Coercive and controlling behaviour is a feature of domestic abuse and gender-based violence, issues that have risen to the top of the social work agenda during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lockdowns and rising unemployment have forced more people indoors, with less access to support, creating situations where coercive and controlling behaviour is more likely to go unchecked.

In order to support practitioners working with people in these difficult situations Community Care have made resources available for practitioners. The Community Care Inform Guide helps practitioners to  identify coercive and controlling behaviour and is free to download.

The guide will provide practitioners with an understanding of what coercive and controlling behaviour is, why perpetrators use it and the impact that coercive control has on people experiencing or witnessing it, particularly children and people in the LGBTQ+ community.

On another note, BASW England is pleased to announce the launch of new guidance for child and family social workers supporting victim-survivors of domestic abuse. 

Everyone has the right to have personal relationships including people who access care and support who might have a physical or learning disability.  Skills for Care in partnership with the Care Quality Commission, have updated their workforce guidance on supporting personal relationships.

The guidance will help employers think about what staff need to know and understand about personal relationships, and how they can create a workforce development programme for their organisation. 

The National County Lines Co-ordination Centre has produced a short 10 minute video made in partnership with Sketchups discussing the County Lines methodology and how this impacts on children, adults at risk and wider society. 

Watch the video here to learn more about County Lines.

The Social Care Institute for Institure for Excellence (SCIE) has published a guide to support  day care managers, social workers, commissioners and providers to restart or continue activities. The guide is focused on community-based day services, day centres (with and without personal care), including specialised day centre environments, and those with outdoor spaces.

Congratulations to Barrow and Millom Primary Care Network for being recognised as “one of the best performing COVID vaccination teams in the country” by the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock, in a letter to MP Simon Fell. 

A massive amount of time and effort has gone into the COVID-19 vaccination programme from many people working across Morecambe Bay, including our staff, vaccine centre co-ordinators and volunteers to ensure that those most at risk receive vaccinations.