Honour Based Abuse (HBA) is a broad umbrella term used to describe a combination of practices used principally to control and punish the behaviour of a member of a family or social group, in order to protect perceived cultural and religious beliefs in the name of ‘honour’. Although predominantly associated with women and girls, male members of a family can also be victims. Violence and abuse may occur when it is felt that an individual’s behaviour has broken the ‘honour code’, bringing disgrace to their family or social group. Perpetrators will feel that they need to restore their loss of face and standing within their community. There is often an element of approval and social acceptance from other family members and the community.

Click here to find out more about where HBA originates from, HBA in the UK, the indicators and the signs to look out for. 

Two Cumbria Police officers have received national recognition for their diligence, care and commitment in protecting a vulnerable woman suspected of being a victim of honour-based abuse.

DC Joanna Harrison and Inspector Kate Warner were given an award at an event celebrating people and organisations who have taken a stand against this type of harm.

Click here to read more. 

The Blue Light Project in conjunction with Alcohol Change UK have created a guide that aims to help practitioners to improve the well-being and safety of adults who are highly vulnerable, chronic, dependent drinkers.  The guide is targeted at staff and volunteers working directly with dependent drinkers. This includes staff employed in specialist substance misuse and mental health services, but also those working in adult social care, housing and homelessness, primary and secondary healthcare, police, probation, environmental health, and on domestic violence and community safety. It will also be useful to those who commission services and those in political and strategic roles who will need to argue for resources to support the use of these legal frameworks.

Click here to read the guide. 

The Programme for Alcohol Studies is a collaborative project created by the NHS North East and North Cumbria Health and Care Partnership and NHS Health Education England North East. The programme is hosted by Making Every Contact Count (MECC). A new online training platform has opened to all health and care staff who would like to learn more about alcohol abuse. The programme for alcohol studies offers a comprehensive range of self-led and live training opportunities covering:

• Alcohol awareness – what drives alcohol related harm?
• Identifying alcohol related harm – how can we talk to patients about it?
• Interventions to manage alcohol abuse – how can we support the patient journey to recovery?

To book a place on the training course click here.

The Department for Education have revised a Statutory guidance on multi-agency working to help, protect and promote the welfare of children.

This revision to the guidance focuses on strengthening multi-agency working across the whole system of help, support and protection for children and their families, keeping a child-centred approach while bringing a whole-family focus, and embedding strong, effective and consistent multi-agency child protection practice.

Chapter 5: Learning from Seriour Child Safeguarding Incidents introduces non-mandatory reporting of care leaver deaths up to age 25 to improve learning and outcomes for this group of young people.   This has potential impacts and could result in parallel review processes where a young person (18+) has died as a result of abuse or neglect and where it is deemed agencies could have worked more effectively together.  Locally Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board and Children's Safeguarding Partnership will develop pathways to prevent duplication and ensure learning from reviews is shared across the system.

The guidance also states;

• The local authority should also notify the Secretary of State for Education and Ofsted of the death of a care leaver up to and including the age of 24. This should be notified via the Child Safeguarding Online Notification System. The death of a care leaver does not require a rapid review or local child safeguarding practice review.
• Safeguarding partners must consider whether the criteria for a serious incident has been met and respond accordingly, in the event the deceased care leaver was under the age of 18.
• If local partners think that learning can be gained from the death of a looked after child or care leaver in circumstances where those criteria do not apply, they may wish to undertake a local child safeguarding practice review.

Ahead of the 10th anniversary on 19 March 2024 of the Supreme Court decision in Cheshire West, the Law Society has updated its practical guidance on identifying a deprivation of liberty. Since the publication of the original guidance in 2015, there have been important developments in the law relating to deprivation of liberty, including clarification of the position of:

• those under 18
• those in receipt of life-sustaining medical treatment

For several years, it had been anticipated that these developments would be reflected in an updated version of the statutory Code of Practice. However, with the announcement of an indefinite delay to the implementation of the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) in April 2023, there is no immediate prospect of an updated code to accompany the LPS.

This guidance draws together the assistance that can be found in the case law and from the practical experience of the authors who, in different contexts, advise upon and act in cases involving questions of deprivation of liberty. It includes an overview of the legal framework, including the special considerations relating to those under 18. The guidance applies that framework to different settings. 

For each setting, a list of potentially ‘liberty-restricting’ factors are given that may indicate that a deprivation of liberty is occurring. Scenarios are also given, which illustrate:

• a deprivation of liberty
• a potential deprivation of liberty depending on the circumstances
• a situation unlikely to amount to a deprivation of liberty

Alex Ruck Keene has shared a video on which identifies a deprivation of liberty: a practical guide. Click here to find out more.

Zoe Lodrick and Safety Net (UK) are excited to launch an in person training day in West Cumbria.

This professional training will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of trauma, neuroscience, attachment theory and vicarious trauma in the context of sexual and domestic abuse. The training, led by Zoe Loderick, equips professionals with evidence-based knowledge and practical tools to navigate the complexities of trauma-informed care, fostering a more compassionate and effective response to individuals affected by sexual and domestic abuse. This training will provide CPD certificates.

Event Information:

Wednesday 5th June 2024 

9.30am - 4.30pm

The Solway Hall, Whitehaven CA28 7SH

Tickets: £55pp or £450 for a block booking of 10 tickets - block bookings only available till 30/04/2024

Included in the ticket price is refreshments and a light lunch

The venue is a 12 minute walk from the train station and for parking in the town centre please visit: Car parks | Copeland Borough Council

To book your tickets click here.

Want to learn more?
Why not have a look at our website where you will find links to watch our lunch and learn sessions, animations, Quick Guides and briefings for professionals and practitioners.

Click here to be directed to our website.