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Issue 42 - April 2024

Welcome to the April edition of the Protecting People Angus (PPA) Learning and Development Newsletter. I am sure there are many people like me happy to see the clocks change and the increase in hours of Scottish sunshine. I would also like to give a warm welcome to all of my new colleagues who have signed up for the monthly newsletter 😊. There are many training and awareness opportunities to attend this spring including the SafeLives Domestic Abuse Awareness Raising Tool (DAART). I would encourage practitioners working in the field of adult protection and child protection to undertake this e-learning. Thank you Jordan Jordan Burns, Chair - PPA Workforce Learning & Development Subgroup

Please sign up using the following links.

DAART – Domestic Abuse Awareness Raising Tool

SafeLives has designed this e-learning with support from the Scottish Government and input from a number of specialist domestic abuse and mainstream services from across Scotland.

The online tool is intended as a learning resource for professionals. It is an awareness-raising resource and serves as an introduction to domestic abuse and coercive control. The tool provides an overview of the main considerations when responding to domestic abuse, however it does not replace specialist domestic abuse training.

Angus Violence Against Women Partnership (AVAWP) would recommend all multi-agency practitioners in Angus working within protection for adult or children undertake this basic level e-learning, it should take no more than an hour to complete.

Access the course here.

Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) is the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide all children, young people and their families with the right support at the right time so that every child and young person in Scotland can reach their full potential. This is delivered through the core components of: • A named person who is a clear point of contact for children, young people and families to go to for support and advice. A named person can also connect families to a wider network of support and services so that they get the right help, at the right time, from the right people • A shared and holistic understanding of wellbeing and a single model of how this can be considered and supported • A single, shared and rights-based approach to planning for children and young people’s wellbeing where support across services is needed, co-ordinated by a lead professional This multi-agency course will cover the role of the lead professional, named person, explore GIRFEC tools, including the need/process of a child’s plan and how best we can record this for the family. It is imperative that all agencies in Angus are represented on this course, to enable us to meet the core values and principles of GIRFEC together. All participants are required to undertake a GIRFEC learning module, prior to attendance. You can undertake this using you own agencies resource or access one through Always Learning or Turas

Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) Multiagency Training Wednesday 15 May 2024 9am – 12.30pm Angus House, Forfar Wednesday 12 June 2024 9am – 12.30pm Brechin Community Campus Theatre

This face-to-face event (please, only choose one date) is open to professionals across agencies, working in Angus and delivering the Named Person and Lead Professional roles. Flyer and Further Information

Would you like to find out how kindness can benefit you and those around you? 

How kindness can really make a difference to the people of Angus? 

Protecting People Angus (PPA) are developing a #CultureOfKindness across Angus and are running a series of The Power of Kindness in Angus events throughout the county to promote the workforces and communities use of the same approach and same language across all areas to benefit those living and working in Angus.

They would love to have a chat about what kindness means to you and how we can make sure we understand how this impacts on all of our daily lives. Kindness is something that involves and affects every single one of us, and everyone around us so we invite you to join us in this discussion.

Sign up and get involved in and help us keep the Culture of Kindness going in Angus.

Tuesday 16 April 2024
Wednesday 8 May 2024
Thursday 30 May 2024
Wednesday 5 June 2024

Are you a parent of or work with parents, of children aged between 3 and 12 years of age living in the Forfar and Kirriemuir area. Please share this opportunity with colleagues and the families you work with and come join this award winning Shaper/Caper for a fun, interactive performance for families with opportunities to chat and play! Ernie’s Emporium is an interactive experience for children aged 3 to 12 years and their parents, carers and families based in Forfar and Kirriemuir. Planet Youth is a programme focused on improving young people’s health, wellbeing, and relationships. It is based on the Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM), where the key focus is community engagement with families, school, young people and their parents. The aim is to build and strengthen positive protective factors (family, peers, school, and leisure) in and around young people’s lives to try and reduce or delay the onset of risk taking behaviours in their teenage years. The model has been developed by Planet Youth, a research consultancy in Iceland that is now supporting the implementation of this model with communities throughout the world. Six local authority areas are currently participating in the pilot, Angus being one of them – specifically focussing on the Forfar and Kirriemuir areas. This is why we would like to invite you and your children to a free event in your area to gather your views in a fun and exciting way. Please see attached flyer for details of where, when and how to book your place. We look forward to seeing you! Forfar Flyer and Booking Details Kirriemuir Flyer and Booking Details

Suicide Intervention Prevention & Safety Plan Training 2024

Tuesday 9 April 2024 9.15am – 4pm
Tuesday 7 May 2024 9.15am – 4pm
Tuesday 4 June 2024 9.15am – 4pm

Venue - Montrose Baker Hughes Training Centre

Nominations to james.kennedy@nhs.scot

Flyer and Further Information

Protecting People Awareness Raising Learning Session

Tuesday 16 April 2024
2pm – 4pm, Bruce House, Arbroath

Wednesday 21 August 2024
2pm – 4pm, Angus House, Forfar

Thursday 14 November 2024
10am – 12 noon, Bruce House, Arbroath

This level one training is aimed at all multi-agency professionals, carers or volunteers who have a role in supporting people at risk of harm in Angus.

This session will give an overview of Child Protection, Violence Against Women and Adult Protection, supporting you to understand / identify when someone may be at risk of harm and what you need to do.

Flyer and Further Information

Action Against Gender-based Violence Conversation Cafe

Wednesday 24 April 2024 12 noon – 2pm, Online
Thursday 23 May 2024 12 noon – 2pm, Angus House, Forfar
Wednesday 19 June 2024 12 noon – 2pm, Online

These sessions will be informal and are open to both the public and multi-agency workforce members.

These will be a starting point for conversation about Gender Based Violence in Angus and how we can work towards eradicating this together.

Flyer and Further Information

Angus Violence Against Women (AVAWP)
Good Practice in Domestic Abuse and Safe & Together Principles
Multi-Agency Learning Events on MS Teams

Thursday 27 June 2024 12 noon - 1.30pm
Monday 16 September 2024 3.30pm - 5pm
Wednesday 11 December 2024 1.30pm - 3pm

Event hosts - Angus Safe and Together Champions.
Learning outcomes:
• To understand how Good Practice in Domestic Abuse applies in Angus services
• To learn about the principles of Safe and Together

This multi-agency learning session will be ideal for any worker in Angus who may come into contact with survivors in the course of their work.

Flyer and Further Information

Domestic Abuse (Coercive Control) and the Law
Wednesday 5 June 2024 9.30am – 12 noon via MS Teams

This session is being facilitated by Marianne Osborne who has worked with Renfrewshire Women’s Aid since 2002, and who has a wealth of experience and knowledge around the area of Domestic Abuse both at a local and national level.

This training is open to all multiagency staff that work in Angus, who have a working understanding of domestic abuse.

Flyer and Further Information

Assessing NEGLECT can be difficult  

• Too many children experience neglect and adversity for too long
• It’s the most common reason for a child protection plan and features in 60% of serious case reviews
• It’s the most common reason that adults contact the NSPCC helpline and the most prevalent form of child maltreatment in the UK

……but the GRADED CARE PROFILE (GCP2) assessment training can help!

GCP2 is an evidenced based assessment tool for identifying and assessing neglect. It measures levels of parental care, using a graded scale (1=best 5=worst) to describe the level of physical and emotional care children receive. It’s based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and identifies parental strengths as well as weaknesses whilst targeting aspects of neglectful care.

If you have a role in assessing and/or supporting families, we have seen that GCP2 gives improved depth of assessment and a clear focus of targeted support for the family. The GCP2 also provides evidence that inform Child’s Plans and encourage evidence-based decision making within Child’s Planning Meetings.

Graded Care Profile (GCP2) Tool
Full Day, Face to Face Training for Multi-Agency Staff

Tuesday 17 September 2024 9.30am – 4pm
Bruce House, Arbroath

This training is open to all multi-agency staff working with children and families within the Angus area.

Flyer and Further Information

Roles and Responsibilities and Interagency Working in the Protection of Adults   Tuesday 30 April 2024 9.30am – 11.30am, Angus House, Forfar Friday 24 May 2024 9.30am – 11.30am, Angus House, Forfar Friday 9 August 2024 9.30am – 11.30am, Angus House, Forfar

To apply for this training event: All Angus Council employees must register using ResourceLink. All others please click here. Places are limited to 20 per course so book early to avoid disappointment. 2024 Flyer and Further Information

Information Sharing and Communication Within and Across Agencies to Protect Adults And Assessing Risk Wednesday 5 June 2024 9.30am - 3.30pm, Angus House, Forfar Friday 2 August 2024 9.30am – 3.30pm, Angus House, Forfar

To apply for this training event: All Angus Council employees must register using ResourceLink. All others please click here. Flyer and Further Information

ASP Defensible Decision Making

Cohort 1
24 April, 8 May, 22 May 2024, 9.30am – 1pm

Cohort 2
30 August, 13 September, 25 September, 9.30am – 1pm

Please note you must be able to attend all 3 sessions in the cohort.

This is a multi-disciplinary learning opportunity for managers and practitioners who are involved in decision making with regards to adult support and protection (ASP).

Flyer and Booking Information

GETTING TO KNOW VOLUNTARY ACTION ANGUS : OUR ROLE AS THIRD SECTOR INTERFACE FOR ANGUS

Tuesday 23 April 2024 9.30am – 2.30pm

It has been identified that the role and remit of Voluntary Action Angus as the Third Sector Interface (TSI) for Angus, is not as clear as we would like it to be. This causes confusion and impacts effective signposting, referrals, and engagement with wider third sector services, partnership working and other related aspects of TSI remit.

As budgets continue to reduce and services are feeling the strain, any lack of clarity in the role of a TSI risks unnecessary duplication of cross sector workstreams. We would therefore like to invite you to an event focussing on our role as Angus Third Sector Interface, to support closing this gap in knowledge and enable better working relationships and better outcomes for our communities as a result.

This event is open to all professionals working for services and organisations active within our Angus communities. To read more about what to expect from the event and to book your place, please click on the image within this email, or visit Eventbrite Tickets | Getting to know VAA: Our role as Third Sector Interface for Angus.

All Third Sector Organisations are also invited to become part of the wider Third Sector Exhibition on display at the event. An opportunity to showcase your organisations' services, expertise, impact reports, project successes or even plans & priorities for 2024/25. To register your organisation as a contributor to this exhibition regardless of your own plans to attend the event, please click here

Tea/coffees and lunch will be provided at the event. Please notify us when booking your place, of any dietary requirements or adjustments needed for you to attend this event. 

If you have any difficulties accessing the Eventbrite booking form or registration link for the Third Sector Exhibition, please email info@voluntaryactionangus.org.uk or call 01307466113.

Places still available!!!

Overdose Awareness & Naloxone Training

Thursday 25 April 2024 2.30pm – 4pm, MoHUB, Montrose

Wednesday 22 May 2024 2.30pm – 4pm, Community Spirit, Arbroath

Tuesday 25 June 2024 2.30pm – 4pm, East & Old Church, Forfar

How to Book: Resourcelink: Angus Council staff only

Eventbrite: Eventbrite   Email: AngusADP@angus.gov.uk

Telephone: 07786125867 or 07469918428

Flyer and Further Information

Breaking Free Online Training

Tuesday 7 May 2024 1pm – 3pm
Tuesday 2 July 2024 10am – 12 noon
Thursday 29 August 2024 1pm – 3pm
Wednesday 9 October 2024 10am – 12 noon
Tuesday 3 December 2024 1pm – 3pm
All sessions will be delivered via MS Teams

Click here to access an overview and further details of the Breaking Free Online Programme

How to book: Eventbrite: Breaking Free Online Training

Email: AngusADP@angus.gov.uk

Flyer and Further Information

Angus Psychostimulant Information Session

Tuesday 23 April 2024 10am – 12 noon, Bruce House Arbroath

Thursday 20 June 2024 5pm – 7pm, MS Teams

Thursday 31 October 2024 2pm – 4pm, Angus House, Forfar

Monday 2 December 2024 1.30pm – 3.30pm, Angus Carers Centre, Arbroath

Do you want to know more about Psychostimulants, in particular the impact of cocaine use with alcohol and other substances.

The session is suitable for anyone using substances, family members, professionals and anyone who would like to know more about the impact of psychostimulant use.

Book a place: Angus Council Staff - Book Via ResourceLink

Eventbrite: Eventbrite

or Email: AngusADP@Angus.gov.uk

More information: Call or text 07469918428

Flyer and Further Information

For Families by Families

Scottish Families and the Angus Alcohol and Drug Partnership are supporting a steering group of family members who are impacted by a loved one's substance use. They have come together to make a difference for their loved ones and have planned a series of events across Angus to hear your voice and share your experiences. Come along to hear more about the work they are doing, which is ‘For Families by Families’.

The sessions are open to everyone in Angus who wants to make a difference. Refreshments will be provided, no need to book. Don't miss this opportunity to make a positive change.

Please see the poster for contact details and to find out more. 

Alcohol Awareness Week is from 1 July 2024 to 7 July 2024, and the theme this year is ‘Understanding Alcohol Harm’.

Alcohol Awareness Week

Please watch this space for a calendar of events and information. Click the link if you are looking for resources for your work. If you are planning anything or want to plan some events, don't hesitate to get in touch with with AngusADP@angus.gov.uk.

Level 2 Child Protection Training Tuesday 2 July 2024 at 9am Wednesday 4 September 2024 at 1pm Thursday 31 October 2024 at 9am Thursday 12 December 2024 at 9am All sessions will be delivered via MS Teams This half day workshop aims to build on the Level 1 LearnPro eLearning module. The training is underpinned by the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and the Scottish Governments key policy of GIRFEC. The training aims to develop the skills and knowledge required to identify and respond to child protection concerns.  To request a place on any of the above, please email: Tay.pptraining@nhs.scot Flyer and Further Information

The Angus Violence Against Women Partnership (AVAWP) are undertaking a self-evaluation based on the national Violence Against Women Improvement Service questionnaire. AVAWP members met and selected questions that they felt relevant to strategic and operational staff. The links are below for each and we would appreciate if you could take time to respond. This will allow us to evaluate our strengths and areas for improvement when writing our next strategic plan. Please note the option around “I don’t understand this question”. The questions use national wording and we have requested this option be added to allow us to gain feedback on how the questions are written and suggest any changes, as AVAWP members felt that some questions structure could be improved to enable better understanding. Strategic Staff Survey - https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/KEG0V2/ Operational Staff Survey - https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/V2R7HZ/ The closing date for responses is Thursday 25 April 2024. Please share widely within your teams and wider networks.

Scam Free Angus X (Formerly Twitter) @scamfreeangus has 573 followers.  Can the multi-agency workforce please promote and encourage following of this account. @scamfreeangus is the social media arm of the Financial Harm Sub Committee which is made up of like-minded people from varied organisations across Angus. It is part of a prolonged campaign to publicise and raise awareness of: • The different types of frauds and scams facing local people • The availability of support for people at risk of financial harm in Angus • What Angus people can do themselves to protect themselves from financial harm

The National ASP L&D Network and Brenda Walker (NASPC) would like to thank you all for your interest/attendance at the ASPire event in February. We were able to film the presentations from the day and these are now available for you to view and show any interested colleagues. They can be found on the NASPC and Iriss Website or by clicking below. ASPIRE VIDEOS If you would like to sign up to the NASPC Newsletter please click below: NASPC Newsletter

Adult Safeguarding Legislation - Navigating the Borderlands

Please see noted below an article written by Kathryn Mackay and Pearse McCusker that has been published. 

Adult safeguarding legislation: Navigating the borderlands between mental capacity, mental health and social care law and practice - ScienceDirect

 It frames the debate around Art 12 and 16 of the CRPD.

Report a child protection concern

If you believe a child is at immediate risk of harm contact the police on 999.  If you are worried about a child, and think they may be a victim of neglect or abuse, you can report it online.

Report an adult protection concern

If you, or an adult you know, are at immediate risk of harm contact the police on 999.  If you are worried about an adult, and believe they may be at risk of harm you can report it online.

If you haven’t yet, please click this link to receive the newsletter direct to your mailbox or email ProtectingPeopleAngus@angus.gov.uk to request being added to the subscriber list.