficking_modern_slavery_addendum_141118.pdf
 

Criminal Exploitation (Manchester Safeguarding Children Boards)
Manchester Safeguarding Children Boards have introduced ‘seven minute briefings’ to allow managers to deliver a short briefing to staff regarding on key topics, which can also be used to support reflective discussion with practitioners.

MSCB says that the 7 minute briefings are based on a technique borrowed from the FBI. Research suggests that seven minutes is an ideal timespan to concentrate and learning is more memorable as it is simple and not clouded by other issues and pressures. Their brief duration should also mean that they hold people’s attention, as well as giving managers something to share with their staff.

Download the Criminal Exploitation briefing here: 

https://www.manchestersafeguardingboards.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2018-06-29-MSB-7MB-CriminalExploitation.pdf 

Others are available below for Manchester and Liverpool:

https://liverpoolscb.org.uk/lscb/training/seven-minute-briefings